What Are Casa Particulares In Cuba? Are they legal? (Yes!) How To Find & Book The Best Ones (2023)!
When you are looking for places to stay when planning your amazing Cuba holiday, everywhere there seems to come up the words casa particulares!
What is a casa particular, and what has it got to do with your search for accommodation in Cuba?
Here is everything you need to know about casa particulares in Cuba in 2023, how to find the best ones, and how to book them!
Any link in this article might be an affiliate link! If you click it to make your booking, it will provide a small commission for me at no extra cost to you! As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
What is Casa Particular In Cuba?
Casa particular in Cuba is a holiday home; a private rental that you book directly from a private Cuban person renting out his or her property!
The word particular in this situation means that it is a private negicio; business, and renting out a private place is currently legal in Cuba in 2023, so don’t worry!
Buy Your Cuban Tourist Card Online Here!
It will be sent straight home to your mailbox within days!
Why You Should Choose A Casa Particular In Cuba!
This is an amazing way to live when you are in Cuba! Your Cuban experience will be a thousand times richer when visiting famous destinations like Havana, Trinidad, Santiago, or Vinales!
And, you will help the Cuban people and the local population make a living, as the payment for your holiday stay goes straight to a Cuban family.
Different Types Of Casa Particulares In Cuba!
You can find all types of casa particulares across Cuba, across the range of size and quality.
Book anything from a small room in a Cuban private house, a bed in a shared room (like a hostel), an apartment, a whole house, or even a luxury mansion to yourself!
In Havana, you might find more luxurious ones than across the country, including in Varadero.
I always stay in casa particulares in Cuba, whether I am there for a short visit or staying long-term, which I have mostly been doing for the last two years.
(I also visit some really nice resorts once in a while, partly to do research for this website, and partly to be pampered a bit for just a couple of days by a pool!).
Top Rated Casa Particulares In Cuban Destinations
Here are the top-rated casa particulares in 4 super popular Cuban destinations:
How To Book A Casa Particular In Cuba!
There are several ways to book a casa particular in Cuba in 2023.
You can book your casa online before you get here on Hostelworld (yes, there are Cuban casa’s on that app, not just hostels), Expedia, and Airbnb.
You can also just find a casa walking the streets in any town or village in Cuba.
Look for the white sign with a blue anchor on the door, and you will know the house is an approved casa particular.
This approach might give you surprises though, some nice and some not so nice when you see the actual accommodation standard!
Don’t commit until you have seen your room!
How To Book Casa Particular Online From Cuba!
If you only have booked your first accommodation in Cuba before you get here to keep your plans flexible, you need to know that most booking apps do not work from within Cuba without a VPN.
So I do recommend you download a good VPN before your Cuba trip.
I use Express VPN working from Cuba, which I can recommend, which helps you access almost any service outside Cuba!
Get ExpressVPN Before Your Trip To Cuba Here!
How Much Do Casas Particulares In Cuba Cost?
You will find casa partiuclares in all price ranges in Cuba, starting from around €18-20 per night, all the way up to and above €400 per night!
For the €400-range casa’s, you get super high-end full-blown mansions (which are also casa particulares if it is owned by a private person) with dream amenities like a jacuzzi and pool rainforest showers, and all the fancy stuff!
Does Casa Particulares In Cuba Offer Meals?
Most casa particulares in Cuba offer breakfast to their guests if the guest wants an in-house breakfast! This normally will be for a surcharge, which usually is around €5 in 2023.
Some casa’s also offer other types of meals, this will often be suggested in the rental description – or you can just contact the host and ask!
Most travelers in the Cuban cities prefer to go out for lunch and dinner, so meals other than breakfast are not that commonly offered in the casa particulares.
What Are Casas Particulares Like?
A Cuban casa particular could be any kind of house or property, but often it is a room, apartment, or a whole house in the classic colonial style.
Generally, the standard of a casa particular is simple, but most casa particular hosts in Cuba put their honor into presenting a house that is squeaky clean and offers travelers an amazing Cuban experience!
Cuban houses are also often incredibly colorful and fun (by European standards) and a tad eclectic in their interior!
FAQ’s Casa Particulares In Cuba
Are Casas Particulares Legal?
Yes, casa particulares in Cuba are legal. That is, there are legally registered casa particulares in Cuba, but some people without registered Casas might also try to get you as a guest.
This might happen on the streets when you are already in Cuba.
If you should end up in an unregistered casa particular, It is no problem for you, really – but might be for the owner of the casa if they are caught renting illegally.
If you see the white and blue sign, you are good – and all casas that offer accommodation online are registered and approved.
How Do I Pay My Casa Particular?
Some pages will have you pay by card online, while others will reserve the casa, and you pay when you arrive.
If you book the casa particular online before you arrive in Cuba, make sure you know whether you already have paid for the casa (like with Airbnb), or if you are supposed to pay when you arrive.
If you pay upon arrival, you will pay in cash, preferably in euros.
Are Casa Particulares In Cuba Nice?
Of course, it depends on what your definition of nice is, but I have always found the Casas in Cuba to be super nice, charming, colorful, and the hosts really kind and helpful.
But remember that it is Cuba, and a lot of commodities are not readily available.
Sometimes the water is not warm, sometimes the electricity disappears for a while, and sometimes eggs are impossible to find (if you have ordered breakfast).
What Are The Orange Casa Particulares In Cuba?
Do NOT stay in the orange casa particulares in Cuba if you are a foreigner traveling the island!
Foreigners are only allowed to stay in the casa’s that have a blue sign outside, and houses with an orange sign are only for Cubans
Are Casa Particulares In Cuba Safe?
Yes, it is safe to stay in a casa particular in Cuba.
In general, Cuba is a very safe destination for travelers, there are very few crimes against foreigners, and those that do occur mainly are petty crimes like pickpocketing, etc (so just be mindful of your shiny things, as always).
Is There Wifi In Casa Particulares In Cuba?
Sometimes, yes. Some casa particulares in Cuba do offer wifi in 2023, as wifi is becoming more and more available across the island.
If a casa particular lists wifi as an amenity, check with the host whether this is a wifi router, an available phone with 4G, or if they are referring to a nearby park. It could be either!
For private homes in general, wifi is not yet common, as it is expensive. Most Cubans still go to the wifi-park or a wifi hotspot to log on.
Why Should I Stay In A Casa Particular?
- You will live like a Cuban and get an authentic experience!
- You are “helping the Cuban people”, and the local economy!
- You can get to know Cubans in their houses and barrios, and learn a bit about the Cuban culture, way of life, religion, and maybe a few local phrases of Cuban Spanish!
- You will save a lot of money by spending at least part of your holiday in a Cuban casa particular (hotels are a lot pricier)!
Book The Best Casa Particulares In Cuba 2023!
Top-Rated Casa particular Cuba Old Havana
Read more about the top-rated casa particulares in Old Havana by clicking here!
Top-Rated Casa Particular Trinidad Cuba
You can read more about Casas in Trinidad by clicking here!
Top-Rated Casa Particular Cienfuegos
Read more about the top-rated Casas in Cienfuegos by clicking here!
Top-Rated Casa Particular Santiago De Cuba
Read more about the top-rated Casas in Santiago by clicking here!
Save This Article For Your Travel Planning!
Transport In Cuba Between Destinations!
Unfortunately, there still is no Uber or other online immediate transport service in Cuba, so here are your other transport options listed!
- Viazul Bus Service
- Taxi Privados (normal taxis)
- Taxi Colectivos (shared taxis with other travelers)
- Guagua’s, means bus, a word used for the buses in Cuban cities
- Rutas, are the minibusses that roam the cities in fixed routes
- Train – does exist, but is generally not recommended as it is unreliable
- Private transport and transfer companies and bookings
Wrap-Up Casa Particular In Cuba!
Hopefully, you now have a clear picture of what a casa particular in Cuba is, how to book one, and which are the best ones according to multiple travelers before you!
The largest group of travelers coming to Cuba annually is Canadians in 2023, and if you are a Canadian wondering how to go about planning and booking a trip to Cuba you can read all about that in this article!
Americans are also discovering that it is possible to visit Cuba in 2023! If you are an American wanting to visit, read this article that untangles everything you need to know to visit Cuba from the US in 2023!
Welcome to Cuba, and Happy Travel Planning!
My Resource Go-To List For Best Travel Booking Deals!
Best Airfare bookings: Skyscanner, Wayaway,
Best tour companies: Civitatis (for Cuba), Viator
Best Hotel Bookings: Booking, Expedia
Travel Insurance: IMG Medical Travel Insurance
VPN Secure Internet: ExpressVPN
Cuba Visa Online: Easy Tourist Card
Car Rentals Online: Discover Cars
Casa Particulares seem like a great alternative to standard accommodation when visiting Cuba. They would definitely provide an much more authentic experience.
Hi Kelly!
Most travelers say exactly that, although they “miss out” on the resort experience with everything at the ready! Staying in a casa particular when visiting Cuba will give you the opportunity to chat with the locals about life in Cuba, and most casas are also unique and super charming, and will give you an experience it is hard to find anywhere else!
Staying in Casa Particulares seems quite interesting than staying in a normal Hotel. Enjoyed knowing about the experience.
Hi Kiki,
I definitely recommend staying in a casa particular, unless you are visiting the “resort zones” where your purpose is exactly the Caribbean resort holiday! If you want to embrace the experience of Cuba, this is a great way to do it 🙂
I am looking into going to Cuba next year, so I am glad I came across your blog. It was interesting reading about the Casas. I am curious about the blue and orange signs. I imagine they have a price difference but, anything else? Anyway, super informative post! Thanks!
Hi Patricia!
I am so glad to hear that you are planning on visiting Cuba! The difference between the blue and the orange signs is that the casa particulares with blue signs are approved to have foreign guests in their house. There is a distinction in Cuba on this, weirdly, and the casas with orange signs are approved for Cuban guests. It would not be a problem for you if you happened to stay in an “orange casa” but it might be for the host! Happy Travel Planning! 🙂