About four km east of Cienfuegos, across the bay en route to Pasacaballo, this hotel in the Islazul chain attempts to present itself as a beach resort. The tiny beach barely deserves the moniker and if it´s sand that you´re seeking, you´ll be better rewarded by staying at the two hotels at nearby Rancho Luna, which are superior and have real sands.

This is one of those hotels that get your hopes up for from afar, or at least from the second you walk in the door. You´ll love it´s position at the south end of town, where it rises over the waters of Cienfuegos Bay—take a south-facing room for the panoramic vistas over the bay and the Mughal-style Palacio del Valle. Built in Modernist style in the 1950s, it was recently revamped in sophisticated contemporary style.

Within a 20-minute walk of the historic downtown, this waterfront hotel on the Malecón boulevard is also just one block from the Club Cienfuegos bar, restaurant, and nightclub. The neo-classical building began life in 1921 as a private mansion capped by a Mughal-style domed turret. In 2004 it reopened as a seven-room hotel operated by Cubanacón.

This is one of Cuba´s provincial gems. First, take the location just one block from the main plaza in the heart of downtown. Then there´s the thoughtful remodel of this three-story, neoclassical 19th-century hotel, which exudes elegant yesteryear airs thanks to its antiques and quality antique reproductions.