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.

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.

Here´s another example of the Islazul chain´s admirable upgrades to its previously lackluster hotels. Once a decidedly dumpy property, this Cinderella is now set to charm, despite its two-star status. It´s easy to imagine yourself at some Mediterranean coast resort thanks to its perch atop a rocky and woodsy headland at the mouth of the Yaguanabo river, mid-way between Cienfuegos and Trinidad.

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.

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 hotel was being utilized exclusively for Operación Milagro (offering free medical service to indigents from Latin America) during our last visit, when it was closed to tourists. It has since reopened to travelers with appealing new furnishings after a thoughtful refurbishing. The five-story structure has been described accurately (by Christopher P. Baker, in Moon Cuba guidebook) as looking “like an enormous concrete block shipped in from Novosibirsk.”

While Playa Rancho Luna may not be the most spectacular beach in Cuba, far from it, it´s attractive enough to draw budget vacationers on package tours, and this recently remodeled all-inclusive hotel fits the bill. Cienfuegos is less than 30 minutes´ drive away. The two-story Bauhaus-style edifice dates from the Soviet era but the purely functional architecture has been enlivened by fresh coats of paint.

A smaller and more intimate neighbor to the Hotel Club Amigo Rancho Luna, this sister property has similar furnishings. In all other regards, it´s a different kind of fish. With just 46 rooms, this quiet option might suit folks seeking a day or two at a reclusive hotel by the shore (the hotel stands atop a craggy bluff, and the beach is a five-minute walk away). Just don´t expect many amenities.