Caimanera Hotel is located in the fishing village of the same name, which is in the heart of the Bahía de Guantanamo, better known as Guantanamo Bay. The South of the village is actually bordered by the Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base.

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 charming and budget-priced little hotel on the main street, just steps from the main plaza, is housed in a recently restored colonial-era building dating from 1867. For better or worse, the original colonial tile-work has been replaced with rather soulless contemporary ceramics, but beautiful hardwood doors are a lovely touch.

The only hotel within the town center, this 10-story, mint-green high-rise is perfectly poised on the main square, Parque Vidal. Built in the 1950s in modernist style, it has not been kept in good repair. A general renovation is long overdue, for which reason most tour groups opt for the far nicer Hotel Los Caneyes, outside town, leaving this hotel to Cuban honeymooners.

Erected in 1907 to serve the railway station across the street, this hotel is perfect for travelers with early morning train departures or late night arrivals. And it´s just a 20-minute walk down Avenida República to reach the core of the colonial city. It´s the oldest of Camagüey´s hotels and retains its original architecture while benefitting from at least two recent refits by the Islazul hotel chain.

Perched atop a hill—Altos de Quintero—to the north of the city, this hotel has two unique advantages over local competitors. First are the lovely views south over the city and bay toward the El Morro Castle and coastal mountains. Second are the breezes that flow down the hill, bringing relief from Santiago´s ferocious summer heat.

We give this hotel two thumbs up for its dramatic clifftop location that offers sensational sunset vistas along the coast. Perched high above the Caribbean near Parque Histórico El Morro, it offers few other advantages in terms of location, however: You´ll need wheels (cars and rather beaten-up scooters can be rented) to explore the city, a 15 minute drive or taxi ride away.

The Lincoln is very well situated for access to Old Havana, Central Havana, Chinatown and Vedado. It is just across the road from one of Havana´s best art deco buildings, the Teatro América, and from the Casa de la Música, where those in the know go to dance.

Islazul Sierra Maestra, previously known as Hotel Carrusel Sierra Maestra, is located about 3 km southeast of town towards Santiago de Cuba.a.

A tiny boutique gem, this hotel close to the colonial center stands out as one of Cuba´s finest provincial hotels thanks to a recent and thoughtful restoration and sound management. The building first opened as a hotel in 1927 and is today part of the Islazul chain, serving both Cubans and tourists. A key element here is the gracious lobby, with its gleaming mahogany fixtures, colorful colonial-style tilework, and handsome marble staircase.