We had 4 nights on a Highlights of Cuba tour ,on 3 days there was no hot water in our room on the 13th floor ,corridors had filthy carpets and smelled. I dont think windows and brasswork has been cleaned for years.This must have been a nice hotel years ago but to say its tired is being kind.

It does seem that regardless of what floor you stay on the corridors do smell of damp but the few seconds you spend in them is really irrelevant to your stay and I am assuming that this is from the humidity in the atmosphere causing this slight damp smell. The hotel is (according to our Cuban guide) only rented from the Government by the Melia group and not mantained by them as that is down to the Government but as the majority of the house on the Malecon are awaiting renovation it is unlikely this will be a high priority on their list! The room itself is kept very clean and has ample space for 2 people, the shower gets hot in an evening but is only tepid first thing in a morning which would suggest it was heated from solar panels. We stayed on the 23rd floor and had amazing views over the whole of Havana including the old town, the Nacional Hotel and the Malecon with a very colourful sunrise the first morning so the view definitely outweighs the couple of minutes enduring the corridors to and from the lifts AND if you are spending that much time in the corridors or even in the hotel itself your time in Havana has been wasted as there is far too much to see and do (especially if you only have a couple of days as most seem to). Breakfast was very good each morning and there was a great variety to suit everyones tastes, plus a chef cooking fresh eggs/omelettes and always plenty of fresh fruit juices and fruit, although you do have to get down early enough to get a table as it does get very busy in a morning as do the lifts from a high up floor. The location is great for exploring the city as the Malecon is just a short walk away and a walk down to the Nacional hotel is a must to see the Hall of Fame from way back to the 30s. A cadillac trip from the hotel and round the old town is well worth doing and it is worth walking back fom the old town to explore the little back streets and street markets for wooden and ceramic handicrafts at bargain prices! Would be happy to stay here again if visiting Havana.

On a 2 day trip to Havana from Varadero we stayed overnight at this hotel.
What a ghastly hotel. To be fair our room was spacious and comfortable with a great view but in the morning the water was on the wrong side of tepid - not good for a shower.
We were on the 13th floor. On exiting the lift the corridor smelled dank and unpleasant and the carpet was stained and in a state of repair. Looked as if there had been a flood some time ago and things had just been left.
The food in the buffet was disgusting. We tried some shrimps which were inedible due to a very strange texture. Whilst meat, chicken and fish were supposedly fresh cooked, the fish we tried was raw and one taste made me feel queasy. The fruit on the buffet looked awful. we tried some guava that was not ripe. Not to be recommended. Thank goodness it was only one night.

After staying a couple of times at Hotel Nacional, I this time decided to try out the Habana Libre.
Positive things first: The views are spectacular! Please: book a room high up and "invest" in a room with ocean view. It`s impressive! Malecon, hotel Nacional, the ocean, centro Habana, the old city, the fortress... it`s all there! And in the sunset-light... Also:
The hotel has a good location. At the corner of Calle L and La Rampa, 200m from Malecon and a 3-4 CUC taxi drive from the old town. The lobby and 1.floor is a busteling mix of tourists,
business-persons and cubans. The pool area is nice, and usually not crowded. The rooms are huge, and so is the comfortable bed(s). TV, minibar (working, but nothing inside), armchair ++
The people working there are friendly and helpful. Breakfast OK for cuban standards. The 24hours cafeteria has decent food and friendly waiters. Top floor bar is nice. Tried the nightclub years ago, and was impressed by the movable ceiling!
Not so good things:
The bathroom was not very inviting. Clean, but really worn. The toilet didn`t flush "as normal", so had to use the wastepaper-basket. Then again: this is Cuba.
If I had to choose between Nacional and Habana Libre? It would be Nacional. I love its gardens, old style and closeness to the sea. But it is (normally) more expencive than Habana Libre, and the "former Hilton" is a good choise in this city as well;-)