Hi I`ve just returned from a one week stay at hotel Versalles in Santiago and here is my review. This hotel is perched on a mountain top overlooking the city of Santiago. The property is in excellent shape and very clean. One of the advantages of staying at this resort is that there is light local traffic and far from the busy noisy polluted city center. My room 201 was directly across from the pool close to the reception, a good choice, the room is large with two double beds, desk and a couple of chairs. The beds are not super comfy but better than other 3 stars I`ve stayed in Cuba. The walls are constructed of bricks pretty unusual for Cuban standards so pretty good sounds proofing you can`t really hear your neighbor, at least I didn`t. This hotel celebrated its 50th anniversary in December 2010 and when it was built it was rated as a 5 star. It’s now part of the Cubanacan chain. Every room has a small patio with a couple of chairs and a table. In the room you will find a color TV with twelve channels, fridge and alarm clock and a safe that will cost you an extra 2 pesos per day of use. The bathroom was clean and all tiled, I never ran out of hot water but there was absolutely no pressure, no I mean no pressure, I know what you are thinking I didn`t come to Cuba to take a shower but without exaggerating it took a whole minute to fill an 8 once glass, so you have to be patient to take a shower. I was travelling alone and this place really felt safe, cameras everywhere. The staff was very accommodating and helpful which made my trip most pleasant. Breakfast was included in my package and it was fine by my standards although it was the same buffet every day. I had super there at the restaurant Los Vitrales a few times, first night I had bistec de cerdo (Pork fillet) which was great and it was served with a soup salad bread and desert for a whopping $5.50 Pesos, $ 1.50 more for beer or water. I thought this was a great deal so I returned a couple of nights later but it was an all you can eat buffet for $ 12. I didn`t think that this was so hot of a deal, in any case I returned at the end of the week and I re-ordered that same bistec of cerdo because it was really nice for the price, but to my surprise when I got the bill it was now $12 I asked the waitress why it $12 now instead of $5.50 last week but she couldn’t answer me, and I had asked for a bottle of red wine without checking the price and that was another $12 so total was $24 pesos which is exorbitant for a three star hotel. By the way you can have a full course meal at the restaurant 1900 in the heart of downtown which is in the famed once Bacardi`s residence which is by far the most upscale restaurant in Santiago for $12, your choice! I like to think that someone made a few bucks from a Yuma (tourist). The pool hours are 10:00 to17:00, Nightly entertainment is nonexistent, there is a nightclub Salon Rojo that`s adjacent to the restaurant that is open I believe from Thursday to Sunday. Locals are admitted but need to register prior to entering the club. There is a (Cadeca) to change money on the premises, as well as a cafeteria that`s opens a 15:00 combined with a small shop. There is a snack bar by the pool that makes hamburger, sandwiches, fried chicken which was fine for lunches. Since this hotel is about three kilometers from the city center, reception can call you a metered cab which will cost you between $3 and $4 pesos to get you to Cespedes parques. Raoul who works at the reception can also drive you around, I used him to bring me to the Moron Castle and back at what I think was an honest price. I walked to the city center during the day and back at night and I felt very safe. If you are up to it try a motorcycle ride, I used them most of the week and I recommended you to try it. It`s easy, you will notice that there are many motorcycles around Santiago, when you see one who has a helmet hanging off his arm just wave you hand, hop on and go, one peso will get you across town. So for the final question would I return to Hotel Versalles? Absolutely, actually this is the nicest three star hotels I have ever stayed in Cuba.
Enjoy!
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