At Havana Rentals we are concerned about SPAM so what you actually see here is an image with the e-mail address of the client to keep them safe from automatic crawlers hunting for target mail addresses.

 DL, Sydney    
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2004

Hi,
Thanks a lot for your very professional service and your kindness. I feel I can trust Havana Rentals with my accommodation needs in Cuba. They met my request with care, speed, empathy and professionalism.
Havana Rentals provided not only accommodation but also valuable guidance and advice. When my request was not available I was offered an alternatively as good as or better than my first option.

About Mrs Ivonne's apartment: Genuinely warm and comfortable stay. I felt truly at home with my hosts.

Thank you very much again;
DL, Sydney.

 Doreen Weppler     
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2004

Dear Miguel Rodriquez,
Just a note to say a big thank you for helping to arrange such a wonderful holiday in Havana.
Xiomara's apartment was fabulous. It has the most amazing view of the Malecon and almost 360 degree views of the city from all the different windows. Xiomara is a very kind and helpful person and a lovely new friend for us, with good advice on the best paladares, restaurants, and markets. Her apartment is sunny, clean and very secure. I would recommend both her apartment and your helpful services to others who want to really get to know Havana.
We will definitely be returning.

Many thanks, Miguel.

Doreen and Brian Grogan.

 Mario Wilson    
Date: Fri, 02 Jan 2004

Hi Miguel Rodriguez,
Just a quick note to let you know I was happy with the accomodations you provided. Bertha and her family were very kind and we somehow managed to get around my limited knowledge of Spanish.
I will gladly recommend her home to anyone travelling to Havana in the future.
Sincerely,

Mario Wilson.

 Neil W Pryce     
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003

My experience with Havana Rentals has been exceptionally good. I made my first booking and I was initially a little bit weary of the company as I could not telephone them. However they kept me fully informed by regular e-mails, they gave me constant updates, and they responded quickly to all my questions. Even after I paid the $100 USD deposit I felt that it was safe in their hands. I would not hesitate to use Havana Rentals again, and will recommend it to others.

Neil...

--Note from Havana Rentals for the readers of the testimonials page: Unfortunately the apartment reserved for Mr. Pryce became unavailable in the very end as Mr Ramon made a last minute change because the former client decided to extend her stay so, as there was no time to find a second accommodation with the same requirements for Mr Pryce, he had to reserve in a hotel. As he even had sent us a downpayment, we met with Mr Pryce the next morning to refund him fully.
--After Mr Pryce reserved in a hotel, we informed him that we needed to meet him in order to fully refund the downpayment and he replied with the following e-mail:

Thank you for your quick response. I really appreciate your integrity. I visited Havana before, so I know how many of the places are inside. However I liked Ramon's apartment because you could sit on the balcony and even see the sea. Anyway I have been absolutely delighted with the service that you offer. I have already recomended you to friends and will continue to do so. I personally will still be happy to use your service when I next return to Cuba. It is mainly that I wanted to stay in "centro Havana" area, as I know that some of the places you offer further out look really nice.
Please can you deliver my deposit to HOTEL LIDO at 0900hrs on saturday.
Once again thank you for everything.

Neil W Pryce.

 Glenn Tanaka     
Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2003

Hi,
I just wanted to say thanks again. Bertha casa was more than adequate for me. Bertha and her family were more than accomodating for me.

Thanks again,
Glenn.

 DEARDS, Nicola    
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2003

Dear Miguel
Having just returned from Cuba, I just wanted to write and thank you for arranging our stay in Havana with Maria Elena.
Her apartment is lovely - very well equipped, clean and comfortable, and in a good location in Vedado. Maria Elena herself was very helpful and accommodating, and we returned to stay a few more nights at her place at the end of the holiday before our return flight.
Cuba in general was an amazing experience - we also stayed in Trinidad, Santiago and Santa Clara, all in private houses, which were booked ahead for us through the little network of Casa owners which is growing across the island. We feel privileged to have spent time with such wonderful people.

Thank you again, and best wishes.

Nicola Deards & Mike Clift.

 Jim Gollert     
Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2003

Just a brief note to tell you I was completely satisfied with the apartment of Rebeca that you arranged for me.
Thank you for your efforts!

Jim Gollert.

 Rafael Muñoz     
Date: Monday, April 21, 2003

Dear Sirs,

I´m highly satisfeid with the accommodation provided at Mrs. Maria Elena and with the services from Havana Rentals. I will not hesitate to recomend your services to the people I know for finding accommodation in Havana.
Greetings.

Rafael Muñoz.
(Spain).

 Bertrand     
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003

Hello Miguel,

Many thanks to you for arranging accommodations for my wife and I. We had a fun time on Cuba everything went on fine. We were late on the flight, but Mrs Olga was there to receive us an deliver our keys, besides, she was a very nice lady as she assisted us in other areas.
Thanks again and hope to be in touch with you again.

Regards,

Bertrand.

 Kristina Banham     
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2003

Hola
Well, we just got back from Cuba and have a wonderful time - all went well for us at Jose Guerra's house, Sra Carmita is a very nice lady, I managed enough Spanish to talk to her, ask about things etc.

Very high standard of cleanliness and great location, although the address you gave me had the wrong number - slight problem when finding the house on arrival ! Havana is lovely, plenty to do wonderful buildings, only problem was all the places like Partagas factory, banks were closed as it was a new year bank holiday all that week from 30 December ! Nacional Hotel ran out of money on Friday 3rd as everyone trying to get money for weekend and no other exchange place was open !! Plenty of good food, mojitos enjoyed and salsa dancing, never shortage of partners.
Vinales was good too, very different and then Trinidad, again very different, stayed in hotel on beach, nice to go back to peace and quiet in evenings. Thank you for all your help - will definitely recommend you to anyone who comes out to Cuba, casa particular is a great way of staying and having a different kind of accommodation, plus possibly being outside the centre of Havana - many thanks and Happy New Year.

Kristina Banham

 Jerry     
Date:Fri, 3 Jan 2003

Thank you Miguel for your help for finding Ana Molinet's apartment in Havana. I stayed there for 1 week and it was good. The next time I go to Havana, I will let you know.

Gracias Señor !

Jerry

 Paul McPate     
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 2002

Hi,
Having just returned from Cuba, after a wonderful holiday, I thought I would drop a quick line to your website.
ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T USE A CASA PARTICULAR DIRECTLY ADVERTISED ON YOUR SITE (www.havana-rentals.com), I would warn your readers about our experience.

Having spent a long time choosing our first accommodation in Havana (Casa Blanca in Vedado) we confirmed with the owner (Jorge luis Duany) and received confirmation back from him. We were particularly looking for somewhere central, with a/c, en-suite bathroom and English speaking owner, to help us settle into Havana. When we arrived at his home at 11.00pm, after 23 hours travelling, he had "sub-let" us to another family nearby, who did not speak English, could not offer a/c or en-suite toilet and who's room was unclean.
While the Cuban family were very friendly the next morning. the accommodation was not what was agreed and we had been directly misled through his web site. I hope this experience might help one or two others to avoid this individual who obviously runs a business with little consideration for incoming visitors. Our general experience of Cubans however was that they are a very friendly, welcoming people nad we had a wonderful time during our 2 weeks travelling round the country.


Paul and Jackie McPate (Scotland)

 Vincent Rawas     
Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2002

Dear mister Rodriguez,
Everything was fine at mr. Guilléns place. We have no negative remarks on our journey there. Guillén was very helpfull and we hope to visit him again in the future. Please confirm this to him.
Thank's and have a nice week-end.

Vincent Rawas

 Anne Rodrigue     
Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2002

Hola!

I recently returned from a study vacation in Havana.
I stayed at Senora Ives appartment provided here by Havana Rentals. I was very pleased with the accomodations and with her hospitality. The appt.was very close to the University and all other points of interest. It was clean and comfortable. It became my home away from home.

Thanks to Senora Ives and Havana Rentals I had a great vacation. I am planning to return to study at the University of Havana and will definitely make reservations through you to stay with Senora Ives again.

Thank you,

Anne Rodrigue.

 Sonja Kalin     
Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2002

Thanks for having given us Esther´s address. I has been very nice to stay with her since she is an extremely lovely person. The room is big and comfortable with cool temperatures in the hot summer, which is a big advantage!

Yours sincerely,
Sonja Kalin

 Iñigo Aldana     
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002

Hi, this is Iñigo, the guy who stayed at Mr. Alexander Barroso´s apartment and I´m sending this message to inform you that we arrived home on monday.
We received an excelent service from both Mr. Alexander and his brother in law Kike and we would be pleased to recommend their apartment. We have become good friends and they have been very professional.
Just as you guys said, your agent came to us and refunded us the $20 USD from the difference of the Bank transfer we sent you as downpayment.
We are delighted with the time we spent in your island and be sure we will be back and that we are highly satisfied with your services.

Greetings,

Iñigo Aldana
(Spain)

 Michael Causwell     
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002

Hi,
Just writing back to say that we had a great time in Cuba.
The apartment worked out fine and I will not hesitate to book with you guys again in the future.
Take care,

Michael

 Julie Feinsilver     
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002

Dear Miguel:
I just wanted to let you know that the apartment (Pilar-Miramar) was very nice, very clean, comfortable and had two brand new bathrooms (one per room) rather than only one between the two bedrooms. Pilar and her family were so nice that we did not even close the door that separated our apartment from theirs.
Although she did not mention it in her ad, she allowed us to keep our passports and tickets in her strong box in her room.
Both Federico and I were really pleased with the accommodations and the experience.

Many thanks and saludos,

Julie

 Michael Klein     
Date: Wed, 03 Jul 2002

Miguel Rodriguez,
Thanks for your help in finding a really great apartment last week. We were very pleased with everything about it. The view of the ocean was an unexpected bonus. We look forward to returning at some point in the future.
My best to everyone involved.

Michael Klein

 Emma Cortes     
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002

Hi !
We are back home, what a pity!!!!!!
We are fascinated with Cuba, it´s a beautiful island with lovely people.
Spent there 20 days and we have seen a lot. We are sending you this e-mail to thank you for everything. We had a great stay at Marlen and Carlos´s apartment. They are great people and the apartment was very nice. Probably I was overwelmed with the building, and the zone. Anyway it was just like most Havana.
Indeed we believe we did right by choosing staying in a private home.
Thank you,

Emma e Ivan
(Spain)

 Christi Ford     
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2002

Once again, thank-you for your help. In addition to being a student, I have been a travel agent for 8 years and I have dealt with many international travel related companies. Rarely have I encountered the level of professionalism and courtesy that you have provided during the course of our interactions. I will definately be recommending your company in the future. (Until now, have always recommended hotels because we did not have a better option.)
Thank-you for your help and I look forward to your final email.
..............
Once again, I want you to know how much I appreciate your help with this trip. It made it a lot easier than if I had tried to do all of this on my own.

Christi Ford

 Carlos     
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2002

Dear friends,
I hereby want to thank you for the extraordinary service received from you in Havana in my trip between June 7 and 23.
I truly congratulate you all for renting the house of Carmita. Great house and wonderful family.
This letter is to show my gratitude for your kind letters and attention. I will definitely contact you for our next visit and will try to stay in the same house with that lovely family.

Kindest regards,

Carlos

 Sunni Witmer     
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2002

Dear Miguel,

Thank you very, very much for arranging such wonderful accommodations for me. This apartment will serve me very well. Please thank Guillen for me. I will look forward to meeting him on Sunday when I arrive. I am very grateful that I will be able to meet with other researchers and musicians in this apartment. It will make my research much easier.

I will be returning to Cuba regularly over the next few years while I continue my research and will use your service to help me find accommodations in the future.
You have been very kind and very efficient.
Thank you very much for your excellent service.

Sunni Witmer

 Richard Sharp     
Date: Mon, 06 May 2002

My stay in Havana was spectacular. Manolo was a great host and a very nice man.
I plan to return to Cuba in the future. I will let you know when I am returning.

Thank you for your help;

Richard Sharp

 David Morton     
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002

Hey, miguel - Havana was great! I was only there 4 days, but what a fantastic trip. Omar, the homeowner was fine too, and the flat was OK....right behind the habana libre hotel, so quite convenient.
I was pleased that I had the flat, as I met a couple of great guys while I was there.....anyway - I had an excellent time.
Thanks for making the process much easier. I will definitely recommend Havana Rentals to independent travellers.

Best regards,

...David

 Neil Kelly     
Date: Aug 12th 2002

I have the highest praise for Havana Rentals and their efficient, courteous service. When the owner of a casa (which I had reserved two months ahead of time) cancelled three days before my flight to Havana, I contacted the agency in a panic. Within three hours, the rental agent Deisy had e-mailed me a description and six photos of a charming new apartment in their listings, then booked it for me within minutes. The private one-bedroom apartment is owned by Doctora Laubel, a university professor and most gracious hostess. Excellent value and fine location on Linea right at El Malecon. I shall return to Havana Rentals and (I hope) Doctora Laubel next year.
Neil Kelly, Ottawa, Canada.

 Stephanie Morrell     
Date: Jan 12th 2002

Dear Miguel,
I was very happy with my accomodations at Dora and Mario's apartment in Havana, Cuba.
They are very loving and informative and there hospitality and interest for my friend and I having a great time in Cuba. I will keep in touch with them! I hope that you will send everyone to them as they are the best and there location was too.
Thank You
Stephanie Morrell

 Gilles Verreault     
Date: Dec 30th 2001

Just a few words to tell you that I came back from Havana yesterday, Dec. 29, 2001 and that everything went perfectly well. I found the apartment Rodolfo very convenient and comfortable. Sr. Rodolfo was very pleasant and accomodating and we got along nicely. Your Havana Rentals representative in Havana met me on time for the appointment of Dec. 16 and she was very helpful. I only have positive comments about the whole thing. As for life in Havana... well that's another story, but there's nothing anybody can do about that.
Thank you for making my stay in Havana easier and muy agradable.
Gilles Verreault, Ottawa, Canada.

 Charlie Waite     
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001

Thank you for all the information Miguel......as they say ..."It has been a pleasure doing business with you" I will recommend your company to all the people that I know.
Many photographers are coming to Cuba and I am will suggest your company. I am very pleased and thank you for finding a private apartment so near to Marina Hemingway.
Many thanks for all your very efficient and professional help.
Yours Charlie

 Joaquín y Nuria     
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2001

After our return to Spain and having a few days adapting to the time difference in Spain, I write you just to say that it was all perfect.
Right from the start with the greeting at Havana Airport, also the stay at the apartment of Mrs. Esther and finally the return, it was all perfect.
In the apartment of Esther we received a very good service and I´m glad to say that we felt home.
I simply want to thank you for your service and hope to see you soon.
Kind regards,
Joaquín and Nuria (Spain)

 Simona Chiose     
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001

I found your service excellent and both of you veryfriendly and very reliable. It was great to be picked up from the airport, especially because it was our first time in Havana. Hilda's house was wonderful, there was warm water all the time, Senora Alvarez was very helpful and nice to us. The room was cleaned every day and was very neat and large enough for two people.
We happened to see a room at the Hotel Nacional and we said "that's not very different from ours!" except we were paying only $30. It was quite good to have privacy and in the evening we often sat outside in the courtyard outside the building.
The location as well was excellent. If we come to Havana again, we're definately stay with Senora Alvarez. It's a room you can spend two weeks in without any problems.
But overall, we really liked Havana and found the life and the people there fascinating. I hope to see you both again in not too long a time. Please say hello to your girlfriend for me and muchas gracias.
Simona

 Ashley Lawrence     
Subject: Our Stay in Havana
Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001

Dear Havana Rentals,
We just returned to Canada from our holiday in Cuba.
I am glad to tell you that we had a great time in Havana.
Our stay at the house of Elia and Acuña (not yet listed in the website) was very pleasant.
They were great hosts and cooked large and dellicious meals whenever we needed. The house is very comfortable, spacious and secure also with secure parking on the premises.
Thanks for your assistance. I will let you know when I plan to visit Havana again in the future.
Best Regards,
Ashley Lawrence

 Rick Hayes     
Subject: Recomending your rental service
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001

I would like to let you know that Leo and myself realy enjoyed stay at Carlos house in havana and Arn and Jim liked there stay at Mr Jose Guerra house. We also liked the location as it was not too far from down town, the beach and the Marina. the breakfast we had were great and very reasonable.
Should you have any inquires please feel free to give my name and phone number.
Rick Hayes,
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada. N5L 1G7 Phone 1 519 782 3028

Note from Havana Rentals: We feel the need to expose here as well, bad experiences that some of our clients have gone through in order to warn other tourists like you willing to visit Cuba and keep you away from going through these bad experiences too.
Cuba is a safe place, but we must admit that you may find unexpected situations that could be avoided if you knew them.

From: Ilaria Marcellini     
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001

My friend's money was under her pillow, she noticed somebody had touched it but when counting the money she first thought nothing was missing, but when checking it again for a second time, she noticed 100 US were missing.
Unfortunately we had already left Havana by then, so we didn't tell anything. We don't know who took my friend's money, we just know it happened in the apartment and since we had the room's keys, I don't think any of the other guests could have done it but only somebody belonging to the family, as they were cleaning the room and changing the bed sheets etc.

I know it was foolish on my friend's side to leave some of her money in theroom, from that moment on we kept everything with us all the time.

About the other "accidents":
- There are lots of teen-agers (especially in Camaguey city) trying to fool tourists telling them the house they are going to has no rooms available, in order to bring them to other homes they know which are not the best possible ones - the house owners should be responsible for their guests' car, while in 99% cases they are prompting the guests to pay 1 or 2 US per night to somebody who is supposed to watch the car; of course these are no regular parking places, in other words tourists are paying for no-service, as the car is left in the street and nobody is liable for that.

In Camaguey the house owner was using a 'car watchman' who wanted the car keys to park the car in a parking place very far from the house we were stay in, with the result that we couldn't use it until leaving the town and once we left we found out that a considerable amount of gasoline was taken out of the car tank!.
- In Santiago de Cuba city we had a car accident which was clearly caused with the intent to get some money from us and the police was not helpful at all, on the contrary they encouraged the private transaction
- We had another case of police corruption when a policeman offered not to fine us but took half the fine's charge to himself
- You surely know already that some roads are in very bad conditions and what's worse with no signs, some have signs but then you find out the road is interrupted or the place it leads to is closed; most of the locals you're asking to are not helpful in these cases as they don't travel a lot.
OK, I think I can stop for now...maybe we've just been unlucky or the style of our holiday - driving for more than 3200 Km and always sleeping in private homes - was particularly subject to these inconvenients, but that's what happened to us.
Bye for now,
Ilaria Marcellini