However, one needn't visit such haunted houses. A hotel in Havana can be an oasis, a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. There's nothing better than a rich cigar and a cool mojito cocktail next to the swimming pool after a long day walking the dusty streets of Old Havana. The best hotels in Havana certainly can hold their own with those in most other Latin American countries, but for the greater part, they are second-rate by global standards. Don't compare any of these hotels to the best in Europe, North America or the Caribbean.
Poor service is the worst problem.
Many Cubans have no concept of what the hospitality business is about. From reception staff to waiters and even managers, they often give the impression that they don't care about their clients or their jobs. And even then, they still expect to be tipped. Havana seems to run on dollar tips these days. This is primarily to keep young women and men from hustling and hassling their customers in lobby areas and bars, but the guards at the entrances and elevators sometimes lend a prison-like atmosphere to even the best hotels.