A recap of my experience living with an Angel in a Casa Particular during my short time in Cuba. Keep reading to find out how you can stay with a local during your visit to Cuba.

When I arrived at my casa particular after dark, Mirtha was sitting outside on her steps waiting for me with a smile on her face.

When I struggled to lug my bags up the stairs to her 3rd-floor apartment, she used all of her strength to help me out even though I insisted that it was fine.

When I couldn’t understand her fast Spanish, she remained patient & slowed her speech without getting annoyed or giving up altogether.

When I was in her presence, she would basically force me to eat whether I was hungry or not - the ultimate sign of love in many cultures. This included Ropa vieja, Arroz Congri, Arroz con Leche, Malanga, Yuca Frita, Maduros, Pan con queso, Guayaba. ALL of the food!

When I told her I felt sick(vomiting 5 times in one day), she immediately rushed out the door & returned with fresh bread, Malanga, activated charcoal, and hot tea to make me feel better- no questions asked.

When I asked her about bus tickets, she spent 3(1 hour waiting on the bus bc Cuba) hours in the heat to accompany me to the bus station.

When I had no plans, she prompted me to join her in watching her favorite telenovelas.

When I said goodbye, she gifted me with a necklace made out of material that can only be found in Cuba & a piece of her art because she loved art and she remembered that I did too.

So what was the catch? I wondered the same.

There wasn't one.

This woman treated me as if I was her daughter, simply out of the kindness of her heart.

Listening to her tell stories, grocery shopping with her, meeting her family members, watching her cook, and simply being in her presence gave me special insight into the life of a Cuban woman.

After a long day spent in the streets loud streets of Havana, her quiet home was like a refuge to return to. How could a stranger be so kind? I nearly cried when I left.

WHAT IS A CASA PARTICULAR

If you're headed to Cuba and have yet to decide where to stay - a casa particular is the way to go! In 1997, Cuban citizens were given permission to rent out their private homes to tourists giving them a chance to become self-employed and earn extra income. A casa particular is essentially a homestay or B&B. You can reserve a room or an entire home.

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BENEFITS OF STAYING IN A CASA PARTICULAR

Under the 'Support for the Cuban People' category, US citizens must spend most of their time interacting with locals and this is one way to fulfill that requirement. Due to new restrictions, it's illegal to stay in many hotels anyway.
This is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Cuba and learn about how the people truly live. To eat, drink, & dance with the locals. That experience up there? You can't get that in a hotel.
The owners can give your recommendations, book taxis for you, make phone calls for you, and simply be your lifeline while in Cuba.
You are putting your tourist dollars directly into the hands of Cubans, giving them a chance to earn more than the typical $25-$30 a month.
Casa particulars are typically affordable, ranging from $15-$50 a night.
Probably the best dang food you'll have in Cuba

HOW TO BOOK A CASA PARTICULAR IN CUBA

They aren't hard to find. Everyone & their mother seems to rent a room out. You can either book a casa particular online in advance or you can just show up once you arrive in Cuba.

I'd highly advise you to book in advance online for the first several days or so, especially during high season(Mid December - March). I booked my first week online so that I could have a place as soon as I arrived in the city without having to carry my bags around in a place I'd never been. I left the remaining week open & simply showed up.

AIRBNB

When you book through Airbnb:

You can read reviews. This is always huge to me. You can know exactly what to expect in regards to cleanliness, A/C, surrounding areas, service, what the host is like, and other things that you might not normally think of.
- I chose Mirtha's Airbnb because reviewers described her as very "warm" and "talkative". They were right. I simply showed up at the other two casas I stayed at and the hosts treated the experience solely like a transaction, which is fine. Clearly, it paid off to know what I was getting myself into beforehand.
You have a guaranteed place to stay. This is huge during high season. Sometimes casa owners overbook, so it feels safer to know that you've already got a place to stay. There's no need to waste time going from door to door for a room.
It's a trusted site. As a solo female traveler, I felt better booking through Airbnb because my records were available in case something went wrong. I frequently use the website, so I felt more comfortable by booking here than through other sites or by just showing up.
Less cash. You pay upfront when booking through Airbnb. This limits the amount of cash you need to carry around, especially since ATMs don't work for US citizens. This is also ideal if you need to stick to a certain budget.

Note: You cannot book through the Airbnb site while you are IN Cuba, so you must book before you arrive. If you need to book a room after you've arrived, you can simply try to message the host or ask a friend back home to book it for you.

Click here to search Airbnb & Get $40 off your stay

You can also search for Casas on Booking.com

JUST SHOW UP

When you just show up:

More options. There are way too many Casas to choose from & many aren't listed online. This includes Casas that might be lower priced. You also might be able to negotiate the price.
You have flexibility. Since you haven't paid online in advance, you can hop around without feeling tied to one place. If you realize you don't like Havana after 2 days, you can leave without money being wasted.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT A CASA PARTICULAR

Most rooms will have a double bed with a private bathroom, with A/C & hot water. The rooms are very basic.
Casa owners are required to keep very detailed guest records, so you will need to hand over your passport at check-in. Don't worry, you'll get it back right away.
In Havana, many Casas are on the 3rd, 4th, or 5th floor. There are no elevators, so this is something to consider if you plan to bring heavy luggage.
Every host is different, some are more involved/open than others. Some see the experience as more transactional. Either way, you are not expected to spend all of your time with the host family. You'll have as much privacy as you wish because they understand that you are there to see the country.
It might be difficult to locate your casa. Be sure write down the street address or ask around because neighbors usually know each other.
NO WI-FI.
Most hosts will only speak Spanish. Do yourself a favor & download Google Translate before going if you struggle with Spanish.
The experience is what you make it. Try to talk to the hosts, ask them questions, treat their home as more than a hotel & you'll likely get the exceptional treatment in return.

While my homestay in Trinidad was more mediocre, my time in Mirtha's was the highlight of my trip. If I ever return to Cuba, her home will be my first stop. If you're interested, you can find her home here. She deserves ALL of the business.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Don't forget travel insurance! It is required in Cuba! I use World Nomads !

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Would you stay in a stranger's home for the ultimate cultural experience? Share below!

Here are the 5 reasons I prefer AirBnB to Hotels

Cheaper Prices

More often than not, I've booked with AirBnB because of the affordable prices - "post grad budget", right? Sharing a home as opposed to renting an entire home definitely makes a difference in the price. I've also found that rooms are much more affordable outside of the US where the costs of living are lower overall. I've seen places in Cancun and Thailand that were beautiful, yet dirt cheap. You'll also find it reasonable to split a large home with a large group for a pretty good price. Cheaper prices aren't always absolute, because in US cities that happen to be more expensive, a decent airbnb can cost you more than a standard hotel. It's best to do some research to compare prices. 2.

Endless Options

The types of rooms you can stay in at a hotel are usually very standard and limited. Air B&B offers so many options - Apartments, Studios, Mansions, Treehouses, Castles, boathouses, etc. You can choose a shared room, a private room, or an entire apartment/house. The list is endless. Even when I'm not booking, I enjoy searching through the various homes of people around the world. As someone who visits places and imagines of what people's homes looks like on the inside, it's so fun to see the interior decor.

Great For Longer Trips

While I've never stayed in an AirBnB for longer than a week, I can see the benefits that come along with having a kitchen to cook in and a place where you can do laundry for free, which will save you loads of money. Many places have options for people to rent months at a time, which is great for anyone doing long term travel. I think we can all agree that the comfort of a home will always outweigh that of a hotel.

Local Experience

One of my favorite things about traveling is meeting the people that have lived in that area and know it well. They can give you the best tips and some great insight to their way of life, just like our host in San Juan. Airbnb's motto is 'LIVE THERE' - experience a place like you live there. You get the chance to stay in areas which may have no hotels at all, which gives you a different perspective of the city.

Its an adventure

Now, this may scare a lot of people. For me, it's so exciting. You honestly never know what you're going to get until you arrive. You don't know what your host will be like or if the accommodation will even live up to your standards. On the other hand, a hotel stay is pretty standard. Although this is comforting, I enjoy the surprises that come along with staying in an Air BnB. You could end up making life-long friends with the host or simply having a unique experience. And that's what adventures are all about, right?