If you want to experience great Cuban hospitality with a lovely family in central Havana I would highly recommend Casa Mer.

Wilfred and his family share their sweet art deco villa for a very affordable price and it's just a stroll or taxi away from the jazz clubs, the Malecon and central Havana shopping and night life. They also recommended to us other Cuban families to stay with in other towns which worked out well as the local government hotels aren't so great and cost about five times the price!

Casa Mer
calle 28 # 206
entre 21 y 19
Vedado Habana Cuba
telefono (537) 833 44 12
www.casamer.justincuba.com/

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Food is pretty basic in Cuba, mainly ham, cheese and eggs (for breakfast lunch and dinner!). Fruit is plentiful and fresh outside Havana, but a bit 'tired' in the city itself.
 
There are lovely restaurants in Havana if you look, but they do cost quite a lot. Oddly for people who love kids so much, they never take them out at night. We started off trying to have an afternoon sleep and then go out with kids in the evening, but we soon reverted to early dinner and then making our own entertainment in the hotel/casa.
 
There is a fantastic ice-cream place in Havana but beware, it is designed for locals, so only go if you manage to get some local currency. We were very embarrassed when it came to pay....
 

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We stayed in the wonderful Sevilla Hotel in Havana and then 2 Casa Particulars (people's houses) in Trinidad and then back in Havana. In retrospect I would probably have finished with the hotel as after 2 weeks in Cuba you really need a bit of luxury! The casas are great however, as you get to stay with a proper Cuban family and they love kids.

Carrie found us all the casas, and she was invaluable. Her site is www.cuba-particular.com and you can contact her at carrie@cuba-particular.com

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Cubans love kids! We went everywhere and did everything and heard constant moans from fellow tourists about being hassled and ripped off - we had none of that and can only assume that they left us alone because we had kids in tow. So, they can be an invaluable asset.
 

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