CubaPLUS Magazine

Astrid’s Casa (La Casa de Astrid) has a curious side to it that many people find hard to explain – it’s the kind of experience that takes on greater force in hindsight.

On the outskirts of Havana, just three minutes away from the José Martí International Airport and twenty minutes from downtown, this dreamlike hostel is found in a neighborhood called Fontanar. It’s a place where good taste, clean lines, and nature all come together according to feng shui, the ancient Chinese technique practiced by Astrid, the hostel’s warm and friendly owner. The idea is to create a pleasing and relaxed environment in harmony with natural elements.

The hostel is centered on rest and relaxation. An energizing rock of volcanic quartz is the focal point of the central patio. Silence and relaxation pervade the entire area. The luxuriant verdant surroundings, the potted plants, the organic garden, and the many species of birds nesting onsite all come together in an ongoing dialogue with nature. This is a place to come and enjoy Earth’s silence and music, to connect with the energetic spirit of the rocks purposefully placed throughout, to feel the free flow of positive energy.

There are three houses within the hostel property, built with the use of natural elements such as wood, clay, and cosmic stones; each house is an independent structure, with three bedroom, four baths, a living room, kitchen, terraces and parking spaces. All the houses are completely air conditioned and comfortably furnished. Each bedroom has its own bathroom, with excellent water pressure, cold and hot water, a 3D television, minibar, safe, hair dryer, iron and magnifying mirror.

The windows are designed to take full advantage of the light in all seasons of the year, with the balconies overlooking the lush landscape surrounding the hostel. The interior design runs the gamut, from antique to modern, always in the spirit of feng shui, highlighting the pleasure of the natural environment.

The staff are extremely helpful and friendly, pleased to offer excellent service, with love. Anyone who has stayed here before knows exactly what I’m talking about: the kind of personalized service that makes one feel like a VIP – that is what you are at Astrid’s Casa. Furthermore, the location is very convenient to various tourist draws like Cuba’s National Zoo, ExpoCuba, great restaurants serving Creole and international cuisine…all in a rural, private and very peaceful environment.