Hotel Islazul Las Tunas

The one and only hotel in town for tourists, this Soviet-era Bauhaus-style three-story concrete carbuncle enjoys a breezeswept hilltop locale adjacent to the Plaza de la Revolución, a 15-minute walk from downtown. The infrastructure betrays its Soviet-era progeny. The sole saving grace here is the huge swimming pool, which gets noisy on weekends when local families flock. And there's a small video game arcade. The restaurant offers only the most limited menu and even then, many items may not be available

Don't expect anything fancy in the 142 rooms here. They're fitted out with utility furniture and weary mattresses with well-worn fabrics. At least they boast satellite TV (with a handful of channels), phones, small refrigerators, and modern bathrooms. Nonetheless, expect finicky and unreliable plumbing and a few other quirks.