Very friendly staffed casa in the Vadedo district of Havanna (that is, a 15 minute/1 USD collectivo taxi ride from the historical center). We had a two person private room. During our 3 night stay we felt safe, the room was clean, and Carlita was - literally - like a "Mama" to us. But despite the "defend socialism" propaganda in the streets Carlita knows her services are worth good money and she is a business woman and will charge you fair prices. This place is top quality and therefore not the cheapest you will find. Nonetheless, I fully recommend it.

In detail:

Good:
- Despite being a private room for rent, arriving in the middle of the night was not a problem
- Rooms are clean
- Staff makes you feel welcome
- Carlita takes care of you (Warning of scam, getting a last minute bus ticket)
- Organize other services (such as taxis, laundry etc)

Bad:
- Private bathroom was indeed shared

Nice to know:
- Breakfast is good, but not cheap at 5 CUC a person

This was the first and last casa we stayed at on our trip to Cuba. It was the perfect introduction thanks to Karlita's great advice about where to go and particularly what you should pay - so 2.50 cuc taxi from the casa to parc central, 3cuc return from parc to hotel tropicoco beach etc. The casa is in Vedado which is a quiet area of Havana and within easy walking distance of the Malecon, Hotel Nacional and the Coppelia ice cream parlour.
Karlita runs this as a family business and you will be treated as one of the family. if you want a lively party house then look elsewhere.
The breakfasts are well worth the money and Karlita's tortilla is simply the best! We also had evening meals there and they were much better in terms of quality and price than the local restaurants.
Would have no hesitation in returning again - we love you Karlita and Nan! Xxx

Casa Carlita offers spotless, attractive lodgings and bathroom (only one), superb breakfasts (and dinners too if requested), all at a very reasonable price. The street is typical Havana, within walking distance of a couple of big hotels (e-mail), the best icecream in town, and the Malecon and it has a convenient supply of passing taxis. The rooms have fans, a cross-breeze and open windows,(not air-conditioning) but we did not find that a problem for sleeping. The people who work there are wonderful: kind, friendly, full of useful advice and information, and willing to chat if you want to practice your Spanish. Well worth a generous tip to each of them for the attitude alone, I thought.

Casa Karlita provided me with one of the fondest memories out of my many travel experiences. Karlita and all of her associates are amongst the warmest, kindest, most hospitable hosts one could hope to encounter. From the moment I arived to the moment I left, I was treated with the utmost care and respect, and was genuinely made to feel like part of the family. The sense of pride Karlita and her staff take in this casa is palpable. The accomodations are very comfortable, with rooms offering good strong air conditioning and secure storage for valuables. The entire house, from bathrooms to common areas, is kept scrupulously clean and Karlita makes no compromises when it comes to security, which I found reassuring. Meals were some of the best I experienced in Cuba and were prepared with obvious care, breakfasts often featuring lovely fresh fruits and juices which made for a great start to the day. I found the location to be just about perfect. The casa is nicely removed from the well-worn tourist trail in Habana Vieja, but still within comfortable walking distance, and just blocks from the Malecon, Parque Coppelia, La Rampa and an array of restaurants and shops. In my experience, it's the people one encounters along the way that make or break a vacation and the ladies of Casa Karlita certainly went above and beyond to ensure my first experience in Cuba will not be my last. One would be hard pressed to find a kinder, more gracious group of people to stay with and I can't recommend them enough.