6-5-2012 To be honest this stay really was the ultimate highlight of our wonderful holiday in Cuba.

Vinales is a beautiful peaceful area with stunning scenery, but what made it extra special was the home from home at Casa Colonial. We were treated with exceptional warmth and literally nothing was too much trouble for Mercedes and her son Mikael who arranged everything for us, including bike hires, tours, horse-riding and salsa lessons, all at very short notice. This ensured no stress in organising anything. We simply kicked back, relaxed and had lots of fun! Practicing my newfound salsa dancing skills down the road from the Casa, at Polo Montanez bar (a great night out!) with Mercedes niece and the wonderful local people of Vinales is a memory that will stay with me for a long time.

I would recommend both Vinales and especially Casa Colonial Mercedes to any friends visiting Cuba as a must. Thanks to Mercedes, Mikael and family for being such great hosts, hope to visit you again some day!

6-4-2012 Mitte März 2012 verbrachten wir 3 Tage im Casa Mercedes und haben die Gastfreunschaft von [*] und Familie genossen. [*] hat uns verwöhnt. Es blieben keine Wünsche offen. Sie ist eine ausgezeichnete Gastgeberin und Köchin. Obwohl sie weder deutsch noch englisch spricht konnten wir uns mit unserem gegen Null tendierenden Spanisch bestens verständigen. Ihr Sohn [*] schaute täglich vorbei und organisierte auch einen Trip mit dem Pferd durch das Tabakanbaugebiet - sehr zu empfehlen. [*] spricht sehr gut englisch und französisch und ist auch ein sehr syphatischer Typ. Wir können das Casa nur empfehlen und kommen sicher wieder.

[*Namen von Privatpersonen / Personal werden gemäß unseren Regeln nicht veröffentlicht. Die Zoover-Redaktion.]

12-2-2012 Friends who had stayed at Casa Mercedes referred us. It was wonderful -both cozy and clean. Its a single story bungalow with high ceilings and is divided into family/guest areas by the kitchen -a perfect arrangement; we had our meals in our living/dining rm without feeling an intrusion into the family's area, as was the case at another Casa. (Our guest area included a porch that opened into our living dining rm, then off that was our bedrm w ensuite bathrm.) There is only one suite available at Mercedes so the feeling is very private.

Mercedes cooking was amazing. Our fish was fresh and tasty. There was a small safe for us to lock valuables in, the beds were comfy, we could open windows, and the shower provided hot water. We had great sleep and were awakened by the clip-clop of horses and roosters near and far.

10-1-2012 Nous avons passés 3 nuits dans ce merveilleux endroit. Acceuil au bus à l'arrivée, chambre avec coffre, sdb, espace privé pour les repas,et rocking chairs sur la terrasse.
Et que dire des très bons et copieux plats , Mojitos, milkshake et jus de fruits frais préparés et servis avec amour par Mercedes! Le tout à des prix plus que correctes! Elle est d'une gentillesse, comme Parilla, son époux, sans oublier son fils, Maikel. Ce dernier peut vous aider pour vos désirs d'excursions, et parle anglais et français.
La journée en Dodge de 1957 avec Gabriel et la promenade à cheval restent inoubliables.
A signaler, assez bien de bruit le matin tôt, par le passage des tracteurs, motos et charrettes à cheveaux, mais ce qui précède vous fait vite oublier ce petit souci!!
On serait bien restés une semaine de plus!
Viñales et ses alentours valent le déplacement...sur et certain!

15-12-2011 Beautiful colonial casa in the wonderful valley of Viñales. Mercedes and Maikel are really lovely people. They make you feel like at home. Room is huge, clean with air conditioner and security lock. You also have a lounge and the patio all for you! Mercedes’s food is simply delicious!!! Don’t miss her chicken, beans soup with chorizo and her flan!!! All divine! I highly recommend this casa, Mercedes is a wonderful woman very chatty and really sweet, I wish we could have stayed longer.

8-9-2011 My husband and I stayed three nights and loved every minute of it! Simple and perfectly clean room. Made up for us every day which never happened again in Cuba. Two large and confortable beds, perfect matterasses and pillows (pretty rare to find) and good air conditioning!nicely equipped bathroom with soap and hairdryer provvided (never had anywhere else).
Outstanding treatment from Mercedes! She is absolutely amazing! always there for anything at all you needed, incredible cook (the best chicken, not only in cuba, put probably the best in our life), perfect cocktails... and always with a sweet cudling smile! (she even did our laundry for us...). A true home away from home!
Vinales was our first stop in one month holiday in Cuba and we missed Mercedes every day!
Her son Mikael works for the local travel agency and can arrange anything for you!We also like the location: nice and quiet and with a perfect insight of the village!
the perfect place, don't go anywhere else!

22-8-2011 La Casa Mercedes et Vinales sont nos meilleurs moments et souvenirs de Cuba. Mercedes nous accueilles très chaleuresement.
Elle très gentille. Maikel au petit soin pour trouver vos activités ou guide pour visiter. Il parle français et anglais. C'était super.
Merci à cette famille.
La cuisine de Mercedes, la meilleure de Cuba. Un pur régal. Les jus de fruits et les cocktails très bons (et très alcoolisés !). Petits déjeuners et repas très copieux.
La chambre et salle privée sont grandes et agréables. Il ya un coffret fort, séche cheveux, penderie avec cintres, air conditionné et ventilateur.

4-6-2011 Casa Colonial Mercedes was the nicest place we stayed at in whole Cuba. We received the warmest welcome and the best food there.
Mercedes together with her cool son Maikel took care of us amazingly. We felt like a part of the family.
It was my birthday when I was there and they prepared several surprises for me including a delicious (and the biggest I ever got) birthday cake.
Mercedes prepared perfect food, I would recommend that you eat in the casa, it´s really worth it! It is delcious and plentiful.
If we ever return to Vinales, the reason will be to visit these fantastic sweet people who we truly miss.

30-3-2011 This casa and the owners were just amazing. Mercedes waited for us already at the bus station. The warm water "pipe" was broken, but she immediately called someone to repair it. We've got the best food here during our whole stay in Cuba. Besides this Mercedes was the kindest Cuban who we discussed everything from family, life and politics, even though she didn´t speak English and we didn´t speak Spanish:) We could have an insight in everyday Cuban life and see how Cubans live.
The only tiny problem was the bed, that was too short for my husband who is 1,90 m.