Muthu Segundo Frente Hotel: a former Castro Village

It's hard to begin writing when you have so much to say. This place deserves it, for its good, its bad, and its worst. The Muthu Segundo Frente Hotel presents itself as a 4-star nature destination, but it has gradually lost all the excellence it boasted in its early years. If it were to be re-evaluated today, this resort would likely be downgraded to 3 stars.

Perhaps this decline is due, more than to the decline in international tourism to the country, to the fact that it is no longer the preferred vacation spot for Raúl Castro and his offspring. The design and location of the hotel were based on the personal tastes of the current head of the Castro family.

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Upon arriving at the hotel, you are greeted by a reception area that, like everything else, has seen better days and needs proper maintenance. However, the atmosphere is pleasant and the temperature is cool, as in addition to the refreshing vegetation, the air conditioning remains on, replicating a temperate climate.

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I never understood this stone in the middle of the lobby, but perhaps it was meant to remind Raúl of his brother.

As it was part of a day pass (a type of service that allows you to access the hotel facilities during the day), a welcome cocktail (a sangria in this case) was offered to all visitors. Although, to be honest, the quality left something to be desired; I'm not a bartender, and I make better cocktails. This was a prelude to what I was later able to confirm: they're not prepared to serve large numbers of people at the hotel in a short time. They have very few staff members, and it shows, at least at lunchtime, when service is slow and the food can be served cold.

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Additionally, that day they were having difficulties with the water, so the pool, which is smaller than I expected, wasn't completely clear. Even the tile squares on the bottom or sides of the pool were coming loose, which makes me fear that it won't be able to operate in the future. The food offerings, aside from being limited, were expensive, but the good news is that you can pay by bank transfer (yes, don't be surprised, this is trivial in Cuba).

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When you see the pond, you wonder if those fish are alive by miracle.

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The hotel has a small gym that may feel cozy and modern. But then you look closely and find that it looks like it's been looted and replaced with dumbbells and weight plates with bearings from a sugar industry.

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While they probably offer tour guides, the facilities have their own trail, almost abandoned, with some viewpoints that overlook nowhere. I only managed to get a partial glimpse of all the ones I climbed into.

You can't enter any of the rooms; I assume they're reasonably comfortable, so I can only show you the outside. Evidently, judging by the design, materials, and quality of construction, the tastes of the Castros and their close associates aren't communist.

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Special attention to the private villa with a pool, jacuzzi, parking, and separate services. Raúl and his family get a free stay at this villa (and anywhere else), but if you want to stay, the hotel's website advertises it for between $300 and $420 per night depending on the season.

Even the cheapest rooms cost between $60 and $85, so it's no wonder it remains empty almost year-round. This hotel, like most, survives thanks to domestic guests who come for day trips or organizations and companies that rent its spaces for meetings and conventions. It's no wonder they don't invest in quality maintenance, although experience shows that even if it were full of foreign guests paying in foreign currency, they wouldn't do so.

The place is nice, a place to go for a weekend getaway, alone or with your partner, or on your honeymoon, but the price doesn't match the service. You'd be paying more for less attention.