Trinidad, Cuba // Sanctus Spiritus // Casa Lyosman y Yanin Casa Colonial en el Centro Historico // Airbnb Review
Our visit to Trinidad began with a stay in a family-owned 1800 home joined with a 1900 home combined in one spacious and delightful property. Managed by Lyosman and Yanin, their home is on a 500 year-old immaculate cobblestone street in historic Trinidad.
Colonial Home in the Historic District
The home was first owned by Yanin’s grandparents, then parents, and passed down to her. She and her husband Lyosman purchased the residence next door, opened up walls, combined spaces, and slowly created accommodations in four bedrooms for as many as 16 guests.
As in my last Cuban Airbnb review, once again, the softness of the beds and the thread count of the sheets simply did not matter. What mattered was meeting the people, making lifelong friends, experiencing the Cuban resiliency, and learning how to adapt, improvise, and overcome.
Unusual Structures
Unique in Trinidad, the fronts of the houses are all touching. It is difficult to distinguish one house from another, as they share walls. Entire blocks of homes look like one building with multiple doors and windows. Each house is fairly narrow, the width of a bedroom and a hallway, but runs deep with three to four living spaces front-to-back.
When we pulled up at the door, we didn’t even realize it was a home! Since everyone keeps windows and doors open, most windows have a bar system, probably to keep small children and dogs inside on warm nights. The view above is looking across the street – you can see how each house butts against the next, differentiated by paint colors.
Entering, the rather plain exterior gave no clue as to the luxury we would find inside. Marble floors, antique furniture, soaring vaulted ceilings of wood beams, antique light fixtures, and period trim finished each room.
Long Houses
The first room is an open family room, with an office area beyond that. We noticed the couple’s children liked to sit in their father’s lap as he worked on the computer with bookings and business. The couple really invites you into their own home, with your own keys to your room.
The children were unbelievably well-behaved, enjoyed lots of kisses and cuddles, and never once had to be reprimanded. Luna, the family Chihuahua, however, was pregnant and moody, much to everyone’s amusement. She also preferred to be in her daddy’s lap.
Open Spaces
Straight ahead is the kitchen the family uses, then a bedroom they use, and beyond that an open courtyard, a guest bedroom, then a second kitchen for preparing meals for the guests, then another courtyard, then a laundry room. That is the right-hand house.
In the downstairs area, there was one room we did not see, and a second with two beds and an en suite bathroom where we stayed. Upstairs two large and airy rooms held two double beds each.
The bathroom we had was impeccable, and you could tell it was added recently as it was not tiled wall-to-wall!
The left-hand house, from the front, is a garage for a car, a utility room, a family bedroom, a guest bedroom, then stairs to the upper level with two guest bedrooms completely separate, and a large patio up top for dining or catching a breeze. The left-hand side joins the right at the guest kitchen.
Amazingly, much of the house is completely open air. It’s a very nice way to live, open to nature and the fresh air and views.
The bedrooms all feature umbrellas, refrigerator, and en suite bathrooms as well as air conditioning.
Casa Experience
Yanin was very up-to-date on news from the US, even letting me know about changes that day. Spending time talking with her about running an Airbnb was fascinating. She told me about beginning with one guest room, purchasing the property next door, increasing their offerings. ‘
She talked about how running a business meant making sacrifices for her family, such as having to ask them to be quiet when they are getting ready for school early in the morning and the guests are sleeping. She said also, guests like to go listen to music late in Trinidad, but was pleased to say her children sleep right through late-returning guests.
The rewards she anticipates are having a profitable, dependable income she can pass on to her children.
While she jumped on her scooter to take her daughter to school, Lyosman was cooking our breakfast and training a cook on how to correctly prepare omelets, slice cake, and serve breads.
We could see he was very specific about how he wanted food prepared and presented.
Their attention to detail and the calm, uncluttered, open and airy feel in their guest spaces will guarantee them return guests. Yanin said most of their guests are Germans who come in December, but also in the Fall.
Fascinating Feature
Most fascinating was a device on the wall; a control of some sort. You can see a white box below the mirror above. I had noticed it immediately when we arrived. Later, I discovered one marble tile that was not grouted like the others. When I asked, the answer was amazing.
While walking Trinidad, we had witnessed water running down the road and people hurridly plugging in water pumps. I figured right away that they were pumping water into the day tanks on the roofs for use the following day. I was right.
Lyosman and Yanin had invested in an automatic system that recognizes when the water is running freely for people to capture. It automatically fills their rooftop day tanks. Yanin said it was a large improvement, that sometimes, especially with a language barrier, it was difficult to explain to guests that they must wait a bit for a hot shower until the water is available.
The control on the wall above turns the pump on and off, and resets it. However, it has a float switch and can operate itself automatically. The opening in the floor leads to the pump that is attached to the main water line. The water flows sometimes in the morning, and more often in the evening. With the automatic switch, they don’t have to watch for the trickle on the street and hook up to it every night in order to get water inside.
The initiative and determination of the Cubans to offer excellent service is commendable. Even with obstacles such as limited access to water, they figure out a way to offer hospitality, friendship, and professional services.
Final Thoughts
As it turned out, our accommodations were clean, welcoming, and with wonderful open spaces and plants. Trinidad is very warm, hot, even. Plan to wear cool, light clothes and take a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Visitors are very safe.
When you spend a night in a casa particular, they will require your passport to note your name and country of origin in their records. This is customary, as they must keep records of how they are earning income.
Another interesting custom is the keys – you are given a set of keys to the main door, and you have one to your room. That is so the staff may come and go, preparing meals or watering plants or cleaning, while your room remains locked.
We have to thank Mitchel Morales and Xander Ferras at CubaDivingNow for assisting us with this incredible journey. Casa Lyosman y Yanin was just one stop of many. Hector Pechero was our main driver, and next we headed to Cienfuegos. Subscribe for more articles about our adventures in Cuba.
If you have any questions about booking a trip to Cuba, leave a message in the comments or email me, and I’ll do my best to answer any questions. Please subscribe – upcoming articles about our other Airbnb stays in Havana, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, and Playa Larga as well as articles about our Cuban travels are coming up next! How to travel to Cuba from the US is linked below.
Airbnb – Make Your Trips “Off The Chain!”
Ok, so, here are two Airbnb discount codes. Try either one! The offerings from Airbnb change every couple months, so use whichever gives you the best deal. You can only use a code one time, so compare, choose whichever gives you the best deal since they change periodically, and make it count!
As of today, this one, Airbnb says, “Kimberly gave you up to $55 off your first trip.” Friends who sign up for Airbnb with my link will get $40 off their home booking. And they get $15 to use toward an experience worth $50 or more.
Also today, this one, Airbnb says, “Deep gave you up to $415 off your first adventure. I’m ready to book from this one right now! I’m thinking it’s a computer glitch – so jump on it fast!
Casa Colonial en el Centro Historico Lyosman y Yanin link on Airbnb. Or, if you already are in Airbnb, typing in “Casa Lyosman y Yanin” will get you to the listing. Casa Lyosman y Yanin is located in the municipality of Trinidad, the province of Sanctus Spiritus, Cuba at 475 Jose Mendoza Street.
What to Read Next:
My Method for Booking a Great Airbnb Property
Cuban Pesos // What We Learned About Exchanging Money in Cuba
Planning a Legal Trip to Cuba from the US // Travel Restrictions // Rules for Americans
