Exactly. In every village there are tons of casas available, which can easily be found because there is a logo on the door. You just knock on the door and ask foor a room. I did not book any hotels during my visit in Cuba this year.
The problem I see in the short term: mobile internet for travellers in Cuba is rare / nonexistent and internet access for locals seems not ubiquitous. Probably both will change soon now that embargoes are lifted.
Also paladares, where people run restaurants out of their homes in a similar fashion. Very neat way to experience the culture!
Interestingly in Cuba it is illegal to provide free sleeping accommodations. CouchSurfing and the like are wholly illegal there so casa particulares are the only option for homestay.
you know, there are a couple of nice things about AirBnB that $COMPETITOR from Cuba can't easily match. For instance, first-world travelers are already quite willing to trust it with their credit cards. For another, it has global renown and doesn't need to advertise heavily to be found.
There is no competitor, it's an initiative from the state cuba. It's also not like it is heavily advertised. It just was basically the only option until now. I frequently use airbnb, so i know that it's great. Just saying that Cuba the state already had that kind of offering for years, as a fact.
casa particulars are more of a concept than a business entity. It pretty much means "Bed&Breakfast" (without the breakfast). The government involvement is licensing & taxation, although there's a thriving black market as well.
If anything, this will help AirBnB adoption since the concept of renting out a spare room is already widely known.
Cuba is not known for the exquisite culinary culture but I remind really nice meals in the casas particulares.
It comes to my mind the bread with homemade guayaba jam. And a fish we ate one night. It was so massive that they had to cook it in the oven of the local bakery.
I really hope this change Cuba is experimenting now will be for the better.
