Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana

Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana is, alone, a reason to head to Cuba, as quickly as you can. Many of those staying at this 246-room beauty seem to congregate on the sixth-floor rooftop, for its outdoor pool – see above – and, in all directions, strategic views of the city.  Also up there is the Albear by Resense spa, named for engineer Francisco de Albear, 1816-1887, whose main lasting claim to fame was installing a system to bring in water from the Vento springs via what is still known as the Albear aqueduct.

Add one more travel segment that Forbes Travel Guide (“FTG”) is now affording its star rating: river cruises.