Private accommodation is the real thing

You can choose between a stay in a Cuba hotel or in a "casa particular" this is a private room in a Cuban house. The private rooms are much less expensive than a hotel room and are the cheapest lawful lodgings you'll find for your stay in Cuba.

A casa particular gives you the real Cuban feeling,as it puts you in direct contact with a Cuban family. Renting a casa particular helps a Cuban family and in turn they can help you to with information about restaurants , transportation , making a private house reservation for another cities, or by explaining the life in Cuba.
The casa particular should be legal one, a blue triangle sign on the outside of the casa indicates this.

There are many casa particulares in La Havana and I would suggest that one

http://havana-house.webcindario.com/

I know a few of them and this one is well located, very comfortable and the owners are very friendly.

Have a nice time in La Havana and don´t drink too much mojitos!