EXCLUSIVE: This is the luxury mansion in Havana that Vilma Rodríguez, Raúl Castro's granddaughter, is renting out

Vilma Rodriguez, the granddaughter of former Cuban president Raúl Castro, rents a luxurious mansion in Havana for no less than $650 per night.

Although little was known about this until now, after several months of tracking this information, CiberCuba can exclusively reveal the features of the luxurious and spectacular property being rented by the great-niece of the deceased Fidel Castro.

The residence includes 4 rooms (2 master suites with private terrace and 2 double rooms) and 5 and a half bathrooms. On the platform Airbnb, its owner promotes it as Casa Vida Luxury Holidays, and explains some "small" details that make it special.

"This is one of the few places in the area that offers Jacuzzi service," clarifies this rental property website.

The house offers 24-hour services and includes breakfast and other items that may interest guests such as: a well-stocked minibar (in a country experiencing a food crisis), tea service and a Nespresso coffee machine, and high-quality cotton sheets and towels, among others.

The images of the home display both luxury and other "details" that remind us of the powerful family to which its owner belongs.

Vilma Rodríguez's house is located at 20th Street and 7th Avenue, in the Miramar neighborhood.

Vilma has set several rules for her guests: everyone must identify themselves with their passport upon entry, they are allowed to throw parties as long as they notify her 24 hours in advance, no guest will be allowed to enter the property without showing their identification first, and no one will have access to the kitchen.

To enter the house 3 hours earlier, an additional fee of 20 dollars must be paid. Towels cannot be taken out, and if they are lost, there is a charge of 40 dollars for each one.

Pornography, as well as acts related to corruption, trafficking, or what the Government of the Island considers "illegal," are also not permitted. Of course, it does not mention that amassing wealth in Cuba is punishable by the Constitution, something that Vilma does not skimp on.

As if that weren't enough, guests must be very careful because any damage may incur a charge of up to 562 dollars.

Who is Vilma Rodríguez Castro?

Vilma Rodríguez Castro is the daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Luis Alberto Rodríguez López Callejas and Deborah Castro, one of the daughters of Raúl and Vilma Espín. She is also the sister of Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, who frequently attends public events as the bodyguard of his grandfather, Raúl Castro.

A López Calleja is referred to as the financial brains of the Castro family. He leads GAESA, the business group of the Armed Forces that controls the majority of the Cuban economy, and is in charge of the investment project at the port of Mariel.

It is no coincidence that Raúl's former son-in-law appeared on the list of the most corrupt men in the world compiled in 2016 by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

It is also said that he would be involved in drug trafficking from Venezuela, according to statements by the American diplomat Roger Noriega, who served as ambassador to the Organization of American States and as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs during George W. Bush's administration.

It is not coincidental that his daughter Vilma is listed on the Airbnb platform living in Panama, a situation that allows her to collect the money from Casa Vida Luxury Holidays in banks in that country. This detail also recalls that one of his uncles on his father's side appeared in the reports of the investigation Panama Papers at the head of one of the companies in tax havens.

The young woman is also the partner of the visual artist Arles del Río, to whom the Cuban government granted a warehouse located on Calle 12 between 1st and 3rd in Vedado in 2012, for him to build his gallery-studio.

Del Río is connected with the most prestigious American galleries. In 2015, a report by the AP agency noted that the artist was working with the renowned auction house Sotheby's and that one of his pieces sold for $11,875.

Since before, in 2012, Vilma had caught the media's attention when she appeared in New York with del Río, sporting a Louis Vuitton handbag, a Rolex watch, and Chanel shoes. When Ileana Ros-Lehtinen—who was a congresswoman at that time—criticized the U.S. government for granting a visa to Raúl's granddaughter, the state-run press came to her defense. A report from Cubasí at that time tried to portray her as just another "girl" who traveled to accompany her boyfriend.

The Cuban power structure has sustained its discourse for decades on the supposed equality of its citizens. It attacks capitalism, among other reasons, for class differences.

They are obviously unaware that the families in high command live completely different lives from the rest of society. The price of the house that Vilma advertises on the Airbnb platform represents the average salary of almost two years for a Cuban, considering that it is around 30 dollars a month.

In the comments that customers leave on the platform about their experience at the house, one can read phrases that attest to Vilma's well-established business

"Our stay at Vilma's apartment was incredible. It is spotless, stylish, and full of amenities. Yusi, the lady who works in the house, is delightful. She prepared breakfast for us for 5 CUC and gave us a lot of very valuable tips. Totally recommended!" says one of the guests.

Although they are not currently active, the platform contains comments referring to other properties that Rodríguez used to rent, equally luxurious, such as one in Vedado and another in Trinidad, in central Cuba.

Vilma is also an Airbnb client. In her profile, you can find some of the trips she has taken recently and the places she has chosen to stay in cities such as Geneva (Switzerland), Paris (France), and New York (USA).

According to the comments from the property owners where she has stayed, Vilma is rated as a good guest, and her stays took place between 2014 and 2017.

The house located in Mexico City's Federal District, for example, has 3 bedrooms, 6 beds, and 3 bathrooms, and is available for rent at about 544 euros per night (based on a mock reservation for upcoming days in April).

The same house where he stayed in Nassau currently costs around 731 euros per day, as can be seen in the following reservation simulation.

Just looking at the conditions of the properties she has rented is enough to once again verify the access to a world of luxury and comfort that Raúl Castro's granddaughter enjoys.