Cuba - have you been?

[Cazz]

We are very interested in going on holiday to Cuba next year. Has anyone been? Which tour company did you go with? Would you recommend them? Wo would rather do a not to exhaustive adventure round the island but is is better to have few days in Havavna then chill on the beach?

[Loz]

We went about 10 years ago - fascinating place. At the very least, you should go to Havana and Trinidad (the town, not the island!). Best if you speak some Spanish too, English is not widely spoken.

Sometimes it is cheaper/easier to buy a package tour to Varadero (the touristy beach bit) and use it as a base. Traveling around is pretty easy with the Viazul bus company. The tourist side of the island works in Convertible Pesos (basically US Dollars), so get those. If you escape the tourist side (hard to do) you may want to buy a handful of standard Cuban Pesos, but a few of those will go a long way.

Outside of Varadero, try and stay in Casas Particulares - basically, rooms in people's houses. It can be variable in quality but usually interesting, comfortable and cheap and your money will be going straight to people, rather than hotel chains. They generally do food as well for a little extra - so if you want to try Cuban home cooking, then this is a good way. There are amazing networks of CPs - your host will usually ask your next destination and they will have a contact in that town. If you find a good network, stick with it. If you don't have a booking or want to ditch your network, there will be people at the bus station with pictures of their CPs - you can check the place out before committing.

If you have booked a CP in the next town, do beware that the people at the bus station holding your name on a bit of paper may not be that contact. People buy the bus manifestos and select names from it. Try and use a nickname or other name when you book your Casas Particulares.

All in all, do go before the Americans are allowed back. It really is an amazing place, but it is going to change a lot in the next five years.

[maxxi]

Went back in 1993 - would agree with Havana and Trinidad but avoid Varadero - you can get everything that offers elsewhere. We did it as a 2-country thing and went to Mexico and flew from there (plenty of breaks on offer) but it's a while ago.

[ratty]

Also went ten years ago and agree with Loz. Trinidad is a must! Amazing place. Havana is also a must, but agree, would buy a package and then get some trips out.

Internal flights are a little hairy, we flew Venezuela airlines from Cayo Coco to Havanna and I swear blind the plane was held together with hairy string.

Amazing country where it is almost impossible not to live on rum? Even the cheapest cigars are lovely as are the people. Even when I thwarted my own mugging in Havana the lad trying to do it applauded me for it. Havana has some iconic sites that for me are a must see!

[LadyDeliah]

Been twice this year and going back in October. Amazing place. I book my flights and hotels separately but always do some time in Havana and some in Varadero / Cardenas.

I want to check out Santiago de Cuba on this trip too.

I book a hotel for the first few days and then play it by ear when I get there.

Don't forget to apply for your visa tho.

[steveo]

It was about ten years ago for me too. Yes avoid Varadero. It's like everywhere else. And yes, get there before the American invasion.

Here's my story if you're interested

http://spoot-shoot.blogspot.co.uk/2009/12/havana-heaven-and-hell.html

[Loz]

ratty Wrote:

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> Amazing country where it is almost impossible not to live on rum?

Ha! I remember ordering a run and coke in Cube - the barman carefully measured out the coca-cola and then left me to top it up with the bottle of rum left on the counter.

[maxxi]

Do they still have 'Dollar Shops'?

On the streets I remember we were offered lots of those crappy 'Intur' tourist Pesos for a single dollar, and offered not just cigars (by every passing kid on the street) but some kind of anti-cholesterol medicine that the Americans used to take home by the bucketload.

The street lights used to go out a lot too but what a great place to visit.

[PeckhamNicola]

Hi Cazz. I went in May, my second trip to Cuba. I echo comments above about staying in casas particulares. If you stay in a chain hotel in Varadero you might as well save some money and go to the Costa del Sol (probably...). If you stay in someone's home you can find out more about their lives and benefit them directly (they are taxed on renting out rooms but still earn hugely more than in the average job in Cuba - we stayed with one family where we paid the equivalent of $25 per night for an ensuite room. The owner earned $30 per month equivalent in his job as a security guard). All the homes I stayed in provided large and delicious breakfasts and dinners (optional). They were also extremely helpful with onward travel arrangements and local tours. For a first time visit I agree Havana and Trinidad are good options (south coast, UNESCO listed heritage site, excellent snorkeling, interesting local trips etc). Travel with Viazul coaches is fine - air con, barely any traffic on the roads, cheap as a foreigner. In fact in Havana we paid as much for a taxi to the Viazul station to buy our onward tickets as we did for the tickets for a roughly 100km trip! We booked a hotel for our first few nights in Havana and a taxi transfer from the airport via Trailfinders. Thereafter we stayed in casas and once you find one they can put you in touch with an owner in the next town, who will likely meet you off your bus. I'm not sure if Cuba is really a Latin American country or not, being in the Caribbean. But as a Spanish speaking country it's got a similar feel, but so much safer (I have travelled extensively in South America) - I wouldn't hesitate to take children for example. It's a wonderful place and I can't wait to go back!