Anyone been to Cuba? Trip recommendations needed

[Ilogik]

Have seen various trips available to take part in.

Ones I quite fancy so far are

Swimming with Dolphins
Rambo jungle trip in Trinidad
Havana

Staying is Varedero in middle of nowhere though.

[jonfy]

Yeah I've been to Cuba mate, it was in the early 90's though, about the time it was just really opening up to Brit tourists.I really enjoyed it, i think even now you will some amazing cars, old yank tanks etc but the Lada limos are surreal !
As for trips, make sure you go into Havana at night its a fantastic experience, Communisms my arse, it's still decadent, you can get anything you want and the Cubans know how to party HARD
Do you scuba dive ? if not its really cheap to learn or have a taster session however make sure the gear is in good shape and they look like they know what they are doing and are registered instructors . Hmm, hard to tell if you are a novice or have never-dived before so do a bit of research before you sign up .
The swimming with dolphins is a bit of a controversial one, obviously you are in a pool with them and i felt it was a bit tacky and contrived and i felt sorry for the dolphins, go diving or snorkelling and try and spot them in their natural environment, miles cheaper than doing anywhere else though .
The cigar factory tour was a bit of a hoot, the woman roll the cigars on their thighs, all very touristy but if you smoke (i do ) its heaven .
To be honest mate just wander around and look at the sites, revolution square, the derelict 1930's villa's,the cars and then sample the bars and chill on the beach , i hitched most places and felt totally safe, i think it was the law then that you had to stop to give people a lift probably changed now.
All in all i would rate Cuba as the best Caribbean island holiday destination (only if we are talking mere mortal incomes ), way better than the Dom Rep, Jamaica and the other usual suspects of the Caribbean .
P.S take lots of small denomination US dollars, little tip goes a long way in Cuba .Nobody was interested in the Cuban Peso, US dollar only .

[nelix]

Do the discover scuba package with a padi centre.

[enid_b]

quick answer, yeah i been

did havana trinidad valadero and cayo lavisa

all staggeringly beautiful

pizza for 6p !!!

stay clear of the state run restaurants, they are all operated by the government by 65+ pensioners. food is bland.

awesome.

[jonfy]

Do the discover scuba package with a padi centre.

Take it you have dived in Cuba how did you find it ?
I went with my ex missus and she had a trial lesson in the pool for 20 min's then straight down to 20 meters in open water !!
Did my PADI years ago in the States and was a bit shocked how lax some of the Cubans were in the old safety Dept, the kit looked like it had come straight off a Russian lorry, the Reg's/ BA's were well knackered, and I'm sure the tanks were ex welders ones

[nelix]

Not been to Cuba, did my padi in Barbados, but was diving before i did the course. Was down 40mts before i was certified.

[jonfy]

Not been to Cuba, did my padi in Barbados, but was diving before i did the course. Was down 40mts before i was certified.

Never dived in Barbados, Cuba was a bit of a let down to be honest compared to other sites Iv'e dived, could have just been a crap site i suppose.The Maldives however, WOW what a place to dive, out of this world doesn't do it justice Craig . Whale sharks, mantas, reef sharks and stunning reef fish and coral (the coral was a bit bleached in places though).I'd go back tomorrow if i could, i will just have to be content with the under water photographs for the time being

[jonfy]

Maldives !

[tigracat]

Hi
Got back from Cuba about six weeks ago, four day's in Havana and ten day's in Varadero, I really do wish we would have done the full fourteen day's in Havana, we stayed in the old town and had an absolute blast.
If you are only going to Varedero please save yourself a fortune and book a cheap Spanish packaged holiday.

Havana
Cars, cars and more cars.
Very friendly Cubans.
Party central....

Varedero
Noisy, obnoxious Canadians, (spring break destination for Canadians)
Very drunk embarrassing English people,
You can get used to the smell of sewage.

We stayed in five star hotels and the food was barely edible, but we knew this before departing....


Hope you have a good time,,


Mike

[Ilogik]

Were not staying in central varadero luckily enough, were staying in middle of nowhere at the Iberostar, where did you stay?

[tigracat]

In Veradero we stayed at the Melia las antillas, also in the middle of nowhere, it really does not matter where you stay in Veradero, tourists outnumber Cuban's about ten to one, it really does look and feel like any Spanish holiday resort, I think the main problem is that Varedero is just to small to accommodate all the hotels that have sprung up around it.
The beaches are perfect, the sea is clear and warm but if it's Cuban culture you want to experience then you have to visit Havana, on the first night we headed straight for the so called "no go areas" we were surprised at the friendliness of the locals and complete lack of beggars which concentrate around the hotels.
A little advice,,,,, beware when taking pics of the cars, more than once the driver pulled over and demanded payment or appeared from nowhere demanding payment when the car was parked and unattended, be forceful in your refusal to pay.
DO NOT EAT at local restaurants, you have been warned, I wish I was .
Testosterone is alive and kicking in Cuba, stand your ground.
Beware the women are absolutely gorgeous and your eye will wander usually ending up with a thick ear from the wife .
Remember Cuban's earn approx £7.00 a month, no matter what job they do.
All Cuban's have a ration book which equates to a really pitiful amount of food.
Cuban's get paid in Cuban pesos you will have CUC pesos they are completely different but you can tip with CUC pesos and they are much appreciated.
If you want five star treatment in your hotel take five new t-shirts and give them out to the bar staff, restaurant staff upon your arrival, I guarantee you will want for nothing, if you don't take anything, ask yourself, "how hard would I work whilst earning only £7.00 a month", bar staff can be extremely slow.
Do not take pens and pencils as we were advised to take, (luckily I had a suitcase full of new t-shirts) if you want the perfect holiday take disposable nappies and sanitary towels, these are worth their weight in gold.
Finally, watch the Mojitos's in the local bars, totally wicked,,,,

Have a really good time, I fell in love with Cuba and especially the Cuban people and will be returning soon.


Mike

[tigracat]

By the way, next year we plan to stay with a Masai tribe on the Masai Mara in Kenya,,,, ah well it beats Spain I spose




Mike

[tigracat]

Jonfi ; the police were on the side of the road making sure no one was alone in their car, quite an experience being pulled over to have your car filled with none English speaking Cuban's, luckily I speak Spanish or it could have been very daunting.



Mike

[Ilogik]

Sounds quite cool. Ay might buy a couple cheap primark tshirts.

[jonfy]

Jonfi ; the police were on the side of the road making sure no one was alone in their car, quite an experience being pulled over to have your car filled with none English speaking Cuban's, luckily I speak Spanish or it could have been very daunting.



Mike

I bet it was Mike, it was almost twenty years ago when i visited Cuba yet it seems like it hasn't changed much . My suitcase was nearly empty when i left as i had given away most of my clothes to the bar staff, taxi drivers and the local KGB man. Everybody somehow seemed to have a connection with the KGB .Now when i think back i remember my ex giving away all the excess toiletries (sanitary towels,tooth paste, shampoos etc. ) that she didn't want to cart back back to the UK, the local girls at the hotel were over the moon .

Ilogik; Mike has given you some great tips and advise, he is spot on
Testosterone is King over there, no such thing as the meek Brit queuing system, stand your ground and don't be intimidated.
The woman are absolutely GORGEOUS .
Being able to speak Spanish is a real plus (i could speak enough tourist Spanish to get by but i met a guy from the airline who spoke it fluently .It opened a lot of of doors and led to the real Cuba) .Get a Spanish App on your Ipod and learn a bit before you go .
Have i mentioned that the women are GORGEOUS

As long as you don't act like the archetypal Brit pink drunk tourist and use your loaf you will have a ball discovering the real Cuba far away from where the tour reps point you .
Have a great time mate .

[davidarden]

P.S take lots of small denomination US dollars, little tip goes a long way in Cuba .Nobody was interested in the Cuban Peso, US dollar only .

Not too sure on this advice. I went with the misses a couple of months ago, and USD are very frowned upon, for example if paying for anything with them you incur an extra charge. Similarly any american debit/credit cards most likely won't be accepted. Standard CUC, the convertible tourist currency is fine - and as has been said tips do go a VERY long way.

Can't really offer much advice as we stayed at the other end of Cuba near Holguin, but I do hear Havana is superb. We went on a tour of a cigar factory too and I'd also recommend that.

Have a great time, it's a wonderful country! (and makes you realise how lucky we are to have a bit of dosh!)

[jonfy]

P.S take lots of small denomination US dollars, little tip goes a long way in Cuba .Nobody was interested in the Cuban Peso, US dollar only .

Not too sure on this advice. I went with the misses a couple of months ago, and USD are very frowned upon, for example if paying for anything with them you incur an extra charge. Similarly any american debit/credit cards most likely won't be accepted. Standard CUC, the convertible tourist currency is fine - and as has been said tips do go a VERY long way.

Can't really offer much advice as we stayed at the other end of Cuba near Holguin, but I do hear Havana is superb. We went on a tour of a cigar factory too and I'd also recommend that.

Have a great time, it's a wonderful country! (and makes you realise how lucky we are to have a bit of dosh!)

It was nearly twenty years ago when i went so the dollar tip may be a little out of date.

[davidarden]

I noticed the date you went after I posted! I think the CUC only came in more recently didn't it?

[carl_evs]

American backed banks credit and debit cards won't work and won't be accepted. Fortunately when I went I had a Lloyds card so was fine.

I also stopped in Varadero and enjoyed myself. I did a tandem skydive whilst there and you land on the beach right at your hotel. Was about £125 iirc and was great fun - you can pay extra to have the vidoe etc as well but i didnt bother.
We did a day on a catamaran out to an island that was fun - stopped for some snorkelling en route. Nice relaxed day. I'd be careful about doing anything dolphin wise as a lot of these places in the carribean don't treat them as well as they should be. With Cuba's views on the rights of its people I can't see their animal rights laws being that great!!

As said above. Havana is a must - we had a great time and went to the copacabana for a show - was great.
One tip i would give is take toilet paper with you on trips as when you arrive at some places the toilets are free but the paper is extra, fortunately I found this out before it was too late!!!

[JiMR2]

Not Cuba but we stayed at the Iberostar in Mexico, Riviera Maya. Absolutely fantastic hotel chain...

Was hoping to hit Cuba this year @ the I'star there - look forward to hearing just how amazing it was...

I wasn't fussed about the Dolphin thing but the missus was so we did it - glad we did as its one of those "life experiences"... Not sure if its offered in Cuba but Swimming with Whale Sharks is something they may have on offer that you might fancy trying out...

Hope you have a great trip mate!

[lilmissgiggly]

I went last June and stayed in Varadero. I went to Havana but independantly as the tour operators want you to check out of your room and take everything with you (I hate packing!). It also worked out cheaper to go by ourselves. I booked a coach from V to H which cost next to nothing. The terminal is easy to get to in V. http://www.viazul.cu/asp/reserva/Default.aspx In HavaNA we stayed in their version of a B and B which is just a families spare room. This meant we really got to see how they live and got advice on where to go and what to do off the locals.

[heathstimpson]

I went two years ago and had an extension to my holiday due to the hurricane. I found the hotels etc more basic than most other caribbean islands but the friendlinest of the locals and beauty of the location made up for it. We flew to Holguin down the south and stayed in Guadlavaca (however you spell it). The dolpins were just up the road but having swam with them in the wild in the Red Sea it's just not the same at these tourist set ups. The beaches in this area are georgeous and I found the sealife to be some of the best I have ever seen. Havana and the cigar trips are the best...