Cuba!!

[Signs]

Anyone been to Cuba?? iberostar Daiquiri hotel in Cayo Guillemero
Thanks:crazyeye:

[Nemo]

Have been to Cuba, but not to where your off to

[afeencalleddan]

I stayed at the Havana Libre hotel in Havana and at an all-inclusive gaff in Varradero. Beautiful country, would be a good country to tour around.

[Signs]

thanx lads

Got a great deal for Cuba flying from Manchester to Cayo Coco, but need to organize flights from ork - man still. Check out the Thomas cook site. got 7days all inclusive to the 4 * hotel that i wanted. 541£ working out to be cheaper than others that i have been looking at.
Cheers and have checked out tripadvisor excellent site!
:cool:

[biscuits]

. Trinidad is savage. instead of taking public transport you can hire a local to drive you in his cadillac (more expensive and illegal but great craic). the beach in varadero is probably the nicest beach EVER even though the town itself is quite resorty. Staying with locals is infinetly better than hostels or hotels. enjoy

[cailc-e-sios]

Anyone have any more tips on traveling in Cuba?

I'm thinking of going there next year.

Any advice on places to visit, traveling around, currency, tipping etc.
would be most welcome.

[Del]

Any ideas on how much a flight would cost? Are you better off trying to get the flights in the uk and arranging a cheap flight over to say London or Birmingham?

[Lostmeringtopaddypower]

Don't even think about flying with regional airlines.
Nightmare.
Otherwise jim dandy.

[marco 2005]

thanx lads

Got a great deal for Cuba flying from Manchester to Cayo Coco, but need to organize flights from ork - man still. Check out the Thomas cook site. got 7days all inclusive to the 4 * hotel that i wanted. 541£ working out to be cheaper than others that i have been looking at.
Cheers and have checked out tripadvisor excellent site!
:cool:

Just came back 1 month ago from a 2 week tour around Cuba

There's no need to go to Cuba if your plan is to stay in the Varadero region.

[marco 2005]

I stayed at the Havana Libre hotel in Havana and at an all-inclusive gaff in Varradero. Beautiful country, would be a good country to tour around.

did that.

You can rent a car for about 400 euros for 10 days and tour the island.

I actualy think thats the best way to get to discover this country properly as public transports arent really great to say the least.

[marco 2005]

Any ideas on how much a flight would cost? Are you better off trying to get the flights in the uk and arranging a cheap flight over to say London or Birmingham?

you can get good deals with Air France (Dublin-Paris-Havana). Got mine for 540 return. Just need to get a cheap Cork Dublin flight with Ryan air and you're sorted.

You'll obviously have to be flexible with your dates to get the cheaper deals, ie fly during the week..

[marco 2005]

Anyone have any more tips on traveling in Cuba?

I'm thinking of going there next year.

Any advice on places to visit, traveling around, currency, tipping etc.
would be most welcome.

2 currencies in Cuba: Moneda Nacional (used by cubans) and Convertible Peso (equivalent to the USD, used by tourists and cubans who make business with tourists).

We went for 2 weeks, stayed 4 days in Havana and the rest traveling the country (had a rental car).

Went from Havana to Vinales (Western part of the island) then to Maria la Gorda (one of the best spots in the Caribbeans if you're into scuba diving).

Then headed back east to Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Santa Clara and Cayo Santa Maria for a bit of chilling out on deserted beaches, i mean deserted.

We stayed in Casa personales (equivalent to a B&B), they are usually cheaper (20 to 25 convertible pesos, sometimes with bkfst) and more friendly than hotels.

Try to avoid all the Varadero area, unless you're into the package hols with all these morons who stay drinking all day at the hotel's private beach (most of the times Cubans aren't allowed to access these areas by the way).

Bring back loads of Havana club, 1 liter bottle costs about 3.5 convertible pesos. If you like nice rhum they also have 5, 6, 7 year old bottles from 5 to 7 convertible pesos.

Cigars are real cheap (well compared to our european prices), from 3 pesos to 17 pesos per cigar (the best of the best being Cohiba Esplendido).

I think you can bring up to 43 cigars without having to show a receipt at the cuban customs.

The US embargo killing this country, bring couple of soap bars (ain't talking about hash here) and old t-shirts as you'll be asked for them a good few times.

[storysham]

Piece on Cuba on no frontiers new years night

[afeencalleddan]

Try to avoid all the Varadero area, unless you're into the package hols with all these morons who stay drinking all day at the hotel's private beach (most of the times Cubans aren't allowed to access these areas by the way).Agreed, I went there with a gang of lads in 2003. Luckily we had 4 nights in Havana so we did manage to catch a bit of real Cuban life too. If I was to do it all over again though I'd much rather discover the country properly on my own or with one partner.

[yorkshirelass]

I would recommend the Hotel Florida in Havana for a few days, then hire a car and drive the length of the island. It's quite a bit island though - about the size of England!

I'd definitely visit Pinal Del Rio, Cienfeugos, and Trinidad. Everything is ultra cheap of course, but the food is patchy. Expect lots of fruit, vegetables and rice mainly (which suited me fine).

Cuba is a gem of a place and I can't wait to go back. It's just amazing.

[afeencalleddan]

It's quite a big island.It's the biggest in the Carribbean.

[SenorCarlsberg]

And in Havana whats the night life like?

[TrickyBrick]

Is it any good for lads that want decent nightlife, decent beeches and just a relaxing holiday that can be mental if you want to?

Of course this Swine flu is gonna have it say on whether i go there but me and the lads were about to book Cancun this week but that looks like its not going to happen.

we kind of want to go somewhere outside of Europe and maybe go all inclusive, anyone with any tips, it would be much appreciated

[watermelon]

From what I hear about Cuba it's heartbreakingly poor and impoverished.