Cuba for a vacation

[dickythorpe]

Anyone been?

 

[legoman]

Anyone been?

Yes, I went with Mrs L in 2015 for our 25th anniversary. Did 3 or 4 days in Havana then 10 days in Varadero.

Havana is fascinating. My recommendations are to take a guided tour to see the city highlights and also we took a taxi tour in one of the 50's American cars around the old town, which included seeing some of the city centre forest and the John Lennon park (he never visited Cuba I don't think). I would get your hotel concierge to negotiate a price for this one as the taxi drivers will do their best to extract as much cash from you as they can. The locals are friendly, although many of the streets in the centre are dilapidated and I couldn't believe that people lived the way they do there. One of the best streets is Obispo where you will find a few shops and a cafe. As its a communist country there aren't many shops at all - quite bizarre.

We didn't stay at the famous Hotel Nacional - we were next door, but its worth a visit to sit on the lawns with a drink and watch the sun go down. The hotel is a proper old colonial style.

Varadero is a spit of land lined with good hotels, and we spent our time there just lazing on the beach and swimming in the sea. From what I understand the hotels along there are pretty much of a muchness.

I'd like to say we did a few things more cultural in Havana but to be honest, we didn't. The weather was glorious when we were there and pretty damned hot. We did walk into Havana a couple of times from the Nacional. Take care as there were big holes in the pavement when we were there, easily large enough to fall into. Seems the Cubans just don't have the cash to fix things like that, and you will see many run down buildings, but loads of people and vintage cars.

I'm glad I went but don't hanker after a return.

 

[stevethejack]

Went 5 years ago. Absolutely amazing, toured around a lot of the west side of the island. Havana, Sancta Clara (Che Guevara Mausoleum is a must visit), Cifeuegos, Trinidad. We finished off with 3 days all inclusive in Cayo Coco. We asked our host to help us arrange transport from Trinidad to Cayo Coco, shared a car with 2 Italian tourists. The driver was crazy, filling up with diesel on a farm, using the top half of a cola bottle to funnel the fuel into the tank while a cigarette was hanging out of his mouth. We got out of the car immediately (with passports) while it happened.

Havana - Ernest Hemingway's hotel is https://www.hotelambosmundoshabana.com/ grand piano playing in the bar with not too expensive Mojitos.

Don't think about car hire, no GPS coverage, poor road signage (in Spanish) and poor road conditions. We used https://viazul.wetransp.com/ air-con coaches for going between towns.

The people are extremely friendly but extremely poor - we took a load of things as the locals can't get many, many things and we gave them to the locals, £1 specs, jet bouncy balls, bras (yes!), football jerseys, toothpaste, deodorant, pens, pencils, chalks etc. Took a few bottles of shower gel, and left them there for the hosts. Our luggage weighed less coming back than going.

Go the local pharmacy to get mosquito repellent - you will need it and not regret the purchase.

Take a look at this - http://www.casaparticularcuba.org/ - you stay with Cuban families, own room and generally own bathroom. You can also pay extra and eat with them.

Send me a PM if you want to know more.

 

[dickythorpe]

Wow! It's almost like Llandudno

 

[Muteswan]

Wow! It's almost like Llandudno

Only sunny

 

[legoman]

Wow! It's almost like Llandudno

Only sunny

...and with tarantulas

 

[DJack]

Wow! It's almost like Llandudno

Only sunny

:clap:

 

[Squarebear]

My Italian mate who has done a fair bit of travelling went there about 5 years ago. His impression wasn't very positive. He summed it up as "Poverty, sex tourists and prostitutes".

Oh, my neighbour went there. He cut his foot on some glass. A waiter tried to help him, explaining he was a qualified doctor but that waiting tables paid better. Mad.