cuba

[clarebear86]

Hey everyone,

i am going to cuba in December for the first time and will be there for christmas. Any advice, tips, must see places etc would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

clare x

[missmoore]

Where are you headed? We spent a fortnight there in April. Whilst in a beach resort, you could really be on any beach - there is no evidence of real cuban culture. Most hotels offer trips into the viillages which I'd really recommend. Cuba has a really unique atmosphere and it'd be a shame to visit and not experience this.

We also went swimming with dolphins while on the beach part of our holiday and if you've not done this before I can't recommend it enough. Even though the sight of the fin speeding towards me was a bit jaws-esque...

In Havana the main thing that everybody told us to do was visit a cigar factory. We went to the Partagas factory, and it really was worth seeing. It might be an idea to get a classic open topped car to the factory - we couldn't find one and instead had ended up hailing what can only be described as a hollowed out bowling ball with a tiny motor...you'll see these and know exactly what i'm talking about!

The Malecon is the boulevard that runs along beside the sea. It's really charming and has lots of historic buildings so it's worth taking lots of photos. I regret not using my camera more whilst in Havana.

It's probably the cheesiest thing you could possibly do, but we spent a night at the Tropicana caberet show. We booked it through the hotel and got a meal included, but the best thing was the free bottle of Havana Club 7 years rum that was included in the price. And the women get a rose and the men a cigar (not entirely fair i thought...) on entry.

On our last night we went for dinner in our hotel, the Sevilla, which has quite a well known (and delicious) restaurant on the nineth floor, which gives what must be the best view of Havana.

Am so jealous... I'd return to cuba in a second. I'd even brave cubana air again. Enjoy yourself! and take sunscreen! it was SO hot!

[jno]

all true as missmoore says. Also, try to get to Trinidad (it's a town, not the island of the same name) - incredibly pretty colonial town with lots of 1950s Chevys and so forth. The tobacco growing area round Vinales has striking landscapes.

Isn't Virgin about to do direct flights? Would remove the need to risk Cubana.

[heathy_76]

All of the above is true. Havana is an amzing place to visit (old Havana that is). The cubans we met were wonderful, warm friendly people but very poor. We took some simple presents for hotel workers, gardeners etc we met such as toiletries, kids toys (colouring books, crayons and the like) as these things are hard to come by in Cuba. You'll be surprised by how happy they are.
A visit to the Havana Club Rum factory was good, with free tasting at the end!
The main thing I can suggest is to go there with an open mind. Forget about the communism, lack of wealth etc and just soak up the music, atmosphere and the rum! It's a wonderful, totally unique country with equally wonderful, unique people.

[missmoore]

Ah, we were about to book with Virgin when it sold out, as i was on the phone to the travel agent (i was gutted...). Cubana was alright really. It's pretty no frills (we didn't have private screens or anything) but the stewards were funny - half way through the flight they stood before us trying to sell us cigars and rum.

One thing to bear in mind- if you are flying back from Havana airport you'll need to have you case shrink wrapped before you can check it in. They offer this free, but when we were there the queue to shrink wrap was MASSIVE. I'd suggest heading straight towards the wrapping bit, or even check with your travel agent if maybe taking a couple of rolls of cling film and doing it yourself would be ok. Man, I miss cuba! Am too jealous for words...

And like heathy_76 said, it's great to take gifts to the cubans. The Cubans I met seemed to be quite desperate for clothes (as well as what heathy said). In hindsight I'd like to have spent a tenner or so in primark and been able to give them some tshirts or something.

[clarebear86]

hello everyone,

thanks for your great responses I can't wait now, I am going to Varadero but will definatley visit Havana sounds like an interesting place with lots to see I wanted a beach holiday but also wanted to explore cigar and rum factories sound fun. Also cannot wait to swim with the dolphins.

Ive heard all about the poverty and will definatley take out some gifts. I can't wait to meet the local people from what I have been told they sound like amazing people considering they have so little.

missmoore - why do you need to have your case shrink wrapped? never heard of this before I am curious.

Thank you all again for your answers

Clare

[missmoore]

I think it was a security measure. It might be the case that it was just Cubana that insisted upon this, but I'd check. My boyfriend has just informed me that we could've avoided the shrink wrapping queue and just paid for it to be done with much less waiting. We only had to have it done from Havana, didn't need it from Gatwick. (The boyfriend has also just told me to tell you 'havana airport is a shambles'. he isn't completely wrong...) We might just have been unlucky, but if I was going back I'd make sure we had lots of time at the airport. (I don't mean to panic you! I am bad at airports, scared of flying etc, so was probably a bit wild at all the queueing. Should've just had a rum...) Again, have the best time. Someone back in Scotland will be very very jealous of you!!