Thinking of Cuba

requiem1

I'm thinking of heading off to cuba for the month of august and am completely lost as to how to do this. From what I hear I should
1) fly from london to cancun cause its cheaper
2) get some form of transport to havana
3) stay in an all inclusive resort

but I don't know if this is the right way of doing it and am wondering if anyone has stayed in one of the many all inclusives and would advise one over another?

Also how did you book your accomodation? can I do it online or do i phone direct?

Thanks

req

Board-in-work

Hi there,

Cuba is a fantastic choice. I went there a couple of years back.

Originally I thought about travelling there, and sorting out my own accomodation etc. It was actually cheaper to get a package deal, flight and hotel, than try to arrange my own flights. So I went all inclusive. I then had the choice if I wanted to travel around the island - which I did. All inclusive is a cheap way to get to Cuba, and then your accomodaiton etc is paid. then if you want to be "a real traveller" you can then tour around.

Havana is a great city - crumbling old town - go before it changes. It has an old world charm, and things are starting to change a little i think....

The south of the island - varadero is where all the tourist all inclusive resorts are. I went Thomas Cook to playa pesquero - totally awesome hotel.

I paid about a grand for everything - all inclusive. Not bad for 2 weeks. I'm sure I drunk that alone in cocktails and rum!!

If you want to tour around, and backpack - you are restricted to casa particulars - guest houses sanctioned by the govt. You will have to pay for everything in Cuba as a tourist - ie the tourist Peso. This is tied to the US dollar - so don't expect things to be "third world cheap". Casa particulars etc are paid for basically in USD.

Also, they won't stamp your passport, unless you ask them too - so no problems there.

Borzoi

requiem1 wrote: »

but I don't know if this is the right way of doing it and am wondering if anyone has stayed in one of the many all inclusives and would advise one over another?

Also how did you book your accomodation? can I do it online or do i phone direct?

Went last year, booked it all with Twohigs. Air France ia Paris. 6 Nights in the NH Parque Central in Havana (breakfast only), 8 nights in Sandals Royal Hicacos in Varedaro (all inclusive). Can't remember costs

Overall great holiday, Havana was fantastic, should have stayed longer there, loads to see and do. Varedero - hotel good, otherwise damn all to do - too much lying on the beach for me!

I looked before at doing the arrangements myself, but it wasn't working out any cheaper, but was hastle. I missed out on going to Trinidad, it's supposed to be worth a few days. Had been advised not to hire a car there because of the poor roads/signage - if going again I'd do it, if only for the opportunity to get closer to the locals. Never really felt that we connected with local Cubans at all.

crushproof

Go go go for definate!
We hired a car for 3 weeks and travelled around, started off in Havana and made our way around the west and south of the island. Great fun driving around, some are the main roads are nothing more than gravel tracks and you pick up local hitch hikers along the way (it used to be compulsory to pick people up but its still very common).
We flew to Havana on Air France via Paris. Stayed in an all inclusive hotel in varadero to wind down at the end of the holiday, felt kind of bad staying there because there you could eat and drink all you want while the rest of the country just about got by on rations and home grown food!
All in all though a fantastic country and get there before the american multi nationals take over! Apparently mcdonalds et al have "pre booked" prime buildings in the centre of Havana to take over when the communist regime collapses!

Brian Griffin

I went to Cuba for three weeks with a few friends, we flew via Madrid and was fairly cheap, i cant remember the price at the moment.

We did it independently, which is how i would definitely recommend doing it.

We paid to live in peoples houses, which was a fine way of doing the holiday. we got an e-mail address from one of the guide and booked two nights in Havana, and then moved around. you can haggle down the price once your in the country.


I'd recommend searching for Cuba in the forum and theres plenty posted already.

Karlrove

I was thinking the same...good luck on finding any decent prices for gettin there. Your talking 1300-1400 for just the flights...Ive been looking for the last week...if money isnt an option go for it

Random

Also, they won't stamp your passport, unless you ask them too - so no problems there.

Is there something wrong with a Cuba passport stamp that I'm missing?

Brian Griffin

The US dont like you to have a cuban stamp in your passport.
The Cuban Staple in a sheet and stamp that then rip it out when you leave.

You can ask them to stamp your passport if you want but i'd only do that if the passport is nearly out of date, and your not planning on going to the US in the time that your passport is valid for.