Cuba - holiday advice

adonis10

Looking to go to Cuba for 10 days with my gf in April and looking for some travel advice - where to go, costs etc.

We like a mixture of culture, activities and beach days which is why Cuba seems perfect. Really fancy checking out Havana and then moving onto a beachy place where we can chill and do other activities. Been looking around and the best price i seem to have found is around 1,050 for 3 days b&b in Havana and 7 all inc in varadero. Annoyingly, the flight is broken up by a stop in Madrid and then a flight to Havana. Price is high as gf is a teacher so we have to go outside of term time.

Does the price seem high? What's varadero like? Any other suggestions?

carolwat

try theholidayplace. Ive just booked with them after lots of research and noone comes close to their prices for the twin centre. Were doing havanna for 4 nights then varadero for the remaining 10.

Voyager2002

You can get a direct, non-stop flight on the major charter airlines: to Cuba, but probably not to Havana. These flights can be real bargains, but mean that you will probably need to go for one or two complete weeks. When I went last year my flight cost 258 pounds, but it is probably more realistic to plan to pay about 400 pounds each.

It is easy to get accommodation in a licensed private house: they call them Casa Particular. Expect to pay about 25 dollars for a comfortable double room with bathroom and air-conditioning, and if you like an extra three dollars each for a large and tasty breakfast.

If you want to stay in an all-inclusive resort by a beach then you can book these from a travel agent in a Cuban city: prices are a good deal lower than those offered outside Cuba, and it is unlikely that you would want to spend more than a few days in "tourist-land" when the excitement of Cuba itself was awaiting you.

Don't be afraid of going somewhere a long way from Havana. My flight was to Holguin, so instead of Havana I went to Santiago, which had the most fantastic music and dance along with lots of things to see and do.

nearlyrich

We went in October/November one thing I would say the food is at best mediocre even in a very nice five star resort. We flew Virgin to Havana I think they fly at least three times a week maybe more. Havana is good for a few days we were there for three fabulous building all falling down and ancient American cars with Lada engines. We went touring so Cienfuegos and Trinidad for a few days ending up in Cayo Santa Maria which was paradise if you exclude the food being awful .... The people are friendly and the music is amazing have a good time...

Voyager2002

nearlyrich wrote: »

the food is at best mediocre even in a very nice five star resort. ...

Yes, that is the problem.

The best food I had in Cuba (which was pretty good) was in a 'paladar' (privately-operated restaurant, in a large private house). I understand that people who get their host in a casa particular to cook main meals for them also eat very well: certainly the breakfasts I had were excellent.

Voyager2002

If you can get to Dublin and catch the Virgin flight from there (changing 'planes in London) you save a lot on the air fare.

DUKE

http://holidayplace.co.uk/holiday/caribbean-and-costa-rica/cuba/multicentre-holidays

I went to Holguin & Santiago too, loved watching that really old fella (about 90) dancing non stop in that heat!

basill

We stayed in Varadero and visited Havana for a night half way through the holiday. If I go again and I would like to, I think I would visit Havana for the last few days and fly home from there.

Its a long flight to Havana and the transfer to Varadero a couple of hours by taxi. For the first few days of the holiday we were waking up very early indeed because the time difference and ready for bed fairly early. Had we been in Havana then we might have missed out on some of the fun to be had in Havana by night.

B

Marker_2

We paid approx £2600 for 2 adults 1 child and 1 infant in August 2013 with Virgin. 3 nights in the Parque Central Havana (highly recommended) and 11 nights Breezes Bella Costa in Varadero.

We did have deli bellies and as stated the food is mediocre, but food is generally all the same in Cuba. Any questions feel free to ask.

adonis10

Marker wrote: »

We paid approx £2600 for 2 adults 1 child and 1 infant in August 2013 with Virgin. 3 nights in the Parque Central Havana (highly recommended) and 11 nights Breezes Bella Costa in Varadero.

We did have deli bellies and as stated the food is mediocre, but food is generally all the same in Cuba. Any questions feel free to ask.

Cool. Can you remember where you booked it?

Struggling to find anything for 10 days (during April school hols) for less than £1000 each for 3nights Havana and 7 varadero, but with air Europa with an annoying stop at Madrid there and back.

jenpoptrash

where are you flying into ? A transfer from Havana Airport to Varadero is under 2 hours so worth comparing prices to both airports.

I did the trip years ago so prices are going to be way out. I did 7 nights AI in Varadero and 3 B&B in Havana. Flew to Havana went to a Cubanacan desk who stuck me on a coach to Varadero for about $20. Driver stopped enroute for a cigar break at a wicked bar so took to opportunity to jump out and grab a rum and coke.
If the Cubanacan company still exist they do hotels too.

Loved Cuba, Havana was my favourite. Locals so welcoming and friendly. Great memories.