Has anyone recently travelled to this intriguing destination? I am interested in experiencing Cuba, but not on a large cruise ship! We prefer small-to-mid-sized ships and groups. What's affordable? Best time to go? Which cities would you suggest? Comments regarding specific tours or independent travel; hotel or other accommodations; mode(s) of transportation to get around country; safety; food nightlife, etc. would be much appreciated.
Linda
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1188 posts
I have only been to Cuba once, in April of this year. I believe April and May is a great time of year to go to Cuba. Weather is not too hot. June-August is blistering hot in the rainy season, with lots of mosquitoes. Sept to Nov is hurricane season. Dec-March is high season, most expensive, lots of Canadians escaping winter and also Spring Break.
We went to a resort in Cayo Santa Maria. Inexpensive, cheaper than Mexico. Beautiful beaches, possibly best in the world. Resorts are huge, can be nice when new but seem to age quickly. Amenities are acceptable. Resort food is okay, not as good as in Mexico. CSM is quite isolated, almost 2 hour bus ride from Santa Clara airport. There is not much culture here because the resorts and "village" are all artificial. If we go back again, I would try Varadero which has the beaches and resorts, but is close to a local town and is accessible to Havana.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
I was there in February. Great trip but it is not ready for tourists and things we take for granted simply aren't available (like running water sometimes). Unless you are just going to an all-inclusive resort, which technically is not allowed for Americans, you would be best do go on an organized tour of some sort. Mine was a very specific professional oriented trip, but there are many travel organizations to look into.
Havana is the main destination. Trinidad is an amazing Spanish Colonial small city that has been more restored than most. But you can't really get there on your own. Cienfeugos was also great and not far from Trinidad.
Getting around is a problem; there really is no good way to do it if not on a tour. You could more easily just see Havana on your own, but there is no such thing as reliable public transportation and I would not recommend renting a car.
A tour also help with logistical things that you rarely have to deal with: hotel issues, getting cash, communications and transport to and from airports. And a good tour will give you plenty of free time to explore on your own.
Cuba is very safe. People are reserved but kind and generally love Americans (not so much our government and policies). Food is very basic and typically not very good. Food safety is always a concern. There is some limited nightlife - the music is great and easy to find. If you like art and culture, Fabrica in Havana is a great nighttime destination. Of course there is the Tropicana show in Havana too.
And the cars are pretty cool. Death traps, but very cool.
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1188 posts
If you do go to a resort in Cuba, here is a simple example of the food, spaghetti:
You can go to the buffet, where you can find large trays of spaghetti, one in a red sauce and another in a white sauce, kept warm under warming lights.
You can line up for about ten minutes at the pasta station, where a cook will take pre-cooked spaghetti, mix it with a red sauce or a white sauce and cook it in a frying pan. They will ask if you want any salt or pepper. Hotter than option 1, less guest contamination assuming cook is following food-safe protocols.
You can reserve a table at the Italian a la carte restaurant. You will have white table clothes and servers. The spaghetti and sauce is about the same as options 1 or 2.
You can go around the buffet and load up a plate with shrimp, clams, mussels, onions, green peppers, or any other stuff that you like in spaghetti. Then go to the pasta station, tip 1 CUC to the cook and ask him to cook all that stuff with the spaghetti and sauce. The cooks usually get excited to do this. They may even start to pull out hot or other flavouring sauces which you never knew existed and offer to add it to the mix. Once you get to know the cooks, they do a good job.
Posted by
Ohio
1481 posts
Linda,
I am going to Cuba on the Fathom Adonia. It is a one week cruise. There are two days in port in Havana, a partial day in Cienfuegos and a partial day in Santiago de Cuba. I chose this so that I could experience Cuba without the worries regarding lodging and food. I plan to eat in Paladars (privately owned restaurants) when possible but also have the choice of eating food and having water out of Miami. It won't be complete immersion but it will be a view. I am not sticking with all of the cruise excursions as we are going out on our own in Havana.
We are going Nov 13th. If you would like more info I can provide that after we get back.
The other problem is that it isn't cheap. But I understand there are some good pricing close to sail dates if you are more spontaneous than I am.