Well with all this talk of Salsa dancing, I've gone and booked myself a holiday to Cuba.

Has anybody been? and can you offer any advice on anything at all (things to do, see etc etc)

Well I'm gonna have to try this Salsa dancing now.:thumbsup:

I'm going to Cuba in June this year, Varadero to be precise and can't wait. Where and when are you? and what did you pay? Bet mine was cheaper! (2 weeks all inc & 4star hotel ) £850 each on teletext. Can't take credit though the wench found it for us!
Woof Woof!

Hi Madmaxwestie

I am doing a 2 centre holiday and going next xmas and new year so a little more expensive than you have paid.

We are staying in Havana for 4 days and Cayo Guillermo for 10 nights.

Havana looks really interesting and then its a beach holiday to chill out.

Anybody else been?

Went to Cuba in September '97 (Cayo Largo - small island to the south of Cuba).

Had quite a good time but it was early days for tourism then in Cuba (at least there anyway).

The plane was a bit dodgy I seem to remember and it went from Stanstead which is quite a nice airport.

There was a slight incident going through customs in Cuba.
I was holding my jacket (it was proper hot) and security frisked me - He felt an object in my pocket and proceeded to draw his gun, point it at me and motion me to empty my pockets... everyone was looking as I carefully removed a bag of pear drops which then fell all over the floor. The bugger made me pick them all up afterwards (which I gladly did as he kept pointing to them with his gun !!).

It was a good holiday and locals were nice. Handy if you know some Spanish I'd say.

If you watch Auf Wiedersehen Pet on Sundays @ 9pm they are in Havana, Cuba. It's been on for 3 episodes so far and is very handy to see if you are going there soon.

I went backpacking/hitchhiking round the entire island in Feb/March 2002. Paid nearly £400 for my flight and various amounts for everything else because of their two tier currency system.

Ask any questions you want...

Originally posted by madmaxwestie
I'm going to Cuba in June this year, Varadero to be precise and can't wait. Where and when are you? and what did you pay? Bet mine was cheaper! (2 weeks all inc & 4star hotel ) £850 each on teletext. Can't take credit though the wench found it for us!
Woof Woof!

Cuba in June: hot but often wet, its the hurricane season.
I.E Off peak.

I was once offered a 1 week holiday in cuba for 169 quid ... included flight and first night accomodation ...

Originally posted by mikey
Well with all this talk of Salsa dancing, I've gone and booked myself a holiday to Cuba.

Has anybody been? and can you offer any advice on anything at all (things to do, see etc etc)

Well I'm gonna have to try this Salsa dancing now.:thumbsup:

I hope you enjoy it and have fun.

Back in the day Arthur Scargill used to go there to hone up on his disruption tactics. :o ;)

Whilst being to Cuba my father smelt an unknown plant once, after that his face suddenly went 2 times broader than before br-r-r-r! This lasted for a few days with no consequences, there's no harm.
it sounds funny now – those days not that much.

So watch out! anyway!

Originally posted by tinajones
I went backpacking/hitchhiking round the entire island in Feb/March 2002. Ask any questions you want...

The forums very own Judith Chalmers;) has spoken.

Thanks tinajones I have PM'd you.

Originally posted by mikey
The forums very own Judith Chalmers;) has spoken.

Thanks tinajones I have PM'd you.

No you haven't! Try again or just post Q's up on here.

I wouldn't mind a bit of that Craig Doyle...

Thanks for the PM mikey - unfortunately it wouldn't let me send it, as it was too long... so here it is!

I had an amazing time - its like being in a time warp 'cos everything is 1950's. You must take a camera!

I felt safe. Its a racist country but the more pale you are the more rich/better class people think you are. Havana and some beach areas are swarming with tourist police and will arrest darker skinned (African origin) people for talking to you about the fidel situation etc. If people talk to you they often want to be your guide - and get paid for it, but they are harmless. Still, watch your bags.

I wasn't impresses with the cusine - bland and samey. Except for banana chips, ice cream and a seafood dish i had. There are so many trade barriers on cuba that they don't have many spices but in tourist areas its prob ok.

Prices vary, you will be expected to pay for everything in dollars which works out quite expensive. Pesos are hard to come by unless you are a crusty traveller.

Take some suncream. Don't get on any bi-planes, they are old russian rust buckets.

Havana - go see the revolution/jose marti/che geuvera sites. Take a walk along the coast line in old havana (the malecon).
Nightlife - i went dancing at the casa de la musica.
The disparity is wide - theres hotels with live music and buffets or theres little street stalls selling plain pizzas.

Vinales is beautiful - you can hire bikes and go rouund the mountains. 1 night there would suffice.

Beaches are amazing - idyllic. Wish i'd spent more time relaxing!

Have a great time!

TJ

Thanks TJ it sounds great, can't wait.

:thumbsup: