Havana Travel Forum

Hi,

I am planning to visit Cuba towards the end of February and will obviously be looking to spend time in Havana. However, I was wondering if anyone can advise what they think is the "right" amount of time to stay in the city in order to not have to rush around, and as I've probably got about 8 or 9 days then can anyone recommend anywhere else in Cuba that's worth seeing as possibly a 3-day/2-night excursion. Would it be worth going to Varadero or is this really just like going to a beach resort in Spain ??

Any help is appreciated !!

Cheers,
Darren

Guess you'll need to choose between Spain and Cuba - would do a little extra research. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/category/1111.aspx

I thought I already had - by saying I was going to Cuba !!

My point was that if Varadero is not really a worthwhile place to see (in terms of it not being the "real" Cuba ... or at least in terms of it not being just a really nice place worth making the effort to visit) then I would give it a miss and either stay the extra nights in Havana or maybe go to somewhere else that someone could recommend.

I was born in Cuba but have not been back for over 40 years. Yikes!

The government can't ruin the ocean, but I'm sure the Varadero I know is no longer. When I was little my family used to stay in older wooden hotels run by some Chinese-Cubans. I remember falling asleep with the wind blowing thru the windows and hearing soft steps on the wood floors. Could walk for a long ways in the shore before it got deep. And the beach was quiet. Now that it's a big money maker, I doubt this is the case.

If you must go, at least take a look at the way it was, especially Havana:
http://www.therealcuba.com/Page8.htm then you can see what has happened there.

I remember during winter there used to be some of those little stingy fish in the water - and some little guys that used to wash up and look like a blue bubble (don't recall if these are jelly fish). Back then I was allowed to be in the beach alone, no worries - but my friend popped one of these things once and I used to be terrified.

I'm sure someone who has been there lately can answer better than I can. But if you're planning to go in the water, may want to use caution.

You should spend at least 5 days in Havana..then maybe go to Trinidad..there is also a nice beach there. Varadero is just beach and hotels..you can find that anywhere else..you dont come to cuba for that.Check out my pages..all the best..i will be there for 2 month very soon:)

Thanks !!

I'd agree with all that Florry said, although I suspect you will wish you had far more than 8 days there. It's a wonderful country - enjoy.

I agree with Florry as well. Don't do to much, Havana and Trinidad will be ok. If you don't want mass tourism, then avoid Varadero, it's indeed just like any other big beach resort anywhere in the world, it has nothing to do with the real Cuban life. However, you can go to Playa Ancon, close to Trinidad for a daytrip: there are some tourists, but it's ok, especially if you go in the morning. From Trinidad you can also do a trip to the Valle de los Ingenios.
Have fun, Cuba is an amazing country!

I booked my trip to Cuba through Cuba-Direct in London (tel: 0844 415 5510). The staff are all Cuban and very friendly and helpful. They let you arrange the visa online and then send it to you with your tickets. Couldn't have been more simple. Hope you have a good trip.

with the time you have i would suggest just Habana and trinadad, if you get the bus between them you will see some of the countryside and how people live. I would compare Varadero to what is bad about resorts in Spain, high rise complexs where the tourist is insulated from the "real" culture - if you want to experience Cuba, avoid it like the plague ( just my opinion !)

Here is how it was: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI3ZrwHc5QQ

I used to visit Varadero with my parents, but it was 46 years back. I think some of the video goes off in to Valley Vinales - but this is how the beach looked. We used to stay in some chinese owned hotels which had wooden floors - and I used to take my nap and fall asleep in deep tranquility - empty beach, breeze running into my room, the occasional steps on the wooden floors. Those hotels are probably wiped out! Sad.