Cuba Travel Forum

I am going to Cuba for 3 weeks, and would like to help with the itinerary. I want to spend 3 days in Havana, and rest of time in northern part of Cuba - since we are going with 2-years baby, we dont want to go travel a lot and dont want to travel farther then Trinidad. Besides Havana, Cienfuegos and Trinidad i am not sure which other places on this region are worth to visit. I prefer nice beaches with palms and nice snorkeling, and i want to limit the places to minimum. I would like to know:
1) Varadero - is there good weather in January? Because i have read different stories... So is it worth to go there? The plan is 3-4 days there...
2) Playa Giron - i have heard that there is nice snorkeling, but i have read, that there is bad hotel and that there isnt nice beach, because there is a bad-looking wharf. Is there somewhere besides it some nice beach and accommodation? 3) Playa Ancon - it easy accesible when we will be in Trinidad, but how many days is enough there? Is there nice snorkeling?
4) Maria La gorda - it looks nice, but isnt it too secluded to go there with a baby? Is there nice snorkeling?
Can you advice me some other nice beaches in that region, especially with good snorkeling ?
Thanks for every advice

We will be in Cuba next February. Can we get a boat to Bahamas, Jamaica or somewhere like that and then get another boat to Ft Lauderdale/Miami?

Since we are planing to travel to Cuba with our baby, I would like to ask some questions:
1) medicaments - need we take all necessary medicaments with us (for possible health problems of our baby) ? I have heard that cuban pharmacies are empty, but i dont know, if there is also problem with medicaments also in tourist-oriented clinics or phamacies in Varadero...
2) diapers, child food and other things for babies - need we take all these things from home, or is there a possibility to buy them in special shops in Havana and Varadero (which sell for convertibile pesos) ?
3) water - is it possible to buy bottled drinking water everywhere in tourist areas (Havana, Varadero, Trinidad etc) ?
4) car seat - i have heard that in Cuba is a problem with child car seats... so we think to take it with us - but i dont know, if (a) Viazul buses have seat belts (where i can fix the child seat), (b) cars for rent have rear seat belts there, and (c) rear seat belts are in taxis or cars, which can be hired for travel outside Havana (we are thinking about hiring a driver).
Thanks for every advice

Hello,

I was wondering what would be the best way to tip while I am in Cuba. I have heard alot about bringing items they need like pens, paper, pencils. But I usually like to tip with money, that way the person can buy what they need.

Is that acceptable? If yes, can I tip with CUC's?

Thanks for your help in advance.

Hi to Cuba Travelers. We are staying at the Agua Azules (formerly Club Amigo Varadero) wondering if anyone has stayed there since change over in January. Read some recent reviews that where either + or -. Also are looking for comments form anyone that has taken the Glass Bottom Boat & or Mini-Sub tours out of Varadero. Would like info on where do you book them, comments about the experience & prices. Am also looking for information on taking a tour out to some sunken Pirate Ships or even sail on a Pirate Ship from Varadero & or Cayo Largo. Please, any info would give me a link to further my quest.
Thanks Loretta

planning 2 visit cuba in jan-feb2010. as i am traveling alone is there any one willing to join my trip on the island?
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zakir1011@gmail.com

We would only be staying for one night in Varadero. So can somebody give us the name of a cheap hostel or casa particular overthere or a site were we can find one? It would be for the 18th of January.
Thanks
Chris

Please could anyone tell me how to get addresses for local primary schools in Cuba as I visited lately and want to send over some pens, notebooks, clothes etc. as I didnt take any with me but they so need them. Have tried all ways I can think of but no success.
many thanks

My wife and I are vacationing in Varadero for three weeks starting 16/2/2010 - 09/03/2010.And would be very interested as to the Club life there,with their entrance fees prices of drinks,best nights etc.I would be grateful for any information forthcoming Regards Eric18

I'm planing a trip to Cuba, in January for 20 days. I want to book a room for few days at Havana, After that I will like to travel all over the country. My question is if i could find room at a good price, without booking before??? Also I will need some information about what to travel and visit as much as possible in 20 days and also I need to know how much time it take me to spend in a main attraction (like Havana, Santiago, Trinidad, etc). Thank you very much

We are arriving in Varadero in January, our Resort has 220 V electricity, do I require a converter or will an adapter suffice for the digital camera batteries & hair dryers, etc.
Thanks
lawess

Thinking of going to Varadero, Cuba. Has anyone spotted any ATM machines in Varadero. I would like to use my Nationwide flexi card to obtain the local cash. If this is not possible, would I be o.k. taking English sterling, and change as required? I have never been to Cuba before so will need to get lots of information. Will there be loads of mosquitoes in the months of January/February? How much does it cost for a trip to Havana, staying over for one night, with a tour company, i,e Thomson, or Thomas Cook. What is on the must see list in Havana? or any other interesting trips you can suggest. I know I have asked a lot, but please try and help. Thanks.

If an American was interested in obtaining information concerning traveling to Cuba with one's family, what might some of the best options be from Canada? Might anyone make a special recommendations for children?

Planning to go to Varadero this Xmas(09) and stay at Hotel Tropical which is downtown. I know they don't have any tennis courts there but does anyone know where else I could play tennis. Are there tennis clubs open to the public around that hotel or is it possible to go and play at another hotel where they do have courts.
Thanks

Hi,

has anybody gone by car from Viñales to Cayo Justias? How's the road? How long does it take?

Thanks,
Sergio

Hi,

What's the best way to hire a car and where? My tour will start from Havana so I hope I can find a car somewhere there.
Oh, I forgot: it must be cheap! ;)

Regards,
Sergio

Hi all,
I'm planning my holidays in Cuba and I'd like to add in my tour one of those typical Caribbean paradises with white sand and wonderful sea.
I know Cayo Largo is one of those places but it's too touristic, I'd like something more typical Cuban, do you have any suggestion for me?

Thanks,
Sergio

My girlfriend and I are visiting Havana just before Christmas and would love to go to an orphanage and donate toys, gifts and treats to the children.

Does anyone know of a local orphanage that we could visit/donate to in or around the area?

All comments, ideas, suggestions, contact numbers and addresses appreciated

Thanks in advance


Johnnie

I was in Havana last week. At the airport in terminal 3 (I think-where Margarietaville Restaurant is) there was a gallery with local artists works. Many wood sculptures, oil painting, unframed pictures, etc. I would like to purchase a picture I saw there and would like any help in contacting that store.
Any help would be appreciated. Sorry I did not buy it then!!

I want to make sure, if I can take american dollars to cuba, how much is the fine to pay? just wondering, since I heard 20% is the fine for changing US dollars for Cuban pesos.

Is there any way to buy Cuban pesos outside Cuba? could be with travel agency, I don't know. Pls I really appreciate your comments.

Thank you,

I am planning to got to Cuba for the first time in Mid October.
As a US citizen, should I worry about double entry stamp in my passport?
(I am planning to go through Canada)
What are the best Hotels in Havana assuming money is not an issue?
What are the happening night clubs for someone in 40s?
Any other important issues that I should know?

ENGLISH: Could anyone translate the plack in the museum which has the polish eagle on it?
Would be much appreicated if you could!

SPANISH: ¿Podría cualquier persona traducir el plack en el museo que tiene el águila polaca en él? ¡Appreicated mucho si usted podría!

HI,

Just want to know if you can walk for yourself around old havana, or is it a long distance? Just wondering, since I don't know how big is the historic area.

Just give an idea how long it takes? half day, a day?

Thk,

Hi I'm writing on behalf of a non-VTer (he has not yet seen the light ;)) Does anyone know if there is an easy way/any possible way to get from Peru to Cuba. Since there are limited air links to Cuba, he's been strugglin to find a way in. He's flying from London-Peru and then ideally Peru-Cbua; Cuba-London.

Also he ideally wants to g the area where the Revolutionaries landed.

Any hints/tips/advice on how he might go about this?

Cherrs x

My husband and I are going to Cuba from the 10th of January till the 19th. We fly to Varadero. To make the most of our trip we would like to know if it's possible to get to Havana the same day we arrive. Or do we have to stay over one night in Varadero. Our time of arrival would be about 2 pm.Would there still be a bus we can take or do we have to take a taxi and what would be the pices.

Hello VT,

I am canadian and will be visiting Havana soon. My question is, where to buy CUC? and being canadian, do we require visa aside from passport?

Thanks,
ajc

Hello VT,

I will be in Varadero last week of October, but i would like to spend 2 or 3 nights in Havana. How would i get there? I heard Varadero is like 2 hours away from Havana.
Is there gay friendly hotel in Havana or bed and breakfast owned by gay people? I am gay asian-canadian male.

AJ.

A few friends and I have a trip to varadero this coming spring and we were hoping to be able to rent a few mopeds there. We're 17 though, (We have drivers licenses, just no credit cards). Am I outta luck, or is there any other way to work this out?

Hi all,
I will be in Havana for 10 nights from the 9th sept as a solo traveler , I am looking for cheap places to eat etc near by, small, friendly and cheap ! And any general advice, i have read a few reviews of the hotel itself so am not expecting European 4 star but any general tips, do's or don'ts etc would be welcome :o)

Thanks in advance
Gary

A Canadian friend of mine just returned from an one-week holiday trip in Havana, Cuba. He said that there were no prices shown in ALL the restaurants menu he went with his girlfriend.

This restaurant price, if true, sounds unusual to me. I wonder if toursts are being charged more than the local people eating in the same restaurant?