posted by Travel Cat on Feb 9
Cuba is often avoided for political reasons, but it really is a country with much to offer the visitor. Not only is it in the Caribbean, blessed with beautiful beaches and chains of islands to explore, but it has a wonderful culture to be experienced! It is also one of the least developed of the islands here, so don’t take too long deciding when to go.
Yes, there are the usual hotel regions you can spend your whole holiday in if you want, but just outside of these is the real Cuba - where the music is loud, the houses are painted and the dancing goes on all night!
There are 3 main resort areas in order of size, if you are looking for package deals, which are Varadero, Guardalavaca and Cayo Coco, and all have something slightly different to offer.
Varadero, as mentioned, is the main resort of Cuba, but is actually on the Atlantic coast, not the Caribbean. There’s only one road up this giant sandbank starting at the small town, with all the hotels on the left and a lagoon on the right. The hotels here don’t look as bad as in Cancun, as when I was here last, they were all spaced out nicely - but who’s to say they haven’t built in some of the gaps since then!
Refreshingly, there was an outdoor dolphin arena just past my hotel in the lagoon and at the end of this concrete-filled peninsular, a national park still intact for anyone who fancies seeing a bit of the natural world in-between sipping the famous ‘Cuba Libra’s’ (local rum and coke).
This resort is clean, friendly and only a short transfer from the airport. And most importantly it is within a few hours drive of Havana - now a World Heritage Site! I have always recommended a visit here for anyone I know, but make sure it’s at least a 2/3 day tour so that you get to really feel it.
A day trip can be quite disappointing (as my mum found out), as it can take several hours to drive through the resort, picking everyone up from their individual hotels. It’s all about making money don’t forget, so they will drive quite some way to collect one final couple before finally heading off. Of course, you won’t get long to spend there either as you have to get going in time to drop everyone else back home before their evening meal at the hotel!
One of the main reasons for planning a longer trip is that you can visit the Tropicana Club one evening - an experience I can still remember with awe several years later. I was wary at first as it was billed as a sort of dance-fest cabaret, but as our guide had strongly recommended it to us and the transfer to and from our hotel was free, we headed off.
WOW! They had dancers coming out of everywhere in the open air theatre. Food and drink were supplied to our long tables through the evening and we couldn’t take our eyes of the acts; there were dancers and acrobats, singers and music and it just went on and on - surprising us all the time. Several of our group even ended the night up on the main stage dancing the salsa, while the rest of us had some more on-the-house rum!
There is one downside to Havana (and it’s not the collapse rate of the houses there - which I was told was quite high!), it’s the people selling cigars. They were everywhere and they really want you to buy their wares. They are hounding you in the street, as you sit eating in a restaurant, while you are haggling for a wooden sculpture in any of the markets and even while you are waiting to get back on your coach! Taking cigars out of the country requires a valid receipt, so make sure you only buy from an actual cigar shop and keep your receipts! Customs can be strict in Cuba and back in Mexico!
Travel around Havana is easy on foot, but is even better in fantastic old cars, which it is world famous for. However getting round Varadero isn’t quite so glamorous! You get to whizz around Varadero in little 3-wheeled ‘Co-Co taxi’s’ that happily shuttle you from a to b. They are yellow, open fronted and carry 2 adults comfortably (I use the word loosely to take into account the minimal suspension I found with these). They certainly offer character and are cheap to use, and the shopping centre and main outside restaurants are within easy reach with these.
I have and still will recommend Cuba to anyone who asks my opinion (or who’s conversations I overhear) as it really is a place worth seeing. I am off there again in a few weeks with a friend - to Cayo Guillermo this time - more of a quiet resort to relax in plus all inclusive again, to ease even more of my worries!
“Dos Cuba Libra, por favor………..”
Vacation Facts:
Location: Varadero Resort - Cuba - The Caribbean - Central America
Points of Entry from U.S.include: Cancun, Toronto and Nassau
Best Weather - December to April (August to November is Hurricane season!)
Accommodation: Playa de Oro (Coralia) hotel (all inclusive package)
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