So I'm going to Cuba(Advice)

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Go to the Sandals Royal Hicacos in Varadero.(No kids at this resort and very sexy for you and the g/f)

It is a great place on a great Island. Close to Havana and has one of the best beaches in the world. Dont buy the food is terrible thing most people try to sell you...the food is very good, but not spicy in flavor as most countries of this nature are.

Nice, thanks bud! I'm actually lookin at it right now on selloffvacations.com, there's some pretty crazy deals on there right now.

And Deelow, thanks for the advice on Cayo Coco. I was actually looking at that because I hear the snorkeling's incredible, but I can't go to Cuba and not see Havana. btw how's the snorkeling in Varadero? Any reefs or anything like that to see?

[evilcougar]

Cuba is one of my favorite places i've been. I've been twice, the first time i went, we stayed in Veradero, the 2nd time we stayed in a little resort half way b/w Veradero and Havana called Jibicoa.

The beaches at Jibicoa were terrible but the rest of it was awesome. i wouldn't stay there again tho b/c of the beaches.

I loved staying in Veradero. the locals are super nice. we met a couple of guys on the plane ride down who had friends they were staying with in Veradero. they invited us over for a lobster dinner etc..we paid the dude $10 american and it was the best lobster EVER.

Havana is awesome for a day trip. You dont' need to stay over night. The day is enough. All you do is sign up for the whatever excursions you want right at the resort. They have signs all over the lobby for different things. we also did a day trip on a catamaran, where they caught the lobster for us right there and served it up right there. Also amazing lobster. and we also did a reef trip on a glass bottom boat. that was pretty awesome.

Then the dudes we met on the plane on the way down took us clubbing, we paid $10 to get in, all drinks were included the whole night, we danced our butts off and had a great time.

I love cuba and would go back over and over again. Good pick!

[bluejays]

Funny you post this topic, because I'm going to Cuba for the first time on the 16th for the 24 weekend, and I was going to post a topic about it too. Staying at Arenas Blancas in Veradero (apparently a party resort to the tripadvisor forums). It's 4 star, the food is apparently not so good, as are most places apparently in Cuba, so I'm not concerned. If I were you though, with this swine flu thing going around, I'd book your trip FAST. I had to wait on the line to speak with Air Canada about 1 1/2 hours the other day because of the heavy traffic. All the original hotels we wanted booked up literally within 2 days of the Air Canada saying they were pulling out of Mexico. All the better resorts are being booked up fast because of people avoiding Mexico.

And another thing. I'd check out www.tripadvisor.com for your hotel and see what others' reviews were like. The forums there I also found very helpful. I'll let you know how our vacation down there goes too.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

^^^
Thanks, ya one of the reasons we chose Cuba is because, with a) Castro stepping down, and b) Obama reaching out the olive branch, I know its just a matter of time before it all turns into Cancun v2.0, and I really wanna experience it the way it is now. Believe me, I won't miss out on Havana, that's basically the main reason we're going.

I am sorry but this is a terrible way to look at it. That's like saying "Stalin is stepping down so I better don't miss out on the gulag experience before they shut it down, only for a week or two of course, then I am going back to my cushy life in Canada and complain about crowded tourists hotspots."

I guess you should hurry up so you don't miss out on North Korean "experience" as well, before these poor souls free themselves from a dictatorship and turn into Seoul v2.0......

[Phanuthier]

I went to Cuba - loved it, liked it more then Mexico or Hawaii et al. I took a cab into some of the towns because I wanted to see true communism, and it was quite an experiance I'll never forget - try it.

Also, bring lots of clothes, school supplies and so on that you can leave behind for the locals. This stuff is peanuts to us, but gold to them. I brought an entire suite case down there and came back with 5% of what I brought down my limit on cigars. (Careful with those cigars though, I started smoking... then started drinking one night, and suddenly became a smoker for a bit lol)

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

I am sorry but this is a terrible way to look at it. That's like saying "Stalin is stepping down so I better don't miss out on the gulag experience before they shut it down, only for a week or two of course, then I am going back to my cushy life in Canada and complain about crowded tourists hotspots."

I guess you should hurry up so you don't miss out on North Korean "experience" as well, before these poor souls free themselves from a dictatorship and turn into Seoul v2.0......

You'd have zero interest in experiencing a completely different, unique culture? Fair enough I guess. btw you probably don't find the spring break vacation crowds as annoying as I do.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Also, bring lots of clothes, school supplies and so on that you can leave behind for the locals. This stuff is peanuts to us, but gold to them. I brought an entire suite case down there and came back with 5% of what I brought down my limit on cigars.

Haha ya I actually just learnt about this today, a guy I work with told me his ex went down there a couple years back and came back with alot less clothes than she left with. He was actually tellin me they were quite pushy about wanting her stuff. I'll have to dig out some stuff I dont wear anymore and share the wealth...

Man, the more I learn about this place the more excited I get! So many interesting things. Is that true there's actually designated, manned hitch-hiking pick-up points?

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Haha ya I actually just learnt about this today, a guy I work with told me his ex went down there a couple years back and came back with alot less clothes than she left with. He was actually tellin me they were quite pushy about wanting her stuff. I'll have to dig out some stuff I dont wear anymore and share the wealth...

Man, the more I learn about this place the more excited I get! So many interesting things. Is that true there's actually designated, manned hitch-hiking pick-up points?

I don't know about "manned" but a few times, I did bum a ride into the city. Despite FoL's views... if you are up for it, push the touriest boundaries and go see the Cuban cities, not just the beaches. Talk to the locals, I got invited into the house and a drink of one a one of Castro's retired sidekicks - very interesting experience.

And I would LOVE to go to North Korea right now. It would be amazing; but I hear its impossible to get a travel visa there.

They never pushed me to have my stuff, but the next time I go down there, I'm bringing 2 suitecases worth of stuff and coming back with nothing but a bag of cigars.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I don't know about "manned" but a few times, I did bum a ride into the city. Despite FoL's views... if you are up for it, push the touriest boundaries and go see the Cuban cities, not just the beaches. Talk to the locals, I got invited into the house and a drink of one a one of Castro's retired sidekicks - very interesting experience

Crazy! Ya everything I've read so far sounds like the people love interacting with tourists, it should be quite an experience. And ya no worries there in terms of exploring past the tourist spots. The whole reason we chose Cuba over other places in the Caribbean is to experience the whole unique culture, hence why I want a hotel close to Havana. If I didn't care about that I would've probably just went to Costa Rica or something.

btw thanks for all the responses guys, I wasn't expecting this thread to get near this many hits.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Nice, thanks bud! I'm actually lookin at it right now on selloffvacations.com, there's some pretty crazy deals on there right now.

And Deelow, thanks for the advice on Cayo Coco. I was actually looking at that because I hear the snorkeling's incredible, but I can't go to Cuba and not see Havana. btw how's the snorkeling in Varadero? Any reefs or anything like that to see?

Theres some snorkeling and diving...they take you out by boat to an island close by. Not the best...Cayo Coco would be best for that or Holguin...but Varadero is best beach and good location.

We always take stuff for the Cuban Kids and Maids. Go to the dollar store and get stuff there. If you leave the Maids a buck and a few goodies they will be extra special to you...LOL
We take school supplies to the towns nearby and drop them off at the schools. They are very warm and wonderful people...FAR better than Mexico or the DR.
There are also groups that will have you take medicines if you like...just check some bulletin boards and they will hook you up.
Debbies site is the best for reading actual reviews on the resorts, TripAdvisor is ok.

Oh...dont forget to drink LOTS of Cuban Rum! For $6 or $7 you can get some great stuff. Make friends with the bartenders at the beach and get a connection to buy cigars...Cuban Rum and Cigars...man I can taste it now!

[Sainters7]

^^^
Hey good call on the school supplies thing Cheese! Can't believe I didnt think of that, considering I'll be a teacher after next year. I think I may bring a 2nd suitcase just to give out stuff.

btw do they ever trade with you? Like say you give someone a bunch of clothes, would he send a few cigars your way? Not that I necessarily need or expect that, I'm just curious.

EDIT: What kind of stuff did you bring anyways? Anything in particular they seem to like that they may have a tough time getting there?

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

^^^
Hey good call on the school supplies thing Cheese! Can't believe I didnt think of that, considering I'll be a teacher after next year. I think I may bring a 2nd suitcase just to give out stuff.

btw do they ever trade with you? Like say you give someone a bunch of clothes, would he send a few cigars your way? Not that I necessarily need or expect that, I'm just curious.

EDIT: What kind of stuff did you bring anyways? Anything in particular they seem to like that they may have a tough time getting there?

Main essentiallsy - I brought a whole pack of pens/pencils (like 200) and other school supplies... clothes of coarse, shoes, sandles... a few tubes of toothpaste, a few toothbrushes, a few towels...

The cigars were cheap anyways, I wouldn't have bothered trading. I don't think they'd trade either, the sales are all sold by stores owned by the government, not a private shop right?

[bluejays]

I'm just curious, but how do some of you bring an extra suitcase of stuff down there? Aren't you limited to 42 pounds? That's not much at all, and if you're charged $10 or whatever for EACH extra pound of baggage, wouldn't that amount to an exhorbent amount of money spent? Just curious.

[SebC]

When I went (with Transat) we did a split: 3 nights Havana, 4 nights Varadero. If that's an option for you, I'd recommend it. Take a tour the first day, explore at your own pace the second. It's reasonably safe in the tourist areas... Cuba knows that tourism is it's lifeblood, so the penalties for harming toursits are big enough to be huge deterrents. Communism probably helps too.

[T@T]

6 times Cancun area/2 times Cuba and the Mayan blows away anywhere in Cuba IMO...unless I missed a gem. I personly find I got treated like a king in the hotels I stayed at in the Mayan resorts and the sand in the Mayan was very nice and fine...someones on glue suggesting otherwise.

Cuba is far better than the pacific side of Mexico though, Mazatlan is for dog retreats.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by T@T

6 times Cancun area/2 times Cuba and the Mayan blows away anywhere in Cuba IMO...unless I missed a gem. I personly find I got treated like a king in the hotels I stayed at in the Mayan resorts and the sand in the Mayan was very nice and fine...someones on glue suggesting otherwise.

Why must you do this to me? That was our original destination. I had been miserable all week since we had to cancel, for obvious reasons.

[flamingreen]

If you are the adventurous type, rent a car and drive around the southern tip of Cuba, gorgeous views (though the road is kind of sketchy). Plus while you are on the southern tip you can head to the Sierra Maestra mountains, where Fidel and Che hid out and planned their overthrow of the government. They have just recently allowed access to their residences and it's worth the trip alone.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

You'd have zero interest in experiencing a completely different, unique culture? Fair enough I guess. btw you probably don't find the spring break vacation crowds as annoying as I do.

Well, I don't really consider a totalitarian outdoor museum to be unique culture worth exploring and enjoying before it (hopefully) ceases to exist. I may be taking this personally, but I think it is kind of twisted. Again it's like taking tours in prisons (with innocent inmates), sunbathing on the roof while they watch you, enjoying the unique atmosphere and the thrill. Its all cheap fun and games for the tourists, but the harsh reality for people in Cuba is so much different.

Actually I would say it is the tourists today who make out of this country a Disneyland with funny adventurous rides.

As for spring breakers, I don't encounter them but if I did, I'm sure I would hate them.

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by Deelow

If you actually want to see the Country do not go to Cayo Coco

Cayo is nice for being out of the way if you want a week of just "being" but agreed it's not the place to go to if you want to hit up Havana.

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Also, bring lots of clothes, school supplies and so on that you can leave behind for the locals. This stuff is peanuts to us, but gold to them. I brought an entire suite case down there and came back with 5% of what I brought down my limit on cigars. (Careful with those cigars though, I started smoking... then started drinking one night, and suddenly became a smoker for a bit lol)

Originally Posted by Cheese

We always take stuff for the Cuban Kids and Maids. Go to the dollar store and get stuff there. If you leave the Maids a buck and a few goodies they will be extra special to you...LOL
We take school supplies to the towns nearby and drop them off at the schools.

Just to add to these I'd caution against just handing things out to kids on the street. This typically just encourages them to beg and not go to school. Giving supplies to the schools or organizations is better. Nothing wrong with giving stuff to the workers at the resort.

Originally Posted by fleury

I'm just curious, but how do some of you bring an extra suitcase of stuff down there? Aren't you limited to 42 pounds? That's not much at all, and if you're charged $10 or whatever for EACH extra pound of baggage, wouldn't that amount to an exhorbent amount of money spent? Just curious.

Learn how to pack! 42 pounds for a week in Cuba is about double what you need even if you take down supplies, unless you're taking scuba gear...even then I think 42 is a pile. You're spending most of your days on the beach so bathing suits, t shirts, shorts is 90% of what you need. I just spent 3 weeks in Africa with a stop over in Paris for a couple of days (requiring some warmer,heavier clothes) and I had a single carry on bag around 20 lbs. A week in Cuba is the easiest and lightest packing.

[MoneyGuy]

Go to cruisecritic.com. It's a site for cruising but there is a place in the forum where they discuss destinations. You'll get great advice there and there is lots of traffic on the site so you should get worthwhile info pretty quickly. I'm Moneyguy over there also. Look for my insightful posts. I just got off a cuise ship in Boston two days ago.