My husband and I both in our late 60's would like to visit cuba this year, maybe an week in Havana and then onto a beach resort. We are used to travelling and do not want to go to "posh" hotels that deal with the tourist trade and are expensive. Any help will be gratefully appreciated
Best of luck with your cuban trip! It's been a few years since I was there so I hope there hasn't been much that's changed...
1. In Cuba they will know you're tourists from miles away and you will be treated as such.
2. There are only really two choices of accomodation in Cuba - posh hotels or casa particulars. I suggest you go with the second. They're basically bed and breakfasts where you also get your main meal of the day (which I'd stringly suggest you go for as I didn't once find a restaurant I actually wanted to eat in). They're always run by decent Cubans who will help you out where they can.
Other points to note:
1. There are two currencies in Cuba, local money and tourist money. Tourist money has bright colours and stands out like a sore thumb. Local money is well-used so to speak. To get hold of the local money I suggest you get someone to swap it for you - we went to guys that sell street food and asked them. This is by far the best way to buy street food and other smaller items as you have a decent chance that the locals will let you pay local prices, although I have had cases where they tried to charge me tourist prices...
If you've more specific questions happy to assist!
Having been there and loving the island and people I would only stay at a 5 star + hotel.
Having been there and loving the island and people I would only stay at a 5 star + hotel.
LOL, this is a hilarious reply? How can you both love the island and people and recommend only that kinda hotel?
Having been there and loving the island and people I would only stay at a 5 star + hotel.
LOL, this is a hilarious reply? How can you both love the island and people and recommend only that kinda hotel?
Sorry Utrecht... As an example - I love Jamaica and the people. Have been there now 15 times. I also stay at all-inclusives when I go because I get free diving. It doesn't mean I don't leave the hotel and go on adventures to discover the country and it's culture. I get the "only stay at" part of the quoted comment but... It's not out of the realm of possibilities. Just sayin'...
Isa now brings this thread back to it's originally scheduled topic...
[ Forgot the "originally scheduled topic" comment. ]
I suppose it down to what someone wants from a place. Personally, I'd have thought living in someone's home would help towards understanding a different lifestyle. I mean it's Cuba! But we have to suit ourselves - especially if we're on holiday.
Nothing wrong with hotels - I actually love 'em when I'm working - but you could be anywhere.
[ 17-Aug-2010, at 17:44 by fabyomama ]
Having been there and loving the island and people I would only stay at a 5 star + hotel.
LOL, this is a hilarious reply? How can you both love the island and people and recommend only that kinda hotel?
Sorry Utrecht... As an example - I love Jamaica and the people. Have been there now 15 times. I also stay at all-inclusives when I go because I get free diving. It doesn't mean I don't leave the hotel and go on adventures to discover the country and it's culture. I get the "only stay at" part of the quoted comment but... It's not out of the realm of possibilities. Just sayin'...
Isa now brings this thread back to it's originally scheduled topic...
Here ya, Isa.
But although I haven't been to Jamaica, I definately know there are huge differences regarding safety to start with. If you travelled around Cuba, you would know what I mean. I can somehow imagine it would apply to Jamaica (again, no experience) but for Cuba even the opposite is true, especially based on the combination 'knowing people' and '5-star only'.
Thanks for your interaction, its been interesting xx stokesy
Hello Stokesy,
To get back to your question, I did go to Cuba, staying a few days in La Havana, and then heading to Cayo Santa Maria beaches. I stayed in a little resort called "Villa Las Brujas hotel", with about 15 lodges, away from the mass of big resorts on the other side of the island. From there, I did visit and enjoy many beaches, like Playa Santa Perla Blanca
Hope it helps you!
Ernest
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