Has anyone been to Cuba?

[caroline7758]

We are hoping to treat ourselves to an "exotic holiday next year (April/May probably) and are thinking of Cuba. Does anyone have any experience/ tips for us?

[caroline7758]

[rugbypost]

Have you tryed Trip Adviser its a great site anyone that has been to the hotel or country you are traveling to  write and say everthing you will need to know. My sister and husband said it was like going back in time as  nothing has been done  and a lot of property was in a bad way also the place they stayed she said it wlike a concentration camp you were aloud in but not out. But remember you have a lot of information at your finger tips and T/Adviser is the best Good Luck and have a great Holiday 8)

[Digeroo]

Went to Cuba last year.  Stayed at hotel playa pesquero very nice.  In the middle of no where.

Food was awesome in Hotel, went January, weather lovely.  Beach lovely.  Humming birds gorgeous  I fell in love with papaya and crispy bacon.  I did not experience anything I would call exotic except the hummingbirds and papaya.  

Downsides, excursions expensive and a bit so so.  Very little public transport.  We were not shut in but difficult just to go out.  People who went to the regional capital by bus said it was a problem they were hassled when they arrived.  Toilets outside hotel very basic.  I also found the time difference difficult my body never did get the hang of it.

Political situation odd in the extreme, population very poor.  They are living in a glitch in the time/reality continuum.  Food for the general population is still rationed.   They are paid a pitance in monopoly money.  Tourists use a different currency.

Expect to give tips, though they like things like cosmetics and toothpaste.  There are a whole list of things which are difficult to get there so they apparently prefer those to money.  Shopping there is dire, you have to take absolutely everything you need.  I gave my room maid two large tubes of toothpaste and she was over the moon.

There was not much worth buying there.  PM me if you want more info.

Personally I would suggest that if you are looking for an upmarket butlins with all the trimmings then Turkey in May has some better deals.    

Need to know more of what you are looking for in a holiday.

[Digeroo]

Forgot to mention pig roasts and sea food lovely.

[tonybloke]

and the coffee is crap!!

[grawrc]

One of the guys from our allotments is off to Cuba for 3 months for the second time. He loves it there. He works here as a gardener and usually goes somewhere in the winter months on holiday. He travels round the country by bike. I doubt very much whether he stays in tourist hotels. Don't have any more info except that you would really have to like a place to go back there for 3 months.