Which areas of cuba should I visit while on holiday?

Question

I like everything but golf....

Answer 1

Guantanamo definitely

Answer 2

How long are you there? I spend a month in Cuba every summer and I will tell you that most tourists are unknowingly imprisoned once they arrive. Get yourself outside of the tourist district and see the real Cuba!
Spend at least a few days getting to know Habana Vieja, where architecture and history are surpreme. There is a marketplace near the Old Cathedral open almost every day for tourists that has lots of beautiful things to take back to your friends. The city's art and revolution museums are worth a trip as well. The Riviera Hotel is a great place to enjoy yourself--for only ten convertibles you get lunch, two drinks, and as long as you want at the pool with the best high dive!, or take a dive off the Malecon like a real Cuban (watch out for sharks). The clubs at night are a real treat, but MAKE SURE you go one night to the castle on the bay for the nightly cannon fire (7 pm i think). Every night tourists and Cubans alike pack the place to see the cermonial firing of the cannon, which comes from the Colonial Period when the firing was used to signal the closing of the port at night.
I would hope you speak Spanish, which will make your time there so much easier and more enjoyable, and also make travels to other areas a cinch. Don't be afraid to journey into the center of the island, through Camaguey and especially Matanzas (the most beautiful city in my opinion!). THIS is when you will see the real Cuba. Hopefully you won't be afraid to talk to some of the people and get to see their lifestyle and warm hearts.
Cuba, mi patria querida...
And DONT exchange any more money than you need! An insane percentage is taken out and given to the government. Also, keep a strict hold on your passport at all times (especially if you are an American). People are desperate in this country, and if you flaunt yourself as a tourist it will not be to your advantage.
Good luck and stay safe!
Oh yeah, and Varadero is beautiful!

Answer 3

You will love Cuba - but stay away from the tourist enclosed places like Valadero where all you will get is the boring pap which you could get anywhere.
I went there 3 years ago with 'Explore', and you could do worse than look at their website and Cuba Libre itinery to get some good ideas.
Personally I loved Havana - EAT AT THE CUBAN-FRENCH ASSOCIATION - the decor and lobster were fantastic! Try to get to Trinidad (very old, very beautiful - great market) and Santiago de Cuba.
I also recommend Camaguey if you get the chance.
Food: People will offer to take you to their homes and illicit restaurants to feed you. There is no problem with this so long as you feel safe. The Cubans are in general lovely people who want to earn dollars from you! If you tell them you are English they will immediately tell you of their friends in London....
Do get to the Che Guevara tomb and Plaza de la Revolucion and see the changing of the guard there. Just enjoy it all you lucky, lucky person and send me a postcard!
Oh - and all omelettes and sandwiches are jamon, quesa or jamon y quesa... ham, cheese or ham and cheese. the coffee and orange juice are to die for.
If you want to do people a favour, take pencils, biros and toiletries for the kids. And if you go to a hotel, always open and use a little bit of any shampoo etc. then the chamber maid can take it when you've gone.
Go for a walk along the Malecon in Havana, and always bargain taxifares - trust me, they will drop their prices, but don't try to rip them off - remember that you will be wealthy compared to them.
Get yourself a Lonely Planet Guide too - invaluable.
I could go on all night - enjoy yourself - I know you will.

Answer 4

Cuba is a fascinating country, but I would advise that you only go on a package holiday as it is very very difficult to buy even a bottle of milk there as they have by far the best recycling of anywhere in the world and one must have a bottle to bring in when buying a fresh bottle. Also all foodstuffs are scarce there too! There are so many places that you can visit and see. It is like being back in the 1960's! The island is full of nostalgia and the people there are extremely nice. Good luck with your trip.......Try to book an all inclusive package deal when you go there too. We did not do this and my advise to anyone going there is to research everything very carefully!

Answer 5

If it is not too far go to Havana, unfortunately I stayed at Guardalavaca which although a very beautiful part was too far away (500 miles) from the capital. If you are in the same area as I stayed at take a trip to the sealion park & swim with the dolphins - a very memorable experience with a video if you want it, also visit the Indian reservation. The local markets are also fun providing you are willing to 'haggle'

Have a wonderful trip it will be quite an eye-opener when you realise that the term 'how the other half live' suddenly applies to you, as the local people don't earn much but they are very friendly & helpful.

Answer 6

I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE CUBA - if you stay in veradero which is the main holiday spot - take the chance to go on a jet ski safari on the peninsula, they also have an excertion for swimming with dolphins which is amazing.

AS A MUST you have to go to Havana, it looks all tatty and old but inside the buildings its like walking into a palace. There is also the Hemingway restaurant hotel bar!!

ALSO as must you HAVE TO AS AN ORDER LOL!! VISIT the following places
PINAR DEL RIO - the only cigar factory in Cuba
HAVANA
and also go to the TROPICANA SHOW which is world famous for half naked men and women dancing trapeze style with lampshades on their head. its all done outside and the platform is made inbetween trees. A free bottle of rum and all you buy is coke to go with it...pass out happily...
ALSO CUBA isnt Cuba without visiting REVOLUTION SQUARE

Cuba is THE most amazing unspoilt island enveloped and engulfed in a timewarp of history. 1950's cars, cigars, and music of every street corner, not to mention the COCO taxi's which are big yellow crash helmets on wheels (tuk tuk).The crime rate is 1% and the safest way to get about is to actually hitchhike.

I LOVE CUBA - and everyone needs to go there before Castro dies and before America returns to the island, (embargo) as its truley a timewarp.....

Answer 7

I recommend that you stay in the Hotel "Ambos Mundos" in Havana. I stayed there a long time ago, I suppose it is still operating.

It is a beautiful hotel with a wonderful bar. Ernest Heminway stayed for long periods in this hotel and you can visit his room complete with typewriter.

More than for sightseeing, Cuba is great for talking to people. Lots of persons are "chasing dollars" and trying to sell you things. Once you tell them that you are not interested you can go on and chat for hours about something else.

I remember a great outdoor art market, great bargains of really good artists.

Live music is everywhere and musicians are excellent as most have been trained in the conservatory, the downside they have to play in restaurants to earn a living.

Be warned, lots of prostitution. A bit shoking initially but everybody minds their own business in this respect.

Enjoy it!

Answer 8

I got married in Cuba last May and it was fantastic. We stayed in a resort in the Cayo Cocos islands on the north side of Cuba. Some of our party visited Havanah as they wanted to see a bit of culture, it is a airplane ride away ans was quite expensive for the day but it is very tourist orientated. Take plenty of mosquito repellant with you as they didn't sell it in our resort and there was no golf course there.

Answer 9

I was in the Island of Cayo Largo, just south of Cuba, for an all inclusive holiday. The food was excellent, in the 7 yes 7 places to eat and drink.
It originally was a military post.
We went from Heathrow about 8years ago. We have been searching high and low in holiday brochures, no longer shown.
It was on these beaches that the tortoises came ashore to lay their eggs.
We took a biplane tour to Havana, that was fantastic.
Only 15 passengers aboard, BRILLIANT.
I would recommend CAYO LARGO no golf, SUN.> SEA< SAND what more can one ask for!!!!

Answer 10

Havanna. We went a few years back now and it is simply the best city. Get off the beaten track once you have orientated youorself and get into some of the little bars. We also visited the state theatre, an amazing treat as you can do guided tours around backstage. Beautiful to just wander the streets though, but don't think you will be doing much shopping!!!!

Answer 11

Aw, we could've gone on a golfing holiday together - especially if you've got a nice, big ***. I've always wanted to wake up at the crack of dawn :-D

Cool pic of Che' and Fidel playing golf below.

There is an interesting historical photo of Che’ and Fidel, bearded and dressed in their trademark guerilla fatigues with black thick rimmed eyeglasses, playing a “final round” of golf in Cuba prior to almost all Cuban golf courses being bulldozed after the 1959 revolution. Che’ Guevara absolutely loved golf, however, and if he knew about its true origins, which involved peripatetic merchants playing games on coastal land, and soldiers killing time, he would perhaps disagree that they were a symbol of American capitalism.

For decades, only a few golf courses remained in Cuba. Varadero, Habana, and the “off limits” course at the Guantanamo Naval Air Station could be counted on the fingers of one hand. In 1998, Cuba finally recognized and acted upon the requirements by tourists for recreational activities (other than reviewing the memorabilia of the Revolution) such as golf, tennis, water sports, etc.

Cuba has planned a systematic “rollout” of spanking new 18 hole golf courses throughout Cuba to satisfy tourist demands. Canadian and Scottish companies are involved in the Cuban joint venture.

The history of golf in Cuba includes high profile visits by the “great players of golf” during the 1940s through 1950s. Photos of these international golf celebrities decorated the “club houses” in Cuba.