Cuba! yeah baby I'm going! - I just need your best advice please

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Oh am sooo happy - am off in April child free with an old chum
So to make the most of our 8 days there I just need your best advice for
places to visit
places to avoid
nice places to stay
Best bars for Cuba Libres etc etc

Thanks

We stayed at the Nacionale HOtel in Havana about 10 years ago. It was beautiful in a faded glory kind of way. It had lovely sheets, clean rooms, and the architecture reminded me of a bygone era. It was built in the 30's iirc, and hadn't really been updated. I would recommend it. It's probably been modernised by now, and if it has, I hope none of the old charm has been wiped out.

SOunds lovely and I'll look into it- thanks

bump for any other advice

I would buy a copy of Time Out or Lonely planet. You could have mine but its a bit out of date.

I've been about 5 times and had a ball! Do you have a budget?

Budget is somewhere above backpacking and below luxury i.we. happy to go cheap if its clean and good location ( more money for mojitos!)
What's the best way to get around?

You have to stay in Havana for a few days.

La Bodeguita del Medio is a must.

The Revolution Museum is interesting.

Tropicana is a great show.

A few days on the beach at Varadero is relaxing.

You could book your first couple of nights in a hotel which may be a requirement of entry into the country. I stayed at the Plaza which is very central. I then stayed at a casa particular which is a bit like renting a room in ones house. Best to stay in one with a licence as there are many who peddle accommodation without one. Obviously things can be very basic but are normally clean and are at least helping the locals.Some are listed in time out.

Definitely stay in Havana for a few days. take a trip to Cienfuegos and Trinidad. I took the Viazul bus from the bus station.

You could go to Varadero but this where all the tourists are though beaches are lovely I stayed not far out of Havana.

The area known as Playas del Este is not far outside Havana. Nice beaches and mostly cubans from the city go there. I stayed in Santa maria del mar.

Have some fab memories of Cuba and some not so but was worth it.

Trinidad is lovely - as it Vinales on the other side of Havana - theres a great eco hotel near there - La Moka whichwe really loved.

Varadero I would give a miss its not a patch on Barbados etc and you'd miss out on some other properly Cuban places to do it iyswim.

Good place to check reviews of Casas here...
www.cuba-junky.com/

I went on a dancing holiday last year and had a fabulous time! Already booked to go back this year.

Taxis are pretty cheap as long as you check how much they'll charge when you get in, otherwise they might put the meter on or try and charge a lot once you get somewhere.

I stayed in Havana for the whole week I was there but have heard that Vinales and Trinidad are both lovely.

lolpop which dance holiday did you go on?

Casa de la musica is fab!

I went with Club Dance Holidays - not cheap but fantastic!

We went to Casa de la Musica - saw some great live bands and danced for hours. Can't wait to go back!

www.key2cuba.com these guys are great too.