Cuba - hints and tips?

[chemenger]

I've had a small inheritance from an aunt who was known for her travel adventures and I would like to put it towards a holiday. Cuba has been suggested. Does any one have any hints and tips they's like to share. Me, DH and two adult children. We are not lying on the beach people and while we like comfort, luxury isn't important.
We are thinking about New Year, we could travel either from the UK or from Boston, depending on where we spend Christmas.

Cuba is amazing!!
We did 3 nights in Havana, 2 nights at Las terrassas, 1 night Cienfuegos, 3 nights Trinidad, 4 nights in Cayo Santa Maria then a final night in Havana before home.

Amazing place, did loads of things. We had a travel company arrange our itinerary for us and had private transfers everywhere. The people were genuinely welcoming, the country is fascinating, the beaches are beautiful but the all inclusives are the same as anywhere else. We enjoyed our 4 nights in the all inclusive towards the end but was difficult to reconcile that to the ‘real’ Cuba. Whatever you do, don’t just go and stay at an all inclusive and think you have seen Cuba. There is so much to see and do!

We did zip lining in the rainforest at Las Terrassas, walking in the rainforest and swimming at a waterfall, snorkelling at a coral reef, tours around Havana and Trinidad.
Loads to do!

Food is not great though to be fair.

I’m pretty sure you can’t travel to Cuba from the US on a tourist visa so do check that out before you go!

Yeah don’t go!

Been twice. First time was ok, second time it was awful.

Yes the beaches are nice but the food is dreadful (three members of our party were very poorly due to food poisoning)

Flies every where.

The airport is awful. The security their look like they are about to arrest you. No air conditioning. No where to eat.

Once you seen the vintage cars and buildings in Havana there is not much. It felt unsafe and we were warned multiple times about pick pocket.

The day trips are good, nice scenery ect but the food you get offered is just inedible and it’s important as your out all day miles from anywhere.

There is one nice restaurant called Xanadu.

To go Cuba it’s cheap and there is a reason for that.

Wow MagicBrenda, you really didn’t like it.

There is loads to see and do if you are willing to travel and see the real Cuba not just resorts.

Cuba is comparatively cheap because it is a communist country which is only really starting the tourist thing. The locals live on a low wage and have ration books etc, it is a fascinating place but really not wealthy. That said everyone has enough, no beggars anywhere we saw. We found the Cubans to be welcoming and friendly and it felt genuine.

Some parts of Havana looked grubby but we felt safe wherever we went.

In terms of food, none of us got ill (and I am really sensitive stomach wise) but the food was often bland and boring. The service levels are also not up to western tourist resort standards as most hotels are government run and the Cubans just don’t have experience of customer service in the same way we do. That said we never found anyone rude.

It is true that toilets outside resorts can be quite grim and we stopped at one service station with millions of flies but restaurants we are in seemed ok generally.

We went with the attitude that travelling round Cuba was not going to be a ‘luxury’ holiday with posh hotels etc but it would be fascinating and a real eye opener. It certainly met that brief and the kids say it was their favourite holiday.

OP it really depends what you want, if just a luxury AI go elsewhere, if you want a different and fascinating holiday go to Cuba.

I wouldn't go to Cuba either as I've heard too many bad things about it, but tbf I know people who love it too. Just wanted to amplify the advice from a pp that you can't fly there from the US. UK or Canada only.

You can fly from the US, but you need a visa. I would suggest you ‘travel’ in Cuba, those that like to ‘holiday’ find it more challenging. We had wonderful food in Cuba, but knew where to avoid.

JetBlue flies from Boston to Cuba:

www.jetblue.com/at-the-airport/international-travel/cuba

I went 15 years ago, not a big fan, but might have improved.

Be aware that there is no WiFi anywhere, even in hotels and bars, I went through social media withdrawal haha

You could buy tokens for WiFi in the western hotels, not always reliable, but ok

Sorry, I was wrong about flights! I knew it had opened up in 2016 but I thought trump had closed it up again.