Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Olly]

Only I'm off there in a few days, and I'd love some tips on places to eat/what to wear/take with me and so on.

 

I didn't realise when I booked it just how close to Christmas/New Year it was, yes I know it's obvious but I didn't think it through! I haven't done much planning, and now I need to start packing and sorting things out. Everyone who's been there tells me it's wonderful and I'll love it, but just at the moment I think the anxiety levels are exceeding the excitement, so I'd be really grateful for any advice or tips.

[MedusA]

I've not been, but it's somewhere OH and I would love to go. Not the usual tourist enclaves though. I'd like to see the "real" Cuba that they hide from the tourists.

 

Hope you have a fab time, Olly.

[Angels4]

WOW Cuba.... check out http://www.lonelyplanet.com tons of very interesting information. I have never thought I would want to go to Cuba, but after seeing the information think it might be a nice place to visit.

[craftyhunnypie]

Where are you going Varadero?

Just have your wits about you in Havanna, you will get offered fake cigars & 'other stuff'. Watch your money wallet / bag!

 

Enjoy!

 

Emma.x

[theherd123]

I always use the website virtualtourist it is a brilliant source of information and ideas of where to go and what to do

 

 

A friend of mine has been and said that you shouldnt ask for directions as the locals expect to be paid for this and they usually send you in the wrong direction so you will have to ask again and part with more cash.

 

If you are going 'all inclusive' im sure you will avoid any problems though

[Olly]

Thanks - it's not 'all inclusive', but it's a guided holiday (Explore, similar to Exodus) so there'll be someone to show us around and the hotels etc are all booked, I will need to buy meals in the evenings but the tour guide usually gives you some hints as to where to go, and as I'll be part of a group, it's likely that I'll link up with two or three others for meals if we don't all go together.

 

We're in Havana for three nights, and then in Trinidad for three I think, coming back to Havana for the flight home. Thanks for the website suggestions, I'll take a look on those. I'm frantically searching the wardrobe for lightweight clothing at the moment, I must have been wearing something this summer!

[furryelephant]

Sounds like a lovely holiday! We spent a week all-inclusive in Varadero in November and had a great time OH wants to go back this year and spend a few days in Havana as we only had a day trip there this year.

 

Ours was a different type of holiday to yours, but the Cuban people in the hotel were lovely.. so friendly and the tour guide was great when we went to Havana. I assume your guide will steer you towards a recommended place to eat each night, as it's a little strange with the split of places where local currency (Cuban Pesos) and tourist currency (Convertible Pesos) are accepted but I think you'll get much more experience of that than we did, as we were in a "tourist area" for the majority of the time.

 

As for things to take, I think you can pick up pretty much anything in Cuba now if you have the Pesos to pay for it! The brands are interesting as they don't have the "Cokes" and other American brands widely available.. but try the Cuban equivalents - everything we had was good! I took the usual holiday supplies (pain killers, medicines etc) and left anything I hadn't used for the maid at the end of the holiday - toiletries and such are appreciated by hotel staff along with a small tip.

 

As said above, watch your bag and money when in the areas visited by tourists, where you will be hassled with locals wanting Pesos for drawing a picture, having a photo taken etc etc... just politely decline and if they won't leave you alone tell them firmly to go away. I'll be honest with you that the hassle in Havana in these areas has put me off going back to the city, however I'm not used to this as we have always spent our holidays on tiny Greek islands so I've never been approached like this before!

 

The locals are just trying to make a few Pesos as many people are very poor and when you drive into the cities the areas where they live can come as a shock. Being my first visit to a Communist country I wasn't sure what to expect

 

But you will have a fantastic time... the people are lovely and the country is beautiful. Have a great holiday!

 

If you want any more info, feel free to drop me a message!

 

Paula

[Brian]

Take a look at tripadvisor.com especially if you know the names of hotels and places you will be going.

 

Have to say i went to Holguin a couple of years ago and had a terrible time. We were both very ill and many people we have talked to have had similar experiences so watch the food especially in all inclusive. To put that in context we go to the far east at east once or twice a year including indai and have never had any trouble.

 

Wouldnt go back if it was free. Sorry

[Egluntyne]

Have a wonderful time Olly. I don't suppose it will be snowing there.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

My brother went as part of a business trip a few years ago and liked it so much he took his 4 children for a holiday last year . (Right when there was a hurricane there - they were fine!)

[lisa33]

Andyman took me to cuba for my 30th Birthday present.

 

Never made it up to Havana but adored the parts of Cuba we did see.

 

Do watch your belonings. My digital camera was stolen from the hotel disco on my last night. Still think it was more likely to be tourists that did it than the hotel staff!!!!

[Tiggy]

we had a great time in the summer, watch the mohitas they taste lovely but very potent as I found out to my cost we had no probs with pickpockets or other crooks, there is a lot of fake stuff about, but the people the food & music are fantastic