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Varadero Hotels: 508 Reviews - 859 Photos
Havana Hotels: 1988 Reviews - 3485 Photos
Cayo Coco Hotels: 110 Reviews - 180 Photos
Holguín Hotels: 132 Reviews - 306 Photos
Santiago de Cuba Hotels: 184 Reviews - 318 Photos
Cuba Hotels: 10 Reviews - 31 Photos
Trinidad Hotels: 332 Reviews - 650 Photos
Santa Clara Hotels: 64 Reviews - 119 Photos
Guardalavaca Hotels: 46 Reviews - 121 Photos
Ciego de Ávila Hotels: 4 Reviews - 7 Photos
Nuevitas Hotels: 0 Reviews
Cayo Guillermo Hotels: 24 Reviews - 47 Photos
Bayamo Hotels: 3 Reviews - 5 Photos
Cayo Santa María Hotels: 3 Reviews - 7 Photos
Cayo Santa María Hotels: 4 Reviews - 10 Photos

Cuba Local Customs

by JessieLang

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Local Customs
by JessieLang
Peso store for food
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A bottle of Cristal beer, Cuba
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A Bucanero beer in Santiago de Cuba
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Most Viewed Local Customs in Cuba

51.

Holguin City Holguín

3 Reviews There is a lot spainish in Cuba, also the buildings. If you like the spainish buildings there are alot of pictures you can make just of the buildings. So bring enough. This building has a balcony and...

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52.

Cuban Music Santiago de Cuba

1 Review The famous "Casa de la Trova" in Calle Heredia - exchange of emotions between a teacher and his student (a Cuban music player living in the Netherlands ) - we had a great time. But no misunderstanding...

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53.

Trinidad People Trinidad

2 Reviews In most of the Cuban Cities it is an experience to visit the local temples of music and that made my second trip to Cuba so different Like this building - not that far from the Plaza Mayor This island...

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54.

Give Aways Holguín

2 Reviews Get to know the locals. They are the best people but remember they are poor. Bring lots of clothes and toys for the children. One little girl her toy was an empty toothpaste box. We litterally gave...

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55.

Practical Santiago de Cuba

2 Reviews During your visit of Moncada garrison you'll see that part of it is school as well (Mr.Casto decision)... it's strange that we passed and kids had exam...with open door and none told us to be quite or...

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56.

Religion Santiago de Cuba

2 Reviews Christmas in Cuba this year passed with little more observance than the tiny plastic Xmas tree for me. Some of my Cuban friends did attend church as usual but there was none of the comercialization...

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Climate

by Helga67

The dry season is from November to April, the rainy season is from May to October (often only a short shower in the afternoon, most days are sunny and without rain). Hurricanes may occur from June to November. A local told me that they are more frequent lately than 10 years ago.Average temperature is 25 degrees C. Max. temperature in summer is between 30 and 40 degrees C with high humidity (80%). In the eastern part of the island (Santiago, Baracoa, Holguin) it is usually 3 to 5 degrees warmer. In the Havana area and western Cuba (Pinar del Rio) the temperature at night can sometimes drop to 14 degrees C (especially from Decembr to February) and it can be coolish-humid.

Quince-15 years old

by illa

In Cuba, you'll see more than once a young girl totally dressed up, mostly in White, and whole crew there taking photos or video. First I thought it was a wedding, but I couldn't find the bridegroom, and the bride seems a little too young, until I was told the girls were celebrating their 15 year birthday, which is one of the most important birthdays for girls in Cuba. (a milestone from fancy childhood to true reality of life?)I was also told families spend a lot of money (even for a poor family, still, there's only one 15 year birthday for a girl!) on the events. And all girls keep their album as special memory. They'd probably show you the album proudly when you have a chance to visit a Cuban family.

Santaria for tourists

by melosh

Stationed in the plaza near the corner of the church obviously for tourist interests. She smokes her cigar and requests tips for photos. I never got a chance to ask if her presence was government sponsored, just private enterprize, or something in between. Still she was beautiful and friendly and there was no trap about it, so her picture goes under customs rather than tourist trap.

Cigars and Rum

by russian_yaz

The tobacco, that object made of dry leaves, the "brega", is one of the national prides, even among who prefer to stay to the margin of its seductive smoke. And it cannot be otherwise, because we see it born of the hands of the farmers, and to become pleasure after a long and meticulous process that bears selection and classification of the leaves, fermentation and aging and, lastly, twist.Those who cultivate it know very well of what they speak when they refer to the differences of the flavor of the leaves of the tobacco, in dependence of the place of the plant of where they proceed. More near the root, to half of the shaft, in the superior branches... there it can be the difference among an early fig and other, among a quality and other, between a smoker and another.Then there are more classifications, in dependence of the quality of the selected leaf. Some will integrate the gut (the...

Homosexuality in Cuba

by russian_yaz

I'm cuban and lived in Havana for 28 years. I'm hetero and I had and still have very good homosexual friends, both sex. Homosexuality is not so well overlooked in general but forget about any attacks, either phisical or just in words. Maybe U'll have some second sight, maybe U'll notice some one overloloking U, mostly cubans over 40 years.Younger people are more open, as usual :) Forget about government arrasement, they don't care about this theme, unless U broke some law, if not, just enjoy your stay. As any latin country cuba is very "machista" and offcourse, any kind of homosexuality could be miss interpreted, as the goverment for many years used to presecute the homosexuals. So on this days U could find someone that consider homosexuality as some kind of mind perturbation or some other crazy tought. But don?t worry, nobody will attack U or offend U just because U give a kiss to your...

Local cuisine-Tostones (flattened fried banana)

by russian_yaz

Tostones (Flattened fried banana)Tostones is, without doubt, Cuban's favorite side dish and U'll see it everywhere on any restaurant or home if they have some green banana.Time: 15 MinsDifficulty: EasyServe: 4 peopleIngredients:2 unripe banana1/2 cup of oil4 teaspoons of cold water1/2 teaspoons of mashed garlicSaltPreparation:Peel the bananas and cut into 1 inch thick slices. In a deep frying pan heat the oil and fry the plantains till golden brown. Flatten the bananas using the bottom of a flat-bottomed glass bottle. Fry the bananas again for 30 seconds on each side. Mix the water, a pinch of salt and the mashed garlic. Stir and pour over the bananas. Serve immediately.

Local cuisine...Congris or Moros y Cristianos

by russian_yaz

A typical plate in cuba could be, Arroz Congris with any meat, "tostones", "masas de puerco" or "yuca con mojo"."Arroz congris" or "Moros y Cristianos" is very simple to make:1 lb dry black beans 7 C water 1 medium green pepper, coarsely chopped 1-1/2 C chopped onion 1 Tbsp vegetable oil 2 bay leaves 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 tsp salt 1 Tbsp vinegar (or lemon juice) 6 C rice, cooked in unsalted water 1 jar (4 oz) sliced pimento, drained 1 lemon cut into wedges Pick through beans to remove bad beans. Soak beans overnight in cold water. Drain and rinse. In large soup pot or dutch oven stir together beans, water, green pepper, onion, oil, bay leaves, garlic, and salt. Cover and boil 1 hour. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 3-4 hours or until beans are very tender. Stir occasionally and add water if needed. Remove about 1/3 of the beans, mash and return to pot. Stir and heat through. Remove...

Cuban Beer

by elgarbo

In our time in Cuba, we only encountered two different brands of beer - Cristal and Bucanero.Generally speaking, it appears as though the locals stick to the latter of the two, and it's easy to see why. Cristal is a very light, flavourless, watered down beer; almost more like a soft drink than an alcoholic beverage.Bucanero is stronger, but doesn't necessarily taste much better. It has a weird metallic tang and a very rich fruity flavour, which means that excessive consumption doesn't sit too well with the stomach. This might be a good deterrent from drinking too much while you're in town - or alternatively, stick to the Havana Club rum, which is dirt cheap ($3 for a bottle of white rum).

Appearance

by My_Love_My_Cuba

I a 20 year old latin female with a couple tattoos. Many times they thought i was maybe a criminal. Also I look very cuban and while travelling with my blonde friends amny thought i was maybe a jinertra. So be careful about where and when you are showing your tattoos not in religious areas or goverment officials. As well if you feel liek you are being treated differently based on them assuming you are Cuban let them now in the best way that you can without offending. I started wearing my canadian flag bandana

Prices of food and other things...

by russian_yaz

Havana and Varadero have the highest prices. Once U get out to the country field, the prices drops. Also is good to know that U can buy many things to eat, fruits, meat, vegetables and others in the "agromercados" all around Havana and there the prices are several times less than in shops or hotels.The usual prices in shops or small cafeteria:- soda (0.33 cL): 1 cuc - water (0.5L): 1.50 cuc- food: can be really expensive, depending on what and where U buy. Don´t buy anything in Miramar neighborhood, it will be really expensive. Also Old Havana can be expensive as it is the main touristic destination in Havana.- a usual sandwich can be around 2.50cuc- a menu in a restorant ranges between 10 to 25 cuc for person. My advice is to go to "paladares", particular owned restorants. Try the chinesse town, they have great food and very good pricesRemember that 1cuc = 25 cuban pesos and that when U...

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Villa Las Brujas Cuba

2 Reviews and 51 Opinions I could have chosen Okay but some problems, but I still think it falls too short to express how...

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NH Parque Central Havana

8 Reviews and 1269 Opinions This is a jewel of a hotel, located just a block or two away from Old Havana, and the shops of Calle...

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Iberostar Varadero Varadero

5 Reviews and 1871 Opinions great food gained 5 lbs on the french sauces whatch out for the car rental guy Frank , he takes the...

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Questions and Answers

Q: We're hoping to do Eastern Cuba in December, we've already done the west. I'm trying to book flights, ideally from Manchester. I...

A: flights domestically it is, aerocaribbean do it, as you are in Manchester check the Cuban tourist office http://www.travel2cuba.co.uk/ hope it helps cheers

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