Top Cuba hotels
Varadero Varadero
5 Reviews One night I stopped one of the "old taxis" said I wanted to go to Cardenas, 10 kms away. The Lady driver looked at me and said "OK". I got in and she turned around and started to drive me back towards...
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DOLLARS ... just one dollar to take me in picture ... just one dollar to buy a pen ... dollar, dollar ... they 're always asking you dollars ! and we can understand it, because they earn only 10 dollars per month ... BUT ... one dollar here, one dollar there ... and much dollars end in smoke ...Bring T-Shirts, pens, soaps with you, it will be very useful !
VARADERO : even if Varadero is recommended by all Tours Operators, it's a pitty to stayed there ! Everything is done for tourists and Cuban people are not very present in the streets, it's luxury, hotels and shops. Avoid this place if you can !BUT if you're only looking for nice beaches (more than 20 KM), it's your place.Yes, beaches with white sand, translucence sea at 25 degrees celsius, palm trees and coconuts ... this is the everyday view of the tourists who only saw Varadero ...Oh I forgot : there's only a nice place : Parque Josone, great for the preservation of the flore and the nature.
Be careful where you buy your cigars. Vendors try to *** you anywhere. To be safe, you better buy either in the factories, airport or special shops. Or you can get lucky and get some real 'Cohibas' to a reasonable price, like I did (I never listen to people's warnings...).
Cuba does not really have typical tourist traps. Instead they have propaganda. I would recommend one of these sessions to see what they have to say. Just be skeptical when they tell you there is no prostitution, few divorces, and about the hateful American blockade.
Don't buy any sigars!!!Or only buy them in the state-owned shop.There is just to much fake. Don't get yourself trapped.(i got trapped once, and i've learned..)People will offer you the best price,...it could be even a good sigar....but not the real thing.And if you still wan't to check out if you're being hustled, check out the stamp's, papers, smoke one sigar from the box, cut a sigar open from top till end, and check out if all the different leaves are in place and fresh.And don't pay to much!Here a picture of tabacco-hustlers in Vignales, together with atabacco-controler working for the state.friendly people, dirty business
To me, the expensive hotels near the end of the penisula and away from the small town of Veradero. If you want to see the local cafes, shops etc. you must take a short bus or cab ride. However, the buses are cheap $1.00 U.S.
Cayo LargoAbout Cayo Largo (and JUST about that) I disagree with Lichinga. I intended to spend there some days. LUCKILY I didn’t find room; so I took a day trip from La Habana. Even too much: just sand, sea, sun … and hotels, of course! My Cuban friends told me that they are not allowed to spend time on this island; they can just work there.
Please do NOT give out stuff to beggers. It only encourages further begging and can turn into a real problem. The most common scam is to ask for 'soap'.Knowing full well that someone does not carry soap with them, the uneducated tourist will offer money.From Page 103 of The Lonely Planet...'The beggars are a direct side effect of tourists who amused themselves by handing out money, soap, pens, candies,chewing gum and other things...'
Any trip into Varadero that you have to pay for is a big waste of money. It is easy to get a cab, or horse drawn buggy or a moped and go into the town of Varadero on your own. There is not that much to see so don't waste a lot of money on this. Also always bargain down the price of a cab or buggy. Everything is negotiable.
A lot of people will adress you and ask if you wants to buy cigars. I didn't do it because I had been warned before I went to Cuba. The cigars are for the most part of it is bad.You have to buy the cigars at the factories or in the official shops.Always check the bill at the restaurants. Sometimes the waiter hasn't got the numbers right (I guess thats a way of getting a living)
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...
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...
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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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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