Going to Cuba - has anyone been?

[Claire_Brummell]

Hi Everyone,

I'm off to Cuba soon as we're planning on running a holiday out there next year and I wondered if anyone here had been there before?

Basically I'm trying to find out as much info as possible before I go and wondered if anyone had any recommendations on places to visit / dance / avoid / good restaurants / excursions etc. All the usual info!!

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks :D

Claire

[viking01]

Hello Claire,

When and where exactly are you going?

I'm leaving for cuba on May 5th, returning on the 23rd.
For me, it'll be my first trip to cuba and I'll be happy to share my experiences upon return...

In the mean while, I recommend you check out this forum (in case you haven't already) :arrow: http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=14

Lots of useful information for a first time traveller!

Erik

[Guarachero]

Avoid adventuring too far out of metropolitan aresa. Other than that, there are several good places to visit.

Vedado is a very attractive area for restaurants. Check with Habana Libre hotel for ballroom dance. Find out about Tropicana. Varadero, I highly recommend. The beaches of Santa María del Mar, Guanabo and Boca Ciega are nice places.

Restaurant Caribe in Vedado has a night of dance, cannot remember when, but check with them.

In Vedado: Hotel Presidente in Avenida de Los Presidentes. Visit Avenida 23 at “L” Street, there are several night clubs.

Vedado Clubs:

La Zorra y el Cuervo
Los Violines,
Los Andes
El Turquino, etc

Also, if you appreciate art, visit the Cementerio de Colón at Avenida 23 at Calle 12. There are virtually monuments there.

Right now I cannot think of all the nice and cool places, but send me a private e-mail through my profile, and I’ll share more info with you.

There are even private individuals who can provide guidance.

I'll be there in July and August to visit my family.

Guarachero

[Claire_Brummell]

Well what can I say – it was absolutely fabulous!

The atmosphere, the people, the music, the dancing, the food – I had a fantastic time and simply cannot wait to go back!

Something that was quite strange for me was that there isn’t the amount of salsa dancing that I expected to find – the best way to dance out there is to either go with people who’ve been before or to make friends with the locals and get them to take you out and dance with them – it was still amazing and absolutely something I would recommend doing – but having good Cuban contacts makes the experience much more enjoyable.

One thing that absolutely blew me away was the response to our dancing over there – I have to say I was a little intimidated going over there being that salsa originated in Cuba and we were mere tourists. But much to my surprise and sheer amazement not only was the response from EVERYWHERE we went overwhelmingly positive (Cubans were constantly coming up to us and praising our dancing) but we were being asked by everyone to teach them our style (staggeringly - I was completely stunned....) Now I know that although I am a good dancer and I can more than hold my own on the dance floor – but we weren't going out there to prove anything at all or 'show what we can do' - we were just enjoying the music, and the atmosphere and enjoying dancing together - and I think it was this as well as the difference in styles that people were responding to. I was delighted with their desire to share their style and learn and take on ours too - mostly it was great fun - which to be honest - is the whole point of salsa in the first place!!

We are in the process of arranging the details for the holiday we’re running out there next year (April / May) and as soon as they are finalised I’ll post them here for anyone who would like to go – I certainly can’t wait to get back there! You can’t explain it really – it’s a feeling and an atmosphere that has to be experienced – I could have sat there and soaked it up for months – it was so chilled, yet passionate, the people were vibrant and friendly and I can’t wait to be back among them again.

For anyone going here’s some information that you might find useful:

This is a good website for recommendations on places to eat - every recommendation we had from here was spot on – I would avoid eating in the hotels / government restaurants – paladares are the only way to do it and if you get the right ones the food / surroundings / atmosphere is incredible:
http://users.pandora.be/casaparticular/host/notes_from_the_underground.htm

I would recommend taking a tour when you first get there in order to get your bearings round Havana and find the main points of interest.

The main one (and the one we did) is:
Havana City Tour: This tour is organized by the company Cubanacán. There are two departure points to choose from, one in Old Havana and the other from the hotels. It is a complete tour, with visits to the main tourist sites in the city, including the Museo de los Capitanes Generales, a tobacco factory, the Casa del Café y del Ron. Disabled access is available. Calle 5 e/ Avenida y 68, Miramar, La Habana, +53 7 33 2047 (Information) +53 7 33 2715.

Places of interest worth seeing in Havana are:
Capitolio Nacional - if you do the inside of this - it's worth getting a guide as you get to enter the rooms and see bits that you otherwise wouldn't.
Central Park
El Malecón
Plaza de Armas
Plaza de la Catedral
Botanical Gardens - lovely but quite a way out of the city so only do if you have the time and probably worth getting the taxi to wait as it's hard to get on from out there!
Cemetery de Colon – Go here to see the Milagrosa (Miracle Lady) and the statue of the faithful dog.

There's a lovely market not far from the Plaza de Armas and Plaza de la Catedral - opposite the where the Statue of Christ looks over the harbour - this is a good place to get souvenirs and there are also Horse and Carriage rides from this area which are a great way to see old Havana.

If people are interested in good Cuban music / dancing then Cafe Cantante on Revolutionary Square and the Casa de la Musica in Havana are good places (can vary on the amount of people/dancing depending on the band) - but I would absolutely recommend making friends with some of the cuban people and getting them to take them to places to dance - apparently the roof of the Ingletterra hotel is good for dancing - but again we didn't make it on this last trip.

I wouldn't recommend the Cubanacan tour to Varadero as the hotel and food were awful - but the beach was beautiful so would be worth finding a way of visiting a beach if you don’t do this as part of your trip – one of our Cuban friends took us to one that was half hour away from Havana (not 2 hours as Varadero was!) which was just as beautiful and no problems with the food / surroundings.

I've got tons of information if there's anything in particular people want to know or any area I've missed then let me know - I've probably got some info on it somewhere!!

Thank you so much for all your help – I’ll keep you posted on next year’s holiday :D

Hugs,

Claire xx

[peachexploration]

What a wonderful and informative review, Claire. :D I'm glad you great time! :banana:

And the following is truly awesome:
......One thing that absolutely blew me away was the response to our dancing over there – I have to say I was a little intimidated going over there being that salsa originated in Cuba and we were mere tourists. But much to my surprise and sheer amazement not only was the response from EVERYWHERE we went overwhelmingly positive (Cubans were constantly coming up to us and praising our dancing) but we were being asked by everyone to teach them our style (staggeringly - I was completely stunned....) Now I know that although I am a good dancer and I can more than hold my own on the dance floor – but we weren't going out there to prove anything at all or 'show what we can do' - we were just enjoying the music, and the atmosphere and enjoying dancing together - and I think it was this as well as the difference in styles that people were responding to. I was delighted with their desire to share their style and learn and take on ours too - mostly it was great fun - which to be honest - is the whole point of salsa in the first place!!.....

[Rosa]

Claire, thanks for your account of your Cuban holiday - it left me green-eyed with envy! I've wanted to go to Cuba for ages, but for various reasons (financial and family) it's not been possible. But your post has left me fired up and raring to go! :D

Funnily enough, you mentioned Varadero beach... and, completely by chance, as I was reading your post, I was listening to a track by a Cuban singer (Candido Fabre.) The track was called, "En la arena de Varadero." (Translation for non-Spanish speakers: "On the Sand of Varadero", or "On Varadero Beach.")

Rosa :)

[Claire_Brummell]

Thanks Peach - I agree - I was totally overwhelmed and thrilled when I discovered this - makes me want to go back all the more!!

...and Rosa - what can I say? Strange co-incidence! ...and as for heading to cuba I would definately recommend it...I just want to go back now!! :D

[simona]

That's way cool that you got a chance to go to Cuba. I'm still trying to figure out a way to go. Being a US citizen makes it a little hard to go there legally, and the restrictions on our travel keep getting tighter. I'm trying to plan a trip for 2006 or 2007, that's if I get a license to travel there.

Any tips out there from US folks who have recently traveled to Cuba on how to go about it? I

Thanks,

[Claire_Brummell]

Hey Everyone

Sorry I've been a little absent recently but when you read my post it will all become clear. As promised now that the details are available for our Cuban holiday in April I'm letting you all know. They are up and waiting for you on our website (see my WWW link) as well as the details for our long weekend in Prague in October.

If anyone has any questions just shout - would be great to see some of you there! :D

Hugs to all - it's good to be back!

Claire :D

[MacMoto]

Good to see you back, Claire. :)

[Claire_Brummell]

Thanks MM - it's good to be back! Between looking for housemates, teaching and sorting out the holidays it's been totally crazy recently, but I'm really glad to be back.

Next stop sorting out the meet and greet! :D

[salcero2005]

Don't rub it in Brits!!! You know the politics here with the Cubans in Miami and Bush has made it nearly impossible for us to go anymore. :headwall:

[Claire_Brummell]

Sorry hon - I'm just too excited - I have to share it!!

You'll get there one day don't worry! :D

[Miami Rueda dancer]

I MUST GO TO MY TRUE HOME SOMEDAY!!!! (I love salsa, and im half Cuban) :lol: I heard it was very beautiful the people are nice.... and may other great things... I will go someday :)

[dickda1]

Let me ask a dumb question. As an American, why doesn't one simply fly to Canada, Mexico or anyone of a number of other countries and fly to Cuba from there? Does the Cuba consulate in these countries refuse a visa for Americans or does passport control in America prosecute you if you have a cuban stamp in your passport?

Not being retorical, just honestly wondering...

-Dick

[salcero2005]

Let me ask a dumb question. As an American, why doesn't one simply fly to Canada, Mexico or anyone of a number of other countries and fly to Cuba from there? Does the Cuba consulate in these countries refuse a visa for Americans or does passport control in America prosecute you if you have a cuban stamp in your passport?

Not being retorical, just honestly wondering...

-Dick

Plain and simple ... the Bush administration has budgeted alot of money to find and prosecute people that do just that. The fine can be as high as $65,000. Even if the Cuban gov does not stamp your passport, the US gov. is very agressively looking for violators. If you get caught, they will probably make an example of you so its very risky.

[MacSalsero]

Plain and simple ... the Bush administration has budgeted alot of money to find and prosecute people that do just that. The fine can be as high as $65,000. Even if the Cuban gov does not stamp your passport, the US gov. is very agressively looking for violators. If you get caught, they will probably make an example of you so its very risky.

wooow! does that mean it is illegal for usa citizens to travel to cuba? i'm just curious

[irMaxSALSA]

The government of Cuba is simply BAD.

Don't go to Cuba for simple contemptuous pleasures.

You are only putting more money in the pockets of El Diablo himself.

People are still suffering there.

[SDsalsaguy]

Salser@s, this is a salsa forum, not a politics forum... although we may be adding one to the Forum Plexus (http://www.forumplexus.com/) in the near future! ;)

Thanks! :D