Last minute family trip to Cuba - need ideas!
May 24th, 2012, 09:23 AM
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Last minute family trip to Cuba - need ideas!
Hello all. So, we like to live by the seat of our pants a bit and decided that we wanted to see what Cuba was all about before it was used as a political pawn to win Florida, US sanctions are lifted and the island turns into a giant casino that goes all Catholic school girl with a hidden lust for commercialism (I say this tongue in cheek of course).
Anyway, we decided to visit Cuba. We intend to drive into TJ, MX and fly into Havana from there. Other than that, we don't have any firm plans! We don't normally like to go on tours. We like to get off of the beaten path (at least for some time) and try to dig into the local culture, get it under our nails.
I was reading of a guy that stayed with a family in Vinales, hiked around the farms and checked things out ad-hoc. Then he went to some unnamed island and stayed a couple of days. This sort of activity sounds great and I'm looking for suggestions. We will have a party of 6 so we would need a place with room for us.
We plan to stay in Havana for a few days to walk the city, Trinidad is on our list as well. Any recommendations for a clean but cozy house or hostel are welcome. We would also like to spend a couple of days on a beach. No resorts! A little shack on the beach would be fantastic, we don't need any fancy amenities (a shovel, pail, sunblock and a few mojitos will do fine).
Getting from one place to another i'm assuming will be by bus although I haven't found any information on this site about bus lines. I see that some people rented an old car, that would be a great way to get around, I'll look into that more as well.
We're excited about our trip although a little stressed over the short amount of time we have available to plan. The help of the mighty Fodors community is greatly appreciated!
Anyway, we decided to visit Cuba. We intend to drive into TJ, MX and fly into Havana from there. Other than that, we don't have any firm plans! We don't normally like to go on tours. We like to get off of the beaten path (at least for some time) and try to dig into the local culture, get it under our nails.
I was reading of a guy that stayed with a family in Vinales, hiked around the farms and checked things out ad-hoc. Then he went to some unnamed island and stayed a couple of days. This sort of activity sounds great and I'm looking for suggestions. We will have a party of 6 so we would need a place with room for us.
We plan to stay in Havana for a few days to walk the city, Trinidad is on our list as well. Any recommendations for a clean but cozy house or hostel are welcome. We would also like to spend a couple of days on a beach. No resorts! A little shack on the beach would be fantastic, we don't need any fancy amenities (a shovel, pail, sunblock and a few mojitos will do fine).
Getting from one place to another i'm assuming will be by bus although I haven't found any information on this site about bus lines. I see that some people rented an old car, that would be a great way to get around, I'll look into that more as well.
We're excited about our trip although a little stressed over the short amount of time we have available to plan. The help of the mighty Fodors community is greatly appreciated!
Anybody able to assist?
May 29th, 2012, 11:26 AM
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You will get more information on this forum, I think: http://debbiesreviews.proboards.com/...cgi?board=Cuba
I traveled to Cuba years ago but it was under a legal license from the U.S. It's a fascinating place. Hope you'll report back on your trip.
I traveled to Cuba years ago but it was under a legal license from the U.S. It's a fascinating place. Hope you'll report back on your trip.
May 30th, 2012, 12:44 PM
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I should have added (above) that I don't speak Spanish to any great extent and we would have found making our own arrangements to travel in country somewhat challenging.
Cuba travel conditions change often and we were there over 10 years ago, so that may not apply now. But I would think that for getting around on your own, speaking Spanish would be pretty essential.
Cuba travel conditions change often and we were there over 10 years ago, so that may not apply now. But I would think that for getting around on your own, speaking Spanish would be pretty essential.
Jun 26th, 2012, 12:12 PM
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Iron...just the two of us, went in legally in 2003(sort of a subterfuge, bur nevertheless humaitarian in nature), bringing critical meds to the very small Jewish community. Thoroughly enjioyed the visit. For a nation steeped in poverty and now tacit repression, the Cubanos are among the friendliest and look the happiest of any place in the world we have been! We were warmly greeted wverywhere..I do speak a fair amount of Spanish which got us by nicely.
We hired a guide for a few of the days, mainly so we could get a rental car in his name. He did the driving..and his fee was $10 a day. Other than that we hoofed and cabbed many miles all over the town...went out to the eastern beaches, to Cojmar and the Hemingway complex.
I am a rank amateur photographer, but here are my scanned pix which may give you an idea or two. Try to take in a pro baseball game..it's a hoot.
We hired a guide for a few of the days, mainly so we could get a rental car in his name. He did the driving..and his fee was $10 a day. Other than that we hoofed and cabbed many miles all over the town...went out to the eastern beaches, to Cojmar and the Hemingway complex.
I am a rank amateur photographer, but here are my scanned pix which may give you an idea or two. Try to take in a pro baseball game..it's a hoot.
Jun 26th, 2012, 12:15 PM
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