Cuba Trip Planning

[cigarmo]

Planning a dual centre trip to cuba at the end of December. We would fly out to holguin spend one night in playa pesquero then get transfered to havana and stay at the melia cohiba hotel for three nights then back to playa pesquero for 10 nights.
Would like to hear any sugestions or recomendations as it would be our first visit to cuba.

[butternutsquashpie]

Hope we can coordinate for at least a day somewhere! End of winter semester means 3 weeks of whatever the bloody fuck i want. And i want havana!

Your trip sounds quite researched and organised though, wouldnt mind copying the path meself..... But I'm always just fond of the 10-day resort thing. Easy on the budget, time, and nerves too
But thats just the life of a dollar (or pound) cautious student

[cigarmo]

Sounds good Butternut will update you on dates when booked

[Sligub]

Don't forget to get some custom rolls while in Havana.

[RickMG]

Planning a dual centre trip to cuba at the end of December. We would fly out to Holguin spend one night in Playa Pesquero then get transferred to Havana and stay at the Melia Cohiba hotel for three nights then back to playa pesquero for 10 nights.
Would like to hear any suggestions or recommendations as it would be our first visit to Cuba.

I sure hope they are flying you each way to Havana, otherwise you are going to miss two days for riding (one each way if Google Map is correct). The Melia Cohiba, if I remember right is not within walking distance of much, but then, neither is the Nacional but taxi's are plentiful and cheap and it's only a short drive to anywhere in the Old Town. Right now we're planning on going back in February.
Cuba.jpg

[cigarmo]

Yes flying to and from havana it would be a long trip by road

[Wardjrz]

Yes flying to and from havana it would be a long trip by road

I did that a couple of years ago.

We stayed in Guardalavaca and flew to Havana from Holguin for a few days before going back for the beach. The flight was an experience to say the least. The plane turned round twice after take off and went back to Havana. It was grounded after the second failed attempt and we waited for another plane.

We went back to Cuba the following year and the excursions from Holguin to Havana weren't running - the flights were grounded due to unsafe aircraft, no surprise given my experience.

I think we stayed in a big 4 star hotel on the Malecon.

I'd do 5 days in Havana if I could do it again.

Have a great time.

[cigarmo]

I am guessing the planes are not like the ones from manchester to london then

[Wardjrz]

I am guessing the planes are not like the ones from manchester to london then

40 seater twin propped russian planes. I think they will have been replaced by chinese aircraft now - the Chinese have taken over from Russia as Cuba's kindly uncle.

The replacement was a small jet, but an old one. They had to call in a crew as the exisitng team weren't able to fly it. Our guide was absolutely terrified, every day Cubans just don't get to fly and I think it frightened him.

It is a good tale now but it wasn't really that funny at the time. The plane had just levelled out after take off when a number of alarms went off and we returned to the ground. We then watched some Cuban guy looking at the undereside of our plane in the dark using a torch. He tapped a few things tightened a few screws then scratched his head and said it was OK.
We got back on took off again and when the plane levelled out the alarms went off again and we returned to the ground once more.
Our guide said that he wasn't getting back on that plane and unless we got another he was going to take us back into Havana, find a hotel and try again the following morning.

Then about an hour later a new crew arrived and set up the jet.

[big bopper]

I am guessing the planes are not like the ones from manchester to london then

Yeah I've had my fair share of white knuckle rides courtesey of Cubana! A flight from Havana to Isla De La Juventud stands out. Old Russian twin prop like Wardjrz described. Rattled & shook that badly it literally felt like it was going to fall to bits. The crews must have balls of steel!

[cigarmo]

Ok think maybe just visit the resort and do a trip to havana another time

[RickMG]

Wow, I think the bus is looking better and better.

[cigarmo]

RickMG i see you went to the habanos festival 2012 how was it and what was in the goody bag

[RickMG]

RickMG i see you went to the habanos festival 2012 how was it and what was in the goody bag

Well, I was only at the opening night ceremony, not the rest of the weeks daily activities as it's very expensive to go to it all. The opening night was $200 U.S. a person and closing night was $500 a person if I remember right. Let me tell you, the opening night was fantastic. As for the goody bag, if I remember right was a fancy Cohiba wooden coffin holding three cigars and another three or four cigars of another kind. Some fancy matches, cutters and other Habano stuff. Sorry, can't remember because I gave the cigars and other stuff to Andy (Ryan on here) to give to another member, Yiorgos who couldn't make it to the event so he could review them. I split the others between Andy and Dara from Ireland as I wanted someone who would really enjoy them. Not being able to get Cuban's over here and not being able to bring them back here (especially coming directly from Cuba to Miami) I figured they'd get more out of them than me and heck, they've been supplying me with so many "good Irish" cigars every time I see them it was only fair. Besides, I could buy all I could smoke while there very cheap even by the NC prices I pay here.

The rest of the week there I was touring with my tour group during the day, the only way a U.S. citizen can go, and lucky enough to spend the late afternoons and evenings with the Irish and U.K. groups who were there for the festival as we were all staying at the Nacional or just up the street at the Habano Libre. Best partying and nicest group of people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing in my life. Seriously, and my wife feels the same (remind me never to let her travel there without me). One day I was lucky enough to spend the day with them and the Fox's (from J.J. Fox & Sons) and go to the Partagas, Romeo y Julietta and Cohiba factories. We toured quite a few cigar and rum related areas around the capitol building and I had the time of my life.

We're planning our trip there for this coming February now but unfortunately the tour is for only four nights in Havana during the festival but at least I'll see most everyone I really want to see and still be able to enjoy Havana. Don't know what else I can tell you other than festival time in Havana is like no convention you've ever been too with the best smoking terraces you'll ever smoke on among the best, most generous and friendliest people you've ever been around. See you there?

[Ryan]

Well, I was only at the opening night ceremony, not the rest of the weeks daily activities as it's very expensive to go to it all. The opening night was $200 U.S. a person and closing night was $500 a person if I remember right. Let me tell you, the opening night was fantastic. As for the goody bag, if I remember right was a fancy Cohiba wooden coffin holding three cigars and another three or four cigars of another kind. Some fancy matches, cutters and other Habano stuff. Sorry, can't remember because I gave the cigars and other stuff to Andy (Ryan on here) to give to another member, Yiorgos who couldn't make it to the event so he could review them. I split the others between Andy and Dara from Ireland as I wanted someone who would really enjoy them. Not being able to get Cuban's over here and not being able to bring them back here (especially coming directly from Cuba to Miami) I figured they'd get more out of them than me and heck, they've been supplying me with so many "good Irish" cigars every time I see them it was only fair. Besides, I could buy all I could smoke while there very cheap even by the NC prices I pay here.

The rest of the week there I was touring with my tour group during the day, the only way a U.S. citizen can go, and lucky enough to spend the late afternoons and evenings with the Irish and U.K. groups who were there for the festival as we were all staying at the Nacional or just up the street at the Habano Libre. Best partying and nicest group of people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing in my life. Seriously, and my wife feels the same (remind me never to let her travel there without me). One day I was lucky enough to spend the day with them and the Fox's (from J.J. Fox & Sons) and go to the Partagas, Romeo y Julietta and Cohiba factories. We toured quite a few cigar and rum related areas around the capitol building and I had the time of my life.

We're planning our trip there for this coming February now but unfortunately the tour is for only four nights in Havana during the festival but at least I'll see most everyone I really want to see and still be able to enjoy Havana. Don't know what else I can tell you other than festival time in Havana is like no convention you've ever been too with the best smoking terraces you'll ever smoke on among the best, most generous and friendliest people you've ever been around. See you there?

Reading this brings me back Rick. A great time, even though I missed most of the tour of the shops with you on the Monday as I was stuck in the hospital!
Looking forward to seeing you there next February.
I don't think I'll bother going to any of the evening events next next year, though Rick, probably the opening event is a good one for you, just to see everybody in the one place. I'll be seeing them all in the course of the week anyway.