Cuba Trip Planning

[Wardjrz]

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

No, please don't let it put you off, it is all part of life's rich tapestry.

I'd go again in a flash. Like I said for me the best split would be 5 days in Havana and the rest at the beach.

Varadero is closest and can be done by road - I think the others are too far away - I've not been to Varadero but would if I could.

Havana is fantastic once you get over the abject poverty that some people must live in.

The people are fantastic. I didn't meet anyone who wasn't polite, kind, smiling and gracious during either of my two visits - apart from the guide when he was shitting himself at the prospect of getting back onto a broken plane which is sort of understandable.

[big bopper]

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

As had been said, don't let it put you off unless you're traveling with someone who has a particularly bad fear of flying. It's a wonderful country, I've traveled a lot and it probably remains my favourite. Never done the resorts so can't comment but have done a couple of extended backpacking trips and have been to most points between and including Pinar Del Rio and Baracoa. The transport can be a little sketchy at times but it's far from the worst I've experienced and the casa particular network is great.
I'd definitely recommend this as a way to really see the country and meet more of the locals, but if you prefer a relaxing beach holiday then each to their own.

[cigarmo]

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?

Thanks for sharing your experience I really want to goto the festival

[cigarmo]

As had been said, don't let it put you off unless you're traveling with someone who has a particularly bad fear of flying. It's a wonderful country, I've traveled a lot and it probably remains my favourite. Never done the resorts so can't comment but have done a couple of extended backpacking trips and have been to most points between and including Pinar Del Rio and Baracoa. The transport can be a little sketchy at times but it's far from the worst I've experienced and the casa particular network is great.
I'd definitely recommend this as a way to really see the country and meet more of the locals, but if you prefer a relaxing beach holiday then each to their own.

I would enjoy the adventure but I think the girlfriend would have something to say about it

[Sligub]

Cubana have upgraded their entire fleet in the last 5 years so I wouldn't worry about it.

[cigarmo]

Just been on the habanos site the festival is sold out requested to be put on the waiting list

[Ryan]

Just been on the habanos site the festival is sold out requested to be put on the waiting list

Where did you see that? If you saw on the site that bookings for the 15th festival have sold out, that's true, that was this year's. It was last February.
Next year's festival will be the 16th one, I don't think tickets have gone on sale yet.
I know dozens of people going to it next year. Very few have even booked flights yet.

[cigarmo]

Where did you see that? If you saw on the site that bookings for the 15th festival have sold out, that's true, that was this year's. It was last February.
Next year's festival will be the 16th one, I don't think tickets have gone on sale yet.
I know dozens of people going to it next year. Very few have even booked flights yet.

How did I miss that i must be

Thanks for pointing it out see you all there

[cj121]

Where did you see that? If you saw on the site that bookings for the 15th festival have sold out, that's true, that was this year's. It was last February.
Next year's festival will be the 16th one, I don't think tickets have gone on sale yet.
I know dozens of people going to it next year. Very few have even booked flights yet.

With your experience over in Cuba, do you have any tips or recommendations about Havana to make cigarmo's trip a good one?

[RickMG]

With your experience over in Cuba, do you have any tips or recommendations about Havana to make cigarmo's trip a good one?

Let me break in here. cigarmo, go at the same time as Andy (Ryan). He is the best tour guide you can have over there. The one day I went with him to the Cohiba factory which is not open for tours, Berta, one of the best known and world famous rollers from Cohiba (she's not a roller anymore) was giving us the tour. She gave way to Andy who explained and showed us everything there was about the place as she took photos with everyone in our group. The only other tourist that day was Jim Belushi who was there the same time as us.

Then, you want to go with him every evening like we did because the man knows how to party. He was going to bed when we were getting up.
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This photo is taken by Andy.
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[TJCoro]

Some hombres have all the luck, se?or MG.

One Day...(Insert dreaming emoticon here)

Bag Boy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cigarmo]

Let me break in here. cigarmo, go at the same time as Andy (Ryan). He is the best tour guide you can have over there. The one day I went with him to the Cohiba factory which is not open for tours, Berta, one of the best known and world famous rollers from Cohiba (she's not a roller anymore) was giving us the tour. She gave way to Andy who explained and showed us everything there was about the place as she took photos with everyone in our group. The only other tourist that day was Jim Belushi who was there the same time as us.

Then, you want to go with him every evening like we did because the man knows how to party. He was going to bed when we were getting up.
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This photo is taken by Andy.
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That seems like a brilliant idea! When is Andy (Ryan) going?
We are definitely now looking at going over at the same time as the habanos festival

[RickMG]

That seems like a brilliant idea! When is Andy (Ryan) going?
We are definitely now looking at going over at the same time as the habanos festival

Just to make my post a little clearer, although I'm sure you know. Andy is not a tour guide, he's a good friend we've had for years and have herfed with him many times before in Ireland and keep in touch all the time on Facebook. My post was more a humorous answer to your remark on tips. It just worked out very lucky for my wife and I that we were able to be in Cuba the same time as him.

[cj121]

Apologies if you've seen this already cigarmo, but here's an informative website...

http://www.cubaabsolutely.com/

[cigarmo]

Apologies if you've seen this already cigarmo, but here's an informative website...

http://www.cubaabsolutely.com/

Thanks CJ will have a look