Have you been in Cuba? Or Planning to go? Tell us about it.

[Robusto]

Bizarrely, on a drive up and down to London this morning, my wife came out with "So how about planning this trip to Cuba?". I went off to play a gig this afternoon and when I got home she had been trawling the web for places and ideas.

I'd still consider a group trip. I've read that Obama will probably be after closer ties with Cuba, so the place could become America's Benidorm very quickly. It's sort of go soon or never go, I reckon.

[Pantomimehorse]

yeah I know what you mean about Cuba being opened up to America again, I went to Prague before and after the whole stag do thing started over there and its a real shame how the city has been ruined, the locals despise the British and most just tolerate us for the money we bring, in contrast I went to Brno which is also in the Czech republic a yeart or so ago and its fantasitc, cheap beer and good quality food, cheap cigars! and everyones dead friendly... allthough Im sure it will go the way of Prague.

I wonder how we would organise a group thing, maybe state a figure to aim for and everyone agrees to put away so much a month or something?

or maybe we should start with seeing who is actually interested?

[Robusto]

Well I am interested, but I've got to put the family trip first now that it has been resurrected.

My wife assures me that she would be interested in all the cigar-related things to do. I'm quite thrilled with this in a quiet way because she has clearly bought into my interest, as it were. I have not been moaned at once for smoking indoors four or five times over the festive season, and she bought me my latest D4s. She's never really disapproved, but she's embracing stogies wholeheartedly now... I'm not letting her smoke one. I like cigar smoking women, but I'd actually find it strange in my wife... Maybe I'll walk in one day and she'll be "at it". Who can tell? lol

I suppose the drawbacks others would face if I accompanied them on holiday are that I cannot stay in the hot sun at all, so I would be seeking shade all the time. I don't like hanging around on the beach. Plus I have to do things or I get bored.

I looked into the cost of an individual cigar-related tour for myself as a birthday present and the prices that came back started to mount up. The person I was emailing possibly thought I was quite loaded, which isn't the case. Also, I think I'd hit the wrong part of the market.

If a number of us were interested in this, we'd have to herf first - or spend a weekend at Butlins, Clacton lol - to see if we could make it together for a week or so in Cuba!

[Robusto]

PS Pant - So good to be back, yes?...

[Pantomimehorse]

Good to be back? nah I wish I was in Cuba now!, just can't get into work mode I tell ya...

anyway your bloody lucky your wifes on board with your trip and hobby thats fantastic!, Ive decieded Im going to go no matter what, if I cant get mates or orgainse anything on here Im just gonna go solo, I have never done a holiday completely alone before but I did spend 4 days in San Francisco on my own before meeting up with the then GF, and I have to say it was bloody relaxing not having to think about anyone other than myself.. the negitive is it all seems a tad scary.

[Robusto]

That's why I was thinking of going off to Cuba on my own a while back. Just to think me me me lol.

I am not good at family holidays. I find it hard to arouse a random passion about castles in France when I'm surrounded by the fuckers along my coastline!

[Pantomimehorse]

ahh yes castles, about 6 of us went to Brno a few years ago and my friend Marc who had been before said we just had to visit this castle that was right up this massive hill, well we spent bloody ages walking up the hill, he made us pay to go in and I kid you not all that was inside was display after display of bent spoons, forks and cracked plates... the best part was the walk down the hill cigar in hand

[Robusto]

display after display of bent spoons, forks and cracked plates...

Niche interest?!

[Pantomimehorse]

I think it was like their local treasure or something, anyway castles never again!

[Robusto]

I'm bored of places that claim they are displaying relics.

Here are Mary Magdelene's elbows, sort of thing.

[Robusto]

I've found the early posts in this thread very useful with good links to follow up.

[Pantomimehorse]

I last night convinced my brother that it?s a good idea to head to Cuba so looks like I?m going, The Holiday Place looks like they do some nice packages, although after looking up their Havana accommodation on trip advisor I?m a tad concerned at all the bad reviews, when you others used this company did you all do the part Havana part resort tlrip and if so could you tell us what was the Havana bungalows as they call them like?

[Robusto]

Interesting about the trip advisor having negative comments. I was quite taken by that site...

[Pantomimehorse]

The negs arent about the company, rather the hotel they provide on the havana side of the trips, the complaints mostly seem to be related to dirty bathrooms, Cochroachs everywhere and Air con not working... it puts me off a bit but Ive emailed the company and Im going to ask about alternatives for the Havana side of the trip.

[Robusto]

Do you mind keeping us up to speed on here, Pant?