Reviewed 11 Mar 2011 by Noula Contibas
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We went to see the Buena Vista Social Club in Havana - these musicians were amazing and the whole club was jumping. Cruising in the 1950's cars was absolutely amazing - this is a must in Havana!!! Also loved the horseback riding in Vinales - Che's monument - Trinidad was fun, lots of music/salsa dancing there.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you can, try and add a couple of days at the end of the trip to take in Old Havana - there is just too much to see and not enough time to do it in!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
All of our group seemed to be very generous/considerate of the local people. Some people came with toiletries and stationery to give to children.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I had a great time and would recommend it - there was just too much to fit in 9 days!
Reviewed 08 Mar 2011 by Rebecca Clarkson
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Cuba Colonial
The most interesting place on this tour was Trinidad. It had a lovely, chilled atmosphere and was a well maintained city, where the people were friendly. This compared quite considerably to other towns in Cuba that I visited such as Santiago, Santa Clara and even Havana, where the people were hassly and the town was not particularly well cared for. A brilliant restaurant in Plaza Vieja, called Santo Angel, which I would recommend to any other visitor to Cuba. A meal with actual flavour!
Cuba Libre
This tour was much more enjoyable overall than Cuba Colonial, as it was more small town and countryside based. The scenery in the western part of the island is beautiful and the places visited were all very welcoming with lots of options for good things to do.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Expect to wait a long time for anything to be done by Cubans. Relax into the flow and it will be enjoyable, if you keep expecting you'll just get frustrated. Cuba is a very interesting country where visitors face many difficulties, so as a traditional holiday destination it is not ideal.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Not particularly. The guides and drivers were local, but since everything is so restricted in Cuba then the impact on real people rather than those in the tourist industry was negligible.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The experience is very dependent on the tour guide, so overall I preferred the Cuba Libre tour to the Cuba Colonial tour.
Reviewed 06 Jan 2007 by Caroline Kennedy
We really fell in love with Cuba. The tour served perfectly as an introduction. I only wish I had had more time to take the two week trip that included eastern Cuba as well.
Cuba is difficult for a vegetarian, rice and beans was about all that was on offer for us. Fortunately I like rice and beans. As for the impact on locals, I think it was minimum simply because we did not stay anyway long enough to make any positive or negative impact.
Old Havana was the highlight of the tour. We spent an extra few days walking around it, admiring the architecture, the museums, the music and life in the alleyways.
Reviewed 28 Apr 2006 by Pamela Cranston
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Horse riding across country to get to a waterfall for a swim. The guys that organised it were extremely friendly. We knew it was going to be amazing when they sent a horse and carriage to pick us up, and it just got better from there. Also, on Islas de los Iguanas, having an iguana come scurrying towards my camera for a close-up rather than scurrying away from it like most of its mates.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
As with all trips to Cuba, ensure you take absolutely everything you are going to need while you are there, ie don't assume you can pick up anything you have forgotten when you get there as shopping is extremely limited. Also, the locals, especially those further away from the towns will appreciate any pens, toiletries, old clothes/shoes you can give them.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
In most places we stayed in Casa Particulares (what we would probably call B&B's) and mostly ate in these or in paladares, all benefitting the local economy. Environment? Well, the bus we used for most of our travel wasn't very good for my environment (fuel fumes inside the vehicle) so I can't imagine it was particularly good for Cuba's either but then in Cuba, all things are relative!!!
