Cuba Trip Hotel

[kqueen]

Guys - I have used search - but didnt find the posts I was looking for.

My wife and I are planning a trip to Cuba in 2010 and I am looking for relevant trip planning info.

I have seen some great posts in the past about places to see, eat, stay, and must do's for the cigar aficionado.

If you know of any good posts, can you link me to them, or if you have info you want to provide, please do so.

as someone who lives in the US - if you have any advice on making hotel/travel reservations, please pass those along as well.

I am looking forward to hearing from those who have been before and hearing your reccomendations. I want to eat well, have great accomodations, get out to the country, learn more about cigars, and just relax.

any tips or old posts are appreciated. pictures are encouraged.

thanks in advance,

kq

[sfordham]

I'm interested in seeing more information on this as well - heading to Cuba with my family in Spring '10.

[Ken Gargett]

Guys - I have used search - but didnt find the posts I was looking for.

My wife and I are planning a trip to Cuba in 2010 and I am looking for relevant trip planning info.

I have seen some great posts in the past about places to see, eat, stay, and must do's for the cigar aficionado.

If you know of any good posts, can you link me to them, or if you have info you want to provide, please do so.

as someone who lives in the US - if you have any advice on making hotel/travel reservations, please pass those along as well.

I am looking forward to hearing from those who have been before and hearing your reccomendations. I want to eat well, have great accomodations, get out to the country, learn more about cigars, and just relax.

any tips or old posts are appreciated. pictures are encouraged.

thanks in advance,

kq

colt seems always to be able to quickly dig up old posts (for future reference colt and no offence, get a life). always worth a few days at the national.

[jeromeroselli]

(for future reference colt and no offence, get a life).

haha

[ndtoronto]

Use trip advisor . com to get all the info you want on hotels as well as pics

I am going in 3 weeks and splitting time between the Nacional de Cuba in Havana and Melia Las Americas in Varadero.

Google hotels in Havana or Varadero or any other city in Cuba for that matter and enter it into the search block on Tripadvisor.

You will get everything you need. Scroll down on the right to see pics and even furthur down to enter into each cities respective forum. Hundreds of questions are asked every week

Lots of Americans use Toronto or Montreal as gateways to go to Cuba. They do not stamp your passport at customs so dont worry about that. I suggest getting in contact with a Cdn travel agent.

If you PM me I can help you unless you get the info you want posted here by others

Do you have an idea of where you want to go yet?

I know some tour guides in and around Havana that take care of everything for you (Hotels restaurants cars tours etc just have to get into the country by yourself (he cannot book international flights) He works for Cubatur

He is based out of Havana and no one has ever had a problem with him or his services. Email him and explain your situation. He will send you info on who he is and how he conducts business with Americans.

jorgeguide2004 @ yahoo . es In the Varadero Forums search Jorge and look at what people say about his services

Who_I_am.doc

[Colt45]

colt seems always to be able to quickly dig up old posts (for future reference colt and no offence, get a life). always worth a few days at the national.

You've been to Cuba how many times, and this is the best you can do? Some help.

Oh, and when young master ayala shows up to whomp on you, have him throw in a

couple of extra shots for me.

[rckymtn22]

Another place to check comments on hotels is this linky. Lots of info resorts, places to see and things to stay away from.

Go to Havana, been to Cuba twice and haven't made it there yet much to my disappointment.

[laficion]

Hi Kqueen,

Maybe these links can help you get an Idea. It's a report that I posted from

our last trip to Cuba with our cigar club in France in 2007. Hope this can help you

and have a great trip, you'll love Cuba and the cubans.

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/inde...showtopic=88764

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/inde...showtopic=88883

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/inde...showtopic=89338

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/inde...showtopic=89931

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/inde...showtopic=93654

[Taino]

La Habana, Trinidad and Guardalavaca are the places I would go.

To stay in Havana: NH or Saratoga hotels are the best (IMHOO)

In Guardalavaca: Paradisus rio de oro

In trinidad: Gran Hotel

Have in mind that you cannot judge any hotel or restaurant service in cuba with developed country eyes. The country suffers a lot of difficulties, but on the other hand beyond all that you will find very nice people and crime is very very rare, doesn't matter were you are.

In havana if you want to eat well go to any of the Paladares (small restaurants)

Review the info in tripadvisor carefully, to me is one of the best sources of info online.

[El Presidente]

Unless you are very confident and speak a smattering of spanish, use a Canadian tourist operation and head to Havana via Toronto (Just over a 4hr flight from memory Totonto - Havana). Let them arrange the Tourism Visa.

For your first time in Havana I would stay at the Hotel Nacional. The Saratoga is a better hotel but without the "feel".

The linked threads give you plenty of information of restaurants and things to do. However, book your trip and accomodation and 4 -6 weeks out we can talk on the phone to flesh things out. Things like restaurants etc change quickly.

You will have a ball!

[rckymtn22]

Another good place to head through is Montreal, there is lots of flight from there. Montreal has some destinations that Toronto doesn't have. Check Itravel2000.com for prices, it has the best priced packages. I have used it a couple times with no problems.