Is Cuba worth a visit?

Show all answers

FIONAROB76

It really depends on what you're looking for in a holiday but in one word "yes".
If you're looking for 1950's cadillac's and Hemmingway haunts then head to Havana and be prepared to dance your socks off.
If it's white beaches, azure seas and tranquility you're after head to Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo or Cayo Santa Maria, the latter being the newest of the Cayo's to be built in. Most buildings are 3 high at most so it won't spoil your views. Everything is hotel based here though so chose a really good hotel. For history head east and fly into Holguin airport. The best hotel I've been recommended (and I work in travel) is the Paradisus Rio De Oro, 5* luxury apparently. There's a lot of revoltionary backgrounds in this area.
Finally if you don't want to be too far from Havana yet still want all inclusive beachy fun head to Varadero, fun packed with something for everyone however it's not like Cancun where it's crazy mental, just nice.
Hope this helps. Oh and if you're in the Cayo's there are flights you can take to Havana so you can get the best of both worlds. Arrange this either beforehand with your travel company or in resort with your rep.

Magnificent Bliss Rocks!

Fidel Castro idolizes tourists coming to his hotels so he could get more profit out of it.
Cuba is a trip worth giving up alot of money for. Their beaches and nightife are very wonderful. My mother is of Cuban Descent and she said if Fidel Castro was not ruling with a iron fist she would go back in a heartbeat.

Billbob

i will watch this question it's a
place i would like to visit

sugarcandy121

yes!!!! went to cayo guellermo in 2005 absolutly gorgeous would highly reccommed!! iberostar daiquiri is where i stayed all inclusive gorgeous beach just gorgeous if u do go to this part dont stay at villa cojimar/grandcaribe club cojimar (it has 2 nemes dont ask!) we moved out of there straight away it was nasty!!! but couldnt fault location, weather ,people etc you will love it trust me im off th jamaica this year to continue my carribean experiance!! hope this info is helpful x

madge

yes i am going again in may this year to the cayo coco islands of Cuba its one of those places that look just like the brochure has. the cayo coco is for the relaxing person, there are no shops but plenty of trips you can go on so apart from the trips you cannot spend any money. we are staying at the playa coco hotel for the 2nd time. i cannot waite

Butt

Yes it is fantastic place to go.People are great and beaches
nightlife excellent.You also feel like a millionaire

Choccywoccy

Yes! Such a beautiful place

dawn

Cuba is a beautiful country, but, it is a real eye opener - saw a lot of poverty - the Cubans are very very friendly - definitely worth a visit

CleoCATra

I want to go too so am watching answers. what is the best way to get there without too much hassle from govt?

val f1 nutter

my ex mother in law has been there 3 times. the only thing stopping her going back is she is ill and can no longer fly long haul. she absolutely loved it

yankee_sailor

a yahoo user with the screen name of catwoman answered this question a while ago. Since its from someone with first hand knowledge, and not a travel agent trying to make a sale, or tourist who didn't see past the facade erected, I copied it then and paste it here now for all thinking of going to Cuba:

"catwomanm...
About Me
Member since: September 03, 2006
Total points: 3,125 (Level 4)
Points earned this week: 81
Total answers: 814
Best answers: 109 (13% of Total)

It's horrible and repressive. My husband is from there, and he had to escape because he didn't agree with the system.
You're forced to come out and support Castro and his regime, or you're fired from work, thrown out of university, or worse-- you get up to five years in prison for speaking out against him (read the Cuban Penal Code. Article 365). That's why, if you ever go to Cuba and ask a Cuban what they think of the government/Fidel they'll respond that they like him/agree with him because they know what will happen if they don't. That, and they would think you're sent by the government to check up on them. So you'll never get a straight answer from a Cuban living in Cuba.

Cubans are forbidden to go to hotels, or the best beaches (such as Varadero), or other places reserved for tourists. If they do, they're sent to jail.

In Cuba, there are 3 police officers on each block. One is dressed in green, another in blue, and another in black with a German shepherd-- just to control the population. If you're Cuban, and walking down the street minding your own business, you're questioned constantly, asked for ID, and checked. If you're caught with meat, or even just a lobster-- you'd be sent to prison for 5 years. Meat like that is only for tourists!

Castro controls everything by rations. For example, each person gets 5lbs or rice per month, 1 bar of soap for 2 months, 1/2 lb of oil for 2 months, 1lb of chicken (including weight of bones) for 2 months, 1 lb of fish for 2 months, 1 small piece of bread each day. Kids only get 1 liter of milk for 2 days, and once they turn 7 they don't get it any more because "they don't need it". Occasionally, you can get potatoes (2 lbs per month). 1 tube of toothpaste for 2 months (for 3 people). Things like deodorant and shampoo are luxuries, which you can only get in a store with US dollars.

Castro set up shops where he sells everything--- but in US DOLLARS. Salaries are not paid in US dollars, so if you want something from there you have to have someone abroad to send you money. For each dollar that a Cuban receives, the state gives back only 80c, and keeps the rest.

Cuban children, when they turn 12 years old, are forced to go to boarding schools outside of the city. They are only allowed to return home to their families every two weeks for 2 days. In those "schools" they're forced to work 4 hours each day in agriculture, Monday-Saturday. After that, they have to study for 5 hours, and then their homework for 3 hours, before going to sleep. They're not allowed watching tv, or any other recreational activities. They do not receive anything for their labor.

Castro says that education and health care are free in Cuba. It's not true. Cubans have to pay 50% of their income in taxes in order to receive these services. Even so, health care is poor. There are no medicines or supplies available. If you have to go to a hospital, you have to take your own bedsheets, food, and medicines, if you can get them from abroad. But in order to receive the hospital bed, someone from your family HAS TO offer a blood donation in exchange for the bed.

Castro blames the US blockade for this, but he still has ties with Latin America and Canada, from where he can still buy things and even cheaper than if he were to buy them from USA. "

Ask yourself why, if Cuba is so wonderful, thousands have taken the near suicidal chance, and THOUSANDS have died, to get across the Florida Straights to get to Florida.

Ask yourself if you would have gone to Nazi Germany or Apartheid South Africa if you knew all your tourist dollars were going directly to the regime.

With so many other places with beaches, nightlife...........and free people.......to go to in the Caribbean, why would you go to Cuba and end up with blood on your hands?

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: