Tipping in Cuba
Perhaps few things embarrass us more than knowing where, when and how much to tip. In this respect, tipping in Cuba is no exception.
Perhaps few things embarrass us more than knowing where, when and how much to tip. In this respect, tipping in Cuba is no exception.
For many of those contemplating a holiday to Cuba, there is often that nagging thought, have I left it too late – has Cuba been spoiled?
Parque La Guira is one of those places that very few visitors to Cuba seem to know about, let alone visit.
Habaguanex was formed in January 1994 and is essentially the commercial arm of Havana’s City Historian’s Office; think of it in terms of the UK’s National Trust having their own tourism business and you will get the gist of things.
Located on the northern side of Parque Jose Marti, the Teatro Tomas Terry is probably the single most impressive building in the city of Cienfuegos on Cuba's south coast.
Although often referred to as the Morro Castle, the correct name of Santiago de Cuba's iconic castle is San Pedro de la Roca.
No matter whether you have any interest in Cuba history, you cannot visit the island and escape the presence, almost 50 years after his death, of Che Guevara.
There can be no over-stating the importance of travel insurance – no matter where in the world you are visiting – although with Cuba there are additional factors that need to be taken into account.
Driving in Cuba - are you mad? Well no actually, although that is probably the response you’ll get if you suggest the possibility of Cuba Fly Drive holiday to the not-so-adventurous travel community.
Although holidays to Cuba are now very much in the mainstream, there is still a fair degree of confusion regards many aspects of travel to the island, hence my own summary of Cuba FAQ.
Commencing Sunday 2nd April 2017, Virgin Atlantic will commence weekly flights from London Gatwick to the Cuban beach resort of Varadero.
A casa particular (normally abbreviated to just ‘casa’) is a cross between a traditional homestay and a UK style Bed & Breakfast
Referred to as either the largest, second largest or even third largest fort in the Americas, La Cabana Havana is a vast 18th century fort that overlooks Havana from the eastern side of the bay.
Museum of the Struggle Against Bandits - it’s doesn’t really roll off the tongue, and the (eventual) website name will be a challenge, but this quirky museum in Trinidad is well worth a visit.
Havana is a city full of museums so, for anyone whose time is limited, deciding which ones to visit is an important consideration. Amongst the best, at least in our opinion, is the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales.
After a major renovation program, the Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso (to give it its catchy, full title) is once again open to the public and showcasing the very best in Cuban cultural performances.
Although the US trade embargo with Cuba remains in place, severely limiting the ability of airlines to fly freely between the 2 countries, the phoney war is certainly beginning to hot-up when it comes to discussing US flights to Cuba.
No, nope not the famous film, nor even the Moroccan city, but a quiet waterfront district on the ‘other side’ of Havana Bay.
If you’re hankering to get off the tourist-radar in Cuba, but not have to travel for hours to the middle of nowhere, you could do a lot worse than Caibarien.
The Dhawa Cayo Las Brujas is set to open later this year and promises to be one of the most innovative and luxurious beach hotels in Cuba.
On a hill overlooking Trinidad, a new hotel is slowly taking shape. Very, very slowly. The Pansea Trinidad is the first of what is eventually hoped to be a collection of 4 luxury hotels in Cuba – the other properties being the Pansea Havana, Pansea Vinales & Pansea Santa Lucia.
The Cuba Tourist Office in London is located within the Cuban Embassy at 167 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6PA. Their website contains plenty of general information regards travel to Cuba as well as a helpful list of all the UK tour operators that offer holidays to Cuba.
There are now reckoned to be at least 600 casa particulares in Havana so sorting the wheat from the chaff is never easy; Casa Zaiden certainly falls into the ‘wheat’ category and is one of our favourite options in the capital.
My mojito in La Bodeguita, my daiquiri in El Floridita – so said Havana’s most famous literary resident and full-time bon-viveur, Ernest Hemingway.
Cuba’s wine industry, if we can call it that, began in the 1990s as a joint venture between the Cuban government and a group of Italian winemakers.
Officially titled Avenida de Maceo, the Malecon is a 5-mile seawall, promenade and road that runs from Old Havana in the east to Vedado in the west.
It seems that there is always another new airline about to launch services to Cuba and this time it’s Austrian Airlines who are launching flights from Vienna to Havana.
For UK citizens, all that is required is a Cuba Tourist Card (currently £15) and a UK passport that is valid for 6 months from the date of return to the UK.
With travel to Cuba positively booming, many in the travel trade have been left wondering quite why there are still no British Airways flights to Havana.
When making your travel arrangements, we understand just how important peace-of-mind is. Beyond The Ordinary hold both ATOL & ABTOT bonds so whether you book your flights through us, or independently, any money you pay us is 100% protected. More detailed information on Financial Protection can be found by clicking here.
Whichever of our featured countries you wish to visit, we've been there several times. So, if you're after something beyond the ordinary to Cuba, Guatemala or the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, we'd love to hear from you.
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