Cuba Travel

A Cuba Vacation

2007-02-13T17:13:00.000-08:00

A Cuba Vacation by Suzanne Morrison

Taking time out from the everyday stresses and strains of life to visit an exotic place is something that everyone looks forward to. Cuba, with its notoriety brought upon by its government and the clamp down of the American government on its export and tourism, is a country known more for its cigar and its leader, rather than as a vacation destination. Despite this, every year more and more tourists from Canada and Europe are flocking to Cuba, enthralled by its natural beauty and its passionate and welcoming people. Tourism in Cuba is currently at an all time high.

Cuba is the largest of the Caribbean islands and is inhabited by people with a mixed race of Caribbean Indian, African and Spanish heritage. It has a contrasting landscape ranging from beautiful and mesmerizing beaches to sprawling and craggy mountain ranges. Limestone Mountains loom over the fields of tobacco, utilised for their famed cigars, providing a stunning scenic view. The natural beauty of Cuba and its history has shaped the country to what it is today. This is one Caribbean island that has been left unspoiled by technology and modern day living.

Like many of the Caribbean islands, Cuba's main source of tourism is the beach industry. The country is blessed with hundreds of miles of sprawling sandy beaches, with fine white sand and clear blue water. Tourists visiting Cuba have a multitude of choices for the location of their beach vacation. The major resorts of Varadero and Cayo Largo are the most renowned and here you'll find many 5 star all inclusive resorts. Despite this, there are also plenty of smaller, quieter beach resorts where you can truly get away from it all.

Aside from stunning beaches, Cuba also offers plenty of rustic towns and cities full of rich culture and heritage. A vacation to Cuba isn't complete without visiting at least one of the Cuban towns or cities and meeting the local Cuban people.

In the north-west of the country you'll find the capital city, Havana - the hub of everything that is Cuban. When you stroll around the city you'll feel the essence of the Cuban past - a rich legacy emanating from the Spanish colonial architecture that beholds the city. Parts of the city resemble the set of an old movie, reminiscent of a bygone era, with old American cars bustling by. A lot of work has been done in the past decade to restore old Havana, a UNESCO world heritage site, but much of the city has been left untouched and hundreds of crumbling buildings collapse each month.

Havana also has its fair share of museums, including the Museum of the Revolution, the Havana Club Museum of Rum, the Cigar Museum, the Ernest Hemingway Museum and the National Museum of Fine Arts.

Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city in Cuba and is located on the eastern end of the island. It has a beautiful setting at the foot of the Sierra Maestra Mountains and overlooks a magnificent bay. Unlike the other towns and cities in Cuba, Santiago de Cuba has a very Caribbean feel to it. This is as a result of the influence of the Haitian planters who settled here in the 19th century.

Trinidad, located in the heart of Cuba is one of the original towns and was founded in 1514. The city is filled with cobbled streets and old buildings with tiled roofs and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. It's a very pleasant city to spend a day or two, with many museums, churches and Plazas.

An ideal way to spend your vacation is to take a few days to do some sightseeing in Havana or one of Cuba's other cities and then follow that up with a relaxing week's stay in one of the luxurious all inclusive resorts by the beach.

About the Author

Suzanne is the webmaster of Travel Photographs and Journals You can read about her recent vacation to Cuba in her Cuba Blog. Here you'll find information and reviews of her stay in a Guardelavaca resort and her visits to Holguin and Havana.

More information about Cuba Travel readily available in this blog.

Travel Insurance

2006-12-09T07:32:00.000-08:00

After reading this article by Donald Saunders, I thought I would share with my blog readers. He gives a little bit of food for thought on Travel Insurance. When travelling to Varadero Cuba I did get travel insurance just in case. You might get bad food, catch something down there and then you will have a large bill to pay on the way back. So sit back, read the article and comment on what you think about taking out Travel Insurance.

Travel Insurance For That Perfect Trip Rather Than The Holiday From Hell By Donald Saunders

If you have ever fallen ill while on holiday, or just prior to setting off on that cruise of a lifetime, then you will know only too well the true value of health insurance. Whether you are going to be away for just a few day or several weeks, the cost of medical care when you are away from home can be crippling and it is no good waiting until you are far from home and fall ill before you start thinking about how you will pay your medical expenses.

But just what does travel insurance cover and when do I really need it?

Travel insurance is an insurance plan which you can buy prior to your departure which will cover you for various things, whether medical or not, in the run-up to your trip and while you are away. This type of insurance can be expensive so you need to take a few things into consideration before you buy it.

For example, if you are going on a short trip to a destination with good low cost health facilities that only requires one round-trip airline ticket of $200 then travel health insurance might be overkill. Your financial losses if you are forced to cancel the trip may be relatively low and the cost of medical care while you are away, or of getting you back home, may again not be too great. You will need to look at this carefully and decide whether or not the risk is sufficient to justify the cost of travel insurance. On the other hand, if you have booked a $5,000 once-in-a-lifetime cruise well in advance, then travel health insurance will almost certainly make sense.

A good travel health insurance policy should offer a range of coverage, possibly for the period prior to your trip and certainly throughout the time that you are traveling and whilst you are at your destination. It should cover you for personal injury or death and should cover the costs of all medical-related expenses you incur while on your trip. Travel health insurance plans can also cover you for the cost of being brought home should this prove necessary following an accident or illness.

If you are visiting a country where medical facilities and experience are limited then you should also make sure that your policy covers you for transportation to a third country where you can receive proper medical care.

Before purchasing a specific health insurance plan for your trip you should first check the coverage provided by your regular health insurance plan. It may be possible to extend the cover on your regular policy for your trip or you may already have some cover and only require a additional top-up policy.

Once you know exactly what you need, you can purchase travel health insurance from your tour operator, a travel agent, or an independent insurance agent. Whichever you choose you should bear in mind that, while the independent insurance agents may be a little bit more expensive, you will not have to worry about your tour operator going out of business and failing to honor your travel insurance policy.

Although we never imagine that anything is going to happen to us and that our vacation will be just fine, unfortunately evidence shows all too clearly that many people set off on a trip without adequate cover and in next to no time find themselves is a terrible mess.

So, before you set off on your next trip sit down and think carefully about whether or not you need travel health insurance. It may well be money that you don't want to spend, but it could also be the best investment you've ever made.

If you are looking for any form of health insurance from low cost health insurance to expat health insurance plans then start your search right here on the internet where you have a wealth of information right at you fingertips.

Return to Cuba Travel Blog and learn about the wonderful Varadero Cuba.

Arenas Blancas Resort Pictures

2006-09-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

Here are a few shots of the Varadero Cuba resort of Arenas Blancas:

Hope you enjoy your trip to a Varadero Cuba Resort like I did!

Regards MK - Diabetes Diet controller of 10 years plus.

Cuba Resorts teach Merengue

2006-07-04T16:40:00.000-07:00

At the resort I stayed at, Arenas Blancas, during the day they would always have entertainment. One of their favorite types of entertainment they would perform is dancing for the crowd.

The Cuban dancers would then call up people from the crowd: adults, children and anyone who wanted to come up. They would then begin to show the steps of how to dance Merengue.

They would teach the merengue lessons to the visitors and all in all was very exciting. The performers at Arenas Blancas were always happy, and always full of energy for their time teaching.

Learn to dance the Merengue while your Cuba All Inclusive Vacation runs on.

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Grab some lowcost web hosting, and have your own Cuba Resort web site!

Pictures of Cuba

2006-06-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

Within this section you will find pictures I have personally taken of memorabilia from Cuba, and pictures of the beach in Varadero that I stayed. The Resort was named Arenas Blancas.

Here are pages with Pictures of Cuba:

Arenas Blancas Resort Pictures
Map of Cuba
Cuba Cars
Cuban Cigars
Cuban Beer Souveneir

Regards,
Michael Kralj

Cuba Cars

2006-06-19T16:14:00.000-07:00

In my trip to Cuba, I learnt that Cuba keeps many old classic American cars in Cuba and drives them around. When I took my excursion to Havana, Cuba, I was taken on a tour in an old American Car.

Here is the Car I was taken around in:

Christopher P. Baker has made an excellent book featuring pictures of many of these Classic American Cars in Cuba. It is titled Cuba Classics: A Celebration of Vintage American Automobiles. This book has received many great reviews:

"Yes, we've all seen great photos of classic cars in Cuba--but this book will make you swoon. Your knees will buckle, and you will become feverish with desire to get yourself to Cuba as soon as possible. Magnificent."
James OReilly "baboone"

"Chris Baker is the preeminent travel writer covering Cuba today. His guidebooks for National Geographic Traveler and Moon Publishing are biblical Baedekers for anyone traveling to the island. "Mi Moto Fidel," his book-length journey around the island on a BMW motorcycle, reads like a Hemingwayan novel -- and has garnered prestigious writing awards. Now, with "Cuba Classics," Baker has taken his already impressive act to a new level, displaying his skill as a photographer, which is nothing short of artistry. His stunning photographs of vintage American autos -- so plentiful in Cuba -- are not only wonderful depictions of cars not seen in the U.S. for decades, but are the subjects of photos that demonstrate a photographer's instinctively artistic command of format, color, tone, and lighting. Settings for the autos often speak to the greater issue of the Cuban landscape, both urban and rural. It's a must book for car buffs, for anyone interested in photographic artistry, for anyone enamoured of beautiful writing. As a long-time fan of Baker's journalism, I have found myself asking what else could he possibly do to present another aspect of this island country he knows and loves? "Cuba Classics" is the latest answer to that question. Kudos."
Tony Tedeschi "editor, naturaltraveler.com"

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Get up to Date Cuba Weather here. You might also be interested in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

US Travel to Cuba - A Guide for American Travel to Cuba

2006-06-12T18:31:00.000-07:00

US Travel to Cuba - A Guide for American Travel to Cuba by Sarah White

Are you an American wondering how or if you can legally visit Cuba? Join the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have experienced the thrills of visiting this exciting and exotic destination legally.

Americans can travel to Cuba legally if they are a Cuban American, politician, journalist or if you have a research project that is about Cuba. Others including students, religious groups and humanitarians can apply for a license from the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

However, having said this, did you know that...

Between 100 000 and 200 000 Americans visit Cuba every year while only some 6000 licenses are being issued in a 1-2 year period! That means there are a lot of Americans who are going without the government's permission.

If you are someone who wants to exercise their right to travel freely, and have been dying to see why the Canadians call this destination their #1 hot vacation spot; here is a guide that I've put together to help you get that Cuba vacation!

1. There are no travel restrictions for Americans to travel in Cuba and know that as an American, you are completely safe there. In fact, Cuba has one of the lowest crime rates around and is the safest country in the Caribbean. You will however, have to travel to Cuba from Canada or Mexico.

2. You will need a valid passport and a Cuban tourist card to enter Cuba. The price of a Cuban tourist card is approximately $20 CAD and your passport needs to have been valid for at least a full 6 months prior to your travel.

3. It is recommended that you also take a copy of your birth certificate and a valid photo ID. You should also be aware that with an American passport, it can not be stamped in Cuba; therefore having these additional identifications can come in handy in case it is accidentally stamped. I would also recommend having 2 photocopies of your passport as there are no American embassies in Cuba, so should you lose your passport, you may use these copies to exit the country.

4. During the flight to Canada or Mexico, you will be asked to fill out a declaration form. This will be collected by the customs officials in that country and from there, you will proceed to your carrier's ticket booth where you can pick up your travel package that contains your Cuban tourist card. You are now ready to check in for your flight.

5. Arriving in Cuba will be much like any other airport, Cuban customs will x-ray your carry on baggage, as well as frisking you. This is really informal and low key. There are female security officers to check the females and male security officers who check the male traveller's.

6. You may now collect your luggage but make sure to keep your passport and tourist card handy, as you will have to show them to another agent before you leave the baggage claim area. They will check to make sure that you have your tourist card, look at your passport and ask you if this is your first time visiting Cuba, how many days you'll be there for and the name or address of your hotel (keep that info handy just in case!)

7. Transportation from the airport will have been included with your travel package, follow everyone else outside and look for your tour staff who will guide you to your proper bus or taxi driver.

8. When you return, you've got the same steps only in reverse, also you need to keep $25 American (this is very important!) as you have to pay a departure tax of this amount when leaving Cuba airports.

Organizing your US travel to Cuba will be easier than you ever imagined! Your travel agent should be able to help you arrange everything you need for your trip. There are also many companies online that can help you with this as well.

For more information on Cuba US travel, I recommend that you visit this site. http://www.cubatravelusa.com/

About the Author
Tropical Beach Destinations specializes in giving you an exhilarating tropical vacation for travel destinations around the world. We are experienced travelers who have lived across the globe and our dream is to provide you with everything you need in order to have the ultimate dream vacation. Learn how to travel with Sarah and Jason, your tropical adventure couple!

Cuba Travel Partners

2006-06-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

Here you will find a list of Supporting Sites, who have been kind enough to link back to our web site or are affiliated with our Site. Thanks to all the Travellers out there.

Domains at Retail - Cheap Domain Name Registration, Register your .com, .net, .info domain name for $7.95 US / year. Web site Hosting for your travel site as low as $4.95 / month!

Emenki Web Solutions & Web Design Hamilton, Ontario - Provides website design, programming, graphic design and web solutions for travel industries in Ontario (Hamilton and Burlington)

Turkey Travel & Musical Photo Gallery
Turkey Map with links to flash Photo Gallery with Turkish Music. Hotels,Vacation, Flight, Cruises for Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir, Ephesus, Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye and more at www.travelturkey2006.com

Downtown Havana Cuba

2006-05-31T19:19:00.000-07:00

Hello from Cuba - Exploring Downtown Havana by Susanne Pacher

Hotel Habana Libre, Thursday, April 14, 2005, 3:02 pm

The last few days I have spent quite a bit of time walking around downtown Havana - or Habana Vieja, as they say around here. It is an extremely fascinating place and one of the most architecturally consistent colonial city centres in the world.

A few days ago, my local friend Pedro and I went to explore the Capitolio, which is a beautiful building, ironically very reminiscent of the Capitol in Washington. Built between 1926 and 1929 as the former seat of the Cuban government, its neoclassical exterior is complemented by an absolutely astounding Roman interior with all sorts of meetings rooms, a library, a souvenir shop and an Internet cafe. In the front entrance hall there is a huge statue that greets you upon entering, truly an astounding building.

The park outside the Capitolio is one of my favourite places, despite the missing seats and backrests of the benches. Yesterday I also had a chance to visit the Partagas Tobacco Company, a cigar factory in existence since 1845. I took the $10 tour and we saw the tobacco rolling school where students learn cigar production for 90 days. Later we moved upstairs to the area where the real cigars are made. Workers have quotas of between 80 and 200 cigars a day (some of which miraculously find their way into the black market...) and the workers sit at old wooden work stations and manually roll the tobacco, while at other work stations the exterior leaf and later the label and the boxes are added. I really wanted to see a tobacco factory since tobacco still remains a key industry in Cuba to this day.

A few days ago, my local friend Pedro and I went to explore the Capitolio, which is a beautiful building, ironically very reminiscent of the Capitol in Washington. Built between 1926 and 1929 as the former seat of the Cuban government, its neoclassical exterior is complemented by an absolutely astounding Roman interior with all sorts of meetings rooms, a library, a souvenir shop and an Internet cafe. In the front entrance hall there is a huge statue that greets you upon entering, truly an astounding building.

The park outside the Capitolio is one of my favourite places, despite the missing seats and backrests of the benches. Yesterday I also had a chance to visit the Partagas Tobacco Company, a cigar factory in existence since 1845. I took the $10 tour and we saw the tobacco rolling school where students learn cigar production for 90 days. Later we moved upstairs to the area where the real cigars are made. Workers have quotas of between 80 and 200 cigars a day (some of which miraculously find their way into the black market...) and the workers sit at old wooden work stations and manually roll the tobacco, while at other work stations the exterior leaf and later the label and the boxes are added. I really wanted to see a tobacco factory since tobacco still remains a key industry in Cuba to this day.

Due to its architectural beauty, and not surprisingly, Havana has been declared a Human Heritage Site by the UNESCO and it is definitely one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited, despite the physical decay that is visible in so many parts of the city.

Along these lines, I had a chance to see residential areas in Habana Vieja, where people live in extremely cramped conditions in crumbling houses, with the occasional house that has already collapsed in between others. Everybody's life unfolds in the street, you see children, couples, old people, dogs and cats at all hours of the day, people generally just sit around and chat, and the children play street versions of "la pelota", which is baseball, the national sport. This street life is something truly different from a nordic city like Toronto where there are only a few areas where there is significant pedestrian traffic. And people generally don't sit around in front of their houses or apartments to chat in the m iddle of the night.

I also had a chance to see Havana's train station, of course absolutely packed with people, the port area and some rather derelict industrial areas with crumbling buildings. The lack of money is apparent everywhere.

On the other hand I have also had a chance to sample some of the beauty that this city has to offer. I have travelled a fair bit, particularly to historic southern places in Europe such as Paris, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, etc. But in my opinion Havana is in a category by itself. The colonial architecture downtown is so consistent, with almost no new buildings interrupting the visual impression.

Beside the Capitolio is the Teatro Nacional, which is just next to the famous Hotel Inglaterra and in front is the Parque Central, where men of all ages get together to discuss news related to their national sport. 2 days ago was the final of the playoffs between Havana Campo (if I am correct) and Santiago de Cuba, the second most important city in the country. Obviously a huge deal in this country, and Havana ended up losing 2 to 1, but despite the loss a great opportunity for the locals to party.

Walking down the famous pedestrian street Calle Obispo, which has numerous expensive stores for tourists, you approach the really old historic part of Habana Vieja, places such as the Plaza de la Catedral (where there was a mass for Pope John Paul II about a week ago), Plaza Vieja and, my favourite place: Plaza de Armas. This square dates back to the early 1500s, and houses the centuries old former city administration office as well as several other Spanish colonial buildings that surround a beautiful park with a statue of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, the founder of the Cuban homeland.

Yesterday I also had a chance to explore a market that is put up every Wednesday to Saturday just off the Malecon, near the Plaza de Armas, where they sell all sorts of trinkets and merchandise for tourists. I had a chance to pick up a few little souvenirs for my husband and my colleagues and then sat down at a little outdoor cafe where there was a young Cuban band playing traditional old-fashioned Cuban music. The really interesting thing was an organ that they were playing that must date back to the 1920s, accompanied by all sorts of Cuban percussion. I really love Cuban music, but I haven't yet had a chance to listen to it a lot. My friend and I wanted to go and visit the "Casa de la Musica" yesterday where they play live music at a reasonable price, but for some reason it was closed, something not unusual around here.

I also had a chance to walk down to "Prado", a long avenue with a pedestrian walkway with trees on both sides, and two lines of traffic on both sides of the pedestrian area, somewhat reminiscent of the Ramblas in Barcelona. Very close to the Prado is the Museo de la Revolucion which used to be the palace of the last Cuban dictator, Fulgencio Batista, prior to the Revolution. Fidel Castro's yacht, the "Granma"which he used to cross over from Mexico with his rebellious companions, is displayed in a glass-encased building just behind the palace-like Museo de la Revolucion, and surrounded by various tanks and military vehicles dating back to revolutionary combat. The Revolution is definitely present whereever you go.

I think I have seen most of the important sights of the city, excluding the Plaza de la Revolucion, which houses the Comite Central and the political apparatus of the Cuban government. I still have to make a little excursion to that area and also take a photo or two of the memorial of Che Guevara, who still appears to be a very revered individual around here, often admittedly more so than Fidel Castro.

2 weeks is a pretty long time to spend in a city and due to the fact that I have completely immersed myself in the culture, I think I have a pretty good feel for La Habana and I am slowly but surely mentally getting ready to go home. It's been great, but I am also happy to get back home to see my husband, my friends, to have my normal life back. There are only 2 and a half days left now for my Cuban experiment and there are a few more places to see, but I am also looking forward to coming back home to Toronto.

About the Author
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of http://www.travelandtransitions.com. It deals with travel to foreign countries and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews with travellers, insights, cross-cultural issues, and many other features. Participate in our travel story contest http://www.travelandtransitions.com/contests.htm and win great prizes, a fabulous cruise to the Amazon. Life is a Journey - Explore New Horizons.

Now its your time to Travel to Cuba!

Cuba Weather

2006-05-15T16:35:00.000-07:00

Cuba Weather

My trip to Cuba occurred during the Month of December and was from Christmas To New Years.

During this time, the weather was quite warm but was comfortable. Our weather ranged from 25 degress celsius, and the final day we were there it had jumped as high as 35 degrees celsius. The Cuba weather in December does dip down a bit feeling a bit chilly at night after laying around in the sun all day. Some nights shorts and t-shirt were ok, while others a pair of jeans and light jacket helped out a lot.

I was told by the locals, that the weather in Cuba in the spring and summer months like June would jump upwards to 39 degrees plus celsius everyday. They had mentioned the pools being really warm to jump into, without feeling any initial chill. A march visit to Cuba may just produce the best "Cuba Weather" for travelling.

Any experiences with the weather in Cuba? Post a comment.

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Learn about internet dental marketing to skyrocket your dental practice, so you may enjoy more Cuba Weather.

Map of Cuba

2006-05-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

Map of Cuba

In order to learn of Cuba Tourism, you will see a map of Cuba outlining the different cities and resort areas to visit.

In the northwest, you see the Capital of Cuba Havana Cuba and Varadero Beach Cuba, the popular resort area.

Another widely visited area in Cuba, a more quieter resort area, is Holguin. You will see Holguin in the SouthEast side of Cuba.

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Learn about Diabetes Diet in my other blog.

Cuban Cigar Pictures

2006-05-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

Cuban Cigar Pictures

Here is the Romeo & Juliet brand cigar I purchased in its nice case:

Here is a souveneir I purchased, showing the Cohiba brand of Cuban Cigar.

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Thought about travelling to Vancouver for the 2010 vancouver olympics?

Cuba Cigar

2006-05-07T07:33:00.000-07:00

Cuba Cigar

In Cuba, I visited the Cuban Cigar Factory where they make the Cuban Cigar. It was interesting to see the steps from being rolled to finishing the product and packaging it.

The Cuban Cigar is famous worldwide and in Canada can be costly. There are many famous brands, but the one I purchased was the Romeo Y Julieta Cuban Cigar brand.

The most famous Cuba Cigar, the good stuff is Cohiba.

Look for some pictures of my Cuban Cigar shortly.

Regards,
Michael Kralj
In the travelling mood? Visit Germany for the Fifa 2006 World Cup.

Tourism in Cuba: an unforgettable experience

2006-05-01T16:44:00.000-07:00

Tourism in Cuba: an unforgettable experience. by Rafael Hernandez

What can you expect when you travel to Cuba? Sun, white sand beaches, salsa music all around? Well, yes, but fortunately, there is much more than that. Cuba is a paradox of experiences, where your senses collide with one another in an explosion of significant magnitude. Here is a place where you can truly find everything and anything, from the most demanding to the most basic and raw. It is up to the individual to discover what he seeks, but in the meantime, we can try to give you some insight and maybe make your decision a little bit easier.

For the Canadian traveler, Cuba must seem like another planet altogether. Things that you have taken for granted all your life will be nowhere in sight, and situations that you can´t even imagine appear as if by magic. Whether you are a single traveler or a family of 10, a young child or a elderly person, the wonders of this country will seduce you and will make want to come back again and again.

Here in Cuba, you will find all types of hotel accommodation, from the most luxurious 5 star resorts to the basic yet adequate "casa particular", private houses whose owners pay monthly fees to be able to rent rooms for tourists. These are better suited for single travelers spending a longer time since it will be much cheaper. On the other hand, for a nice family vacation, you have all types of hotels and fancy resorts, from the most luxurious city places to the very comfortable and family-oriented all inclusive beach resorts. These cater to the entire family, where children will be looked after and will be absolutely safe, with activities ranging anywhere from all types of water sports to dancing lessons. Here you find different restaurants, from traditional Cuban fare to the most demanding of international cuisine. Everyone will have something that they enjoy, so there will be no need to worry about what to eat. Cuba is a very senior friendly society, and this transcends into its tourism industry. There will be activities for everyone in the family, like walks along beautiful paths with breathtaking views, leisurely strolls on the beach, in short, something for everyone to do, even for the most elderly of visitors. Also everything has been organized so that handicapped people can enjoy their holiday to the most of their capabilities, and every effort is being made to improve on this most important part of our industry. Our country should be enjoyed equally by everyone, no matter how young or old they are, or no matter the handicap. We are truly doing our best in this respect.

Now let´s talk a bit about city tourism. Havana is a bustling city of around 2 million people, with blacks and whites and every race in between. Whether is music you are looking for, museums of every sorts, any other type of cultural manifestation or just simply relax watching the sunset on the Malecon ( the seaside avenue that goes from Old Havana to Miramar), here you will find it. From Jazz music to live Salsa bands, from Ballet performances to the most typical street conga, culture as a whole will leap at you from every corner. If you are an antiques enthusiast, you will fall in love with the fleet of old cars that line Havana streets, some being used as regular taxi cabs, a testament to Cuban ingenuity, because it´s truly a miracle to keep these cars rolling after more than fifty years on the road.

If you like the beach, there´s a beautiful white sand beach 30 minutes from downtown Havana, so you could actually have the best of two worlds, sun and sand one day, museums and tobacco factories the next. Havana is truly an amazing experience, and you will need at least a week to appreciate all it has to offer, and you will still be short on time.

But the best thing about Cuba is its people. Whether its the staff that will look after you at the resorts, or the people you will meet on the streets if you come to the city, the people is Cuba´s greatest jewel. Fun loving, open hearted, they will make you feel right at home, often inviting you into their own houses for a traditional dish of rice, beans and pork, and of course, the ever present Cuban rum. Experiences like these is what makes a trip to Cuba unforgettable, a trip to be remembered for a long time.

But Cuba its not only Havana and the beaches. There are several in country places worth very much seeing. There is the beautiful Viñales Valley, a place with hills called "mogotes" found nowhere else in the world, with captivating caves and underwater rivers which can be visited and enjoyed. There is also Trinidad, a quaint little village preserved much as it was 300 years ago, with its sugarcane mills and history all around it. Further east you have Santiago de Cuba, cradle of the Cuban revolution, but also filled with every conceivable luxury expected by a foreign traveler.

If you decide to choose Cuba as the place you want to spend your holiday in, you should take into account the time of the year you want to travel. In the slow season, that is, from April to November, its absolutely too hot, so unless you want to bake in 30 degree weather and 90 percent humidity, you should choose the other season, that is, from November to March, when its still warm enough without the smoldering heat and stifling humidity. In this case, you have to book well in advance, because people from all over the world choose Cuba as its winter paradise, especially Canadians. Everything from all-inclusive to city hotels, car rentals, anything that you want to have secured, should be reserved weeks in advance. This will ensure a happy and carefree holiday, without any problems related to shortages of anything. Reservation is the name of the game when you travel to Cuba, thus making it possible to enjoy your stay without any worries.

If you are a person who likes to drive through the countryside, there are several car rental agencies with many price ranges, from the smallest compact car to the biggest Mercedes or Audi. Roads are quite safe, something you will rapidly discover by the amount of people hitchhiking at the side of the road. That´s another of Cuba´s greatest assets, its safety. Like everywhere, you have your petty thieves, pickpockets and what not, and even these are rare. Serious crimes are almost unheard-of in the island, which makes it a haven for people who like to mingle with the locals. Of course, you have to be prudent, but as a rule, you can drive or walk through any Havana street at anytime of day or night and you will be absolutely safe.

In the Caribbean there might be more luxurious places To go, but as far as friendliness and safety are concerned, none can compare to Cuba, and all of this with rapidly increasing levels of service all around. As of now, we have one of the major hotel chains in the world with approximately 15 resorts in Cuba, with plans to keep increasing its capacities in the future. This is mostly due to the reasons stated before, which makes Cuba a unique vacation destination, combining state of the art facilities with down to earth homeliness and safety, and every effort made to make this vacation the best time of your life, without distinction of age or physical ability. If you give it a chance, you will not be disappointed. This can truly be called an earthly paradise, but not only because of the beauty of the land, but also and probably more important, the beauty of its people. We hope you come and share all of this with us. You will not forget it.

About the Author
Rafael Hernandez is currently a customer service rep at 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Cuban Beer Souveneir

2006-04-27T16:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of a wooden souveneir I bought in Cuba, that displays the logo of Cristal and how the label on a bottle of Cristal would look like.

Regards,
Michael Kralj

Cuban Beer - Cristal

2006-04-25T18:23:00.000-07:00

Cuban Beer - Cristal

As I went down to Cuba, I was uncertain as to what the drinks would be like. I had hoped there may be a couple varieties of beer served, as in hot weather beer is my choice.

When I got there, I had learned from the Sunwing Representative that the beer there was called "Cristal" and would be the beer you would get at the resort. I'm not very interested in the mixed drinks (which there was plenty of different kinds to choose from), so I had hoped the beer would taste good and I would enjoy my Cuban Beer.

My overall opinion once I tasted the beer, was I liked it. It wasn't a very strong beer and more of a light taste to it. I normally drink Budweiser, which is more of a light beer and this had a similar style taste to it. If you drink Guiness, this is the total opposite. So for those who like a Bud on a hot day, you will in my opinion enjoy the Cristal Cerveza down in Cuba.

Regards,
Michael Kralj
While in the Travelling Spirit, you may want to visit Vancouver, Canada for the 2010 winter olympics or Germany for the 2006 world cup.

Cuba Travel: License Plate Colors

2006-04-12T18:53:00.000-07:00

Cuba Travel: License Plate Colors

On my trip to Havana, I had learned about the different License Plate Colors that Cars in Cuba can have.

The three main ones that were told to me were blue, red and yellow.

Blue License Plate meant it was a government vehicle. There are spots in cuba where people are waiting for a ride. If you drive a government vehicle with a blue license plate, and do not pick up people waiting, you will loose your vehicle and priveleges.

Red License Plate means a tourist vehicle. I seen a few Toyota Corollas designated as tourist vehicles. It also makes everyone know who you are, a tourist!

Yellow License Plate means a vehicle privately owned. To buy a car in Cuba, you have to buy a car that is older than 1957 I believe they had told me. So any yellow plated cars are usually old American cars. The Chevrolet I was in had a 3 gear stick shifter by the steering wheel! Quite odd to see. Also, if you privately own a vehicle, you are not allowed to give people drives for money. If you do so, and are caught, the government will impound your car and you are left with nothing.

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Also learn about Sump Pump Installation and my other site about Diabetic Diet Advice.

Travelling to Cuba with Sunwing Vacations

2006-04-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

Travelling to Cuba with Sunwing Vacations

When I travelled to Cuba, it was my first time on a plane and going anywhere. I didn't know the differences in Air lines, nor was I too concerned. My friend recommended "Arenas Blancas", so I looked for trips to that location as from speaking to the Travel Agent, I realized that resort was fairly priced as well.

Sunwing was offering the flight down to Varadero, Cuba on the date I was set to leave. I had booked and my experience with Sunwing began on the day of my trip.

I have to say I was quite happy with the service and the flight. The plane was not a large plane from how I imagined it would be, however it was plenty big. About 30 rows of 6 seats were on the plane. On the trip there, I was 4 rows from the front and on the way back I was in the very back row.

The flight took about 3 1/2 hrs to get there, and just over 3 hrs on the way back. During the trip there, being it was christmas day, they had went around offering glasses of champagne to all the occupants for free. Obviously I had accepted and thought that was nice of them. They also provided free food on the plane, and it was much better than I expected from Airplane food.

Overall, I would recommend them as being my first time on a plane was not scary and the ride felt smooth all the way. In fact, in my trip to the Dominican Republic I will be flying with Sunwing again. More so a coincidence of who was offering the trip again, but it's good to go again with a familiar company.

Regards,
Michael Kralj

Phrases to learn for Cuba

2006-04-05T20:25:00.000-07:00

Phrases to learn for Cuba

Speaking to a fellow worker, I had got him to teach me a few phrases to say when going down south.

I will be visiting Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic shortly, and am learning the following for the trip (Note: the spelling of the translated version is my spelling and it may be incorrect):

English: How Much is This
Translated: "Quanto Questa es to"
Pronounced: Kwan-to Kes-ta es to

English: Let's Go
Translated: "Vamanos"
Pronounced: Va-ma-nos

And the very important one :)

English: Give me 2 beers please
Translated: "Deme dos Cerveza por favor"
Pronounced: Deh-meh dos Cer-ve-za pour fa-vor

As I think of more to ask my fellow worker, I will put more posts up with the phrases to learn and say when you Travel to Cuba.

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Learn about Sump Pump Installation in my other blog.

Cuba Travel: Item Exchange

2006-04-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

Cuba Travel: Item Exchange

One thing I was told prior to going to Cuba was to bring many items that I could exchange down in Cuba. I was skeptical and thought about how you would approach that when down there. So I didn't bring a lot, but brought a shirt that didnt fit, as well as a few smaller items.

While on the poolside of Arenas Blancas, I was listening to the DJ play some music and heard a latino mix of 50 Cent In the Club. I thought it was well done and wanted it. So I went up to the DJ and asked how I could get it. He offered to make a copy for 10 pesos, which I thought was a lot. So I had gave the offer of 5 pesos and we made a deal. As we were making the deal, he also let me know that money isnt as important there and asked if I had any shirts or if I would trade my sunglasses for the cd. Having my older shirt that didnt fit, I came back with it and made the exchange for the CD. What was useless to me, came in handy in getting something down there. And it came in handy to the DJ, as for most of the rest of the week I seen him wearing the shirt I had just given him.

It works down there like that with most of the workers. I was going to get a drink at the bar, when the one Cuban worker was like how much for the shorts. And when I said I don't remember, he wanted me to give them to him in exchange for whatever he could get me and I wanted. I never made this deal, but I probably could have exchanged for quite a bit with them.

I also traded in another older shirt to a person selling souveneirs. They are quite happy exchanging items for their souveneirs, as they aren't able to get these items down in Cuba as readily as we can in Canada.

Lesson from all this? Bring older shirts that arent ripped, and other good clothes that are of no use to yourself, due to being to small or other reasons. Use that instead of money to get many souveneirs and collectibles you will be bringing back.

Also, using these items as "tips" for workers, or the hotel cleaners helps ensure the cleaners do a great job with your room. We had left small items such as hair clips to the female workers, and they had written us a note saying thank you and to have a great trip. They always made us different designs with the towels they left, such as hearts and swans. Leaving a little goes a long way there, and our room was always clean. They should do this anyways, but its like tipping someone at a restaurant or bar here. If you tip, the worker is more happy to help you.

Regards,

Michael Kralj
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Arenas Blancas

2006-04-03T15:04:00.000-07:00

Arenas Blancas

When I went down to Cuba I stayed at the Resort Arenas Blancas. This was my first trip down south and I loved it. I had a great time there, and had no complaints with the resort. All of the service was to my expectations and I enjoyed laying around the pool side area.

I tipped the guy at the sign in desk one peso when getting there, and he was ever so helpful from there on with anything I required and gave me all the info I needed whenever I asked. I was able to go up to him right away, with no waiting and get my answers answered.

Arenas Blancas is definately a great resort to visit, and I recommend it to anyone. The buffet was good with great servers cooking the eggs in the morning. I remember the server looking at me and my gf, and making a kiss like sound and handing us a cuban flower telling me to give it to my wifey. Just great people there and they were always smiling and made that memorable.

I recommend it, and you will see more pictures in this blog of the resort, as well as more information on the different areas of the resort and my experiences in Cuba.

Regards,

Michael Kralj
Visit my other blog about Sump Pump Installation and get Cheap Domain Name Registration for your own sites.

Welcome to the Cuba Travel Information Site!

2006-03-30T17:55:00.000-08:00

Check out this blog further for more of my experiences down south in Cuba.

I will let you in on my tips to get in good with locals, what to expect for food and the vacation experience.

I will also discuss my Catamaran trip and my trip to Havana, Cuba where the rum is plenty.

Cheers,

Mike