Anyone been to Cuba? Need holiday suggestions.

[Paul Markham]

What's it like as a holiday destination?

If not Cuba we want to take a holiday somewhere tropical next year, any suggestions? We want good food, culture, good hotels and not full of mad 18-30 year olds.

[Bladewire]

Go-to Miami, it's 90 miles north and smells better.

[BarryB]

I think it's pretty exciting to go to Cuba now that Fidel is dead, probably a different atmosphere than usual.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Go-to Miami, it's 90 miles north and smells better.

I asked for culture, the only culture Miami has it for 12 year olds. Been there.

[Bladewire]

Oh here we go again

[TheLegacy]

i've gone a couple of times - Veradero and Lucia. Both were awesome.
Just remember to tip well and don't mention you're from the USA and do your research on quality - but great holiday spot. Wife and I took the kids 2 years ago and everyone had a blast. Florida is more expensive and commercial - so if that's your thing do it.

[JFK]

Originally Posted by BarryB

I think it's pretty exciting to go to Cuba now that Fidel is dead, probably a different atmosphere than usual.

Yeah, it smells of Fidel rotting ?

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by TheLegacy

i've gone a couple of times - Veradero and Lucia. Both were awesome.
Just remember to tip well and don't mention you're from the USA and do your research on quality - but great holiday spot. Wife and I took the kids 2 years ago and everyone had a blast. Florida is more expensive and commercial - so if that's your thing do it.

Thanks for the tip.

No interest in going to Florida. Been there three times. Orlando, Keys, etc.

[Bladewire]

Why do you want to vacation on a small island where everyone is in mourning?

[just a punk]

Originally Posted by Paul Markham

We want good food

...on Cuba? Good luck with that

[spads]

Originally Posted by CyberSEO

...on Cuba? Good luck with that

This. Years of communism has pretty much destroyed any sense of a food culture. The thing about successful restaurant owners is that they tend to be capitalists. That's why the best Cuban food is in Miami.

[just a punk]

For those who don't know.

1) On Cuba, if you have a cow, you can not just eat it. Even if your cow has died, you must give all the meat to the government, because beef is a "red gold" on Cuba.

2) Cuba is an island, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. But fishing is not allowed there. Ok, you can do it, but you have to get a license (!!!) to a boat and all the sea food you have caught, you must... give to the government. You can not just eat or sell it.

Maybe you think I'm kidding? No, I don't and everything that is true.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Why do you want to vacation on a small island where everyone is in mourning?

They will be over it by summer.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by CyberSEO

For those who don't know.

1) On Cuba, if you have a cow, you can not just eat it. Even if your cow has died, you must give all the meat to the government, because beef is a "red gold" on Cuba.

2) Cuba is an island, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. But fishing is not allowed there. Ok, you can do it, but you have to get a license (!!!) to a boat and all the sea food you have caught, you must... give to the government. You can not just eat or sell it.

Maybe you think I'm kidding? No, I don't and everything that is true.

Good points. going off the idea of Cuba. Communism destroys the working classes.

Anyone been to Seychelles, Mauritius or any other Tropical Countries?

[pornguy]

Paul. Your a toursit in Cuba with Dollars.

trust me when I say you can go fishing on a charter boat. You can stay in the best hotels and walk into every store. The more dollars you bring the more they love you.

It is NOT the cheap paradise some make it out to be. You have to change your money to Chavitos. 80 cents on the 1 dollar chavito. and chavitos are ONLY good in cuba. Its monopoly money.

Some of the resorts are good but when you read they are 5 star compare them to a 2.5 in the rest of the world.

I have been many times.

[just a punk]

I sill don't understand why people go to Cuba. Why not Bahamas, Miami or Dominican Republic?

[directfiesta]

Originally Posted by CyberSEO

I sill don't understand why people go to Cuba. Why not Bahamas, Miami or Dominican Republic?

been to Cuba +10 times in last 3 years .é.. and I own a condo in Pompano Beach ( Florida ... ) about 1000 feet from the ocean .

Florida has nothing exotic, it is basically a strip mall after another strip mall with in between a big box store . Miami is limited to South Beach if you like being ripped off.

Bahamas does not have the same weather : it is often pretty cool, very expensive ùand again nothing really erxceptional .... No real local flavor

DR is a different story : nice island ( half ) , very nice beaches ( in the south and east tip mainly ) , local flavor ... but dangerous as hell ...from criminals or from police . Cost of living is reasonable , food is plentyfull and good. Girls +

Cuba: very very safe , very natural settings, amazing beaches ( ... and girls ) , very friendly locals , pretty cheap still . Accomodations are either tourist complex ( need to be 4* plus ) or rooms in private homes ( nice experience ) .
All this will change for sure ( money talks ) so visit asap before there is nothing left to visit except a clone of Cancun .

[Evil Chris]

I've been to Cuba and I'm not interested in going back. The only reasons to go there are to get away in the sun in the most inexpensive destination in the Caribbean.

Go to St. Lucia or St. Vincent.

[mineistaken]

Originally Posted by directfiesta

Cuba: very very safe , very natural settings, amazing beaches ( ... and girls ) , very friendly locals , pretty cheap still . Accomodations are either tourist complex ( need to be 4* plus ) or rooms in private homes ( nice experience ) .
All this will change for sure ( money talks ) so visit asap before there is nothing left to visit except a clone of Cancun .

I read that locals can not talk to foreigners and if you try to bring girls you must go separate, like you go in front and she goes 50 meters behind you

Ps: nice summary, funny how people are so ignorant to not understand why people choose Cuba vs Bahamas or Miami

[Adnium_Ivana]

Originally Posted by Paul Markham

What's it like as a holiday destination?

If not Cuba we want to take a holiday somewhere tropical next year, any suggestions? We want good food, culture, good hotels and not full of mad 18-30 year olds.

I've been to Cuba and after the novelty wears off, it's not worth it. Try Costa Rica (LOVE costa rica), Panama, Bahamas or like others have suggested Dominican Rep.

[7k USD]

What do u think about different countries? Like Belize.

[Demetri BongaCash]

Cuba is amazing place to visit.
was there last summer (Holguin)
10/10.

[MaDalton]

In the right restaurants you get everything on Cuba - steaks, fish, lobster etc - just that Cubans cannot afford to go there.

otherwise it's chicken, rice, beans and banana chips and chicken and rice and beans and banana chips and chicken and rice and beans and... I think you get it

[sadiedazzle]

Go to Las Terrenas in the DR. Beautiful small town, safe, great beaches, fantastic restaurants due to the large number of French expats, salsa dancing. One of the best sun spots I have been to for a nice, laid back pretty cheap vacation.
Also Saint Lucia is really lovely just alot more $$.

[Paul Markham]

St. Lucia or St. Vincent sound interesting.