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General Information On Cuba Travel Etiquette for Cuba Getting To and Around Cuba Cities, Towns and Areas in Cuba Accommodations In Cuba Things To See And Do In Cuba Tours to/in Cuba Dining in Cuba Favorites In Cuba Books, Magazines and Other Information Cuba Links World Wide Travel Related Links! Getting Away Travel Store - Travel Items and Accessories Discounts and Deals - Save Money, Buy on Line

A Man Bundles up a Bunch of Finished Cigars in a Factory in Trinidad, Cuba, Trinidad, Cuba Photographic Print Buy at AllPosters.com Posters and Framed Art for Cuba

General Information On Cuba
Travel and Tourism Information
Passports and Visas
When to Go
Books and Other Travel Resources
Money Matters
Language
Travel Etiquette for Cuba
Health Matters
Weather

 

Learn Spanish Today!  Isn't it time you learned another language? Spanish is fast becoming one of the most popular language in the world. Countries in Europe, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, North America and Africa have countries where Spanish is the local language. These countries include Spain, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cube, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Equatorial Guinea and Mexico. If you plan to visit any of these countries, why not learn the language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Click on Learn Spanish Today to see how you can get FREE SPANISH LESSONS!

Travel and Tourism Information Although Cuba is the Caribbean's largest island, it is both the least commercialized and least visited. This is quite probably due to its being one of the world's last strongholds of communism. This "political isolation," has prevented it from being popular with tourists. However, for those who do venture to Cuba, the find the locals are quite friendly and happy to see them. Cuba is very laid back and relaxed, even in the larger towns. And, if you want more quiet, the backcountry and beaches may be just what you are looking for. It is a good destination for adventure travelers who are into hiking and trekking, cycling, and even spelunkers. And, as with other islands of the Caribbean, there is always the swimming, boating, fishing and other water activities. The enacting of the Helms-Burton Act has allowed Cuba to find its place again as a tourist destination, even with an increase in tourism from the United States and it will probably only be a matter of time before regular flights from the United States will be the norm. For additional travel advice and information, click on Go Cuba!

Passports and Visas
Visitors will need a visa and most visitors require a Cuban visa or Tourist Card, available from travel agencies, tour operators or a Cuban consulate for a stay of one month. The USA* officially prohibits its citizens from traveling to Cuba unless they obtain a special license, but they can go and travel restrictions are beginning to relax a bit.
 

*The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. This includes United States citizens! In order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future. For additional information, go to http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html.

Books and Other Travel Resources
As the official language is Spanish, if you do not know the language, it might be best if you carry a phrase book. Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.

Money Matters
The currency in Cuba is the Cuban Peso and, as of November, 2004; U. S. Dollars are no longer accepted as legal tender in Cuba. Visitors will have to use "convertible pesos." Travelers' cheques and credit cards (drawn on American banks) are also no longer acceptable. When you exchange your American dollars you can expect a hefty 10% surcharge. Cuban pesos, or moneda nacional, can be used at local venta libre stores, cafeterias and street stands, cinemas, and many other businesses away from popular tourist destinations. Cadeca, with kiosks throughout Cuba, changes currency at fair rates - if you call 10% fair form U.S. dollars. If you carry a Visa or MasterCard that is issued by a non-US bank, you are in good shape.

As a vacation destination in the Caribbean, Cuba is one of the more  reasonably affordable. Still not cheap, but affordable. Using the bus is quite affordable, but a rental car could cost as much as $100 a day.

You want to arrive here prepared to tip. It is expected as almost all Cuban tourism workers rely on tips. You will find that you can go through dollars pretty quickly as museum staff or guides who offer tours, hotel guards who watch your rental car all night, bus drivers, or anyone in the service industry who goes beyond the call of duty expects at least $1 for doing so. Do not offer money to officials to obtain preferential treatment; governmental corruption is rare in Cuba and attempted bribery can put you in a very awkward legal position.

Watch how you tip Paladars as they are well known for adding as much as 20% to your bill calling it a "tax" or a "'service charge." If you believe someone is trying to hassle you in this manner, simply ask to see the bill. Avoid jineteros (touts) who offer to lead you to a room or restaurant, unless you don't mind having an extra US$5 or so tacked onto your bill. And stay away from the children and beggars that will follow you around. Once you give in to one of them, they will descend on you like a flock of turkey buzzards. It is unlawful for Cubans to beg from tourists. In most of the tourist areas, there are plenty of plainclothes police on duty to help with this problem.

Language
Spanish is the language of Cuba.

Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.

Health Matters
Hepatitis has long been a problem here. Several different viruses cause hepatitis and there are several ways it can be transmitted. The symptoms for all forms of hepatitis are: fever, chills, fever, fatigue, feelings of weakness and aches and pains, and headache followed by loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored feces, jaundiced (yellowed) skin and yellowing of the whites of the eyes. Hepatitis A is transmitted by contaminated food and drinking water and the easiest to get. If you should have any of these symptoms while you are there, it is recommended that you immediately seek medical advice. There is not much you can do apart from resting, drinking lots of fluids, eating lightly and avoiding fatty foods. I know as I have had it and it is not fun. Hepatitis A is a common problem among travelers drinking tap water in areas with poor sanitation.

Hepatitis B, a much more serious strain of the illness, is spread through contact with infected blood, blood products or body fluids. This would include unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles, blood transfusions, or contact with blood via small breaks in the skin. The symptoms of hepatitis B are usually more severe than type A, and the disease often leads to long-term problems such as chronic liver damage, liver cancer or a long-term carrier state. Hepatitis C and D are spread in the same way as hepatitis B and can also lead to long-term complications.

There are vaccines against hepatitis A and B, but there are currently no vaccines against the other types. Your best bet is to follow the basic rules about food and water (I believe I contacted it by eating fresh fruit that had been washed with bad water.) and avoiding risky situations. Hepatitis E is transmitted in the same way as hepatitis A and is especially serious for women who are pregnant. 

When to Go
As far as the weather goes, there isn't a bad time to visit Cuba. Well, you might want to not chance a vacation during the hurricane season. The hot, rainy season runs from May to October but winter, about December to April, is the peak of the tourist season. For the most part, this is when planeloads of the "snowbirds" from Canada visit and Europeans arrive, all in pursuit of the warm southern sun. The worst time for the beaches would be in July and August as that is when most Cubans take their holiday.

Travel Etiquette
Behavior and customs vary greatly from country to country. We discuss the correct travel etiquette so that you won't be caught out. TravelEtiquette was formed to offer a unique reference point on essential etiquette advice and information for worldwide travel. Our features and articles are written by professional journalists and experts - who have a particular interest, or a background in this area. So – know before you go. Visit TravelEtiquette so you will know how to, as the old adage states, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

Weather
Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have information you believe I should add to this section of Getting Away, please contact me. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com

Getting To and Around Cuba
For Flights, Hotels, Cars, Cruises, Vacations, Tours and Travel Deals, Click on Global Travel International. If the link does not work properly, type www.gettingaway.globaltravel.com in the address line of your browser.

Click here for Tours to/in Cuba

If you have information you believe I should add to this section of Getting Away, please contact me. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com

Cities, Towns and Areas in Cuba
Baracoa
Bayamo
Havana
Isla de la Juventud
Pinar del Río Province
Santiago de Cuba
Trinidad

Baracoa
Baracoa is nicely located on two picturesque bays with a palm tree-lined coast. It is the oldest European settlement in Cuba being founded in 1512 by Diego Velázquez. It was only accessible only by sea up until the 1960s and has long been an Spanish outpost. There are three important forts on Baracoa, Fuerte Matachín, which is now home to the museo municipal; Fuerte de la Punta, that has been turned into a restaurant; and El Castillo de Seboruco, now a pleasant hotel.

Bayamo
Bayamo is the capital of Granma Province and the southernmost point on the island. Although it is rarely visited by tourists, the area has several historic places of interest, including the site where José Martí was shot, and Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra, one of the finest national parks in Cuba.

The area is probably best known as being important Cuban struggle for freedom since it was here that Castro and 81 rebels landed here aboard the Granma in 1956, and the first War of Independence was launched here in October 1868 when a Creole planter formed a militia and overran the region.

Havana
When you think of Cuba, you automatically think of Havana as it is the centre of all things that are Cuban - exciting nightlife, terrible traffic, glitzy American cars of the 50s and 60s, Spanish Colonial architecture, and cigars.

If you enjoy cigars, click on Cuban Crafters Cuban Style Cigars for the finest in Cuban cigars. They also offer weekly discount specials that includes Humidors, cigar cutters, Torch Lighters for Cigars, Cigar Cases, Premium Cigar Samplers, cigar accessories, and gifts at extraordinary low prices. Cigar enthusiasts can even join their exclusive Cigar Club. Membership in the club guarantees you a 20 percent discount on every order, a signup gift and VIP treatment. It is easy to join and the benefits are many. Just choose a box from any on the web site or catalog (excluding cigar samplers). The box will be shipped at your requested interval and you can cancel at any time.

The city is filled with many historical homes and buildings, many of which are currently under restoration. You can experience it all here, from the traffic and commercialization and the rich nightlife, to the interesting brilliance of Old Havana and its interesting residential areas. You will find the locals here to be friendliness that is almost exuberant and not at all like what we Americans might expect from a "suppressed communistic society."

Isla de la Juventud
There are about 350 islands make up the Archipiélago de los Canarreos and of all of them, Isla de la Juventud is by far the biggest one, if not the most populated. The major portion of the land is quite flat and because of this has often suffered a lot during hurricane season. That may be why you will find the Ciénaga de Lanier, Cuba's second-largest swamp here. Isla de la Juventud is the least populated area Cuba, with most people living in the northern area of the island. You probably are not aware of it, but you have actually heard a lot about this island as it was once known as Parrot Island. It was once a hideout for pirates like Francis Drake, John Hawkins, Thomas Baskerville and Henry Morgan, and it inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.

Pinar del Río Province
This area is a favorite for naturalists, not the nudist type, but those who are really into nature. This westernmost part of the country has two UNESCO biosphere reserves that have been set aside to protect some of the country's loveliest landscapes. The province is famous the beautiful, and almost surreal, limestone pincushion hills, an area that is full of caves that have been formed by underground rivers, some of which are a great place for diving. If you would rather dive (or scuba under the sun), María la Gorda boasts some of the finest underwater scenery in the Caribbean.

Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba, the second biggest city in Cuba, is a better place to visit than Havana's when it comes to literature, music and politics. The area played a pivotal role in the overthrowing of the Bastista Regime and is considered to be the cradle of the revolution. The city overlooks the Bahía de Santiago de Cuba and has a distinct Caribbean flavor due to the influence of French planters and Haitians who settled here.

Trinidad
Trinidad was founded in 1514. It was a haven for Atlantic smugglers until the late 18th century. In the early 19th century, a slave revolt in Haiti caused French planters to flee to Trinidad, where they re-established their little empires. These "empires" boomed until the Wars of Independence devastated the region's sugar plantations. The legacy of its short-lived sugar-boom can be seen in the baroque church towers of the town's church.

Suggestions For Accommodations In Cuba

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Cayo Coco

The Blau Colonial Hotel is located in the privileged area of Cayo Coco to the east of Cuba, only 12 kilometers away from the Aeropuerto Internacional Jardines del Rey (Jardines del Rey International Airport'). The hotel was opened in 1993 and, after a complete renovation, reopened in 2005 as five star hotel with new services and facilities. This is a perfect place for anyone, with or without a family, who wants to enjoy one of the best beach areas in Cuba, and in which to combine relaxation with activities in a hotel decorated in the purest colonial style. Discover the beach with white sand and turquoise waters, our large variety of restaurants, mixed grills, bars, sports and our guarantee of top quality service that makes us stand out. For additional information, or to make reservations, click on Blau Colonial Hotel.

Havana City

Blau Arenal Club - Located only 27 km (16,78 miles) from Havana City, Blau Arenal Club is situated in the Playas del Este (Eastern Havana Beaches) area, right on Santa Mª Del Mar, a beach with crystal-clear water surrounded by a beautiful natural environment. Made up of a group of three buildings, each having two floors, the Club is a perfect place for those looking to enjoy the splendid combination of sun, beach and culture that Havana, a city full of history and tradition, has in store. For additional information, or to make reservations, click on Blau Arenal Club.

Playa Pesquero

The well-kept facilities in the Blau Costa Verde Beach Resort holiday complex, with its amazing swimming pool built-in to the natural setting, are located in the east of Cuba, on the seafront next to the fine white sandy beach of Playa Pesquero and are surrounded by luscious tropical vegetation. The natural environment is fully incorporated into the Beach resort where the color green shines in all its splendor. The Caribbean island, with its seductive and overwhelming natural settings, valuable cultural treasures and countless ways of making the most of your free time as well as practicing water sports, invites the visitor to experience an emotional adventure or, if they prefer, a relaxing and comfortable holiday. For additional information, or to make reservations, click on Blau Costa Verde Beach Resort.

Varadero

Blau Varadero - Emerging from the sand, sun and warm waters of the Caribbean, this hotel is meant to be the tallest and most majestic in Varadero, whose elegant bedrooms offer a view of sea and sky. The excellent service, elegant structure and privileged location in an area of virgin sands and plant life meet to form an impressive combination of distinction, quality and the ocean. Full bathroom suite, Hairdryer, Full-length mirror, Terrace, Telephone, Safety deposit box, Mini-bar Room controlled air conditioning, TV-SAT, Piped music, 220V, Amenities. For additional information, or to make reservations, click on Blau Varadero.

Visit Getting Away Accommodations, world-wide reservations available on line.  And, if you are looking for a nice resort, check the Getting Away Resort Accommodations page or ResortDiscounts.com where you can find discounts at some of the world's most desirable resort locations.

For Flights, Hotels, Cars, Cruises, Vacations, Tours and Travel Deals, Click on Global Travel International. If the link does not work properly, type www.gettingaway.globaltravel.com in the address line of your browser.

Suggestions For Things To See And Do In Cuba

Click here for Tours to/in Cuba

There are several annual events and celebrations in Cuba. In late July and early July the Havana Carnival is on and there are parades in front of the Capitolio or along the Malecón on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings making the weekends quite a party. The Jornadas de la Cultural Camagneyana is scheduled for the first two weeks of February, and the Festival International de Jazz fills the first week of December. If you are there in April, you can be a part of the Semana de la Cultura celebrated in Baracoa and the Electroacoustic Music Festival in Varadero. The first week of May has the Romería de Mayo in Holguin, and Trinidad hosts the Fiestas Sanjuaneras near the end of June.

Probably the biggest celebration is the Carnival in Santiago de Cuba during the last two weeks of July and the first week of August. Carnival marks the end of the sugar harvest and originated as a period in which the slaves were allowed to celebrate and, even though the slaves are long gone, the exciting celebration goes on. You will really know you are there during this celebration as it seems as though someone (or many someones') are playing the drum all the time.

The Festival of Caribbean Culture is celebrated in June or July. In October you can enjoy the 10-day Havana Festival of Contemporary Music. In Trinidad, sometime in late November, the Semana de la Cultura Trinitaria is in full swing. And in Havana each year in December, the International Festival of Latin American Film is held.

If you have information you believe I should add to this section of Getting Away, please contact me. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com

Suggestions For Dining in Cuba
Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have information you believe I should add to this section of Getting Away, please contact me. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com

Favorite Places And Things To Do In Cuba

Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have information you believe I should add to this section of Getting Away, please contact me. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com

Cuba Links

Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.

If you enjoy cigars, click on Cuban Crafters Cuban Style Cigars for the finest in Cuban cigars. They also offer weekly discount specials that includes Humidors, cigar cutters, Torch Lighters for Cigars, Cigar Cases, Premium Cigar Samplers, cigar accessories, and gifts at extraordinary low prices. Cigar enthusiasts can even join their exclusive Cigar Club. Membership in the club guarantees you a 20 percent discount on every order, a signup gift and VIP treatment. It is easy to join and the benefits are many. Just choose a box from any on the web site or catalog (excluding cigar samplers). The box will be shipped at your requested interval and you can cancel at any time.

Currency Exchange - Get your currency needs managed in advance! Many airports, railroad stations, bus depots, and other points of entry have no currency exchange. When currency exchange is available in airports, lines can be long and rates can be "sky high". These long waits and usurious fees can be a nightmare.  Order in advance from All Foreign Currency right online. It's fast, easy, and you save time and money! The can also provide you with Travelers' checks, bank drafts, and transfers. U.S. dollars are not accepted everywhere and rates can be atrocious! 

If you have information you believe I should add to this section of Getting Away, please contact me. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com

2007 Travel Alert - Passports Needed for Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Caribbean. Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport. As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. Click here for the State Department Summary.  And, if you need a passport in a hurry, because you forgot to apply months ago when you should have and your trip is almost upon you, click on Passports In A Hurry, or on Passport Visa Express!