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Trip to Cuba...advise?

S

scott3366

New Member
Joined
May 10, 2005
Messages
14
Location
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Well my girlfriend and I have been talking lately about possibly taking a trip during Christmas break (I'm a university student) and I have seriously been considering Cuba as the destination, Varadero to be exact. Not only would it be nice to hang out on the beaches and check out Havana, I just might bring a few boxes of sticks back here to Canada as the tobacco tax up here is unreal to legally purchase them :(

But I have a few questions for you folk that have been down there:

What hotel did you stay at?
Experiences, good/bad?
What time of year?
Would you go back?

I was really hoping to be on the beach somewhere, with a balcony preferably, a perfect place to enjoy a cigar. I've read some good reviews on the net about Iberostar Bella Costa: http://www.iberostar.info/resorts/bellacosta/index.html
And it seems pretty nice. Well I hope some of you can give me some advice because I've never been down there and I'm looking forward to a good time.
 
Sorry it just dawned on me that those from the US have Cuba restrictions. Now I suppose this follows into actually going abroad not just purchasing goods. Please excuse me.
But if you know any stories of "others" that are not from the US that have been and have any detail please do tell.
 
I stayed at the Barcelo Marina palace in March ... the better/newer hotels are located at the end of the peninsula. I liked the Barcelo but the food in Cuba seems to be just "OK". The weather around Christmas time is chancy for Cuba, you can get a lot of wind and a lot of not so warm days. Check out trip advisor.com
 
I stayed at Sandals Royal Hicacos in Varadero. We went in late Jan/early Feb and had great weather overall. Like Jabba said, food is just "ok", mexican resorts have better quality food. We are definately going back next winter.
 
I just remembered...centurycigar from this site is in Cuba as we speak. He'll have the most up to date impression of the cuban resort. Be sure to ask him when he's back next week.
 
Not to worry, i wont touch any of the "hey mang, my wifes cousins sisters uncles friend works at the plant and can get em super cheap..." Just at the authorized shops. But still working on a place to stay...some more of you cigar hounds must have "known" someone who has gone to Cuba, fill me in on a good place to stay.
 
Hi Scott.

I was in Cuba in early March and we already have plans for two more trips, one in November and one again next March.

I can't speak for the "Resort Areas" like Veradero or Holguin because we stay away from those areas (we're 40-somethings). We went to a resort on the south coast east of Santaigo. We new what we were in for as we were with a couple who were there before. We had a blast.

Keep in mind a 5 star resort in Cuba isn't like a 5 star in Mexico or the rest of the Carribbean. The food is (as others said) just OK and while the rooms are clean, they're very plain. I tell people if you're going for cruise style food and fancy hotels, you're going to the wrong place for the most part. Keep that in mind and you'll be fine.

The Cuban people are awesome, very friendly.

As for smokes, yes, authorized shops only. And take your passport to the shops, they have to put the number on your receipt to get them out of the country. You're allowed 50 sticks each, so get two receipts, one in your name and one in your G/F's.

If you want any more info, PM me and I'll tell you a bunch more.

Jim
 
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