| While I always think Planning a Holiday is as much fun | | | | music and indoor culture. |
| as the holiday itself. Cuba may be more of a | | | | Here are some tips for planning your Cuban itinerary:o |
| challenge, than usual, if you are planning an | | | | Accommodation - Hotels or Casa Particulares - You |
| independent itinerary.Planning your holiday or vacation | | | | will need to decide what level of comfort you require! |
| in this fascinating country could well become an | | | | A Casa is a good way to see Cubans in their own |
| exercise in compromise and decision making , as you | | | | homes.o Negotiation - If you are travelling with |
| decide what you will do and what you must leave | | | | another person, or your family, the art of |
| out. | | | | compromise will no doubt have to come into play. |
| Finding out the information you need is not always | | | | Each choose several activities you want to do, and |
| easy for Cuba, especially if you are planning your | | | | then negotiate if time means some cannot be |
| holiday independently. The criteria for visas and best | | | | included! The beach at Varadero or the historic town |
| currency to take, does change. Do not reply on an | | | | of Trinidad - they re very different places to spend |
| old Lonely Planet. The questions below are important | | | | your time.o Travelling Solo - Deciding how you travel |
| - be sure to answer each, and then decide the best | | | | will be a little easier if you travel on your own. |
| travel plan for you.o How do you get there?o Where | | | | Although you will still be limited to what you have |
| should you stay?o How can you best get around ?o | | | | time for, and what suits your budget. Travelling solo |
| What currency should you take ?o Do you need a | | | | will perhaps send you in a different direction. Maybe a |
| visa?o Do you need to worry about the weather?o | | | | tour, or semi independent tour will work best. Or are |
| Is Cuba a safe country for travelling?o What sort of | | | | you just going to take local transport or share a |
| food will they have? | | | | rental car or taxi with others you meet along the |
| All these questions may seem daunting, when you | | | | way.o Package Deals - Some activities are fun, but |
| review the options.But they are overcome by | | | | expensive. Look out for package deals if you want |
| working through them one by one. Cuba is a little | | | | to go to a resort. You can get "all inclusive deals ", |
| different to other countries, with more restrictions | | | | for often quite a considerable saving.o Independent |
| and limitations.It does depend on which country you | | | | Travel or a Tour - A tour might work better for you, |
| are from, what the criteria for visas, and travel to | | | | rather than travelling independently. Perhaps a bicycle |
| Cuba will be. e.g.Getting there is not as simple as just | | | | tour, or Intrepid tour where you still have plenty of |
| getting on a plane, as you cannot fly directly from | | | | independent time. stay in a mix of hotels and Casa's |
| USA. | | | | so have the best of both worlds.For some of you |
| Firstly decide how long you will be in the country. You | | | | the full hotel tour will be your chosen option.o Culture |
| will almost certainly have nowhere near enough time | | | | or Beaches -Do you want to see the historic and |
| to fit everything on your list into the time frame you | | | | cultural Cuba, or are you going for the beach, sun |
| have for your holiday. So decide what is most | | | | and sand?o Getting Around - Will it be by bus, mini |
| important to you. | | | | bus, taxi - perhaps shared, rental car or bicycle. |
| Cuba is not a cheap destination! Take a reasonable | | | | Ensure you allow enough travelling time between |
| amount of cash.Credit cards are limited in use to large | | | | places. Travel in Cuba is slower than you might |
| hotels.Be sure you check your card will be accepted . | | | | expect, with limited transport options, and |
| They do not take many credit cards. The cost of | | | | connections that may not always be timed for a |
| each transaction is also very expensive, so cards are | | | | smooth transition. E.g. Buses from Vinales get to |
| best used only for large amounts. | | | | Havana too late to connect the same day for |
| Cuba may be a relatively small country, but their | | | | Trinidad. |
| variety of geographic areas, gives you many choices | | | | If you decide to hire a car, the distances invariably |
| in activities and places to visit. Historic towns, | | | | take longer than they look on a map. So do use a |
| beautiful beaches and interesting sights mean you will | | | | distance calculator, and check the road conditions. |
| find your activities and attractions list will offer a vast | | | | Travel could be slow on the less than perfect roads! |
| selection of both outdoor excitement, wonderful | | | | |