| let someone else worry about Christmas and New | | | | rice, beans, chicken and pork. Some of the delicacies |
| Year this year and book a last minute stay in a hotel | | | | comprise of soup made of chicken or black beans, |
| in Cuba over the festive period. Forget about buying | | | | black beans and rice, chicken or pork, baked or fried |
| the food, cooking the dinner, washing it up or | | | | plantains and omelettes stuffed with meat or cheese. |
| organising the New Year party - just relax and enjoy | | | | And to compliment these dishes are some national |
| a journey to Cuba which would definitely lighten up | | | | drinks like the strong Cuban coffee, the tasty Cuban |
| your holiday. Cuba is a country in the Caribbean that | | | | beer and Rum cocktails; Daiquiri, Mojito and Cuba libre. |
| has Havana as the largest capital city and is home to | | | | Havana is renowned for its after-dark entertainment |
| over 11.3 million people who speak Spanish as their | | | | scene, and only the tip of the iceberg is visible to |
| official language. Fortunately, the country has | | | | tourists on a short stay. Santiago de Cuba gave birth |
| undergone a transformation since it opened its doors | | | | to salsa, and regular live sessions are on offer at the |
| to global tourism in the 1990s. The country's heritage | | | | Casa de la Trova. In beach resorts, nightlife tends to |
| is in safe hands with the historic Havana and Trinidad | | | | mimic what is on offer in Havana, with varying |
| having gone through some painstaking restoration | | | | degrees of success. |
| and preservation. Walking around them is like a trip, | | | | You can do a lot of things like taking a stroll along |
| way back in time. | | | | the Malecón, soak up some sun on Cuba's beaches: |
| However, in Cuba, where many of the hotels are | | | | Playas del Este and Cayo Coco or go for hiking at |
| sterile affairs offering little opportunity to interact | | | | the Sierra Maestra and take an emotional journey to |
| with locals, the Casa is a good bet. Rooms are often | | | | the museum at Playa Girón. Maybe you can saddle |
| offered in beautifully-kept homes complete with | | | | up and go for a gallop through the scenic sugarcane |
| private bathrooms and breakfast. Evening meals are | | | | fields around Trinidad or the hills and valleys of Pinar |
| often on offer as well, which can be more varied and | | | | del Río or find time to make friends with the fellow |
| plentiful than in state-run restaurants. It all adds up to | | | | locals. Appreciate Cuba’s attraction sites like |
| a cheaper choice and a great way to get a glimpse | | | | the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the Plaza de Armas, |
| of the real Cuba'. Once in Cuba, it is very easy to | | | | the Capitolio, the Museo de la Revolución, the Pinar |
| move from one hotel to another by just a | | | | Del Río and the revolutionary Santa Clara. They are |
| recommendation, whether in other parts of the same | | | | just breathe taking. This is a country that enjoys a |
| city, or anywhere else in Cuba. | | | | warm, tropical climate throughout the year and the |
| It’s surprising that an island so rich in marine | | | | months of November to April are the best times to |
| life, fish and seafood rarely top most of the | | | | visit. So why bother yourself looking for another |
| restaurants’ menus for most of it is mostly | | | | holiday destination when Cuba is just within your |
| exported. The cuisines offered are a mixture of | | | | reach? |
| Spanish and Afro-Caribbean that heavily depend on | | | | |