| hing I often find myself getting asked from friends | | | | delight in the museums, while music aficionados will be |
| and relatives who know my expertise in the island is | | | | truly taken with the salsa clubs and live jazz that is |
| what the average Cuban holiday actually involves. | | | | hard to miss in the city. The big city life gives the |
| This is a question I simultaneously love and hate | | | | capital a real energy, and with a population of around |
| answering – I love it because it gives me an | | | | 2,000,000 it’s hard not to get caught up in |
| opportunity to chat at length about a topic I love, | | | | the excitement of the place, which at times feels an |
| but I hate it because if they’ve asked that | | | | uneasy mix between modern metropolis and 1950s |
| question it means I’m going to be there for a | | | | throwback – part of the charm of the place is |
| while. You see, simply put, there is no | | | | its seeming fixation of classic cars that you just |
| ‘average’ Cuban holiday, and | | | | don’t find (still working) anywhere else in the |
| everyone goes to the island for different reasons | | | | world! And escaping the big city life is easy – |
| and receives a unique experience in return. The | | | | the beautiful white sands of Havana’s beach |
| experience holiday makers get on their Cuba holidays | | | | is just a 30 minute trip away from the town centre. |
| can be relaxed, cultural, exhausting or breathtaking | | | | But a Cuba holiday isn’t just about Havana, |
| – but never forgettable. | | | | and while it would be very easy to spend your whole |
| For a start there’s the accommodation | | | | holiday there and feel you’d taken in so much |
| – your ‘average’ Cuba holiday | | | | that you must have seen everything, the truth is |
| maker will first have to decide whether they want to | | | | that you’d be majorly missing out. |
| stay in the lap of luxury in a five star resort, or to | | | | Take Varadero for example – as |
| opt for the basic but more authentic experience of | | | | Cuba’s biggest beach resort with an |
| staying in a private house with a local. Whichever | | | | impressive 12 mile long peninsula, this is the ideal spot |
| style accommodation you opt for, what you choose | | | | for those looking to experiment with water sports or |
| to with your days is the next point at which the idea | | | | diving on their Cuba holidays. Then there’s |
| of a stereotypical Cuba holiday shatters: You could | | | | Trinidad, which history buffs will delight in: the quant |
| choose to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes and | | | | village feels virtually unchanged in 300 years and as a |
| charming caves at the stunning Vinales Valley, enjoy | | | | result is positively steeped in history. Or for more |
| the open roads and unexplored areas of the island | | | | recent highlights in the island’s history, who |
| with a hire car (the roads are virtually deserted, as | | | | could resist a trip to Santiago de Cuba – cradle |
| evidenced by the dozens of hitch-hikers) or be that | | | | of the Cuban revolution and nowadays a luxury spot |
| little more active with some horse-riding or diving to | | | | for foreign visitors to the island? |
| discover the wreckages of sunken ships! | | | | There are hundreds of ways you could spend your |
| Havana is an area I have already written articles | | | | Cuban holidays and I’m really only scratching |
| about (and no doubt bored those who have asked | | | | the surface. Spend your whole time on one activity, |
| me to death with my desire to share my | | | | or mix and match your hobbies to create a unique |
| enthusiasm) but it really does deserve a mention | | | | Cuban adventure, one thing’s for sure: |
| here for the ample and varied opportunities it | | | | There’s no such thing as a typical Cuban |
| provides Cuba holiday makers. Culture vultures will | | | | holiday. |