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