General: Cuba

From around the age of twelve or thirteen when I first became interested in politics I have wanted to visit Cuba. As a teenager my political leanings were way over to the left and so Cuba held a mystical appeal. With the break up of the Soviet Union and its satellite states in Eastern Europe, Cuba became even more attractive - a country that would not let go of communism. This year I finally made it to the "Promised Land" as used to call it in my idealistic youth. Before going I read voraciously about the country, its history and its customs but nothing could have really prepared me three ... more

White-sand beaches and crumbling houses; cigars, rum and bearded revolutionaries - Cuba is frequently, and not inaccurately imagined as a romantic mess. With beachfront vistas and azure seas like many around the world, but with a history and a beguiling, bewildering way of everyday life like nowhere else, the largest island in the Caribbean attracts hordes of visitors - but it isn't always an easy place in which to travel, especially if you're doing so independently. Thanks to the dual-currency (one for locals, one for tourists), Cuba is deceptively hard on the wallet. Wildly unlike other ... more

Hello all! At last back from my two-week adventure in the Caribbean! This is going to be a long one so you can turn back now if you wish!! We were getting the feeling that our last holiday was about 20 years ago so on goes the telly, flip to ITV, pop on the text and straight to page 224! We always use teletext to book our holidays; we get last minute deals and save a fortune so we can have another holiday later in the year. We wanted to get a named destination as it’s nice to know where you are going before you get there, especially if you’re going a bit further than normal. There ... more

Firstly, I just want to say how affordable it is to go to Cuba. Last year I went via Thomas Cook (flight was awful) for 2 weeks all inclusive for £900. This was the same price as going to Greece from the UK! We're going back again but this time we'll be prepared. Not only are we going closer to Havana I'm also taking more bug repellent! Cuba is the most beautiful island BUT the hotel food wasn't great and it was too hot on some days to leave our room. Also, we had some sun cream pinched from by the pool and to replace it was £25. Because everything in Cuba is imported the prices are VERY high ... more

MY FIRST VISIT I first went to Cuba in 1996. I was 8 years old then so didn't really appricate much about their culture. The first thing that shocked me when i arrived there was the arm gurads & war planes that were at the airport. You couldn't miss the amount of security that was there & at our hotel to which was at Varadero whixh is not that far from the capital city Havana. Well like I said, at the age of 8 i didn't real apprictate the country and never really did untill last year when i went back. LAST YEARS VISIT I am now 18 years of age and went back to Cuba last year with my family. I ... more