Discussions

wanting to go to Cuba for the first time! I am over whelmed when looking for deals on the internet. i need help. i think i want all inclusive? what resorts did you stay at? any and all info on Cuba would be helpful. I thinkI can trust Brandonites over the reviews.

I have been a few times and its one of my favorite places.  
 
I would recommend doing an all inclusive for your first time down there... just takes some of the stress away.  
 
Depends where you want to stay... Veradero is very popular... the markets in town are decent. Just get on the big red double Decker bus... you can buy a day pass and ride it around the whole place. Get off and on where ever you want to for the day.  
 
Who ever you fly down with will put on a meeting the morning after you get there... GO. (mostly cuz your new to this) there is some good info and you can book any extras through them)  
 
If you have traveled lots and feel comfortable... by all means hire the locals to do stuff for you.  
 
My favorite thing is go into Havana and look at the completely old city... its almost like stepping back in time! I have always done this on a tour... its a fairly big place and can be very busy, so its nice to have a group of people around.  
 
Do you have any specific questions?

You want to stay in at least a 4 star. Biggest complaint is the food but I'm told it's improving. Beautiful country and very nice people. Don't pay for a Havana tour. Befriend a hotel staff and they will have a friend with a cool fifties car that can give you a personal tour for less. Go on a catamaran outing. Go before the Americans ruin it.

Near Cuba?  
 
Hubby has the "itch" and really wants to go somewhere he can dive.  
 
He has his certification, but I still want to ensure there are reputable dive teams to deal with while there. He dove around Cozumel and there were some very iffy dive shacks around there!!

You are going to a 3rd world country. Don't expect to have the world handed to you on a silver platter. DO expect to be treated amazingly by the people there and to learn a lot about what it's like to have very little but be grateful for what you have.  
Go all-inclusive for your first trip to get a sense of the area, I recommend Varadero for a first trip to Cuba myself.  
Don't go less than 4-star, their ratings are on the lower side so a 4-star ends up more like a 3.  
Bring the comfort-essentials you need as many of them are not available there. (Feminine hygiene products and extra TP are a must! All things there are rationed so extra TP is like gold!)  
Any snacks that you like are a good idea too. I even brought a bottle of Clamato with for red-eyes (beer & Clam).  
Little gifts for your favorite bartenders, house-keepers, etc. are a great idea as well, they LOVE gum from here, theirs just dissolves and is not "chewy" like ours.

I've been to Cayo Santa Maria and the beaches were beautiful. I wouldn't go back though. For one the food is horrible, but the biggest thing that bothered me was the attitude of everyone there. I stayed in a 5 star resort and it was full of arrogant French Canadians. The staff and all the locals seemed to hate their lives (Nothing like going to mexico where they're happy to serve you). Lastly there was nothing to do, we rented scooters and spent all day driving across the land bridge. I prefer Mexico. To each their own, some love Cuba, some don't.

Oh yes and like others said, bring things to give to them. Every day things. Tip with cheap clothing etc. I had a local show me around and show me how expensive everything is there (I know its illegal for them to do this). Giving them sandals as a tip is like giving them $20-$30 american even if they $3 sandals.

Booked my first trip there this year, so I'll be watching this thread for sure for some tips. We are heading out to Holguin in January. Booked through a travel agent, and are going all inclusive.

I stayed at a resort in Cuba called Breezes Jibacoa - where the food was very good! Check reviews on Trip Advisor it was the only hotel where people liked the food. It was not in Varadero, closer to Havana, nice place to stay with a great beach for snorkelling if you're into that. We loved it

I also noticed the hotel staff seem less than thrilled with money tips - almost offended like you're giving charity, even bartenders! Local people loved getting soap, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products and things like that because they are so expensive there

I'm sure ours is a minority opinion - we stayed at Cayo Santa Maria - didn't like the appearance of the food although the beef looked and tasted fine for our first meal - the next day we both felt very unwell and the humidity was overpowering - from the 3rd day onward we ate nothing but toast and when we left at the end of the week we were just starting to feel "normal". We did almost nothing for the week - stayed in the air conditioned room and read. We made a mistake of even considering going to Cuba because we both dislike hot climates. However, many of our friends have gone and loved it especially Veradero.

I have done the all inclusive, as well as the Casa Particular route, travelling on a whim with a backpack - which I prefer. If you're looking for a chill resort, The Breezes Jibacoa is decent all inclusive, better food than you find at most Varadero resorts. The downside is you are fairly isolated.