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Wondering what everyone's opinions on vacationing in Cuba are?  
Best area..  
Best time(cheapest) of the year..  
 
I've heard Cuba is a great place to visit, hopefully planning for winter 2017/2018

Try a search there are probably 10 threads or more on Cuba here...  
 
http://www.ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=970229&cat_id=43  
 
http://www.ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=950725&cat_id=43  
 
http://www.ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=581942&cat_id=4  
 
http://www.ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=874992&cat_id=43  
 
http://www.ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=874992&cat_id=43http://www.ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=874992&cat_id=43

Took a trip to Cuba end of Jan. Will I go again. Probably not. We stayed at Ocean Varadero El Patriarca. It is a new resort. Everything was great. Beach was beautiful. For the most part service was great at the beginning. As I started running out of tip money service declined. I am not about to pay a dollar every time I got a drink. Off resort is a different story. There are NO TOILET SEATS!!! Even landing at the airport there are no seats. You are lucky to have toilet paper. Be prepared to pay to use bathrooms. We brought our own toilet paper as theirs is all recycled materials. Couple we went with said food has improved 100 times. I had no complaints about food. We took the day trip to Havana as that is the only reason I wanted to go there. Rich history, loved every minute of it. Did a jeep tour. You can tell the poverty that's for sure. Also did a catamaran with snorkeling and all was great. About the only thing that really bothered me was the constant hand out for a tip. Especially with the bathrooms. It got to the point I just didn't make eye contact and walked right by.

RT Holdings said "Ah the old toilet paper game... Gringos been falling for that one for years! It's easy for us fella's but not so much for ladies but my wife always carries those travel size kleenex packs when we head to Cuba. Good to hear you finally caught on and walked past. "

Some of those people won't even let you into the washroom unless you pay. It isn't too bad at the start of the trip when money is more abundant but when you near the end I tried to convert as little as possible.

Nailed it!  
 
Catamaran, great.  
Havana awesome.  
 
Everything else just like you said.

Go again....the food was horrible....people say you go for the beach which is beautiful but you still have to eat! We stayed at the Rui when it first opened up a couple of years ago....the people were nice and polite, resort was fine but if I wanted mouldy green bread and grey coloured lobster salad I would of stayed home....it was horrible!!!!! As for paying for toilet use etc. They do that whoever you go....Mexico is just as bad....tipping is normal wherever you go as well. We usually leave $5.00 a day on the bed for the maid....once in awhile we will tip at the bar or the girl that brings our drink, we also tip at the resort restaurants and buffet but only $1.00 a day depending on the service. If your not into tipping that is your choice but I find that they work very hard from early morning till late at night trying to make your stay as comfortable & entertaining as they can for you and that goes for wherever you vacation period!

Personally I'd try Jamaica instead, but only if you like it hot. Negril is +29-31'C every day and doesn't go down below about +26' at night. Great place if you want to drop the long sleeve shirt and blue jean pants at the airport and never see them again until you land back in Canada. Cuba is OK during the day but cools off at night. I think their are a couple of vacation rentals in the ebrandon classifieds. Direct flights from Winnipeg is a big plus too.

We loved Cuba. Beautiful country, lovely people. You have to find a good Cuban friend who can show you the real Cuba. We took tons of dollar store toys, pens, coloring books and bagged individually wrapped candy to give away. I took some old ball caps to give to support staff like the poor old guy cutting grass in the blazing sun with a little lawn mower.  
You also have to take into consideration that Cuba is very inexpensive compared to somewhere like Jamaica. If food is your thing then make sure you go 4-5 star. Tipping is the same everywhere. When you give someone in Cuba $1 it's like giving someone $20 here.

Important not to go cheap. There is a vast difference between the hotel levels. I would recommend only a 4 or 5 star resort. That being said there are reasons to go to Cuba.  
 
- Havana. Beautiful city, architecture is unparalleled in the carribean.  
- you want to view what it's actually like, see the culture of the country  
- rum or cigar connoisseur? Opportunity to experience here, but you'll have to seek it out.  
 
 
If you just want to sit on a beach and drink fruity beverages, you'd be far better off at different locations. Beware of the traditional Cuban pitfalls. That being said we enjoyed our week in Veradero!

Just got back from 5 days in Havana. Loved it. 3rd time there. I have a friend that lives there and he showed us around. Stayed in a house in Havana in Miramar quite close to the Canadian Embassy. If you want the beach and a resort this is not for you. If you want the real Cuba and Havana with good, inexpensive restaurants and a personal guide with a car I can set you up.

Just got back from 5 days in Havana. Loved it. 3rd time there. I have a friend that lives there and he showed us around. Stayed in a house in Havana in Miramar quite close to the Canadian Embassy. If you want the beach and a resort this is not for you. If you want the real Cuba and Havana with good, inexpensive restaurants and a personal guide with a car I can set you up.