Cuba ?!

[boss604]

my grad year is planning to go to Cuba next year for spring break, has anyone ever been ? how was your experience was it worth it ?! the place we are going to is called Varadero

any advice, or info is appreciated thanks !

http://www.s-trip.com/Trips-and-Dest.../Varadero.html

[El Bastardo]

I was in Varadero a few years ago. Gorgeous. I was staying a couple of blocks away from the beach and had a great time.

I stayed at an all-inclusive resort and was about 6 or 7 blocks away from one of the malls (the small one, not the big one). There were loads of restaurants and a few clubs in Varadero itself. One club is a 10 minute drive or ride towards the tip of the peninsula and is a pretty good place to get your dance on. I don't remember the name of it but I remember that they had some pretty good music and a pretty open floor.

About 30-45 mins away is the city of Matanzas which is a gorgeous little town on the way to Havana. The town has obviously seen better days (pre-revolution) but is a great place to see the "real" Cuba. Its a town with a lot of beauty and potential, just lacking the money it would take to bring it back to looking as good as it once did.
As far as I know theres a dance hall here and a few places to eat.

Cardenas is also a short drive away from Varadero but I'll admit I didn't spend as much time here. There are a few cafes and a restaurant I was told about. It was clean and felt safer than Matanzas and I was kind of sorry I didn't spend more time here.

Make sure you go to Havana and spend some time here. If you're on a tour, make sure they take you through Old Havana which you'll find feels very European. I'm a huge Hemingway fan so I made sure to stop in at a bar who's name escapes me now that Hemingway was known to have frequented.

Read up on this city before you go there because there are a ton of little spots for you to drop in on and check out. You could spend a week here if you're into history and that sort of thing. Also, there is an outdoor market in Havana with tons of souvenirs that most tour buses stop at. Its one of the better places to buy this kind of stuff, much better than Varadero, so get your fill.


I'm not sure where you'll go but if you get a chance check out the rest of the island. I drove from Havana to Cienfuegos to historic Santa Clara, the Bay of Pigs and as far south as Camaguey.



Despite what American media would have you believe, Cuba isn't an anti-Democratic militant nation where you're unsafe on every corner. People are friendly, almost everyone has a decently function command of English, and its clean.



oh, and beaches are topless in Varadero. I'm not sure if thats the law or people just don't give a crap, but expect to see hot European tourists stripped down to only bikini bottoms.

[bcrdukes]

Cigars.

[El Bastardo]

Dukes reminded me of something I forgot to say:

Don't buy cigars from guys off the street. I read this a few dozen times on the internet and the people at the hotel warned us too.

They'll grab some cigar rings and some counterfeit packaging and put dried and wrapped banana leaves disguised as cigars into boxes or packages and sell it to you for "big discounts". You'll be left out of pocket after paying for what is literally garbage.

Stick to the shops in town.

[l2_narain]

I was thinking of going with a buddy late January but 1300 for 7 night all inclusive..isn't that a bit expensive?

[XplicitLuder]

if youre going with s-trip, its hella fun. but later youll realize you coulda done the same for cheaper lol if moneys not an issue, go! i went my year and it was sick. but sometimes ill look back and say for 2grand i coulda done more lol