brightonfan_86 said:
It's also one of Gary Glitter's favoured sex-tourist destinations.
Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
Cuba
- Thread starter brunswick
- Start date
It's also one of Gary Glitter's favoured sex-tourist destinations.
Basil Fawlty
Don't Mention The War
hans kraay fan club said:
You want to be in my Cuba gang?
No thank you Kevin.
I've been twice, Havana and Trinidad the first time and then backpacked from west to east the second, I even got to drive a train. It's a wonderful country with wonderful people.
Best thing to do is buy and read the Simon Calder Cuba travel book. He is a very knowledable Cuba aficionado, who tends to stay clear of the big hotels and sees countries for what they are. His book was a great help to me on my travels.
Best thing to do is buy and read the Simon Calder Cuba travel book. He is a very knowledable Cuba aficionado, who tends to stay clear of the big hotels and sees countries for what they are. His book was a great help to me on my travels.
Le Premier Cru
Member
The Merry Prankster said:
What he said.
I also tried a casa particulares (private house, rooms let to travellers, proceeds go to the state). Good for the experience for one night only - would I do it again? No.
The Merry Prankster
Pactum serva
Is the Calder book still in print? I used it at least 10 years ago when no one went there and it was invaluable. Get it if you can.
Barrel of Fun
Abort, retry, fail
True in some ways, Kevin. But the national costume appears to be lycra.brightonfan_86 said:
The Mole
Well-known member
Fantastic country. I toured with GAP - an "adventure" tour company. We had a great crowd - the advantage was that the tour of the country was organised. The great part was that we stayed in locals' houses for the most part and ate in private restaurants. Far better than staying in state-run hotels.
The people are really friendly, the women are stunning. It's a really interesting country - great history, scenery (I mentioned that earlier), great music (and bars) - a real party place. My favourite city was Santiago.
Go for it!
The people are really friendly, the women are stunning. It's a really interesting country - great history, scenery (I mentioned that earlier), great music (and bars) - a real party place. My favourite city was Santiago.
Go for it!
Dennis and Lois
New member
Went to Varadero in 1994,was very different then. no motorised sport on beach all you could hear was the waves it was paradise. nice restaurants Ki ki's and one in Josone Park spring to mind but despite the menu they only ever had steak or lobster.lovely people. nothing in the shops and the only bars were out side and sold Ice cold Tecate for $1. In Havana stayed in the Hotel Plaza. it hadnt seen a lick of paint since 1959, an absolute treasure. In a nut shell it was fantastic. but I wont go back because it was SO GOOD, All-incs and shopping malls may have spoiled it a bit but go before the yanks do, i'm sure you'll love it.
The Merry Prankster said:
Not sure, I still got mine though. I bought mine about 7 years back. Great book, great guy.
The Mole said:
santiago was nice, my memories are of an underground anti-Castro rap gig and a cafe that sold nothing but very nice hot chocolate.
Barrel of Fun
Abort, retry, fail
Did any of you go to La Isla de Juventad? Great place and fascinating stuff looking round the prisons of the 'traitors'.
Sadly no. First time I spent in Havana and Trinidad. Second I went west to Vinales, Pinar then travelled east to Santa Clara, Santiago then up to Baracoa which is sort of north east.
Vinales was incredible, scenery was amazing.
I went around the time of the Elian debacle. An interesting time as I got to see how the country reacts to such things.
Vinales was incredible, scenery was amazing.
I went around the time of the Elian debacle. An interesting time as I got to see how the country reacts to such things.
Barrel of Fun
Abort, retry, fail
Vinales was probably my favourite place in Cuba. Great little town with a happening night life.
ALTHOUGH, my hostel/residential home got broken into and they nicked loadsa money. Luckily they didn't see my key to the moped that I had hired earlier in the day and signed a form saying I would pay for any loss or damage!!!
Oh god, I need to go back there. It is my favourite country in the world.
I spent a week in Baracoa - it was the 490th birthday of the village. I was the only gringo and had an absolute ball. Won a bottle of bootleg rum for beating everyone at pool. I was ill for about 5 days after that though!!
ALTHOUGH, my hostel/residential home got broken into and they nicked loadsa money. Luckily they didn't see my key to the moped that I had hired earlier in the day and signed a form saying I would pay for any loss or damage!!!
Oh god, I need to go back there. It is my favourite country in the world.
I spent a week in Baracoa - it was the 490th birthday of the village. I was the only gringo and had an absolute ball. Won a bottle of bootleg rum for beating everyone at pool. I was ill for about 5 days after that though!!
Last edited:
Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 72,358
BarrelofFun said:Good. They have been put on the map.
It is a beach resort and you could be anywhere in the world. Cuba is a fascinating country and time spent at Varadero would be time wasted. I didn't go, but a friend of mine did and she said they had lovely swimming pools, they played tennis and had great food. :thud:
Ah right, cheers
Just spent 3 weeks in Cuba as part of an around the world ticket.
Three places you've got to go are Trinidad, Baracoa and Vinales in that order.
Havana's cool, but you'll go there anyway. However, the other places are completely different.
Trinidad has such a good vibe. It has a wicked Casa de la Musica on the steps at the top of the hill every night of the week. People will physically drag you off the streets to come and eat at their homes which is quite funny (it's cool and cheap - agree a price before, usually about $5). There is also a club in a cave right behind the church on the hill. There is no way you would know it was there unless someone told you - so ask a local!
Baracoa is cool, but hard to get to. It took us a 22hr bus journey to get back form there to Havana for our flight. Again though it is cute and has a lot going for it.
Avoid Santiago de Cuba - i found it grubby, not much there and if anything a little threatening!
Went to a few other places as well, but none i'd recommend.
I can also recommend some good families to stay with if you want to go on that route?
Three places you've got to go are Trinidad, Baracoa and Vinales in that order.
Havana's cool, but you'll go there anyway. However, the other places are completely different.
Trinidad has such a good vibe. It has a wicked Casa de la Musica on the steps at the top of the hill every night of the week. People will physically drag you off the streets to come and eat at their homes which is quite funny (it's cool and cheap - agree a price before, usually about $5). There is also a club in a cave right behind the church on the hill. There is no way you would know it was there unless someone told you - so ask a local!
Baracoa is cool, but hard to get to. It took us a 22hr bus journey to get back form there to Havana for our flight. Again though it is cute and has a lot going for it.
Avoid Santiago de Cuba - i found it grubby, not much there and if anything a little threatening!
Went to a few other places as well, but none i'd recommend.
I can also recommend some good families to stay with if you want to go on that route?