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Posts Tagged ‘Cuba’

Some Good Tips Before You Travel To Cuba.

September 25th, 2009 No comments
by Jose Mauricio

In this piece of writing you can come across answers to some of the questions you have regarding your Cuba holidays. Along many years I have been given suggestion to customers wanting to visit Cuba so I decided to recap some of them. I hope you find them helpful.

The best museums in Havana are The Museum of the Revolution (former Presidential Palace), The Capitolio (former seat of The Chamber of Representatives and Senate), The Museum of The City (Government Palace and Town Hall in the colonial times) and the museum of Belle Arts.

In case you do get sick visit the doctor who is normally based in a room in your same hotel or in another one close by. Ask the concierge of your hotel where and how to find a doctor.

Try not to wear expensive jewellery while walking the streets, especially in Havana. The crime in Cuba is very low but there are rare cases of pick pocketing and some other minor crimes.

If possible stay at least three nights in Havana. There is so much to do and see that if you stay less than what is recommended you will miss what this vibrant city is really about.

Try to avoid taking a non official taxi in Cuba. It is not as safe as taking an official one. It is very easy to tell the difference between them both. The official taxis are new modern cars with the company name written everywhere and the none-official ones are mainly Ladas, Moskvich and old American cars.

Visit Tropicana Cabaret. This is the most famous show in Cuba. Even if you are not a cabaret person you will be amazed with the quality of its choreographies, the skill of the dancers and definitely the sexiness and sensuality of the men and women that performed every night under the stars.

Try to book your self in one of the city tours that are offered in the lobby of almost every hotel in Cuba. These tours are very economic and convenient to do in your first day on each location in Cuba. They are normally guided by experienced tour guides and comprise both walking and driving around. Price is from 15.00 CUC per person.

If your tour operator has an office in Cuba which offer representation to their clients try to be contacted on the lobby of your Hotel or if necessary you can visit their offices. There have been cases of scam in which tourists are contacted on the streets and taken to a bar for an information meeting in which you might end to buying few excursions thinking you are dealing with an employee of your tour operator.

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A Remarkable Tour Of Cuba

September 4th, 2009 No comments

A tour oriented to promote the roots of the Cuban Culture and traditions has been released by one of the leading tour operators arranging Cuba holidays especially for the British market.

Old Havana Ltd trading as San Cristobal UK has planned a fantastic program full of adventure which covers what is considered by many the most interesting locations in the occidental half of Cuba.

The Jewels of Cuba Tour has been designed for the English speaking market and it accommodates an average of 10 passengers per departure. This way the information is more accessible and the tour is more personalized.

Upon arrival, travelers will be welcome by the tour guide at Havana Airport and then transferred to Havana?s Old Town to stay in a beautiful 4 star boutique hotel. Guests arriving to airport?s other than Havana will be collected and transfer to Havana City.

While staying in Havana there is something new and exiting every day. Drive in Old American cars from the 40?s and 50?s, horse and carriage tours of Havana and even a ride on a boat around the littoral cost of Havana will keep you busy day and night.

All the transfers are done by an air-conditioned mini van and guests will enjoy the same knowledgeable tour guide through out the course of the week. In some cases travel distances are long and this will be a good opportunity to learn about the history and culture.

From Havana the tour then moves on to Las Terrazas National Park and from there on to Cienfuegos, Santa Clara and Trinidad. It really covers the best of Cuba in an action packed itinerary full of adventure.

This seven day tour will certainly appeal tourist interested in knowing the Cuba Culture, history and traditions. Because of its duration is also ideal to extend it with few nights on a beach resort making the whole experience in Cuba truly memorable.

Before booking your holidays in cuba. Visit www.bestbeachesincuba.co.uk by Jose Mauricio Maurette for more information on the best locations and Cuba beaches.

Habana’s Cathedral, A Site Worth Visiting.

July 10th, 2009 No comments
by J. M. Maurette

It is not possible to mention the beauties of Havana without including The Cathedral Square. With its cobbled streets and beautiful facades it captivates visitors from all over the world.

In earlier times it was named Plaza de la Cinaga (Swamp Square), and later on “Plaza de la Catedral”, it is a place that has much to do with the beginning of Havana, founded on the 16th Century in the proximities of Havana’s harbour.

Late in the 18th century and after many refurbishment to a religious building which eventually became The Cathedral of Havana Cathedral the Square was to be known as The Cathedral Square. The Cathedral it self is just amazing. On its facades the best baroque architecture of Havana can be appreciated which contrast with its complete Neoclassic style in the interior. Beautiful buildings surround the this church harmonizing with the splendour of the square.

As an additional touch, since 1994, as an initiative of the tourist company Habaguanex S.A., its square holds dinners, official gatherings and for amusement too (chosen by important enterprises and agencies), related to travel and emblematic products such as the Habanos. The view is marvellous, to a very well preserved architecture, the cultural richness of the Cuban and the food-making in the restaurants in the surroundings.

Only few steps away La Bodeguita del Medio restaurant can be found. This together with el Floridita restaurant are the most famous and emblematic restaurants in Cuba. It serves the best Cuban cuisine and its walls are decorated with pictures and autographs of many famous personalities such as Ernest Hemingway, Mario Benedetti, Pablo Neruda or Errol Flyn and so many others.

The list of celebrities is very long and it has been like that for decades now. Today holiday makers can enjoy one of the best restaurants not only in terms of the food but also in terms of character. Its bar is very intimate, small and cosy and like in many other bars in Havana music is always played by a small traditional Cuban band.

Many people spend time chatting in this site which is always amusing due to the presence of guitarists and singers, as it has happened for more than six decades, when its founder Angel Martinez (deceased), used to personally inquire about the likes of his guests.

The best hotels in Havana are just few minutes walk from this square. To avoid taxis and unnecessary hassle just book your self in one of the boutique hotels in The Old Town and you will be able to just walk outside and enjoy a caf in any of these captivating squares. If you need any assistance or advice you can always contact us as we will be very happy to share our expertise with you.

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Scuba Diving In Key West: Sharks and Shipwrecks

May 7th, 2009 No comments

One of the most popular places for scuba diving in the US is Key West located right off the coast of Southern Florida. It is a warm water paradise that offers divers a fantastic world to explore. Divers from beginners to the experts come to Key West from all over the world. It offers some of the best diving experiences available.

Unique Experience

Scuba diving in Key West is not just another scuba diving location. It is a prime area with quality diving for all. It is a diving experience for those who are seeking more than an average diving experience. It is for those divers who enjoy, mystery, and more daring on their diving expeditions.

The diving in the key west is not your average experience, it is varied and provides something extra for every diver

Key West is known for its sharks. The experience of swimming in an area known for its sharks is not for everyone. All types of sharks have been seen including the well-known man-eater, the great white, which was made famous in the Jaws movies.

Some diving trips offer the chance to be submerged with the sharks inside a protective metal cage. Other options allow actual swimming with the sharks which wearing chain mail suit similar to king Arthur’s knights of the round table wore in battle.

As well as active sea and marine life in the area, it also offers the chance to esplore a lot of famous and fantastic ship wrecks. One of the most popular wrecks is a US Airforce missile tracking ship, this unique ship has three thirty 40 foot radar dishes, two dome-like tracking structures, rocket launchers, and a complete weather station.

The US Airforce ship was decommissioned it in 1983. It is commonly visited place by divers seeking more thrills than a normal dive trip.

Scuba Diving in Key West, Florida is a fun, and great place to in the world because of the warm waters, unique marine life, and interesting ship wrecks.

It is a diver?s paradise for thrills and adventure. So if you enjoy a challenge and a new view of the world, than you should be packing to head to the warm friendly waters of key west, keeping in mind that the sharks were there before you, so let them do there thing ;)

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The Best Way To Get To Know Cuba

April 25th, 2009 No comments

If you want to get to know Cuba the best possible way then I will recommend you to do a Tour of Cuba. In one or two weeks you will be guided by a very professional tour guide who will show you the Island and tell you every thing you need to know about its history, culture and way of life.

There are many options available in terms of types of tours you can arrange. If you want so a guided tour can be designed a la carte for you. Although there are some tours already design that I recommend you explore to see if they suit you.

Among the most popular Cuba tours around the island that have been already designed you can find The Tour of the West, The Pearl of the Caribbean, The Cradle of The revolution and Seven Villages. Most of these tours last from one week to ten days and this can be the perfect duration to extend them with few days in a beach resort to then relax after a much needed rest.

Tour guides in Cuba are probably the most connoisseurs of this amazing Caribbean island. They are requested to be graduated form University and have to go to special courses to be trained to be professional tour guides. For not to mention that so far in Cuba only tour guides are allowed to stay in hotels and travel the island with tourist. So definitely are the tour guides who know more about Cuba.

To use an example let us look at the Peal of the Caribbean Tour. This tour is focus on the western part of Cuba and visits 4 of the most interesting cities in Cuba, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Havana and Pinar del Rio. It is a culture oriented tour and it last 6 nights with 7 days.

To take a look at another example let us point out the Cradle of The Revolution Tour. It is totally oriented to explore the route followed by the revolutionaries led by Castro against Batista’s dictatorship. Its duration is 5 nights and it takes place in the most oriental part of the island. This tour can also be combined with some few nights relaxing in Guardalavaca beach resort.

In any case if you need assistance you can always get in touch but my honest opinion and being my self an ex tour guide in Cuba the best way to explore this island and get to know its culture is to book either one of the existing private or collective tours or asked for a tailor made tour designed to suit your demands. These packages are not as expensive as when you do accommodation, transfers, excursions and visit to museums on your own.

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