As I'd previously posted, my wife and I and another couple will be in Cuba in late February/early March, for four nights in Havana and two in Vinales. I just received this email from that other couple: "Some friends came over yesterday who toured Cuba in 2017. Their opinion is that even for a short trip out of Havana it’s best to hire a guide; that even simple tasks like getting a taxi, locating the casa you booked etc are very difficult when you try to do it as a non-Spanish speaker etc."

Do you agree? For what it's worth, we're all pretty experienced travelers who generally don't use guides and we speak a smattering of Spanish. We'll be staying in casas particulares in both places.

Thanks for any advice.