Planning a trip to Cuba
 

I am in the initial stage of planning a trip to Cuba around the second week of December 2013 for 7 days. Have not selected an itinerary yet, but would like advice. I have dual citizenship US/Ireland so my plan is to fly SAN-CUN. Then CUN -HAV then in reverse. Once out of the US I will use my Irish passport. Use my US passport when departing and entering the US.

Would really like some recommendations on cultural and historic sites and itinerary suggestions, including hotels, etc.

Most important would be any recommendation for a private guide for a few days. Don't want to do tours with groups of people, just prefer to explore on my own.

Appreciate any and all help.

There are several interesting threads already on FT. Maybe you read some of them and ask again?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cuba/...-hav-cuba.html

My basic route:

Take a car, otherwise getting around will be a problem. Dont use hotels, they are garbage.

1 Day in bay of pigs, good beach and casas on the beach
1 Day in ceinfuegos, good to party on weekends
Drive thru Trinidad, if seel then go to La Boca beach for a Case
1 Day in Sancti spirius, a good inland town
Drive thru Santa clara, see the Che memorial
3-4 Days in havana for sights and stuff.

If you are flying Cubana, make sure you leave plenty of time for connections. My daughter did CUN-HAV and back in July and both flights were over 12 hours late. If you are returning to the US afterwards, the US airline check in clerk may have little sympathy if your excuse for missing the flight is that you were stuck in Cuba.

This is excellent point. All trips should first go out of Havana. Leave the Havana sightseeing into last days so you can have some buffer in case Cuba happens:p