egoud

Hi there

Any suggestions for Cuba is much appreciated! I;m going in January for a month

catcher1

Don't make a request of the band for Guantanamera.

pbiflyer

What about "She ate a one ton tomato"?

vfland63

Hi!! I took a tour on a classic car with Yoplan.com around Havana and their local guides took me around the most iconic places in the city. It was really fun. Check it out!! You also have to visit Viñales and Varadero.

VidaNaPraia

Get a good guidebook.
Lonely Planet for the whole island.
300 Reasons to Love Havana for that city.

joao_elportu

a tour in a classic car, a night in a club salsa, spend a whole day in a beautiful beach, go to a rum and cigars tour / museums,

djjaguar64

Don't waste money on a guidebook. Google all the info you want and print it. Its free
Explore on your own, thats the best way to appreciate Cuba.

johnathanlv

Any hotels to recommend? Would a 5 or 6 days trip good enough for Havana and nearby?

VidaNaPraia

5-6 days would be a good start for Havana and surrounds. There is plenty of nightlife, many places to stroll and absorb the atmosphere, and beaches within 20 minutes travel. Cuba, IMO is not about rushing around to see sights, but lingering to soak up the culture and converse with local people.
f you want to travel to the countryside (Vianles), other historic cities (Trinidade or Matanzas, for example) or one of the nicer beaches (Veradero or one of the cayos), add some time.

Since you are from the US, you will probably use the OFAC reason for travel "Support of the Cuban People" as most independent travelers currently do. Choosing this reason implies that you will spend money supporting independent private Cuban businesses, including casas particulares, as well as paladares. private taxis and tour guides. In addition, a casa particular is a great opportunity to meet some Cubans and get a bit of understanding of their lives.
Here is a list of Cuban agencies (not US based ones like AirBnB) where 100% of the money stays with Cubans. Some let you look at photos and reviews and choose; others ask for your preferences and then suggest casas that might fit. Casas currently run the gamut from a comfortable, air conditioned room in someone's apartment to a whole mansion with chic decor, with corresponding pricing. I have personally had good luck with Cuba Junky.
Casa Agencies
http://www.tour4cuba.com
http://www.casasdealquilerencuba.com
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Cuba Vacation Rental ? Homes, Apartments, Beach Houses & Rooms for Rent in Cuba
Websites to help find Casas in Cuba - Cuba - Debbie's Carribean Reviews Forums
Cuba-Junky - All About Cuba Traveler's information and Reviews
http://www.casasdecuba-en.net/
casa particular cuba .org - Casa Particular organization for renting private rooms in Havana and all Cuba
http://havanacasaparticular.com/
CasaParticular.org - Organization of casas particulares in Cuba - Online Bookings
https://www.mycasaparticular.com/en/
http://www.cubaccommodation.com/
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Casa Particular Cuba 2018 ~ Stay in a Casa Particular Havana and all Cuba with CubaParticular.
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[email protected] (Dalia)
www.Cubabookingroom.com
www.cubacasas.net

Raffaele Giannoni

If you start in Varadero, I definitely recommend Cardenas, also called the bicycle town. A very nice town with nice people and lots of bicycles.

pstm91

5 days is more than enough for Havana. Do all that Joao recommended, plus I'd recommend a trip to a factoria to see cigars being made/learn the history and art. Do not spend more than 2 days at Varadero. The beach is beautiful and worth a trip but that's a tourist trap (where Canadians and Europeans have been visiting for the past 60 years while American's couldn't). You can see most of Havana in about 3 days so if you are there for a full week, I'd recommend 3 days Havana, one or two in Veradero, and a couple in Santiago or another city. If you are flying roundtrip in and out of Havana, then maybe a few there to start, a couple in Veradero to get some beach and relaxing in, then back to Havana for a couple.

You do not need to purchase a guide book; everything you need is online. I do recommend reading the biography on Che Guevara before going - it's very long but it gave me a true appreciation for the history of the city and island when I was there. I'd also recommend staying in an Airbnb vs. a hotel. In Havana, it will not be the greatest but you'll have a great local source who can point you in the right direction and show you some local spots, plus the hotels are owned by the government/Castros and are WAY overpriced for what you get.

choci18

Be quick before Cuba becomes as capitalised as the rest of the world.