Have you been in Cuba? Or Planning to go? Tell us about it. [Archive]

SmokinCohibas

05-10-2008, 08:04 PM

Any one of u've been to Cuba?

I've been in april this year.

Here are some pics:

257258259

Great experience.
Spent 3 nights in Havana and 10 in Varadero.
Visited Trinidad on a tour.
Watched the Tropicana show in Havana which was great.
Been in Hemingways house and his favorite hang out Floridita where we had a Daiquiri one of his favorite drink.
Had a midnight stroll on the Malecon down at the ocean.

It was great....
U all should go.

Montesmoke

05-10-2008, 08:18 PM

I was there in 1998.
Had a great time four days in Havana & 10 in varadero in a all inclusive
hotel, (great hotel)

Also went & watched the Tropicana show in Havana (got rather drunk on Havana club aged 7 years:smoke:).
Went to Hemingways house and the Floridita where we had a Daiquiri & a Mojito.

Planning on going there again in feb 09

Monte.

Robusto

05-10-2008, 08:27 PM

I want to go so much, but think it would be best to go on my own. I'm quietly planning for it. I don't think the family would enjoy going to tobacco plantations, and smoking big ones with me. I look forward to recommendations and stories here.

Great thread. :thrasher:

Just thought I'd use that one... Hehehe...

Drewmidorn

05-10-2008, 10:06 PM

Going next march for a week when the gigs die down.

Robusto

06-10-2008, 02:44 PM

cohibaIV

06-10-2008, 03:28 PM

I myself have not been to Cuba yet, and wanted it to be part of my honeymoon next year?but the missus was having none of it.
It seems she knows me to well hehehe:cool:, so we are going to Mauritius instead:rock:.

Robusto, a very good friend of mine has been for the past three years and really enjoys it, bar from the fact that this year he went in July and the humidity ruined the holiday. Apparently it was so bad, even the locals were complaining.
Don?t go in July seems to be the advise?

SmokinCohibas

06-10-2008, 03:45 PM

Does anyone know if it's worth going at Easter time? I have a couple of free weeks in mid April 09 and I'd look into it if the weather was good enough, and if all the bars, clubs, cigar factories and plantations were open.

We do take separate holidays from time to time, and this would suit me down to the ground.

Robusto if u read my post again carefully u'll see that I mentioned being there in april.
Nice time of the year not too hot around 30-32 Celsius degree during the day.
No rain, pleasantly warm in the evening not too humid eiter.

Shouldn't go there beyond may though too hot and humid according to the local people.:smoke:

Robusto

06-10-2008, 04:11 PM

Sounds like I start saving today. I last went to New Mexico solo. She last went to Uganda solo. She's now saving for Las Vegas with her girlfriends. I'm saving for Havana on my tod. I'm excited already! :849:

Robusto

06-10-2008, 06:07 PM

Wildwood

06-10-2008, 06:43 PM

...
Also went & watched the Tropicana show in Havana (got rather drunk on Havana club aged 7 years:smoke:).
Monte.

7 years Monte? Surprised they served you at that age.... :biggrin1:

PS I love Daiquiris...but they never taste the same in UK as they do on your hols...sigh...

PPS I've read that there is even a smoking ban in Cuba...does this not spoil things a bit on your hols?

Wildwood

Montesmoke

08-10-2008, 08:11 PM

HaHaHa:rock: yea i was an early starter wild, i like the Mojhito very nice drink too.:849:

7 years Monte? Surprised they served you at that age.... :biggrin1:

PS I love Daiquiris...but they never taste the same in UK as they do on your hols...sigh...

PPS I've read that there is even a smoking ban in Cuba...does this not spoil things a bit on your hols?

Wildwood

SmokinCohibas

12-10-2008, 12:28 PM

SC, or anybody else.

Could you recommend travel companies / flight bookers that you found reputable iyo, please? I've been looking around on the web and don't know which companies to research because there are many.

We booked through http://www.theholidayplace.co.uk/
and everything was smooth.
I'd strongly recommend to you to avoid Cubana airlines and book Virigin instead.

Here are some more pics:

268269270

271272273

One of the best holidays so far...:smoke:

SmokinCohibas

12-10-2008, 12:50 PM

Forgot to tell that we spent 3 nights in Havana and did all the important sightseeing tours and bar tours for Mojito,Daiquiri coctails etc...

After that 10 nights in Varadero on the beach....nice.:smile:

Robusto

12-10-2008, 02:39 PM

It looks fantastic, SC. :cowboyic9:

Robusto

14-10-2008, 04:01 PM

What do people think to this sort of arranged visit?
I bookmarked this a couple of years ago and found it today.

http://travel.incloud9.com/itinerary.php?itin_id=89

SmokinCohibas

14-10-2008, 06:58 PM

Sounds great Robusto.
I wonder how much they charge people for that trip?

Montesmoke

14-10-2008, 10:22 PM

We booked through http://www.theholidayplace.co.uk/
and everything was smooth.
I'd strongly recommend to you to avoid Cubana airlines and book Virigin instead.

Here are some more pics:

268269270

271272273

One of the best holidays so far...:smoke:

Cant wait to go again in feb 09:cowboyic9:

Deano

15-10-2008, 07:19 PM

I went through http://www.theholidayplace.co.uk/ too - great for multi-centre hols

Montesmoke

15-10-2008, 07:21 PM

Will have a look at them.:849:

SmokinCohibas

22-10-2008, 05:27 PM

Here are some more pics for your pleasure:

302303304

305306307

Montesmoke

22-10-2008, 06:06 PM

Like your T-shirt jan:biggrin1:

SmokinCohibas

22-10-2008, 06:21 PM

Yea,actually it says :

TESTING TEAM
DUREX

In case anyone has trouble reading it....

Pantomimehorse

01-01-2009, 02:42 AM

not sure if its cool to bring back a bit of an old thread but its in context so thought it makes sense... anyway I have been chatting to a various mates about a jolly to Cuba and they are either not keen or think its too pricey, I was wondering if those that have gone thought its the sort of place I could go solo or am I mad? I might still find someone to go but if not I still wantto go!

Robusto

01-01-2009, 01:36 PM

You're exactly where I am, so I'm interested in any reply here.

bobscigar

02-01-2009, 09:56 AM

I'm going to see the archeological sites around the Yukatan. Coba etc. I know there are feke Cubans down there, but wondered if anyone had any experience of the "standard" cigars, that would be a good smoke??
:smoke:

Deano

02-01-2009, 12:19 PM

Might be worth starting a new thread on that bob, bit of a side-track.

Welcome to the forums.

Deano

02-01-2009, 12:21 PM

I see you already have. Don't duplicate posts please. It's a small forum, we'll catch you :P

Pantomimehorse

04-01-2009, 04:05 AM

You're exactly where I am, so I'm interested in any reply here.

maybe we should sort out a board jolly boys outing then Robusto! , I saw a great program today focusing on cubas drink mainly but they had a nice bit the cigars and its made me want to go even more now!

Robusto

04-01-2009, 08:32 AM

Well I'd be up for that if someone would start a lay-away club. ?X / month and it was planned for 2010 sort of thing.

My missus is saving for a Las Vegas jolly that way. It could be a right old laugh to do something collective! I'm a pretty easy-going twat who is most convivial. Plus my missus and my boys are only interested in the leaf so far. I couldn't be dragging them around the Partagas factory and sweltering plantations. Weighing up the killer stogies is not their thing.

But Cuba is definitely on my must-do list.

cohibaIV

04-01-2009, 03:31 PM

Robusto

04-01-2009, 08:47 PM

Bizarrely, on a drive up and down to London this morning, my wife came out with "So how about planning this trip to Cuba?". I went off to play a gig this afternoon and when I got home she had been trawling the web for places and ideas.

I'd still consider a group trip. I've read that Obama will probably be after closer ties with Cuba, so the place could become America's Benidorm very quickly. It's sort of go soon or never go, I reckon.

Pantomimehorse

05-01-2009, 07:25 AM

yeah I know what you mean about Cuba being opened up to America again, I went to Prague before and after the whole stag do thing started over there and its a real shame how the city has been ruined, the locals despise the British and most just tolerate us for the money we bring, in contrast I went to Brno which is also in the Czech republic a yeart or so ago and its fantasitc, cheap beer and good quality food, cheap cigars! and everyones dead friendly... allthough Im sure it will go the way of Prague.

I wonder how we would organise a group thing, maybe state a figure to aim for and everyone agrees to put away so much a month or something?

or maybe we should start with seeing who is actually interested?

Robusto

05-01-2009, 08:07 AM

Well I am interested, but I've got to put the family trip first now that it has been resurrected.

My wife assures me that she would be interested in all the cigar-related things to do. I'm quite thrilled with this in a quiet way because she has clearly bought into my interest, as it were. I have not been moaned at once for smoking indoors four or five times over the festive season, and she bought me my latest D4s. She's never really disapproved, but she's embracing stogies wholeheartedly now... I'm not letting her smoke one. I like cigar smoking women, but I'd actually find it strange in my wife... Maybe I'll walk in one day and she'll be "at it". Who can tell? lol

I suppose the drawbacks others would face if I accompanied them on holiday are that I cannot stay in the hot sun at all, so I would be seeking shade all the time. I don't like hanging around on the beach. Plus I have to do things or I get bored.

I looked into the cost of an individual cigar-related tour for myself as a birthday present and the prices that came back started to mount up. The person I was emailing possibly thought I was quite loaded, which isn't the case. Also, I think I'd hit the wrong part of the market.

If a number of us were interested in this, we'd have to herf first - or spend a weekend at Butlins, Clacton lol - to see if we could make it together for a week or so in Cuba!

Robusto

05-01-2009, 08:10 AM

PS Pant - So good to be back, yes?... :biggrin1:

Pantomimehorse

05-01-2009, 09:16 AM

Good to be back? nah I wish I was in Cuba now!, just can't get into work mode I tell ya...

anyway your bloody lucky your wifes on board with your trip and hobby thats fantastic!, Ive decieded Im going to go no matter what, if I cant get mates or orgainse anything on here Im just gonna go solo, I have never done a holiday completely alone before but I did spend 4 days in San Francisco on my own before meeting up with the then GF, and I have to say it was bloody relaxing not having to think about anyone other than myself.. the negitive is it all seems a tad scary.

Robusto

05-01-2009, 11:19 AM

That's why I was thinking of going off to Cuba on my own a while back. Just to think me me me lol.

I am not good at family holidays. I find it hard to arouse a random passion about castles in France when I'm surrounded by the fuckers along my coastline!

Pantomimehorse

05-01-2009, 12:26 PM

ahh yes castles, about 6 of us went to Brno a few years ago and my friend Marc who had been before said we just had to visit this castle that was right up this massive hill, well we spent bloody ages walking up the hill, he made us pay to go in and I kid you not all that was inside was display after display of bent spoons, forks and cracked plates... the best part was the walk down the hill cigar in hand :41:

Robusto

05-01-2009, 02:50 PM

display after display of bent spoons, forks and cracked plates...

Niche interest?!

Pantomimehorse

05-01-2009, 03:17 PM

I think it was like their local treasure or something, anyway castles never again!

Robusto

05-01-2009, 05:40 PM

I'm bored of places that claim they are displaying relics.

Here are Mary Magdelene's elbows, sort of thing.

Robusto

06-01-2009, 11:43 AM

I've found the early posts in this thread very useful with good links to follow up.

Pantomimehorse

06-01-2009, 03:49 PM

I last night convinced my brother that it?s a good idea to head to Cuba so looks like I?m going, The Holiday Place looks like they do some nice packages, although after looking up their Havana accommodation on trip advisor I?m a tad concerned at all the bad reviews, when you others used this company did you all do the part Havana part resort tlrip and if so could you tell us what was the Havana bungalows as they call them like?

Robusto

06-01-2009, 04:20 PM

Interesting about the trip advisor having negative comments. I was quite taken by that site...

Pantomimehorse

06-01-2009, 04:42 PM

The negs arent about the company, rather the hotel they provide on the havana side of the trips, the complaints mostly seem to be related to dirty bathrooms, Cochroachs everywhere and Air con not working... it puts me off a bit but Ive emailed the company and Im going to ask about alternatives for the Havana side of the trip.

Robusto

06-01-2009, 05:08 PM

Do you mind keeping us up to speed on here, Pant?

Pantomimehorse

06-01-2009, 10:14 PM

will do

Scottish_Cuban

17-01-2009, 08:09 AM

I`m a newbie to the site so just reading through alot of things on here first. Some great things to go into over time, but re trips to cuba. I went a few years ago and found that, yes the hotels may have some bad negativities, its all to do with what you expect!. Its an old historic city is Havana, and the hotels aren`t the uk star ratings.Some are well done out and have everything there, but a few do look amazing from the outside and the photos but really they are very basic and nearly falling apart inside.I found a website simular to the one you mention, and it gives you all the hotels in and around Havana, i`ll find it again and post a link for it!. If your after your home comforts, go for a package deal with excursions, but if you dont plan on staying in your hotel much then go for a short stay, i did a whole week in several hotels in Havana and have to say when i go for the festival next month i`ve got an apartment. Its the only way if you plan on stopping for any length of time. i`m spending a further week out in the hills with some friends i met when i was there. Also dont go for car hire! the roads are worse than the ones up here in Scotland in the Highlands haha.Use hotel taxi`s, i found them more acceptable. Just to add if you are planning a lads trip, try looking for apartments for groups, its much cheaper and you can do as you please then!.

First post! thanks to Deano for posting on the The Cigar Smokers Club!

Robusto

17-01-2009, 12:02 PM

Planning a holiday this year. Please keep posting info about your experiences. :biggrin1:

Scottish_Cuban

17-01-2009, 01:06 PM

http://www.amadeus.net/home/destinations/en/guides/cuba/intro.htm

Theres a start, its a destination guide to cuba. Hope this helps and gets you more in the know about Cuba!

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotels-g147271-Havana_Cuba-Hotels.html

This one is self explanatory, guides and what have you for hotels and others.

http://www.cuba-hotels.co.uk/havana/havana_hotels.asp

This one is just hotels in Havana.

http://www.cubaldn.com/home.htm

You will need a visa to visit Cuba so take a look here too, not too bad i dont think.

Scottish_Cuban

17-01-2009, 01:12 PM

Forgot to add this one! it has a couple of shop address`s in Havana so you have a rough guide where to head for once your there!. If you do plan on going i`ll give you 3 hidden address`s and you will get lost in there for days haha, i did.
http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Features/CA_Cuba_Detail/0,4604,104_travel,00.html

Robusto

17-01-2009, 02:06 PM

I've been perusing these links this afternoon.
Great stuff!

Robusto

24-01-2009, 03:29 PM

We are on the point of committing to a week in Cuba in October. I've been in to have the costs worked out this morning, and will be planning on flights with Virgin to and from Havana, three nights in a 4 star hotel in Havana and then four days/nights under our own steam to head wherever we please - Trinidad maybe, or towards the tobacco plantations - by bus or by car. The last part of the trip I shall look into home stays, which several people have told me are abundant.

We decided against staying in one of the coastal resorts because that's really not us. We'll get to beaches under our own steam. The resorts - lovely as they appear - would be the same in many parts of the world, and we want CUBA rather than four days in a generic beach resort.

I'm just about certain we are going to move from nice dreams about doing this to actually going over there. It's getting exciting!

Robusto

31-01-2009, 12:25 PM

And it's done.

The missus, my two lads and I are bound for Cuba for eight days this coming October. Booked today. :biggrin1:

What a long way to go to smoke cigars. He he! :smoke:

Deano

31-01-2009, 02:39 PM

Lovely! It may be, but it's more that that. Beautiful island, lots of history, lots of culture. Plus you've got them over there before it all changes - i.e. pre-Castro etc all dying off and it been democratized - which I presume it will be before long.

Robusto

31-01-2009, 03:17 PM

Agree with you on all points, Deano. The island is bound to change now that Obama is in power.

Have booked into the Parque Central for the first few days. That's the hotel you stayed in, I believe.

Pantomimehorse

31-01-2009, 03:23 PM

who did you book with Robo?

im gutted Im not going now my bros backed out the trip, still have the rest of the year to convince someone though I guess

Robusto

31-01-2009, 03:33 PM

Trailfinders in the end. I used Trip Advisor to help me think before committing.

I went to a couple of Travel Agents and phoned a couple, too, but they seemed to have a very packaged idea of holidays. (I'm a cigar boy, and some firms didn't really cater for the possibilities for that on the island. One woman didn't know that Cuba produces cigars. That inspired confidence...). This firm have helped me tailor-make the family trip, and their advisors seemed really knowledgeable and helpful.

This is the one that best suited me for the family, but I'm sure we all have different ideas of what we want. I want to make my own way, and don't like to be herded around like a twat and surrounded by twats. I'm pretty sure this will not be the case.

Fingers crossed, anyway! :biggrin1: You can't tell til you get there, sometimes...

Thus far, I cannot fault TF, and the price is excellent for the four of us.

Another tailor-made firm were quoting the same arrangements at 50% more.

There will be as many differing opinions about Travel Agents etc as musicians have about amplifiers! I've shelved out, and I will cope!

And now I must go and play some kick-ass gigs and save my takings to pay our way. That starts this evening!

Scottish_Cuban

05-02-2009, 08:01 AM

Sounds like your trip is signed sealed and nearly delivered Bryan, you must of worked a ton on your mrs haha. You`ll have a blast when you get there, just keep an eye out for street traders!.
I`m leaving this sunday, i have an appartment sorted for 10 days, then staying with friends. I was thinking about an all inclusive resort for a week after but see how i feel when i get there. My pad is slap bang in the middle of the old town, surrounded by old shops and Cuban clubs. I was ment to be on my own but managed to get 3 mates to come that also smoke cigars so going to be great fun. Have to say with the way the currency is going though they are going over with pound notes and changing them there, its alot better rates to change them there. I take it you still cant bring tobacco plant seeds back to the uk haha. Worth a try lol.

Robusto

05-02-2009, 10:17 AM

Have the best of times, SC. :smoke:

We want to do home stays for part of our week when we travel around.

I've smoked a banana leaf cigar recently brought back via a mate from a beach hawker.

No more!

Scottish_Cuban

06-02-2009, 06:36 AM

Lol Bryan did you get high? i read a few years ago in a south african magazine, a guy had smoked a banana leaf or 2 and he couldn't remember getting home haha.
I`m starting off in La Habana for 2 weeks, i want to do some fishing, smoking, drinking and seeing some friends have there first Cuban experiance. Then off the to the far west near Gunae for 5 days then spending 4 days in the south close to santiago. Maybe come home, see if i can hide away lol.