Hotel Rio Miel

Most memorable experience: "Swimming in a pool fed by a waterfall with no one else within sight or sound. Closely followed by spending my birthday on a tiny Caribbean beach."

MG, Dunstable

Highlight? Driving across Cuba and the fact that having a car allowed you to go off the beaten trip and experience life there at our own pace. Walking round Havana - spent hours walking round both the old town, Centro and Vedado, which was totally fascinating. Groups of horsemen riding the wrong way down the Autopista!
 

RF, Henley on Thames

Most Memorable Moment?: Too hard! Havana itself? The beautiful sea up north? The beautiful countryside? Meeting Cuban people and glimpsing a bit of a remarkable country in the midst of some change...  Too hard!

JL, Leeds

Cuba is a fascinating, beguiling, enchanting, confusing and sometimes challenging country caught in a 60 year timewarp. It is almost as though the clock stopped in 1960. If you can't live without creature comforts you'll find plenty to complain about; if you like a challenge and adventure, thrive on the unexpected, then go quick before it's too late! The only way out of their economic and social chasm is private sector capitalism and it's waiting less than 100 miles away...

SM, Madrid

Cuba is such a different place that it is hard to pick out an individual experience....Overall, the tour was fantastic. All the guides allocated gave us an excellent description of the area, in each of Havana, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Trinidad and Vinales. We used our free time to retrace part of our guided tour, to explore further ourselves, or to enjoy the food and ambience, especially the music and dancing of Cuba! We were warned that the food provided at Homestays (breakfasts and dinners) would be huge, and indeed they were. We were unable to finish any meal because of the quantity!  We did a few of our own trips, catching a taxi to the beach in Trinidad, being driven around Havana in a classic car, museum visits and trips on bicycle taxis. We found the people friendly and very helpful.

IB, Stockbridge

Most memorable experience: “the vibe and architecture of Havana; driving on the roads of Cuba - empty motorways, gigantic potholes, no signs, picking up random people who flagged us down; cigar rolling and smoking on a tobacco farm in Vinales; daily daiquiris and mojitos, especially those in Hotel Nacional garden; gorgeous peaceful countryside; noisy people and music everywhere; but also extreme poverty and areas that had barely moved from early 20th century; every Cuban we spoke with said how hard living was and that no one could survive on one job. We had such an interesting and wonderful time and will definitely return.”

SB, Lewisham

Most memorable experiences: "The PEOPLE - lovely and warm, friendly, positive. The music and the dancing - in streets, in clubs, in bars. Wonderful!"

MF, London

We had a great time in Cuba, very pleased with the literary suggested and implemented by JLA. Hannah (W) was a pleasure to deal with. We would certainly recommend JLA to anybody thinking of travelling to South America / Cuba etc.

JH Bedford

Loved it!

We really liked Cuba overall. There is not just one thing but the best included: Private tour in Havana was excellent as the guide was first rate. The town of Trinidad which we just loved. We thought it was really good to stay at a Casa and would recommend that experience for at least one section of a holiday.

PD, Dublin

The Car Tour was brilliant, Bright pink car around the city of Havana, such a beautiful place.

TDB, Swadlincote

Loads of music. Watching sax player at sunset, Hotel Melia Buenavista, Cayo Santa Maria Buenavista, Cafe Taberna, Christmas Day.

JP, Bedford

Highlights: Meeting the local guides and owners of casas particolares, who were unfailingly helpful, friendly and genuinely keen to welcome us to their country. On of the highlights of the trip was probably the transfer in a wonderful red and cream American classic car with a skilful driver (you have to be on Cuban roads!)

RP, London

Highlight?: Rafting in Tena

RF, Dorking

Overall a great holiday and a fantastic introduction to Cuba, while travelling in comfort.

ER, Richmond

The guides made such a great difference to our underrating of the country. Beautiful and varied country and in a couple of weeks got a real sense of its diversity. The Rolling Stones concert was unforgettable.

GH, Bristol

Baracoa was very special.

CA, Newark

Most memorable aspect: “The ballet; the coast; bird watching at Las Terrazas and Zapata, La Moka; our stay in a Casa Particular in Trinidad. The whole holiday was very good. Driving in Cuba and life on the roads!!” 

JA, Street

Most memorable experiences: "The self drive itinerary and experience gave us a window into the real Cuba, off the beaten track but never too scary. We were sad to hand the car over in Santiago! We had an amazing trip to Cuba; a lifetime experience. thank you all for making it happen."

NC, Reading

Many happy memories but loved the guided tour of Havana in the vintage car (huge 1953 Ford pink and cream convertible) Also enjoyed walking in the beautiful Vinales valley, it was like travelling back in the past with oxen ploughing and tobacco drying in huge thatched barns. It exceeded my expectations. Great organisation, informative guides, careful and punctual drivers and accommodation in convenient yet quiet locations, near to tourist attractions and restaurants.

JR, Cambridge

Wonderful holiday

We found Cuba utterly seductive. It is rare to find anywhere still as distinctive. But it is a country for travellers; to go just to the beach is a waste. But if you find beauty in dilapidation and warm to extrovert people; if you have a grain of curiosity in your soul and a twitch of rhythm in your toes, this is a wonderful holiday.

PH, Pimlico

Highlight?: Time in Trinidad: - enjoyed the town and also did a tour to the mountains to see coffee plants, drink good coffee and see waterfalls and a lovely pool for a refreshing swim. 

FW, Cardiff

Havana music, Vinales cigar plantation & Luis the guide in Cienfuegos

AB, Dollar

Most memorable experience: "Witnessing the culture of Cuba. Seeing the state of buildings, the 50s cars and there really is great music in every bar!"

HC, Cheltenham

Most memorable experiences: "a fantastic thunderstorm while dining in La Habana on Friday night, the waiters bending over backwards to please. Conversations with drivers and guides in Spanish (my mother tongue) about the country and being Cuban. Arriving at Viñales and visiting the tobacco farm. The cobbled streets of Trinidad and music at La Trova. The extra walk we organised at Tope de Collantes and the special cocktail provided for my birthday. Staying in the Village at Ensenachos. Visiting the Che museum and mausoleum. Hearing local musicians jamming in a bar in Havana. The warmth and welcome of everybody we met. Wildlife. Cocktails. Trinidad in general. Music. The stunning beach at Ensenachos."

CB, Swindon

Highlight?: Santa Clara - fantastic accommodation and very memorable tour of city, Che mausoleum etc. The tour of Cienfuegos thanks to a wonderful guide (Sara(h?)).

JM, Dorking

Most Memorable Moment?: The perfect travel arrangements, staying int he homestays, seeing how much things have changed The refurbished Alicia Alonso theatre is amazing and not to be missed.

AW, Watford

Highlights: Our lovely hosts in all the homestays  and especially being looked after by Mirtha in Trinidad.

BG, Bristol

Highlights: “Freewheeling through Cuba and exploring Old Havana brilliant – as were Maria La Gorda – beautiful spot, unspoilt, simple but perfectly adequate hotel.  Also the people – lovely”.  

ES, Buntingford

Most Memorable Moment: Seeing so much of Havana and the amazing countryside around Vinales.

GF, London

Spending time with the guides gave us an insight into other aspects of life in Cuba.

SW, Woking