Hotel Iberostar Parque Central

Highlight: Wandering around the old town of Havana - great buildings everywhere in various states of repair. Just full of atmosphere. Also the 1950s American cars. I didn't realise just how many there were! Again in all states of repair, but a fantastic sight even to someone who isn't particularly a car buff.

CW, London

Highlight?: The road journeys through eastern Cuba.

JB,

With JLA's help, got an excellent choice of locations and accommodation. Really felt that I got to see a lot of the country and a great variety in just 10 days. No way of knowing how the new trade agreement between Cuba and America will pan out (clearly going to be good for the Cuban economy), but it's interesting that everyone I spoke to said there was a tourism influx at a normally quiet period BECAUSE people wanted to see Cuba before it potentially changed, and not necessarily, tourism-wise, for the better.

PW, Norwich

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

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

Most memorable aspect: “Watching my Cuban friend in Havana dance with members of his dance company practicing in National Theatre Havana.  Dancing and watching dancing in Guantanemo, Santiago and Trinidad.  The music everywhere - it gets inside your head and is wonderful.  Also the road trip from Guadalavaca to Baracoa (6.5 hours) was amazing.  Beautiful views driving through the mountains.” 

SZ, Bungay

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: "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

Most Memorable Moment?: Horse riding to the waterfall in Trinidad

CJC,

Cuba is a very diverse country and fulfilled our expectations.  Parakeet is an adventure rather than a holiday so go with an open mind and immerse your self in the Cuban way. Colour, music and smiles more than make up for what some people may find frustrating if comparing Cuba to life in the UK. 

GW, Birmingham

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

We got engaged at La Guarida in Havana on the second night, so the whole trip is going to be a memorable one for a very long time!

TO, London

Highlights?: There were so many!  We took an excursion  to the forest ; truck, walk, waterfall swimming...loved it.  But we really enjoyed everywhere.

ER, London

Most Memorable Moment: Soaking up Havana - it's an endlessly fascinating place. Closely followed by swimming in the El Nicho falls and snorkelling off Jibacoa

CB, Eastbourne

Highlights?: Topes de Collantes water fall. Visit to Santa Clara Che Guevera monument. A day spent with a family we met in Bayamo, visiting their home & the local market, food preparation, and just chilling with them.

DW, Mirfield

I can honestly say that our trip was fantastic throughout. We found Cuba to be beautiful, fascinating and very welcoming and felt completely looked after by the companies involved. Attention to detail was evident and everything ran extremely smoothly.

HH, London

All places were well worth visiting for their particular character etc. Our over-riding memory was of the lovely people we met and the sounds and rhythms of Cuba.

IB, Chesterfield

Highlight?: The walk through the 3 valleys in Vinales.

MK, Brentford

Highlights? The wonderful beautiful Cuban people. The stunning landscape the memorable architecture. The wild weather. Just the sense of being propelled back in time but also to a possible future of less empty consumerism, less intensive agriculture, mores social connection and less social media allowing for more actual sociality

DM, Brighton

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

GF, London

Most Memorable Aspect: "our visit in Havana, our visit to Playa Giron, to Trinidad and finally at the Royalton resort. We enjoyed a mixture of luxury, culture, history and natural beauty."

MH

Baracoa was very special.

CA, Newark

The live music in all the bars, restaurants and on street corners everywhere. We loved the variety of Havana , vinales, Trinidad and the flop on the beach at the end at Cayo Santa Maria.

LD, Beaconsfield

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

JP, Bedford

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

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

The hiking tour above Topes de Collantes lead by Valentine was fantastic. Wonderful sights and sounds lead by an experienced guide with a good sense of humour.

DM, Edinburgh

Every part of the trip on Cuba.  It is an amazing destination.  If we had to pick out one part it would be the amazing unspoint scenery.

ES, Brackley

Highlights: “We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Havana, and also the road trips which allowed us some glimpses of rural life.” 

ER

Highlight?: Havana, trip to the ballet at the Opera House

PF, London