Cuba

No wonder so many Canadians say “si” to Cuba when they need a winter fix of fun in the sun, at an all-inclusive resort

Cuban vacations offer beautiful beaches, outstanding value, friendly people, safety, and vibrant culture. The combination puts Cuba near the top of the list for Canadians' taking sun holidays.

There are two distinct sides to the Cuban vacation coin – The cultural and historic scene of cities like Havana and Santiago de Cuba and the sun, sand and sea of the island’s many all-inclusive beach resorts.

Walking the streets of old Havana can be a wonderful experience – colonial Spanish buildings, museums, historic sites, an interesting living experiment in socialism, a resonating music scene, live entertainment, and craft markets in the heart of the old city.

In the tourist areas like Varadero the goal is very simple: Sun and sand, and Cuba offers some of the best beaches in the Caribbean at an excellent price point. Mind you, life is a little trickier for visitors who like spending a lot of their holiday time off the property.

This is not an island for golfers -- although there is a course at Varadero and more or planned -- and much of the best sightseeing requires a day trip. Cuban beach holidays are best for lazy days in the sun, tanning, reading and enjoying water sports.

Nightlife is limited in the island’s beach destinations, so if you crave after-sundown action, we recommend you book one of the larger hotels that offers plenty of nightlife on property.

And when you’re choosing a place to stay, remember that Cuban tourism was initially developed and managed by the government, and some of the older two- and three-star hotels remain so.

We strongly recommend four- and five-star hotels in Cuba, unless you have specifically visited a three-star and are comfortable with it.

The newer, foreign-managed hotels simply have better rooms, better public areas, better service, and better food. “Better food” is a relative term. The US trade embargo limits Cuba’s imports, and shortages still occur. The cooking style is quite bland, with little use of salt and spices. Suffice it to say that in four- or five-star hotels run by foreign companies, the food is better. US citizens considering travel to Cuba should read our advisory for restrictions and details of the travel embargo.