Author Archive
Holidays to Cuba. Things to know
April 14, 2011
Are you thinking about a Cuba holiday? Excellent, this is one island in the Caribbean where you will want to do more than just a beach holiday. The people are bright, self-assertive and handsome. The heritage of Cuba is so rich as are the monuments and palaces throughout the country. A holiday to Cuba is something you should really consider in your agenda.
These are just some of the facts to consider and places and things you should not miss in your holidays to Cuba.
Horseback Riding: The beach resorts hire out horses by the hour, as does Havana’s Parque Lenin. For longer treks, you might try the tourist ranches near Trinidad at Casa del Campesino or Los Molinos. Other good facilities in the interior are available in the Viales valley and Pinar del Rio.
Golf: You will find an 18-hole course at Varadero’s Las Americas club and nine holes at the Havana Golf Club. More are planned.
Architecture: The elegant, even grand, colonial mansions still evident in Havana, Santiago do Cuba and Trinidad combine traditional elements of 1 6th- and 1 7th-century Spanish architecture and its earlier Moorish influences with the special needs of the Cuban climate. No table Moorish features are the ornately carved wooden balconies, and the inner central patio around which the residential quarters are built.
A bit of History: Christopher Columbus disembarked on October 28, 1492, somewhere between Gibara and Guardalavaca. Following threats of mutiny and an overnight rain- storm, he wrote with undisguised relief in his journal: “Everything I saw was so lovely that my eyes could not weary beholding such beauty”.
The list of places to visit and things to do goes on and on. The options are immeasurable for your holidays to Cuba. Stay tune to this article directory as there will be more useful information about Cuba coming soon.
Jose Mauricio Maurette Garces is the owner of Quest World travel Ltd . He has a great deal of experience organizing holidays to Cuba . If you need to arrange a tailor made Cuban Holiday please follow the links above.
Havana: Private Homes
February 21, 2011
We all know these are difficult days and there is no much money left for holidays and leisure in our pockets. So we have to find cheap alternatives – either that or stay at home and don’t go any where. If you are thinking of going for Cuba Holidays then I am going to give you a hint on how to cut down on the cost.
Hotels in Cuba as I mentioned before are not very cheap although there is a number of options for as little as $14.00 per person per night. The problem is that everybody traveling on a budget want to stay in these very few hotels so to find accommodation in cheap hotels in places like Havana for instance is extremely difficult. There is an article listing the cheapest hotels in Havana. Please follow the link http://www.qassia.com/the-cheapest-hotels-in-havana for more info on cheap hotels.
If you are traveling to Cuba on a tight budget then why not to take advantage of the excellent prices that Casas Particulares in Cuba offer. Casas Particulares is the term used locally for Private Rentals in Cuba. These properties have a special license from the government which allows them to accommodate Tourist.
Although it is very cheap there are few things you should know before you book on of this houses or apartments in Cuba. The government has given a license to the landlords that want to rent their houses with few conditions and limitations.
Home owners in Cuba that rent their houses follow the government restrictions. The risk of loosing your property or your license is too high. It is very difficult to find a house her you can stay on your own but there are ways. Visit Private Villa Rentals in Cuba if you require further advice.
So what I am trying to say is that staying in Casas Particulares in Cuba is a good idea for cutting down the cost of your holidays to Cuba but is not for everybody. This type of accommodation is suitable for people that have no problem sharing a house with a Cuban family.
There are very few houses, villas and apartments that risk rent on an independent basis. You will not find this advertised openly on the web as it is illegal according to the Cuban laws yet you can find few of them especially in Havana. If you want to stay independent on a private house in Cuba the best thing to do is get in touch with the landlords or the webmasters of websites advertising vacation rentals in Cuba.
Before booking your Holidays to cuba. Visit www.quest2cuba.co.uk by Jose Mauricio Maurette for more information on the best twin centre Cuba Holidays.
How To Travel To Varadero From The United Kingdom
April 9, 2010
If you are looking to travel to Varadero in Cuba from the United Kingdom than there are going to be several things that you need to think about before you go. The city itself is fabulous and a fantastic spot any terrorist to visit. However, there are always going to be things that need to be considered before going on a trip there.
The first thing that it is important for you to be doing is to be making sure that you have all of the correct legal documentation that will allow you to leave England and across the border into Cuba.
You will also need to consider the cost of flights. Flying to Cuba from the United Kingdom is a rather expensive thing to do and as such you will really need to consider when you are going, as travelling during the busier summer months will end up setting you back a lot more money.
When you have your flights and all of the correct legal papers that you need, you can actually start to plan the trip. This will include where you are going to be staying, what you will be doing what you will be seeing when you are there.
It is also going to be very important for you to consider your safety when you are there and the safety of the people who you are going with. If you are going with a family, then this will be even more important, and therefore you should work out all of the little danger is that you might face when you travel there.
These are the sorts of considerations you will have before you leave.
There are so many activities to enjoy with you plan Cuba holidays now! Spending holidays in Cuba will give you the opportunity to enjoy the great culture, friendly people, and great food!
What To See In Havana
April 2, 2010
You probably know already that the best way to know a foreign city is to walk along its streets. If you are considering Havana within your scheduled itinerary for your Cuba holidays then allow me to introduce you to the nicest walks in this amazing city.
El Malecon: This is by far the most beautiful see front promenade in the whole of the Caribbean. A walk takes about 1 to 2 hours depending on how many stops and cocktails you have along the way. You can even strip off your cloth and sun bath while resting on the top of the wall like so many others do.
Calle 23: Calle 23 is the main artery of the second most famous quarter of Havana know as “Vedado”. It is probably one of the longest avenues along which the social, political and administrative core institutions of Cuba are located. It is also full of bars and night clubs particularly interesting is “La Zorra y El Cuervo” popular for its Latin Jazz sessions.
Calle Obispo: This is probably the busiest pedestrian street in the whole of Havana. It is located in the Old Town and it is about 2 kilometers long. Calle Obispo begins in the spot where the Village of Havana was founded almost 400 years ago.
Calle San Rafael: It is a one kilometer long pedestrian boulevard along which many businesses, shops, bars and night clubs can be found. It is located in the vicinity of the Old Town.
Calle Galiano: This one is particularly popular among locals because of its many retail shops. The China Town and Casa de La Musica Salsa Palace are also located in Galeano Street.
It takes few days to get to see everything that is worth seeing in Havana. Whether you organize a walking tour from your hotel or you prefer to walk at your own pace in Havana you will be amazed by this vibrant city and your holidays will become and unforgettable experience.
Before booking your holidays to Cuba. Visit www.quest2cuba.co.uk by Jose Mauricio Maurette for more information on the best Cuba tours.
How To Make Your Flights To Vietnam From Europe Worthwhile
April 2, 2010
The thing about holidays to Vietnam from Europe is; the airlines know just how much people from across Europe and America wish to travel to Vietnam, what with its beautiful architecture and refreshing atmosphere. Most people therefore, in their search for some affordable payment plans for their flight from Europe to Vietnam, are offered high rates.
It is not actually that hard for people to travel from Vietnam, but it is very hard to get affordable plans to get to the country. However, if you are determined enough, there is a way for you to get an affordable option to get to the country; booking your seats months in advance.
Having cleared the reasons why it is getting increasingly hard to get some of the most affordable flight plans to Vietnam, you should now understand that there is only one way and one way only to get an affordable flight plan to the country. And that is by being an early bird.
There are no cheap seats left for them to travel from, and then they have to travel from the more expensive ones. So if you too are looking for an affordable seat, it would be recommended you get one booked at the first opportunity. You are bound to get cheaper seats for your summer vacations in the winter and vice versa.
If you think that you will get these cheaper seats by the time of April or May, you will be in for a surprise, for this time is not one when air planes fly from Europe to Vietnam only half full.
These days, with Vietnam slowly returning to its full glory, with Vietnam with the lowest of the unemployment rates in all the third world countries, people are truly flocking to Vietnam in their quests of touring beautiful countries.
Jose Mauricio is a specialist in Vietnam Holidays and other destinations such as Cuba holidays, Dubai, Cambodia and Laos.
Holidays To Cuba
February 26, 2010
Many people go for holidays to Cuba to enjoy its rich cultural values and the work of its musicians, artists and dancers; to explore its cities and heritage sites; to savour its cuisine; to participate in the many international conferences, congresses and summits; to get marry or spend a honeymoon or simply because they want to share in the Cuban people’s obvious enjoyment of life.
Cuba has around 3534 miles(5700 kilometres) of coastline, with lovely scenery featuring beautiful beaches and over 400 cays with fascinating Flora and Fauna – a great drawing card for visitors who want to enjoy the wild life.
Cuba counts more than 300 natural beaches which are unique for the different hues of their clear, calm water; the beauty of its pristine cays; and their fascinating seabed.
The seabed contains many different geographic features – tunnels, channels and vertical walls – and sunken ships, some of which have been there for more than a hundred years.
Cuba has a network of Scuba-diving centres with all the equipment you need for exploring its seabed and underwater caves in areas of singular natural beauty and speleological importance.
Cuba counts 236 protected areas, which cover 22 percent-around 10,328 square miles of the country’s territory. They include the Valley of Viales in Pinar del Rio (a world heritage site by UNESCO) and several other areas that have been awarded the category of World Biosphere Preserves.
Some of Cuba’s cities are like living museums of tremendous enchantment; UNESCO has declared Trinidad, Cienfuegos and Havana to be part of the World Cultural Heritage.
These are just some reasons why Cuba can be a perfect destination for your next holidays. There is a universe of options that you can go for. If you fancy swimming with dolphins, relaxing on a beach or simple soak up the atmosphere of its vibrant cities you have that for granted.
Jose Maurette is the Director of Quest World Travel Ltd Ltd and a specialist in organizing holidays to Cuba.
Cuba Holidays.
February 10, 2010
At this phase you are probably absolutely sure that Cuba is the country that you want to visit for your next vacation but most likely need some help on the actual booking process. This might seem a little bit trivial but it is definitely not the case when it comes to organizing holidays to Cuba.
The truth is that this Caribbean island is becoming ever more popular every year and this creates a problem for some travel agents . Cuba is definitely not a last minute destination , in particular if you are travelling in the high season.
High season in Cuba , comprises Easter period and the summer months of July and August, particularly popular among families travelling with children . November, December, January, February and March are awfully well-liked months especially among the European tourists in search of a warm country to escape from the cloudy skies and the cold weather .
Pretty frequently I get people calling asking me to organise an itinerary for them in the above mentioned months , but sometimes the enquiry comes too late . This is frustrating, equally for the customer and myself . For one pure reason, I just can not recommend anything worth it because all the popular resorts and best hotels are fully booked, leaving me with the only answer I can give . “I am really sorry but at this point there are no hotels available in the areas that you are interested ”
If you are looking to stay in big resorts then there is not much to worry about. The problem presents it self when clients are interested in combining areas like Havana, Viales Valley, Las Terrazas, Cienfuegos, Trinidad and or Santiago de Cuba. Areas like these with the exception of Havana are very limited when it comes to hotel availabilities.
If what you want is to put together a tailor made Cuba holiday in a high season my guidance to you is to call at least 4 months prior to departure in order to secure not only the rooms in your preferred hotels but also the best deal from the airlines . If you unfortunately did not read this article before and are thinking about a multi centre holiday to Cuba, there is always a possibility to find something available but is not going to be the kind of holiday that we wish for you.
In the case of low season months is very easy to find availabilities and good deals in terms of price and it really does not matter much when you call. Even so we feel very confident to put together the kind of itinerary that will fulfil your holidays
I truly hope you have found this article a useful resource and sincerely wish you a very pleasant stay in Cuba.
Please visit Cuba holiday packages web site by J. M. Maurette for further information on Havana Hotels
The Silent Sea Paradise of Cuba
December 31, 2009
Cuban Beaches with white, grey, black and golden sand contrast with blue or aqua-green seas; the calm water near a mountain peak hides the inner beauty of its seabed. Some of its coasts are on the Caribbean; others, on the Atlantic. In both cases, its shores tempt you to give yourself over to the sensual, magical movement of the waves.
The insular shelf is bounded by an extensive coral reef where a great variety of colorful fish bewitch scuba-diving buffs, both beginners and experts. In addition, there are underwater caves to explore. Casting loose your mooring lines in Cuban waters means setting sail into a spectacular sea adventure.
The cays which form the outermost fringe of the archipelago are particularly enticing. They have been left in nearly their natural state, with their original flora and fauna, so they still look much as they did when Christopher Columbus discovered these lands over five centuries ago.
It has over 3560 miles (5746 kilometers) of irregular coastline, including more than 200 bays and over 300 beaches whose sand is of different colors and textures. It is common knowledge that the Cuban sea is of excellent quality.
There are places-anonymous as yet or little known-virgin beaches which are not the exception but rather the rule. Large or small, they are waiting to be discovered on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, a preserve of the biosphere; the coasts in the center and eastern parts of the country; and in tranquil Baracoa, at the eastern extreme of the island. You can enjoy them to the full in complete safety. There’s nothing quite like walking along a beach for hours with nothing to disturb you.
In 1985, the French oceanologist Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s crew was very impressed by Cuba’s seabed-most of all, by their exploration of the Cristobal Colon, a Spanish ship which was sunk during the naval battle that was fought just off Santiago de Cuba in i8g8. According to the divers, who have worked all over the world, few other places are as well preserved or have such a wealth of marine life. His colleagues waxed so enthusiastic that Cousteau, then 75, decided to put on an aqualung and see for himself. He wasn’t disappointed.
Scientific studies estimate that there are over 500 species of fish; 200 different kinds of sponges (cup, tube and branch); around 60 kinds of coral; and a large sample of mollusks, crustaceans, gorgonians, algae and Common Sea Fans (Gorgonia spp.) in Cuban waters.
Cuba undoubtedly is one of the most stunning tourist destinations in the World. Add the irrefutable fact of a super rich culture and you have the ideal recipe for a memorable holiday.
Jose Maurette is the Director of Quest World Travel Ltd and a specialist in organizing holidays to Cuba. Visit www.quest2cuba.co.uk for further information on the best Havana hotels.
categories: Cuba Holidays,Cuba Travel,Caribbean beaches,caribbean,travel,tourism,Cuba,leisure,outdoors,vacations
Cuba a la carte
December 26, 2009
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean. It is a captivating blend of cultural heritage, music, astonishing architecture, mountains, forest, rivers and of courses its magnificent white sand beaches. Travellers to Cuba will be charmed by this fascinating island. Cuba Holidays offers can be found everywhere on the net.
If you are a water sports lover Cuba is the perfect destination, with astonishing white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, coral reefs and limestone formations just few meters away from the shores.
For SCUBA diving packages or sailing holidays to Cuba the best is to speak to a specialist. Only few tour operators deal with this kind of package holidays. They are more tailor made and it requires more knowledge and research from the agent.
For history buffs, the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Trinidad on the south coast, and the old town of Havana are must see places. At Guama there is an Amerindian village, which has been carefully reconstructed, with wooden bridges linking several islets. Visitors eating outside their hotels should be aware that outside Havana, restaurant menus may be more limited than on many other Caribbean islands, and will be dominated by locally available produce. In contrast, you’ll find no shortage of exotic rum cocktails.
If you are looking for shopping holidays then Cuba is perhaps not the best destination although there will be a number of hand craft markets available on each an every location in Cuba. Tobacco, rum and coffee are the most popular souvenirs tourists buy in Cuba. Black coral jewellery is also very demanded.
You could have a tailor made programme designed just for you. Ask a specialist to put something together for you. Let him know what are your preferences and he/she will get back to you with some good options. Don’t expect it to be necessarily expensive. In some cases tailor made packages are cheaper than the average beach package holiday.
If you are unable to find the holiday in Cuba that you are looking for, or would like more information about staying in Cuba, or flying to Cuba, please call to speak to our dedicated travel team, who are on hand seven days a week to help you find your perfect stay in Cuba.
Jose Garces is the Director of Quest World Travel Ltd and a specialist in organizing holidays to Cuba. If you require further info about Cuba you can visit: Info on Cuba
Twin Centre Holidays To Cuba.
December 21, 2009
If you are reading this article then you are probably looking at options for your holidays. If you have picked Cuba among the huge number of options available in terms of tourist attractions then you are already half way through getting a once in a lifetime unique experience.
You probably know this already but it is never less important to highlight that Cuba is the largest of the Caribbean islands and have a wealth of options in terms of places that you can enjoy while visiting Cuba. There are places to please almost every demand in terms of tourist attractions.
If you are looking to mainly relax after a hard long period of work and at the same time let your self been invaded by the Cuban culture then I would suggest you do a twin centre holiday. There are many options and I will mention in this article which in my opinion are the most interesting ones.
Havana and Varadero: Ideal formula for people who are not willing to travel long ours along the road. Both cities are only few miles away from each other and they can be connected in less than 2 hours by taxi. Havana is recommended for at least 2 or 3 nights so that you can get to see and enjoy what this amazing city has to offer. Varadero is considered by many one of the best beach destinations in the world. It certainly is the most famous in Cuba and it offers a wealth of activities such as swimming with dolphins, rides in a submarine, horse back riding and all sorts of water sports.
Havana and Cayo Largo: This one in my opinion is a very attractive combination. You will be arriving to Havana’s airport and after staying few nights in Havana you will be transferred to the airport very early in the morning to fly to Cayo Largo. Why bother taking a domestic flight? Well let me tell you that Cayo Largo has in my opinion the best and most virgin beaches out of all the beach destinations in Cuba. You can also find a wealth of wild life cohabiting with the few hotels that exists in this small island.
Havana and Jibacoa: This twin centre holiday is ideal for those who like to relax far from that comes with some huge beach resorts. It is very close to Havana. So if you feel you did not have enough of the Capital and its night life or its restaurants you can very easily take a taxi from Breezes Jibacoa Hotel and you will be in Havana in less than 1 hour. Not very expensive a taxi will cost about 30 Cuban convertible pesos (15 Sterling pounds).
These are just some of the combinations you can do but the fact is that you can do dozens of them. Or you can put together as many locations as you want. We will obviously help you out deciding what is best for you and what is feasible taking into account the duration of your holidays. If you need to know more please do not hesitate to contact us.
Jose Mauricio Garces is a reservation consultant specialist in organizing Cuba Holidays and tailor made holidays to Cuba. He has been involved in travel and tourism in Cuba for the last 15 years.