I am planning to go to Cuba for a couple of months in December.
I have never been there,
I don't speak Spanish,
I love dancing,
I will be alone (48 years old female),
Would like to rent a room from locals,
Will have a small budget,
Would love to have a nice swim walking distance from where I will be.
Thanks for any advice you can give to me.
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Elena,
what places are you visiting? |
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Hi Elena,
I am bias towards Santiago de Cuba, have gone many times and spent longer periods there, too. I recommend it to anyone - read my posting on the topic with many hints and tips.
I am about the same age as you, love dancing, but speak fluent spanish and am not so keen on beach. Have a read and see what you think.
Make sure you leave on a flight in the first half of December to avoid high season prices. Get yourself rented in a room and make them understand that you will be a long staying guest - which may get you a better price. Santiago is full of houses of varying standards and prices. If you want, I can recommend you one or two in the centre.
You should probably budget 20 CUC (13 £) per night to be on the safe side.
Small budget is not easy in Cuba if you don't know your way round. Anything you do (excursions, transport, phone calls, entry fees, classes, etc.) you have to pay in hard currency (CUC), prices are not far off ours.
Consider a place to stay where you can have access to the kitchen and cook for yourself - buying food in the local market in Cuban peso will reduce your outgoings.
Make sure you make friends with the right kind of people. Go off the beaten track to meet the locals.
Check out Bayamo - no beach, but a lovely small town, very quiet but lovely people ... and all alot cheaper than Santiago or Havana. They have a river and 'lake' you can swim in.
Try Baracoa - this is on the beach. Small town but quite lively. Unfortunately there is a 'scene' that has developed thanks to the influence of tourism, which you should take in your stride.
You can stay a month on a tourist visa, which you can extend for another month, the extension costs about £ 25. Then you have to leave the country - which can be quite costly. I.e. I went from Havana to Mexico which cost me all in all about 400 Pound.
Even if you can only stretch the budget to a month or two ... go and do it, it is an experience.
Be sure you know what you want out of the trip (hang out, get a tan, learn the language, improve your dancing ?) ... and budget for it. Prepare well, take books ... life is very basic and - without money - not entertaining in Cuba !!!!
Claudia |
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Hi there
I too will be in Cuba with hubby from December 12th - 30th We have been twice before and split our holiday between hotels and private homes.
We will be staying over Christmas itself with a family in Matanzas. We love it there. We have made friends with people and have a great time. I too love to dance and everyone we have met has been willing to teach us to dance. It's a huge part of the culture.
The beach is within walking distance of the house but I have to admit we haven't swam there.
I am a similar age to you and I would be happy to spend time there alone, but we are lucky in that our hosts speak english as my spanish is very limited. Also, the house is luxurious compared to the majority. We pay 25CUC a night which I undersand to be the government fixed price. We also have a very substantial breakfast for 5CUCs and often have dinner there too, but haven't tried self catering.
Have a great time
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