Cuba 2025 Trip Thoughts - Part 1
Hello there! We just got back from Cuba (Jan 26 - Feb 1), and thought we would provide a little info for anyone scheduled to go or who may be considering the trip. This is not a detailed trip report as we don't want to spoil all the fun, but rather provide some helpful information. Apologies in advance as this is just some random thoughts and we are a little tired, having just returned home a few hours ago.
Pre/Post
We arrived in Miami on Saturday morning (tour started Sunday afternoon) so we had a day to relax and make sure we didn't have any travel issues. We also stayed an extra night on the back end of the trip. Both extra nights were in the Tauck hotel...Hyatt Regency Coral Gables (nice hotel in a good location).
Tour Director/Guide
Our guide was Ronny Mena. He is awesome. He has done Cuba for Tauck 50-60 times and is a seasoned Tour Director. Very funny, organized and great guy. Our local guide was Hector, who was super nice and very knowledgeable as well.
Flights to/from Cuba + Visas
Tauck takes care of this. Ronny will give you the visa at the initial meeting and you hand it to them (government) in Havana. Note there were a couple of steps...a healthcare team scans part of it on arrival, then immigration will also scan/review it. No issues at all. Note that you then keep the form as you will need to present it again when you leave, and then they keep it once you pass through immigration on the way out. Also note they do not stamp your passport unless you ask them to (which they will if you ask). Ronny allows plenty of time for everyone to check the bags and do everything. We had no issues at all.
A few important things for this. First, Ronny sent all of us an email a few days before the trip and gave us the record locator for the flights to Cuba. We flew American Airlines. Since you have the record locator, you can sign in and change your seats. You will want to do this, especially if you have airline status, so you can get a seat that is not in the back of the plane. You also then need to add your passport info and emergency contact info, as well as global entry number. You can then use TSA pre-check in Miami and go to the gate. Second, going in and adding your info from home will save some time at the airport in Miami before leaving for Cuba. They can add your frequent flyer number, Global Entry info when you check your bag, but it just takes longer. Remember, there are 18-25 of you checking in, so anything you can do to speed it up will help. Third, on the way back, while you receive a boarding group, it doesn't matter. We had to board a bus and then walk up stairs to the plane. Boarding groups were irrelevant. Some flights have a jet bridge but everyone in Cuba still rushes to get on. Fourth, it is highly recommended that you don't book a return flight home before 3:30pm out of Miami. We were delayed in Havana for our return flight by 2 hours (due to fog). I believe we left Havana around 12:40 (originally scheduled for 10:30am) or so and arrived in Miami by 1:30 ish. In Miami, Global Entry was super fast, and bags came off within 5 minutes of us going through Global Entry. No one was at customs so we walked through. I would estimate we were through with all of that by 2:20-2:30, even being delayed 2 hours. If you are leaving to go home (or a flight for another vacation trip), once through customs there will be a baggage re-check if you are traveling on American. Otherwise you will go to the terminal for your next flight, or out the exit if heading into Miami.
Hotel in Cuba
We stayed at the Hotel Marques de la Torre for our entire stay.
I tried loading some pics of the room, but not sure if it worked. The room was better than I expected, although not your typical Tauck luxury standard. I would say this is on par with a Holiday Inn, but slightly larger. This was definitely better than I expected. The key is to have low expectations for Cuba and then when they are exceeded, you will be pleasantly surprised. The bed was a king size. Closet was nice. Washcloths and towels in the bathrooms. There is a safe. Room is cleaned everyday. No issues with theft. Maids and all staff were great. Above each nightstand there is an international outlet. It is not obvious, but you can plug a two prong US plug directly into it. I did not use an adapter. I had no issues charging my iPhone or iPad. THERE IS INTERNET at the hotel. When you arrive and register, they will give you a user name and password that will work during your stay. The speed is a bit slow, but you can text, email, make FaceTime calls or WhatsApp, and stay connected with the US. Ours went out briefly, but we will had it everyday. Often, overnight or coming back to the hotel after a day of cultural interaction, it would not automatically connect. I simply went to my settings and tapped on the hotel wifi and it would immediately connect again.
A couple of things about our room. The hotel (and Cuba) is fairly humid and smells a little musty in places. Even with the AC going, the room would be cool but still humid. Not sure our thermostat worked. Our room was cold, so I turned it up, and it helped a little, but it was still cool. Great for sleeping, but you will want a sweater or sweatshirt or jacket (also for restaurants and sometimes for the bus). There are two dials...one is a little manual wheel for the temperature (in Celsius), and above it is a switch that controls the fan speed. Some folks had issues with hot water. Sometimes they didn't seem to have it, or it might take a while for it too come on, so be patient. That seemed to coincide with higher floors. We were on the 4th floor and had instant hot water the entire time. However, we faced the Main Street, and it was pretty loud most nights. If you can sleep with earbuds or headphones, I recommend it.
Safety
Never an issue. We never felt scared or unsafe. The Cuban people are very friendly, and 99% of the time you are with the group and the guides so there is no issue. We did a walking tour at one point in the city, and some folks followed us around trying to get us to give them money ir sell us things, but you just say no. They are annoying but harmless.
Food
All meals except one dinner were included. The food was good-very good overall. This was an area we weren't sure what to expect, but definitely exceeded our expectations. Breakfast is provided in the hotel every morning. Except for two early days, the buffet spread was very good. Meats/cheese from Spain, a chef making eggs to order, coffee, juices, pastries. The bread was a little different...something about the flour they use or maybe something else. Taste was good. Overall you should be able to find something. Lunches and dinners were always at a paladar, which is a private restaurant, typically in a home. These homes a very nice and really amazing. Food was usually a choice of Ropa Vieja (shredded beef...very good), chicken, fish, lobster, along with some side dishes, typically rice and beans, fried taro root, and other things. All meals had bottled water and soft drinks, as well as a beer or glass of wine, and many times cocktails were included as well. You will be surprised (I think) with the food.
To Be Continued...
Comments
Part 2...
Water
Tons and tons of bottled water provided in your room and on the bus. This was never an issue. Also, please remember to brush your teeth with the bottled water and also not to swallow the shower water. We had ice in drinks in the paladars, as well as salads that were rinsed with water. Tauck has ensured these are safe and up to our standards. I had Pepsi with a glass of ice in the paldars with no issues, as well as mojitos. We had two people get briefly sick on the tour, but it was not due to the food. Pretty sure one had norovirus from something, and the other just felt a little unwell. There were 25 of us, and we all touched and ate the same things. If the food had been bad, we all would have been sick. That said, Ronny (our Tour Director) gave us all bottles of hand sanitizer at the first meeting in Miami, and we used it all the time...kind of like a cruise ship. Every time we got on the bus our driver (Noelle) gave us a squirt of hand sanitizer.
Cash
I think we brought around $400 in cash. We went to our US bank and got crisp new bills. Mostly $1, $5, and $10, along with a few $20s. We didn't use it all. We spent $200 at an art gallery on a small piece of art. There are a few opportunities for souvenirs in markets that cost $5-$10. While we wanted to support the Cuban people, we did not buy souvenirs in the markets...personal preference. They all had the same items that appeared to be mass produced, probably in China. If they were handmade, the only handmade part was probably scraping off the made in china stamp. For us, we have a ton of souvenirs from all over the world, but when we buy them, they are unique, typically made locally, and are a good reminder of what we saw. These were not what we wanted. There were some souvenirs at the activities that Tauck took us to see, and we did buy a couple of things there. There was also a huge market we went to that had some really cool art, and a couple bought a huge unframed canvas (like 3 feet x 4 feet) for $200. We also spent some cash at the dinner that Tauck did not include. It was one meal. We went to a paladar with another couple about 3 blocks from the hotel. Great, great food. I had spiced pork (looked like a tasty pork chop), that came with sides, as well as a beer. My wife Kim had a shrimp dish and a beer, and we shared a dessert. Oh, and we had an appetizer. I think we spent $80. The other couple both had lobster, an appetizer, a bottle of wine, and a dessert. Theirs was around $112. The food was excellent, as was the atmosphere. Seemed like a restaurant in NY or Chicago. As mentioned above, we paid in American dollars. At the hotel, if you have drinks at the bar, or room service, you simply charge it to your room. At the end, you settle up the charges and pay them in cash (USD). You never have to exchange money.
Things to Bring/Clothing/Weather
The weather was amazing for us. Sunny the entire time. Low of 70, and a high of 80-82. We brought raincoats but never used them. Did use sweaters/pullovers at night in restaurants. Hats are a good idea when walking outside as the sun is intense.
We each packed a carry-on suitcase (which we checked when flying to Cuba) and a backpack. That was it (many folks brought a slightly larger suitcase that you would check). Cuba is very casual. As a guy, I had two pair of nice sneakers and that was it for shoes. I had lots of polo style shirts. Sometimes I wore shorts, other times hiking pants. For dinner I had a pair of casual trousers. One or two guys had a sport coat. Kim had shorts, capris, and jeans. Some ladies had casual dresses or skirts. Comfort is key here, especially for the shoes. We were not in Cuba to make a fashion statement. The ground was often uneven with lots of potholes and lips and places to trip. I really don't recommend sandals or open toe shoes. While they might look nice, they aren't practical. Lots of opportunities to step in something and stub your toes!
A few thoughts on items to bring...
Sunscreen - as the sun is hot and intense. We bought ours in Miami at the target about 3-4 blocks from the hotel.
Toiletries - we brought our own travel size shampoo/conditioner and body wash. The did have it in the shower, but it was really not great and I did not enjoy the smell.
Insect repellant - we brought Off! brand wipes with Deet. These are great. Much less mess and easy to apply. There were maybe two days where we need this.
Toilet Paper - we brought a roll, just in case. The TP in Havana is...thin sandpaper. On that note, for the ladies, in many places in Havana, there are no toilet seats, and sometimes no TP. Ronny gave everyone travel packs of tissues.
Guitar strings. What did he say?? I don't want to spoil it for you in terms of the cultural events, but they were all very good. You really feel for the Cuban people and begin to think, how can I help them? One of the cultural events we went to was a program that teaches guitar, and they performed a small concert for us (it was called Vocal Clave de Sol). It was excellent! I wish I had known and brought some guitar strings to leave behind as a goodwill gesture or thank you, as they are hard to get and expensive in Cuba. I don't know if everyone will be doing that one, but there is a chance you will. You might consider asking your tour director before you come if you are doing that one and can bring something to leave behind (do not use the word donation...it complicates things)...or if there is something you can bring for any of the events that is not a donation. Note that Tauck does provide them with support on our behalf.
One final thought in this long-winded novella. Everything is hard to get in Cuba...everything. We left some of our items behind...a mostly unused bottle of sunscreen. A pair of sneakers. Some leftover toiletries. We left ours for our maid. If you do that, you need to write a little note, stating exactly what you are leaving, your name and room number and that you are leaving it for the maid. Otherwise it goes to lost and found. Or you can give it to Hector (local guide) and he can use it or give it to those who need it.
OK, that's it for now. It was an amazing experience. If you have questions, feel free to ask.
Jeff & Kim
one more quick clarification on the food. I noted breakfast buffet was good except for the two early days. On those days it was still good, but it was an abbreviated meal...they bring you a plate of food already selected (meat, pastries, fruit). It is still good, just faster.
Kim asked me to add yet one more item. Obviously bring whatever medicines you need for your health...prescriptions etc., but we also brought pepto bismol, various OTC meds, etc in case one of us got sick as that stuff is not available at all in Cuba.
Good trip report. Thanks!