I'm considering visiting Cuba next year but there is not much info about the trip on the community pages. Has anyone been who could enlighten me, or even considering going in March or April?

Thanks

Sylvia

I went to Cuba a few years ago in April (not with JY). The weather was fantastic, sunny and hot. In Trinidad (south coast ) it was extremely hot! Also you are well away from the hurricane season at that time which was a big plus as far as I'm concerned. It is a fascinating country.

RM.

Thanks very much. April it is then!

Sylvia

I went to Cuba with JY a couple of years ago and can thoroughly recommend it, a beautiful country, full of contrasts. The people, the music, the scenery and the cocktails were a delight. The tour can be tiring, but so worth it. I've been on about 14 JY holidays and although I've enjoyed them all I always say the Cuba trip is the one I'd be most happy to do again.

Maddy

Just getting over my jet lag following return from one of the ill-fated US National Parks tours but went to Cuba in April 2012 and loved it!

Like RosieMo, I actively avoided the hurricane season or anywhere near it and had the most amazing weather for most of the trip which was fascinating. We had one day of rain which made me very glad I had thought about the time of year as it was a tiny taster of what a later departure would risk but it was over relatively quickly and the rest of the time was fantastic. Hot, sunny but not that horrible draining heat you get in some places.

My advice would be to go sooner rather than later as the country will change and a major part of its interest for me was just HOW different it was. You won't go swimming with dolphins on this trip but what you do is probably more memorable and unique.

Don't expect the highest class of hotel provision as the hotels are not equivalent to many in Europe even though they take the best of local provisions because the resident population's food is rationed. That said, they are very comfortable (better than several of the US motels on my recent trip!), staff are friendly and the rum measure in the Cuba Libre is very generous! If you go, try and take toiletries or pens for tipping as you will find people begging on the streets for pens not cash - cash is no use if there is nothing to buy! It is also relatively difficult to get more than a cup of coffee/rum in a refreshment break because the rationing results in poorly stocked shops/bars so be guided by your rep/official guide as to how best to manage that. We had a great team (Carolyn Russell/Hector Gonzales) who knew how and where to get us excellent lunches en route.

Hope that much detail hasn't put you off, I loved this trip and one great benefit is that once you are there you spend very little extra because there is little to buy and the usual extras of drinks/meals are amazingly cheap - we had a 5-course lobster dinner in Cienfuegos for £12!!! It is a demanding trip with all the hotel changes but if you like the music it will be everywhere and you'll love it even more if, like me, you love the dancing too - the bar dancers are amazing and fantastically fit and energetic.

Enjoy!

Thanks for your replies. And CDM for all that info - very useful.

I'm no stranger to full on busy trips, it's the heat I struggle with!

Regards

Sylvia

I went to Cuba 2 year ago in late Oct/ early Nov. and the weather was lovely, Its after the hurricane season, really enjoyed the trip, it was my 4th trip with JY.

Dot

Thanks for your replies. I have decided to go in March as 12 people are currently booked and the trip is cleared to go ahead, whereas in April only three people have signed up. This will also free up April and Easter to do something else - currently thinking of Lille & Bruges. Oh the world is my oyster.....!

Regards

Sylvia