Mike and Izzy

Dear Fiona,

What a great Holiday. Thank you for organising such an enjoyable time. Here’s a run through of the days with our general comments.

La Moka Hotel @ Las Terrazas. Pleasant, Clean, Comfortable Hotel. Food OK, Good swimming Pool. too early in Hol to go on excursions. However we had a pleasant (Hot) walk 45mins to banos del San Juan and swam in the rock pools + drink in the bar.

Vinhales Valley. Beautiful scenery and Vinhales interesting rural town to wander around for an hour or so. Rancho San Vincente beautiful setting. Food ok. However Hygiene V poor, Dogs running around restaurant tables. 1 flea infested, 1 cocked leg against table!! Swimming pool shallow and not clean.

However, day tours a success. Trip to ‘Hector Luis’ tobacco grower at San Juan y Martinez inc lunch brilliant as was day trip to beautiful white sand Cay with snorkelling on reef.

Trip to Trinidad of app 300 miles. Rather too long in Minibus.( Possibly better on ‘Transtur’ coach which is modern and fast, although leaves Vinhales at 07.00)

Trinidad, Beautiful town. Iberostar Gran Trinidad was excellent boutique smart hotel. Bustling streets with music and bars. Recommended ‘Top’ restaurant nothing special . The only good food in town was probably the Gran Trinidad but more expensive.

Minibus Trip to Havana. Worth stopping at Botanical Gardens near Cienfuegos.

Havana. Parc Central. excellent Hotel in best position. Very busy. Great food and comfort.

Visit to ‘Tropicana’ fantastic. Likewise booking Buenavista Social Club at Cafe Taberna, both a must!

Hotel Inglaterra Looked good opposite, Faded Class. We should have looked at the rooms to check. Probably good on a tighter budget, best cocktails and atmosphere. Sloppy Joe’s Bar. Good cocktails & decor, terrible service, in fact chaotic, and they mixed our bill up.

Good Restaurants in Habana Vieja, on Calle Mercaderes.

Long journeys 3 hours+ may be better on Transtur. (Newish Chinese Coaches.)

Worth getting good amount of small change of 25c 50c- 1CUC on arrival at airport for the many tips needed, and keeping it topped up.

Lots of beggars in Havana, but seemed genuinely needy. Would spend it on food rather than booze/drugs. Hustlers a pain the neck. Casual conversations turn into requests for money.

All in All a memorable Holiday. Thanks again Mike and Izzy