Following their personal review on Cuba (see Destination Review: CUBA), Your Travel Planner members, Elizabeth Clark and Martyn Calder, give us their Top 10 Tips for this fascinating country.
- Take cash (sterling or euros) or traveller’s cheques. ATMs are rare and credit cards not widely accepted. Dollars and American Express are not welcome! You can change money at the airport, on arrival or at exchanges in major hotels. Rates are pretty consistent everywhere.
- Make sure your holiday arrangements get you off the tourist track to find the real Cuba. You won’t learn much about Cuba in a hotel by the beach.
- Take wrapped soap or pens or other minor luxuries. In a country with few consumer goods, these are hugely welcome. In Old Havana, schools are squeezed between bars and museums and you’ll have no difficulty in finding a home for your gifts.
- By the same token, make sure you have all the toiletries you need. Everyday items such as conditioner and tampons can be elusive.
- Learn the difference quickly between Cuban Peso and Convertible Peso notes (the latter have pictures of monuments on them). There are 25 Cubans to the Convertible so it’s important. You’ll almost always deal in the latter.
- Acquire a good supply of small change and hold on to it. As in many European countries, a coin for the toilet superintendent is customary, and tipping generally is expected.
- Take a bottle of soy sauce or your favourite seasoning. The food can be a little bland - not always, but enough to warrant thinking about.
- Although generally a warm climate, Havana can sometimes be chilly. Take a fleece. For Cubans, air-conditioning only has one setting - max!
- Don’t expect a shopping cornucopia. If your friends and relatives don’t like rum or cigars, best to moderate their holiday gift expectations before you go.
- Vegetarianism is not a widely embraced concept - be prepared for a lot of omelette.
Filed under: Destinations, South & Central America, Travel Tips | Cuba, Travel Tips|No Comments
I recently wrote a guest blogpost for Trish Gant’s Little Gems Photography blog and thought Your Travel Planner readers would find it useful too…
The Easter holidays are upon us. If you’re looking for last-minute things to do for families over Easter, here are some suggestions from Your Travel Planner:
Easter Egg Hunts
Which child does not love an Easter Egg Hunt? Cadbury are supporting the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland’s Easter Egg Trails for the 3rd year running. Properties close to London:
Claremont Landscape Garden, Surrey; 2 & 3 April, 11am to 4pm; Polesden Lacey, Surrey; 2-5 April, 10 am to 5pm; Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire; 2-5 April, 10am to 4pm; Morden Park Hall, London; 5 April, 11am to 3pm
Days Out
There’s more Easter fun to be had on a day out. Join in the Easter Garden Trail at Wisley Gardens, Surrey on 2-5 April.
Kew Gardens’ new tree-themed outdoor play area opens this Easter. Children (between 3 and 11 years old) can climb up ladders, brave wobbly rope bridges and fly down zip wires.
London Wetland Centre has a packed programme of Easter activities for children. See the adorable newly hatched ducklings take their first swim, plus Easter egg hunts, pond dipping, puppeteers and storytelling.
It’s Easter lambing time at Bocketts Farm Park. 300 lambs are due - including 35 sets of triplets! Join in the Easter Egg Hunt Trail which will be happening every day throughout the holidays.
Theatre
Try some local theatre this Easter. The New Wimbledon Theatre still has tickets left for the last few performances of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (until 3 April). Charlie and Lola’s Best Bestest Play is on at The Polka Theatre, Wimbledon until 15 May (suitable for 4-7 year olds) and under 3’s can enjoy Egg and Spoon (until 10 April), a multi-sensory, interactive journey through the seasons.
Short Breaks and Holidays
Grab a last minute staycation. Haven Holidays seem to have plenty of availability during Easter, prices from £134* for 4 nights. Or how about a place recognised for its lower environmental impact? Mazzard Farm in Devon, awarded Gold by the Green Tourism Business Scheme, have 3 options left during Easter, including Russett Cottage (sleeps 4)). Available 9-12 April for a long weekend, original price £345, now £225*.
*Please note that all prices and availability shown are correct at the time of writing (1 April 2010).
Filed under: Destinations, UK & Ireland, Uncategorized | Easter Holidays, Things to Do|No Comments
