Hey Guys, it’s Lami here! As one would have it, I am back from a week’s trip in Cuba, where I spent time learning about the country’s history, visiting idyllic beaches, and eating my body weight in grilled chicken and rice. I never expected I would travel to Cuba so soon, but I am overjoyed that I did! Here is a rundown of my tips for traveling to Havana, Cuba!
1. How To Get There
As major airlines have yet to establish flights to Cuba, I had to arrange travel via Cuba Travel Services, an agency that coordinates daily chartered flights to Havana and other cities on the island. The chartered flight option means you have little flexibility in terms of the timing of your flight, but the travel agency can be incredibly helpful in securing travel visas and other necessary documentation for safe and smooth travel. The 45-minute chartered flight from Miami International Airport ended up being an American Airlines plane, which assuaged the ‘small plane’ fears I had conjured in my mind. For those traveling from the United States, make sure to bring Euros to exchange into Pesos in order to avoid a surcharge.
2. Where To Stay
There are many established hotels around the city, including the Hotel Nacional, Hotel Presidente, and Habana Libre. However, as I was traveling with a group of other graduate students, we opted for a series of AirBnBs – some were more like hostels where others were true AirBnB apartments. With highly friendly hosts, I would recommend AirBnB over staying at a hotel because the hosts offered tremendously helpful advice and could share perspectives on their country. Shout out to Marta for her amazing property and sage expertise. You can find the link to her AirBnB here. The hotels were crucial when it came to accessing essentially nonexistent WiFi. You will have to pay a few Pesos to gain an Internet Access card and each hotel offers their own rate for 60 minutes of access, but it was the only way to alert family and friends of a safe arrival. In addition, the hotels double as offices for the national Cuban Tour Associations, where we signed up for paid tours of other parts of Cuba.
3. Where To Eat
Cuba has an interesting array of food options, which typically revolve around some form of chicken and rice (pollo con arroz, anyone?). Most people eat at home or from bodega-esque store fronts. However, we did end up visiting a few fun restaurants over the course of the week.
- El Cocinero: A converted factory space, this restaurant boasts stellar heights and even more stellar views. Offering an assortment of fine dining and bite-sized tapas, the rooftop restaurant and bar has multiple sub-spaces, including the perfect spot for mojitos or a romantic dinner. Recommended Eats: Lamb Curry, Pork Ribs.
- La Floridita: A haunt of writer Ernest Hemingway and the originator of the daiquiri, La Floridita gives you all the old-school feels of Cuba of years past. Nestled in Old Havana, the bright pink facade is hard to miss and the music from the live band is truly remarkable. Recommended Drinks: Daiquiri, Mojito, Cubata.
4. Where To Shop
To be frank, Cuba is not yet a hotbed of couture despite Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld having hosted their 2017 Resort Collection Preview on Paseo del Prado earlier this month. In Old Havana, tourist traps offer awe-inspiring art, wooden carvings, and knit swimwear. We found some outdoor markets selling vintage cameras, lapel pins, records, and watches – all seemingly from the 1950s and 1960s. We stumbled upon a polished vintage Movado timepiece in fantastic shape, which made for a super shopping find. Havana Jose Marti International Airport also offers duty free where you can purchase all the Cuban rum and cigars you can carry.
5. What To Do
I’m with Claire on the relaxing vacation-vacation. One day, we took a 2-hour bus ride to the beaches of Varadero, an untouched oasis of white sand and clear waters. Totally worth the ride and a day out in Varadero no doubt erases any stress. For the more adventurous type, a subset of our group traveled 2 hours to Viñales to take in the caves.
For the #museumjunkie, we toured the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana – with predominantly Cuban art – for a unparalleled education in Cuban politics and culture interpreted by hundreds of Cuban artists. For the tourist’s tourist, a Hop On/Hop Off bus for 10 Pesos will take you on a 30-40 minute ride throughout the entirety of Havana, stopping at numerous attractions, including Old Havana, the Capitol Building (designed after the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.) and Plaza de la Revolución. For those seeking a more local experience, take a walk on the boardwalk for beautiful views of the ocean and historic fortresses. Lest I forget, make sure to indulge in the old-school cars that are sprinkled throughout Havana. You can take a more formal city tour or catch one as a taxi and capture Instagram-worthy snapshots.
For nightlife, I recommend Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) Thursdays through Saturdays for a mix of music, dancing, and art. For the music-inclined, take in a cabaret or salsa music show at Tropicana or Buena Vista, respectively.
6. Style Notes
Style-wise, I sought to keep it island cool as the temperatures were quite hot. Jumpsuits were my friend on this trip. I paired a light blue linen one from J. Crew with my trusty Nikes on Day 1. On Day 2, I opted for a leather short set (also from J. Crew) with super cat-eye Dior sunglasses and rocked a grey-and-white vertical striped dress (from Urban Outfitters) for Day 3 at the beaches.
Most people – Cubans and tourists alike – kept it casual, but I wanted to give a slight twist whenever possible with festive accessories. With all the walking and sightseeing, heels just never seemed appropriate. That said, I definitely got bit by the Cuba bug and hope to return!
What do you think of my Havana, Cuba Travel Guide? Anything to add?
Images: Olamide Oladipo