5 Little Things to Know before an All-Inclusive Cuba Trip

March break is coming soon in Canada. Cuba has long been one of the top sun destinations during winter break for Canadians. If you are planning an all-inclusive Cuba trips to enjoy beaches and palm trees this year, please take a look at the little tips summarized by many pro travellers.

Travel relaxation vs Cultural trip

A trip to an all-inclusive in Cuba is far from the cultural trip. You do not have to be ashamed of choosing relaxation. Personally, I love traveling to discover new corners of the world and new cultures, but sometimes I need to go just to put the switch to off. For the all-inclusive program, you will have beaches, pools, drinks, naps … you can imagine the picture. For those who really want to visit and explore, excursions (paying option) can often be proposed in addition to the all-inclusive package.

Star

If you asked your friends who have been to Cuba many time, they will suggest that in Cuba, you should not choose a low 4-star hotel. That is true in most cases. If this is the first time you visit Cuba, you should follow this advice. Note that in Cuba, a four or five star hotel there is far from being equivalent to a four or five star in Canada. You should be aware of this to avoid disappointment.

Food

Many people complained about the buffet style food offered in all-inclusive package. For example, the food is redundant and everything just tastes the same. Well, that really depend on what your expectations are. If you feel upset for the food and cannot manage to eat well, it’s possible that your week seems a little long. In Cuba, what you should really be careful about is water. Drinking bottled water is strongly recommended by many travellers.

Tipping

“All-inclusive” doesn’t mean there is nothing to pay at the spot. You need to prepare some cash for the tip, which is very important. People there are always appreciated by your tip. There is no need to give tip for each drink ordered. When you have your meals in the buffet, try to stick with the same servers as much as possible, and you will be quite OK to give one CUC per meal every two days.

You can also purchase items to give maids. These small items often worth more than money because they cannot be found in Cuba or can only be bought at very high prices. You should plan a visit to the Dollarama before departure and fill your suitcase with some small items.

For example, the following items would be an ideal gift:

• Toothbrushes and toothpaste – These things can of course be found in Cuba, but there’s not a lot of variety. Novelty children’s toothbrushes make a nice choice.
• Female hygiene products – Again, these are available in Cuba but without a huge amount of variety.
• Shampoo and conditioner.
• Beauty products such as moisturizer and even makeup.
• Sunblock

Internet

Good or bad; the good news is that you can enjoy your vacation without Internet because the Internet connection is rarely good in hotels in Cuba. Although you pay for half hour to use the computers, sometimes just open your mailbox can take two minutes. I say that’s a good reason to take leave. However, if you cannot live without Internet, you should really think about other destinations.