‘Cuba is dangerous’
Myth: All that political upheaval sounds intense – isn’t Cuba a dangerous country to visit?
Bec says: In my experience, Cuba is one of the safest places to travel.
In Havana there are tourist police that patrol the old town, and the authorities do not look kindly on criminals, who are punished severely if caught.
As the economic situation is quite dire, you can, as a tourist, end up attracting touts and hangers-on, which can be annoying, but in general they are harmless.
‘It’s all resorts’
Myth: All-inclusives aren’t my thing, but that is all that Cuba appears to offer
Bec says: There is so much more to Cuba than all-inclusive resorts. You really must leave the resort and explore the island.
Staying in a casa particulare (a home-stay) or eating in a paladar (a restaurant set up in someone’s front room) allows you to see the real Cuba.
‘Tourists ignored’
Myth: I’ve heard the locals aren’t supposed to talk to tourists, so you can’t have an authentic experience
Bec says: If you speak a reasonable amount of Spanish then you cannot shut the locals up!
They are curious about why you are in Cuba, where you come from, if you are married, how many children you have.
I was also told before I went the first time that Cubans will not discuss politics – yet the Cubans I met did nothing but talk about politics!
Staunch supporters of communism might not talk about politics but younger people with more modern ideas will.
Something you do need to keep at the back of your mind when talking to the local people is: “Do they want something from me?”
It is not uncommon for people to attach themselves to you for a free drink or a tip.
Talking to the locals is a great way to learn about Cuba, and if you are asked to buy a drink at the end it is a small cost.
But not all Cubans are like that, and many are genuinely interested in telling you about themselves.
‘It’s too crowded’
Myth: We want to get away from Cuban properties the crowds. Cuba is too big and has too much tourism to find a secluded spot
Bec says: Secluded spots are still there. Some have basic facilities such as Playa Larga, Isla de la Juventud (great for diving), and Guama.
Another spot which is more comfortable, but still less busy, is Cayo Sta Maria.
‘It’s downmarket’
Myth: We want a very high-end holiday, but Cuba just doesn’t offer that kind of luxury
Bec says: The Sol Melia chain has luxurious hotels throughout Cuba, including Varadero, Guadalavaca and Holguin.
There are also two lovely hotels in Havana, the Hotel Parque Central and the newly constructed Saratogo Hotel.
But you could say that compared with south-east Asia or the Pacific, Cuba is not that luxurious.
‘The food is lousy’
Myth: The food in Cuba is supposed to be terrible
Bec says: In the smaller cities, what is available is directly related to the seasons.
Coastal areas, for example, tend to have a good abundance and variety of seafood.
Inland, you might not have seafood but other meats might be on the menu. In all-inclusive hotels, there is usually more to choose from.
In Havana there are restaurants that cater to a wider range of tastes – there are pizzerias and a Chinatown, for example.
However, many of the state-run restaurants have the same beans and rice with pork or chicken as their staple dish.
‘Flying is risky’
Myth: I’ve heard internal flights are a death trap! What if I want to combine a city with a beach stay?
Bec says: The main domestic airlines are Cubana and Aerocaribbean. Cubana has a poor safety reputation, but has now upgraded its fleet of old Russian aircraft.
Flight delays are common, but this is an inconvenience rather than a danger to your health and welfare.
The Cubana service from London lets you disembark in Holguin (the airport for beach destination Guadalavaca) and, after a few days, you can continue the flight to Havana.
Cuba’s most famous beach destination, Varadero, is just a few hours from Havana by coach.