A New Year Haven in Havana, Cuba
New Year's Eve in Havana for December 2016 was a delight! The island of rich history, natural beauty, turquoise waters topped with endless mojitos and salsa dancing made it an obvious holiday destination.
I flew to Havana on Southwest; I booked my plane ticket in October for $147, departing from my home airport, FLL - Fort Lauderdale. Southwest uses its own Cuba Travel Visa service and charges $50.
I ended up traveling under the "people to people" option, but the entire visa process was so simple and carefree. No one asked or checked, or seemed to really care. The biggest issue is the two separate lines that Southwest had to pick it up at the airport that made everything confusing.
To avoid some of the confusion I faced, here’s a link to help navigate this part of the itinerary with more confidence: https://cubavisaservices.com/product/sw-visa-card/
Exchanging currency is as much a hassle as you've heard largely because of our American dependency on credit cards. USD were not accepted in most places, and the lengthy line to exchange US dollars for Cuban Pesos (CUP) required some planning. The best advice that I got beforehand was that Cuba was a cash-country and to carry small bills.
Here are three of my recommendations for Havana:
Where to Stay- I didn't want to venture too far out of the city during my first trip there, so I chose a Wimdu home rental in Havana, right on the Hemingway marina in a nice, three bedroom house. The rental included breakfast made daily by the homeowner and had a gazebo on the water where I played cards and watched the sunset. https://www.wimdu.com/offers/YAGMWHRV
2. Where to Play- Fusterlandia with its artwork renowned for historical and whimsical appeal. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fusterlandia
3. Where to Graze- El Laurel on Avenida 5ta. Food in Havana was often severely limited and not always guaranteed.
At this gem beside the water, every item on the menu was perfect and no more than $8. And $3 mojitos! I returned three times. www.restaurantellaurel.com
My Takeaway: Havana was the safest city I've ever visited. I attempted to the bus system well after midnight, got lost, and felt completely safe while roaming through the city. Next time, I'll venture out to other major cities like Trinidad and Varadero.
I cannot wait to bring #SelfieStickAdventures to the rest of the country! ♡
