Cuba has recently sought to diversify its travel portfolio away from a purely sea and sun travel market. A number of recent hotel developments, including the prestigious 5 star boutique Saratoga hotel, the Grand Iberostar in Trinidad and the beach resort of Occidental Royal Hideaway in Cayo Ensenachos have expanded the choice available to premium and incentive travelers. A direct Virgin Atlantic service has also increased flight options. Cuba is probably best known for its classic images, the revolutionary icon Che Guevara, and its current leader Fidel Castro, Havana cigars, vintage American cars, rum, salsa, the Buena Vista Social Club, Ernest Hemingway, and the Tropicana Cabaret (see photo illustrated here)… Less well known is the fact that Havana is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Cuba in general is a Mecca of arts and culture. Between October and December increasingly popular international festivals of ballet, jazz and Latin American films bring arts aficionados from all over the world. Other festivals, exhibitions and shows take place throughout the year. There are also a number of museums showing both contemporary and classical work art. On a day to day basis the sheer quality of Cuban musicians playing in bars, restaurants and nightclubs throughout the country add a real joie de vivre. For the discerning visitor it is possible to enjoy some dining experiences in beautiful settings. For ambience in Havana it is hard to beat the El Patio Restaurant which is located within an old aristocratic palace in the romantic Cathedral Square (see photo illustrated here). In Varadero the exclusive DuPont Villa, now known as the Xanadu Mansion, boasts a very good restaurant where you can have canapés and champagne served on the terrace overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Within Havana a gala dinner at the elite Club Havana featuring a top-quality Cuban band playing under the stars offers a good incentive programme option. While in Varadero a number of hotels including the Cayo Libertad Island premium area attached to the new Barcelo Marina Palace is a good choice. An excursion west of Havana to the province of Pinar de Rio lets the visitor appreciate some of Cuba's natural beauty. This is prime tobacco growing country where the red soil is still ploughed by oxen. The limestone hay stack type mountains of the rare majestic Mogotes of the Vinales Valley are particularly scenic. Other options for the adventurous include a journey on the old Hershey 'Chocolate' Train, a forest and river excursion with self-drive jeeps and motor boats, or deep sea game fishing for marlin. Additionally excellent diving and sailing is available and there are opportunities to trek or ride horses at eco mountain resorts. You can even, if the feeling takes you, play a round at Cuba's Havana's golf course where Fidel and Che once had a memorable game. It is a cliché to say that a country's greatest asset is the warmth of its people. In Cuba's case it happens to be true. Charismatic, friendly and open, Cuban people are mercifully free of the excesses bred from mass tourism and commercialised excess. For groups seeking somewhere for incentive events or individuals for premium sojourns Cuba really does offer a destination which is both uniquely interesting and has a number of upmarket options. I am proud to represent one of a number of European travel companies with European management and staff based in Cuba which have the necessary knowledge and experience to fulfil our client's particular needs. Details of all three companies that are dedicated to quality upmarket services and who provide the Havana Connaisseur programme are given below: Cuba Real Tours (Swiss/German) sales@cubarealtours.com Cuba Select Travel (British) sales@cubaselecttravel.com Cuba Autrement (French) sales@cubaselecttravel.com |
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