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11-21-2019, 04:09 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: airdrie
Posts: 5,211
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Cuba
hi looking for feedback
wife wants to book a trip to cuba
varadero
iberostar resort
i want to go deep see fishing
and maybe some fishing in local area rivers and beaches
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LIFE IS TOUGH.....TOUGHER IF YOU'RE STUPID.-------------------“Women have the right to work wherever they want, as long as they have the dinner ready when you get home”
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11-21-2019, 04:22 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Rocky Mnt House
Posts: 936
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Cuba is beautiful.
But the food sucks, even at the resorts.
Everyone I have ever talked to has said the same. Food sucks!
The rest of the trip was great, but the food being terrible ruined the trip.
I would not recommend it, especially with the other options in the Caribbean being way better.
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11-21-2019, 04:56 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: In the woods
Posts: 8,923
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Going for some cigars?
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I feel I was denied, critical, need to know Information!
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11-21-2019, 04:56 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 9,677
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Bugs? A mom I know came back covered in No See em bites from some kind of bug. She had a horrible time due to the bites and never ventured off the all inclusive resort.
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11-21-2019, 05:10 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: airdrie
Posts: 5,211
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cigar tours rum tours
go to Havana
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LIFE IS TOUGH.....TOUGHER IF YOU'RE STUPID.-------------------“Women have the right to work wherever they want, as long as they have the dinner ready when you get home”
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11-21-2019, 05:13 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: NW Calgary
Posts: 1,049
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I've been to Cayo Coco twice, and while the food is mediocre, the flats fishing was awesome and reasonable priced.
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11-21-2019, 05:21 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: In the woods
Posts: 8,923
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I think there’s probably better places to go down there than Cuba, although it does look like an interesting place to visit.
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I feel I was denied, critical, need to know Information!
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11-21-2019, 05:24 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Camrose
Posts: 45,149
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I have been to Cayo Coco, and Cayo Santa Maria and both resorts were excellent. The food wasn't exceptional, but it wasn't awful either.
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Only accurate guns are interesting.
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11-21-2019, 05:27 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: St Albert
Posts: 809
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We were at the Iberostar last March. They call it Iberostar Selection now. We ate at the a la carte restaurants 4 times and went mainly for anything lobster or seafood. All restaurants were good but did not eat at the Japanese restaurant. The Cuban restaurant was good for the lobster and the traditional soup which was surprisingly good.
The beach is fantastic and did not see a bug once while there. Throw the bartender in the lobby or bar open late 5 CUC and get them to fill your insulated bottle with wine for your room. Good cigar store and coffee shop right off the lobby. Our ritual was to have a cigar and drinks in the lobby bar before supper after a long day at the beach. This is one of the nicer resorts in Varadero but is more like a 3.5/4 star Mexican resort due to different standards.
Get your phone unlocked and make sure wifi calling can be enabled. Put your phone into airplane mode with wifi on and call home or text without roaming or using data. They issue you wifi cards at 1 cuc and hour. Connect in and disconnect after you are done as the timer keeps running.
They tell you about tours in the lobby the next day if you get in late but someone will be assigned to you depending on how you got there by airline or tour operator. We tipped a couple of CUCs and lunch and 3-5 at supper and were treated like kings the whole time there.
Last edited by Rdamours; 11-21-2019 at 05:38 PM.
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11-21-2019, 05:28 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 8,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leeelmer
Cuba is beautiful.
But the food sucks, even at the resorts.
Everyone I have ever talked to has said the same. Food sucks!
The rest of the trip was great, but the food being terrible ruined the trip.
I would not recommend it, especially with the other options in the Caribbean being way better.
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Bit of a broad brush, but some truth to it.
Food at our Jibacoa resort was better than some I have had in Mexico, Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
Bring condiments that you like. The Cuban equivalent is lacking in quality and selection.
Small bottles of Hot sauce etc are easy to pack. Take-out packs of ketchup and mustard are easy to start collecting now.
We tipped at restaurant and bars on resort with mini chocolate bars from Halloween pacs. Often staff are searched for cash, but easy for them to pop a chocolate in their mouth.
Pay a little extra for the VIP lounge on departure can be booked through your tour operator.Best decision I made in Cuba.
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You're only as good as your last haircut
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11-21-2019, 05:49 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: My House
Posts: 13,465
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Experiences differ
My wife and I have been twice. Once to Varadero and once to Cayo Coco. Both times we went, we chose brand spanking new resorts. Because of that they were less than half capacity, and were pulling out all the stops, as Tripadvisor reviews are everything to resorts. Food was top of the heap, and I cook for a living. If we ate anymore lobster we'd have grown claws. Rooms brand new. Beaches were stunning.
As a result, reviews were exceptional. Elk11 went to one of the same resorts a year later and his experience was polar opposite. Once they are operating near capacity it seems things slide.
So do your homework, read hundreds of user reviews and you will get a clear picture of what your holiday will be.
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11-21-2019, 05:50 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Alberta
Posts: 1,028
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Food is meh... better than I was told.
Beaches were unbelievable (Cayo coco)
Locals were very friendly and welcoming.
Price was super reasonable.
Drinks were horrific, and WTF is up with their ketchup?!??
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11-21-2019, 06:05 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,006
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I stayed at the riu veradero which is beside the iberostar. Our upgraded rooms provided us lobster every evening if we wanted it. Everyone likes to complain about food but they clearly cheap out on rooms or resorts. I havent been bothered by the food in cuba.
The iberostar was beside the riu. It had the nicer of the beaches and better looking resort. The riu was super new so wasnt as lush.
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11-21-2019, 06:25 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: airdrie
Posts: 5,211
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thanks for all the info
i will be packing a take down rod
__________________
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LIFE IS TOUGH.....TOUGHER IF YOU'RE STUPID.-------------------“Women have the right to work wherever they want, as long as they have the dinner ready when you get home”
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11-21-2019, 06:32 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: On the border in Lloydminster
Posts: 8,369
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Leaving tomorrow for the Starfish Varadero just down the road I'll leave a review in 10 days
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11-21-2019, 06:46 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Calgary Perchdance
Posts: 18,892
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I have a guide connection if you want to fish a day for flats bonefish and a day for river tarpon.
Just PM me. You will need a 10 weight fly rod or heavy spinning rod for the river tarpon and an 8 weight fly rod or medium action spinning for bonefish.
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It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself. Charles Darwin
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11-21-2019, 09:10 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 21,399
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sooner
Bugs? A mom I know came back covered in No See em bites from some kind of bug. She had a horrible time due to the bites and never ventured off the all inclusive resort.
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Sand fleas, easy to avoid, unless you're stupid. They love the beach at sun down, lying on a deck chair doesn't help. Good thing my daughter in law made up a first aid kit with antibiotic cream, at least fought the possibility of infection.
Grizz
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"Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal."
John E. Pfeiffer The Emergence of Man
written in 1969
Last edited by Grizzly Adams; 11-21-2019 at 09:15 PM.
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11-21-2019, 09:23 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 21,399
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Quote:
Originally Posted by R3illy
I stayed at the riu veradero which is beside the iberostar. Our upgraded rooms provided us lobster every evening if we wanted it. Everyone likes to complain about food but they clearly cheap out on rooms or resorts. I havent been bothered by the food in cuba.
The iberostar was beside the riu. It had the nicer of the beaches and better looking resort. The riu was super new so wasnt as lush.
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New rationing introduced for Cubans, while I was there. Guy on tv leaving a store with a few eggs, bushel basket in our restaurant, every morning and night, pure white. Sad, but that's what keeps the island afloat. Not 5 star, by any means, but no worse than finding a decent meal in the Yukon.
Grizz
__________________
"Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal."
John E. Pfeiffer The Emergence of Man
written in 1969
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11-21-2019, 09:51 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 752
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Out of curiosity, is the food better if you venture out of the resort? When I think of vacationing I wanna do it Anthony Bourdain style. I've never been on an airplane but Cuba really seems interesting.
Local restaurants, street meat and the like.
Last edited by ssyd; 11-21-2019 at 09:56 PM.
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11-22-2019, 07:08 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: At the end of the Thirsty Beaver Trail, Pinsky lake, Alberta.
Posts: 24,613
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Some food just like here in North America I chew and spit out....Cuba and I tell you this has the best chicken, pork and fish along with great bread so can't go wrong that way...enjoy after all it's what you make of it....luv cuba
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Be careful when you follow the masses, sometimes the "M" is silent...
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11-22-2019, 07:27 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Camrose
Posts: 45,149
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ssyd
Out of curiosity, is the food better if you venture out of the resort? When I think of vacationing I wanna do it Anthony Bourdain style. I've never been on an airplane but Cuba really seems interesting.
Local restaurants, street meat and the like.
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The best food that I ate in Cuba, was at the theme restaurants in the resort. It was actually very good. The buffets at the resort were pretty basic, and while the food was not fancy, I didn't mind it. We had a few meals while on day trips, and it varied from bland to quite good. I don't drink a lot of coffee, but what was served at the resorts was not what I am used to. The one resort had excellent facilities, the other had plumbing issues, as in a water leak that resulted in moving some people from floors beneath us. There were also a few days where the water was barely warm, and the shower drain was plugged, and the toilet valve was stuck. After waiting a few hours for someone to come, I fixed both issues myself and we had no more issues. The beaches were beautiful, far nicer than Maui.
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Only accurate guns are interesting.
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11-22-2019, 08:17 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Peace..................Country
Posts: 229
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams
Sand fleas, easy to avoid, unless you're stupid. They love the beach at sun down, lying on a deck chair doesn't help. Good thing my daughter in law made up a first aid kit with antibiotic cream, at least fought the possibility of infection.
Grizz
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Oh boy, I had the same thing happen but mine were a lot thicker. Never felt anything like that in my life - brutal. The wife didn't get a single bite. Take some Benadryl itch/bite cream and bug spray. We encountered a few bugs nothing bad though (other than the sand fleas).
I thought the food was decent. We ate out a lot and the food was good. I can live on fresh garden vegetables though so YMMV.
Our biggest regret was not making it to Havana. We did a snorkel / sailing trip and a 4x4 truck trip that were both good. The sailing trip took us to a different island that was one of the nicest places I have ever been. They cooked food on open fire on the beach an it was pretty good.
Also, I took extra ball caps and a few folding knives and the wife took clothes. Use them as tips for the housekeeping staff or use to barter with. I got a nice bottle of rum for a buck folding knife (~$10 new). That guy and I went back and forth for a few days on that trade but apparently he said he couldn't get anything like that there.
Last edited by Indy; 11-22-2019 at 08:32 AM.
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11-22-2019, 10:29 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 9,618
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Don't try to save a few dollars by booking less than a 5 star.
Those few bucks are worth the food quality and service and beach. I've had friends go less and regret it
Enjoy the fishing. you'll love it
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11-22-2019, 12:02 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by huntinstuff
Don't try to save a few dollars by booking less than a 5 star.
Those few bucks are worth the food quality and service and beach. I've had friends go less and regret it
Enjoy the fishing. you'll love it
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interestingly my wife booked a 3 star over new years one year in Cuba for her and the kids and she said it was one of the best times shes had. She loves Cuba over any other country.
She paid double the price that it normally costs to go at that time of year... ugh.
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