anyone been to Cuba? edited - should read "Cuba or Mexico?" instead I think

Hello - I have and loved it. There was a thread the other day started by NickJ which has got a lot of recommendations in. We went mid May too.

Are you looking for a beach holiday or for the Havana experience? Cos the beach holiday could have been anywhere at all, nice but not 'Cuba' as we dreamed of before we went.

In Havana we actually followed the walks in the Time out or whatever guide book, and were really pleased that we did, it took us in to places we wouldn't have gone.

Thank you DD for your reply.

I will go off and search for NickJ's post now.

I guess I am looking for a combination of beach and Havana. I dance salsa so I guess my "romantic notion" has always been fo go there and be able to go out to real original salsa clubs and dance ??

I went to Cuba in June for my second visit. I stayed 10 nights in Varadero and 4 nights in Havana. I wish I had spent longer in Havana and cut down the stay in Varadero. Hotels are not the most luxurious and food is limted and often bland, but that is Cuba. I stayed at the Blau Varadero and then the Parque Central in Havana. Look on trip advisor as they have reviews on all of the hotels and a discussion forum. I booked with a company called The Holiday Place and got a great deal with them, compared to the likes of Thomson and First Choice.

HTH

M

We went to Mexico for our honeymoon last feb/march and really liked it. We did go AI though, but there are places that you dont have to go AI and some pretty good hotels, ours wasnt 5* but was still very nice.

I went to Mexico many times when I was working for an airline as we used to get great deals at the hotels there.

It depends really what you want from a holiday. Cancun (whilst nice about 15 years ago) is completely over commercialised and I would not go there now. Playa del Carmen - up the coast from Cancun is nicer but probably not my first choice of destination. Both places are very lively with lots of bars, restaurants. Avoid Cancun like the plague during the US Spring Break holiday.

If you wanted to go to that area Cozumel is nice than Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

I didn't like Acapulco - it was OK, but again I wouldn't go back.

Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are nice and I love Puerto Vallarto which still has it's old town with cobbled stones and loads of character. It's harder to get to the west coast but worth it in my opinion.

We've just come back from El Dorado Royale (yes, I know, shocking name) in Mexico. It's an adults only, all inclusive resort in Mexico. We had a great time. Although it's all inclusive all the restaurants are a la carte. We stayed in the Casitas (upgraded suites) and the rooms were lovely, beds were great, so it felt more 5* service - I personally wouldn't stay in the 'normal' rooms. I'd say it's good for a week but you might struggle for 2 because I think the restaurants would get repetitive.

Allthatglitters has just got back from Mexico as well so she should be able to give advice on her resort.

I've been to both (we were evacuated from Cuba to Mexico due to Hurricane) and I would and have gone back to Mexico but I'm really not bothered by the thought of going back to Cuba if that is any help.

I prefer the people, hotels and beaches in Mexico.

I have been to Mexico twice, but both times AI. I went to the sister hotel of the one Clare M went to, Eldorado seaside suites. Again it is adult only, and ala carte restaurants. It is a lot smaller than the other one. It was very 'honeymooney' big double four poster sunbeds on the beach, big cushion things in one of the bars, etc. It was lovely, but does not sound like the type of hotel you are looking for.

We went to Cuba about 9 years ago and it was great - but then we love AI and sitting by a pool doing nothing for 2 weeks!

We've just booked to go back this year and I'm really looking forward to it. Step-son is a bit disappointed as he's just read the smallprint in the brochure and it says you're not allowed to take DVD players or PSPs into Cuba and if you do and they're found, they will be confiscated and not returned! ?

I honeymooned at The Melia Cayo Coco in April 2005 and had an amazing time. Although I don't think it's what you are after. It's an AI hotel, just off the coast of Cuba and joined to the mainland by a causeway. It was great as we weren't hassled on the beaches. We took a few trips whilst we were there, to Havana and Trinidad. Both great experiences.

We've also been to Mexico but it was Cancun about 8 years ago. If we were to go back we'd look at Playa del Carmen or Rivera Maya.

We went to Aventura Spa Palace in Mexico last nov and it was an All inclusive hotel we had a great time

We stayed at Moon Palace - Cancun 2 years ago and that was lovely and have just got back (boo) from Valentin Imperial Maya - Rivera Maya, brilliant hotel, 5* and adults only. AI but only one restaurant is buffet in the evening, others are french, italian, mexican, indonesian, japanese, lobster and steak. All fabulous food. Service was good, rooms fab (although we moved as the first room was fantastic but the view was not) we got upgraded to an ocean view room which is worth it. All in all - I'd rec both Moon Palace and Valentin imperial, however the grounds of the Valentin are much nicer than Moon palace. service/rooms about the same.