Cuba to Mexico Flight

[Progressive]

Me and the other half are torn between a holiday in Cuba (Varadero) or Mexico (Cancun). After seeing how close they are on a map, we have expressed the interest to do both in one trip. A week in Cuba and then a week in Mexico.

I've trawled the internet in the usual places but cannot find any internal flights! Any suggestions?

Additionally has anybody done this or travelled in this area much who could advise on the logistics of such a trip?

[Puggit]

Flights to Mexico definitely exist, as I believe this is the main route in for US citizens (as direct flights are banned).

A quick search shows that Cubana are your only choice. Should make for an 'entertaining' flight

[K50 DEL]

Both AeroMexico and Cubana fly direct from Havana to Cancun for about 200 Euro return if that's any help, flights leave pretty much daily.

[Puggit]

K50 DEL said:

Both AeroMexico and Cubana fly direct from Havana to Cancun for about 200 Euro return if that's any help, flights leave pretty much daily.

Go on then, find me that AeroMexico flight?

[K50 DEL]

Puggit said:

Go on then, find me that AeroMexico flight?

That would be the direct AeroMexico flight that goes via Mexico City then..... oops!!

[Fats25]

I cannot answer your question, aside to say I know flights do run. But Cuba is a huge place. You would need a month to see it all......... and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I cannot comment on Mexico as have not been there (somewhere else on my list when it gets a bit safer!).

Varadero is nice. The Blau hotels is probably the best, but depending on what you want from holiday, don't waste too much time there. Cuba is stunning - and you want to get in there before it changes.......

Read this

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0... off your own back...........&mid=45249

[Progressive]

I've decided against the internal flight due to the horror stories I have read about the flights, planes, safety and recent crashes. Not for me (or more truthfully, for my other half).

Back to the drawing board.

[BigAlinEmbra]

You could easily fill an interesting fortnight in Cuba.
As long as you bin Varadero!

If you've got to beach it then Playa Santa Maria is only 20 mins out of Havana.



Nice enough and not too busy.

I went to Cuba for a fortnight and my only regret is not getting out Havana enough.
I reckon about a week in Havana is about right, and spend another week or so getting out to Vinales etc.

[Fats25]

BigAlinEmbra said:

You could easily fill an interesting fortnight in Cuba.
As long as you bin Varadero!

Very easily. As per the other thread I commented in - I have three regrets about my Cuba trip:-

1) We spent too long in Varadero
2) We never got to Vinales
3) We should have stayed in Casa's the whole way through - with exception of the hotel in Havana that was a great treat.

[BigAlinEmbra]

I've not been to Varadero, but I just know it wouldn't be for me.

I've got a real aversion to "you could be anywhere" hotels, which is how I've got the Varadero resorts pegged in my head.

Whilst I think casas all the way is maybe a step too far (my understanding is that at times you need to have decent spanish to get by, which rules me out), I'm more a fan of hotels that represent the character of where you are.

The Nacional is a bit out the way, but it just oozes prohibition era gangster cool.
If you're on a big budget then the Saratoga or Parque Central with their rooftop pools looking out at the Capitolio dome are awesomely cool too.

A lot of the trips to Cuba get the balance a bit wrong for me. You can see all of Havana in 3 days, but if you're rushing about all the time you're not really getting the place.
Chill out, have a mojito, mosey through the old streets and reset life to a latin pace!
On reflection 2 weeks was a bit long for just Havana, but it met the budget at the time.

If you don't give Havana enough time it'll frustrate you, but get into the flow and you'll fall in love with the place.

It's one of my favourite cities in the entire world I think. I've not visited them all yet, but I doubt there's anywhere quite like it.

I'd take a fortnight in Havana over Cancun any day of the week.

[Fats25]

BigAlinEmbra said:

I've not been to Varadero, but I just know it wouldn't be for me.

I've got a real aversion to "you could be anywhere" hotels, which is how I've got the Varadero resorts pegged in my head.

That is exactly what it was like. Not a problem for what I wanted before booking the holiday - I needed a few days to unwind from work, read a book, be waited on hand and foot, and do nothing, including thinking or interacting. Loved every minute of it. But........ in hindsight, 2 or maybe 3 days would have been enough - as would have then given us the time to see more of real Cuba.

BigAlinEmbra said:

Whilst I think casas all the way is maybe a step too far (my understanding is that at times you need to have decent spanish to get by, which rules me out).

My Spanish consists of Dos cerveza por favor - even if I only want one beer, I will buy two as that is the best I can do! It would have enriched the experience in the Casa's to speak Spanish, but it was fantastic to meet and live with the people. They all get a friend round that can speak English, and wants to practice it so you can all converse.

BigAlinEmbra said:

The Nacional is a bit out the way, but it just oozes prohibition era gangster cool.
If you're on a big budget then the Saratoga or Parque Central with their rooftop pools looking out at the Capitolio dome are awesomely cool too.

We stayed in Parque Central, and was fantastic. Agreed re the Nacional - a bit more time and would have stayed there as well.

BigAlinEmbra said:

It's one of my favourite cities in the entire world I think. I've not visited them all yet, but I doubt there's anywhere quite like it.

I'd take a fortnight in Havana over Cancun any day of the week.

I have never been to Cancun, but I cannot imagine it can match what any of Cuba has to offer. Is it not an American Tenerife?

Havana is in my top 5 cities in the world today that I have visited. If I could have been there in the casino era, I can't imagine anywhere better on earth!

[BigAlinEmbra]

I've not been to Cancun as my assumption of it matches your description!

I'd love to go and see Mexico, but can leave Cancun I think. Strikes me a bit as going to a nasty Costa resort instead of seeing Seville, Madrid, Barcelona or Pamplona.

I'll be leaving Latin America alone for a wee while though, having had a fortnight in Cuba, 3 weeks in Argentina, and a 4 week tour of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina in the past 4 years.

So many places to see, and not enough annual leave!