How to visit Cuba
How I did it: From Hong Kong, I flew to New York, then to Cuba via Cancun on Mexicana Air. I arrived in Havana, and spent three days there before taking a 5-hour Viazul bus trip to Trinidad, where I spent another three days. My last one and a half days were spent traveling back to Havana and exploring more of the city.
On my next trip back, I'd definitely fly via Canada instead as it will shorten travel time by almost ten hours, and flights from there are more frequent into Cuba. Also, I'd spend up to two more weeks there as there's a lot more of the country I'd love to visit!
Lessons & tips: Plan your accommodation ahead, at least for the first couple of days there...you avoid the hassle of dealing with touts. I highly recommend staying at casa particulares (private homes run by families) as it gives you a better glimpse into the way Cubans live and think. Plus they are valuable information resources as well...they are usually able to refer you on to other casas in different towns.
This is oft-mentioned as well, but bring Euros or sterling as the US$ is no longer valuable - the above currencies will give you the best rates upon conversion to convertible pesos (Cuba's tourist currency - about CUC$1.36 to EUR$1.00 in Aug'08).
Check bus schedules the day before you plan on traveling as they are wont to change whenever they feel like it - my travel companion and I were caught out both times and had to wait a few hours for the next bus. Also make sure you figure out if it's a Viazul bus or Astro bus...the latter is for locals but there are a couple of seats they set aside for tourists if you're lucky.
La Julia was one of the yummiest paladars I ate at, as was the internationally-known La Guarida. Make your reservation for the latter as soon as you arrive as they're usually packed to the gills. Seafood is extremely cheap there in comparison to other developed nations, so lobster yourself silly.
Women - try to travel with a male companion if possible as you'll probably get hassled far, FAR less than if you were solo or with another woman. While not dangerous, it can get tiresome and rather annoying, so having a male travel buddy helps loads to fend off unwanted attention.
Biggest tip - if you're travelling about in the summer months, buy a couple of paper fans as the heat is unescapable and unbearable!
