Finding a summer destination for a holiday in February is always a bit challenging, especially if you don’t want to go to Asia. Europe mostly doesn’t qualify, because even Canary islands aren’t that warm yet. We crossed Thailand, Oman, and India off the list already. So this year we were debating between Maldives and Vietnam and finally decided for Cuba.

• When to go? Sooner rather than later. I have been thinking of going to Cuba literally for years now. But, season-wise, it is best to visit Cuba somewhere between December and April, to avoid hurricanes and rain and soak up some sunshine. PS: Avoid travelling during the Easter holidays and during Christmas time, as always.
• Where to go? We are leaving in a few days, but still trying to figure out exactly what to do and see in our 18 days visiting Cuba. At first, we wanted to do a trip around the whole country. But, if you want to take it easy and actually experience Cuba, it is maybe better to divide the country into two parts and visit them on two separate trips. Meaning? Don’t try to cram visiting Vinales and Santiago de Cuba into a 2-week trip. We decided to draw a line somewhere near Trinidad and leave the eastern parts of Cuba for next time.

• Which vaccinations are recommended? It is recommended to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A+B and tetanus, so nothing out of the ordinary. There is no malaria in Cuba, but you’ll need mosquito repellents.
• What else to arrange before travelling? You might need an international drivers licence if you are planning on renting a car or scooter. You definitely need to arrange your travel insurance. Make a copy of your travel documents and don’t forget to get a visa. In Slovenia, you can get it quickly and hassle-free at Nomago travel. It costs around 35€ per person.
• How to book accommodation in Cuba? We are planning on sleeping in Casas particulares. We booked the first two – for Havana and Vinales through Airbnb. There is really a lot of different Casas on Airbnb for all price ranges, so no worries there. After Vinales we are planning on relying on local recommendations since we do not have a fixed plan of travel yet. Your casas can also arrange transport for you, if necessary.
• And what about transport? If we are talking about transport from Havana airport to Havana. There are lots of taxies waiting at Havana airport, but we decided to book transportation through our first Casa particular since we don’t want to look for one after hours of travelling. Yp, we are getting old. We are planning on taking taxi collectivo (a shared taxi) from Havana to Vinales. After that, we might use buses, scooters or taxis. We’ll see.
• What to do in Cuba? We want to explore Havana, enjoy in nature in Vinales, go scuba diving somewhere for a few days, check out Trinidad and then slowly head back to Havana. And of course, drink some rum in the sun and eat some lobster. We are not planning on visiting any “all-inclusive” types of places, for now. But that is our loose plan which might change. We’ll keep you posted on Instagram (probably).
• What else to note before travelling to Cuba? Learn about two different currencies, common tourist scams which are fairly popular, prepare yourself for internet detox, buy travel-sized cosmetics (sunblock, toothpaste, shower gel, mosquito repellent) since it is difficult to buy that there. Buy an electrical converter and a travel guide. Since the internet is not reliable in Cuba, an oldfashioned book (like Lonely planet) might actually come in handy.

Now, all we need to do is pack, and we’re off.