Page 255 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

WHERE T O ST A Y  253

Prices
Hotel rates in the capital and
in the more famous seaside
resorts such as Cayo Largo,
Varadero, Cayo Coco and Playa
Guardalavaca, are more than
those in the rest of the country
and correspond approximately
to international levels.
Whatever the star rating of
a hotel, prices will be higher in
peak season, which runs from
December to April, and from
the beginning of July to the
end of August.
The terrace at Hotel Casa Granda in the heart of Santiago de Cuba (see p263)
Tipping
Booking
It is customary to leave a conditioning and TV. The price
propina (tip) for the hotel staff It is best to book accom modation includes breakfast, lunch and
|at the end of your stay. The well ahead of your visit through dinner (usually buffet), and all
amount of the propina is at a travel agency in your home drinks. Sports activities of all
your discre tion and will vary country or online to ensure that kinds (sailing, snorkelling, scuba
according to the type of hotel, you will get a room and date to diving, swimming, surfing) are
how long you stay and the type your liking. Your tour operator provided – some at extra cost.
and quality of service. It is, may also be able to offer special Other options include games
however, useful to remember package deals. In high season, in rooms, playgrounds and baby-
that a tip in con vertible pesos particular, when there are special sitting services, freshwater
(CUC) or euros may amount to events such as Carnival in pools for children and adults,
the equivalent of a month’s Santiago de Cuba, or one of the car rental service, shops and
salary in Cuban pesos (CUP). many cultural festivals in Havana, beach equipment. In some
it may be difficult to find a room. parts of Cuba, these all-inclusive
holiday villages are the only
Disabled Travellers option available.
Holiday Villages
Only the more recently-built
hotels have rooms purpose- Resorts and holiday villages Specialist Holidays
built for disabled people, are ideal for people who want
including bathrooms with a relaxing, sunny holiday by Many tour operators
wheelchair access. the beach, with comfortable specializing in holidays in
Unfortunately, the majority of rooms and all meals and Cuba also offer tours for those
Cuban hotels are not equipped facilities provided. interested in a particular
with such facilities. Nonetheless, All-inclusive packages offer activity. Many all-inclusive
in general, hotel staff will do a complete deal, with lodging resorts offer diving lessons
everything they can to be of in bungalows or apartments for beginners, but qualified
help to disabled clients. with bathroom, phone, air divers have a wider range of
options. Qualified scuba
divers need to provide proof
of their qualifications and must
take out fully comprehensive
travel insurance. Some dive
sites such as María La Gorda
(see p150) and Isla de la
Juventud (see p154) require
skill and experience. Keen
divers can stay in hotels
and tourist villages near
dive sites.
The best place to learn
salsa is, of course, in Cuba,
and UK-based Caledonia
arranges all-inclusive holidays
with salsa tuition by expert
teachers, and visits to the
Meliá Cayo Coco, beautifully set on an island just off the Atlantic Coast (see p261) best dance venues.

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