Travel Tuesday: Cuba

Before I launch into my first-ever Travel Tuesday post of 2018, I want to get something travel-related off my chest. So, here goes a quick lament:

I know this is ridiculous because the year has barely started, but I can't help but feel bummed that I haven't gone a ton of traveling yet and don't have any plans on the horizon. I think it's because this time last year, I'd already had my first (and second!) New York City experience, Jesse and I were about to embark on our amazing Guatemalan adventure and Katy and I had already booked our trip to England. All that traveling played a huge role in making 2017 my favourite year yet (yes!), and as we inch closer to spring, the wanderlust in me is already starting to boil over. 

I sound like a privileged, snotty Millennial saying that - like, first world problems much? - but I wanted to write it out. And now that I have, I feel the excitement eclipsing the anxiety. I guess it's time to focus some energy on actually planning some trips! Those flights won't book themselves! Here's to oodles of Travel Tuesday posts to come!

That lament was much longer than originally intended but whatever. Now, on to Cuba - my last trip of 2017 and first of 2018! And I'm going to break up this Travel Tuesday post into tips for traveling to this tiny, tropical destination. 

This was a special trip because it was my first time going on a warm-weather vacation with friends. This time, I went with Katy, my cousin (her brother) Jesse, and our friends Liza, Sam and Steve. We booked the trip pretty last-minute but found a beautiful all-inclusive in Santa Maria, a small resort island off the north coast of Cuba.

There were pros and cons to the resort's isolation - for instance, the island was only recently taken over by hotels, so ours was very new, very clean and very up-to-date. And this brings us to our first tip:

1. If you want off-resort experiences, ensure yours is located close to some local fun. 

Because ours was so far from the action, we didn't leave the resort once! 

2. Bring lots of cash for tips. For those who've never traveled to Cuba before, it's a custom to tip everyone, every time. The staff at our place were so lovely, we were happy to give to them as much as we could. 

3. Bring bug spray and after-bite. Our beach was gorgeous but unfortunately was infested with sand fleas. I didn't get bitten once, but they really loved Katy and Liza, who suffered intense itchiness the whole trip! So pack these essentials in your suitcase FOR SURE.

4. Be prepared for subpar alcohol. The mixed drinks are extremely sugary and the wine... well, I wouldn't even call it wine. The best way to avoid watered-down wine is to order an unopened bottle to your room. You'll have to tip like crazy for this, but trust me, it'll be worth it. (They may even deliver it with an erotic poem like they did for Katy and I. We think they thought we were on our honeymoon. Hilarious.) 

5. If you do go on an excursion, make sure you don't get ripped off. Try and go for one of the official tours offered by the resort. When Jesse and I went to Cuba a few years ago, we thought it would be more authentic to ask a local to take us around. But we ended up getting scammed out of most of our spending money. Brutal. 

LOL - wow, I'm really making Cuba sound dreamy in this post so far. I promise those are all the negatives. 

Now, on to the positives! Cuba is an amazing place to go with friends for a quick, cheap and fun escape from the Canadian winter. Despite our trip being over New Years, it didn't cost very much and we got so much out of our experience. Most of all, it was just a blast getting to be beach whales with some of my besties for seven days straight, drinking ourselves into oblivion. 

Oh, and there's another tip:

6. Bring a big container for drink re-fills. The tiny cups they usually give you will have you stumbling back and forth from the bar a thousand times a day! 

But the best cure for a Cuban hangover?

7. The cappuccinos there are fucking incredible! I don't know if it's the espresso or the milk or both, but the cappuccinos I've had in Cuba have been the best in my life. Savour them as much as you can while you're there! 

So, that's how I rang in the New Year. Despite the tiny inconveniences you'll often face at a Cuban resort, I would totally recommend flying down there with some of your besties for a fun, very drunken week in the sunshine.