I recently travelled to Cuba in September 2022 with her 16 year old son. This was an eventful 10 days which included being in Havana when Hurricane Ian passed through. Rather than been daunted by this experience I was grateful for the extra time it gave her in this bucket-list destination.
My trip to Cuba was organised through local DMC, Cuba Private Travel, whose team not only offer inspiring travel experiences/itineraries, but were also wonderful throughout the hurricane and in the days following. Cuba Private Travel is the latest DMC to join Journeys Representation’s Portfolio and Kirsty is very excited to be offering their services to Luxury Travel Advisors & Tour Operators in Australia & NZ.
Cuba has so much to offer, our favourite experiences included an Art Noveau Architecture tour where with Cuba Private Travel’s connections we gained access to the Bacardi Building & American Theatre, both Art Noveau gems and currently closed to the public. Or waking up early to walk the streets of Old Havana with a renowned photographer learning how to capture the best of the local Cubans.
Now everyone knows of the vintage cars of Cuba, but nothing quite compares to travelling around in a 1959 Chevy learning about how the US Mafia first came to Cuba to import alcohol back into the US during prohibition, how they then made Cuba their playground in the 1950s until Fidel Castro, Che Guervara & their fellow revolutionaries came to power.
Havana captivates and surprises you at every corner, with dinner on our first night we entered into an amazing building which like so many grand buildings in Havana has become a tenement with many families living downstairs. As you climb the grand marble staircase, a washing line is in full view, but keep climbing and you’ll find La Guarida rooftop. Here we dined whilst listening to one of Cuba’s most important contemporary Jazz bands. Or a visit to Fabrica De Arte Cubano, an art gallery, art installation & nightclub – something I would’ve expected in New York or Paris but not Havana.
Cuba Private Travel is a private travel company that creates extraordinary bespoke experiences on the Caribbean island of Cuba. Owner and managing director, Irish born Johnny Considine, lives in Havana and has more than fifteen years of Cuban travel experience. Cuba Private Travel know the whole island well and especially it’s people, they don’t work anywhere else, they are Cuba’s local experts.
With grass-roots connections that are second to none, guides include experts in every facet of Cuban society, from literature, dance, economics, history and farming to fine art, fishing, nature and sports. Cuba Private Travel has outstanding personal connections with the fincas, hotels, bars and restaurant owners across the country ensure that your clients get the very best tables, rooms and villas. This long established and trusted network that enables Cuba Private Travel to work closely with our Travel Advisors to create specially tailored Cuban itineraries with unique experiences for your clients.
Suggested itineraries are turned around in twenty-four hours and all recommended accommodation is held for a minimum of 72 hours. They include access to guides, interpreters, insider know-how and, of course, a 24-hour concierge for your clients and the team stay in touch with the Travel Advisor whilst your client is in Cuba.
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