> WHEN YOU GO

Get there: I flew Air Transat (airtransat.com) direct from Toronto to Abel Santamaria Airport in Santa Clara, the capital city of the Villa Clara Province in Cuba. Air Canada, Sunwing and WestJet also fly to various spots in Cuba. Explore Santa Clara: I rented a “busy bike” at Parque Vidal, the main plaza in the city’s centre, to go explore historic sites in Santa Clara. A “busy bike” is a bicycle with one seat for the cyclist and two more seats for customers at the back. A rental costs about $15 (with tip) for 45 minutes, a bargain that gave me easy access to off-the-beatentrack side streets. Stay: I stayed at Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria (memoriesresorts.com), an adultsonly property that is part of Memories Resorts & Spa, on the small island of Cayo Santa Maria. Do your research: gocuba.ca