Cuba on a budget
enjoy this colourful island without breaking the bank
Why Go?
if you think of the caribbean and are put off by the sheer amount of money it’ll cost to visit, think again, as you can easily holiday in cuba without spending your life savings. this picture-perfect island has everything to make a holiday incredible – whether you love hunting out beautiful architecture, relaxing on white sandy beaches or horse-riding through lush countryside, there is something for everyone and every budget.
try a homestay
One of the best things about Cuba is that people open up their homes for travellers to stay in. Known as Casa Particulars, these homestays are legal and regulated – just look for the blue sign on front doors or book ahead. What’s great about staying with locals is you can talk to them about the country and ask for tips about what to do and where to go. It also means your money is going back into the community and not into the hands of big chain hotels. The rooms in Casa Particulars are usually very clean and homely – expect to pay between £15-£35 per night.
Eat like a local
watch and learn – if you see a queue of people waiting to buy food from a street stall or cafe, you know it is going to be good. observe what others are doing and follow suit. popular snacks are small thick pizzas made while you wait and grilled pork sandwiches, costing around 40p each. of course you’ll want to eat in restaurants too, and the good news is seafood in cuba is cheap and tasty. head to la guarida in havana (laguarida.com) for fabulous surroundings, incredible views and amazing food, or guitarra Mia in the Unesco world heritage site of trinidad, this fun restaurant has enormous dishes cheaper than those in the centre of town.