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Despite the best efforts of the power to its north, the
sun still shines on Cuba. It's the Caribbean's largest and
least commercialized island and one of the world's last
bastions of communism. The island's relative political isolation
has prevented it from being overrun by tourists, and locals
are sincerely friendly to those who do venture in - even
blockade runners from the US get a warm welcome! The Helms-Burton
Act has allowed Cuba to find its place in the post-Soviet
world gradually, without the sudden destabilizing shock
of mass consumer tourism from the United States. It's only
a matter of time before American-imposed travel and trade
barriers fall. No doubt millions will come when flights
from Miami resume. Clearly, the time to go is now.
Although you can't quite hear the colonial architecture
peeling in the streets, even Cuba's larger towns are pretty
relaxed. The most frenetic it gets is in the middle of an
enthusiastic chachachá, and the loudest it gets is
behind one of the huge finned American cars chugging the
streets. If you want it even quieter, Cuba's backcountry
and beaches are perfect chillout destinations for hikers,
swimmers, cyclers, spelunkers or those who just want to
smoke a fine cigar under a palm tree.
Cuba has undergone a transformation since it first opened
its doors to global tourism after almost three decades of
isolation. Most noteworthy has been the rapid growth in
private accommodation, the extensive network of casas particulares
allowing the independent traveller the opportunity, not
only to experience life more as it is lived by the average
Cubano, but also to explore corners of the country that
had previously been inaccessible or off-limits. Good news
for the tourist is the growing choice of resorts and the
number of new or refurbished hotels that are opening in
towns across the country. While eco-tourism is still in
its infancy and much of the island’s extraordinary
natural beauty remains to be discovered, the government
is already making strides in the right direction
Cuba really can offer something for all types of travellers
and holiday makers. Whether you are looking for a picture
perfect paradise with palm trees shading the pure white
sand beaches and blue lagoons, or for an interesting baptism
into a culture moulded by its unique history and political
climate, next time you draft up your short list of vacations...
make sure Cuba is on it.
VITAL STATISTICS:
• Full country name: Republic
of Cuba
• Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean
Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida
• Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W
• Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
• Area: total: 110,860 sq km
• Land: 110,860 sq km
• Land boundaries: 29 km
• Water: 0 sq km
• Population: 11 million
• Capital city: Havana (pop 2,200,000)
• People: 60% Spanish descent, 22% mixed-race, 11%
African descent, 1% Chinese
• Language: Spanish
• Religion: 47% Catholic, 4% Protestant, 2% Santería
(many Catholics also practice Santería
• Government: Communist republic
• Head of State: Fidel Castro
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Lunn Poly is a leading travel retailer, offering holidays from the UK’s major tour operators. They offer
a huge range of UK and overseas holidays including cruises, flights, ski holidays, city breaks and sun holidays. Their website has special offers which are
exclusively available online, and plenty of late deals to choose from. The website also offers online auctions where you can bid on Thomson late deal
package holidays from £1. They have a high level of customer service and excellent value for money. Booking online is easy, and can be done in 5 simple
steps.
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Airtours.co.uk
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Rating:
10
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For the best holiday deals online it really is hard to be beat Airtours, one of the UK's leading tour operators! You can choose from 1000s of holiday deals to all the popular destinations and many more exotic places plus cruises, skiing and flights. There are many exclusive online discounts and of course children and infants can travel for free! Whatever you do... make sure you check Airtours for your next holiday.
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Thomson Holidays
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Rating:
9
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Thomson holidays aim to offer you the perfect holiday. If they are unable to sort a problem while
you are away, they offer a moneyback guarantee for peace of mind. Thomson has an excellent reputation, and is committed to providing honest information and
publishes the opinions of past holidaymakers to help you find the right holiday for you. More customers come back to Thomson and they win more awards from
travel agents than any other holiday company. Thomson offer great deals on beach holidays, skiing, cruises, city breaks, lakes and mountain holidays, and
even the perfect wedding in the sun. The website has lots of special offers, online savings and late deals.
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My Travel are a leading UK holiday group. They offer thousands of holidays to all major destinations, with exclusive discounts for holidays booked online. Special offers on late deals, skiing holidays, cruises and flights.
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Thomas Cook have over 160 years experience and sell millions of holidays every year, making them one of the UK's leading and most trusted travel companies. In addition to holiday packages, they offer flights, cruises, UK breaks and have special online deals. They also have a price promise for added peace of mind.
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The Big Bus Company
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Rating:
9
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The Big Bus Company offer sightseeing tours of London on top of a traditional double decker bus. Buses leave every 15-30 minutes so that you can hop on and off en route. Tour go via Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and St Paul's Cathedral. The price includes a free Thames river cruise and free walking tours, of which there is a great choice with a theme to suit everyone! There is a live commentary on the Bus Tours or a recorded commentary available in 8 different languages. Printable e-tickets are available online for the bus tours and you can also avoid the queues by purchasing fast entry tickets for top London attractions. Bus tours are also available in Dubai and Philadelphia.
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Go Travel Insurance
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Rating:
8
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Go Travel Insurance are committed to providing the customer with quality travel insurance at a competitive price, with an emphasis on customer service. In addition to standard policies, they offer deals for winter sports; parties of 10 or more; backpackers and cruises.
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With the London Pass you can gain free entry to over 50 attractions, including the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, and London Zoo. The list includes historic buildings, museums, cinemas, galleries and walking tours and cruises. The London Pass is available with or without the option to include public transport and you can purchase a 1, 2, 3 or 6 day option. With the London Pass you can cut to the front of queues at attractions and take advantage of loads of special offers and discounts including theatre tickets and restaurants.
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London Theatre Direct
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Rating:
8
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London Theatre Direct offer tickets for plays, musicals and comedy shows which can be booked online in advance or at the last minute. You can also buy packages for theatre and restaurant deals or accommodation. London Theatre direct sell tickets for great seats in all major London shows, with special offers available online. They also have a great range of coach tours, river cruises and tickets for London attractions.
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Responsible Travel
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Rating:
7
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Go trekking in Nepal, a self-drive tour or safari in South Africa, a Nile cruise, a honeymoon in Victoria Falls or Mauritius, or a holiday in Kenya, the Far East, or South America. Whatever you decide, you'll have the freedom to explore the country at your own pace allowing you to stop and visit places which interest you.
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One of the UK's leading budget airlines, Flybe.com specialise in regional flights to prominent European destinations such as London, Paris, Milan & Geneva. Flybe operate from many regional airports making them the ideal airline wherever you are based in the UK. They offer a number of great deals so be sure to check in regularly to keep up to date on the best offers.
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Virgin Atlantic
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Rating:
10
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Founded in 1984, Virgin Atlantic is now one of the UK’s largest long-haul airlines. Flights depart daily from Heathrow and Gatwick to over 20 worldwide destinations including the USA, Caribbean, Africa, India and the Far East. Their Flying Club enables you to earn air miles on almost all flights including full fare Economy class. Virgin Atlantic regularly wins awards for business and leisure travel, including those for Best Long Haul Airline, and Best Transatlantic Airline, and has received numerous awards for their innovative in-flight entertainment, which includes individual seatback TVs with a choice of at least 8 channels. Flying Upper Class enables you to experience their award-winning Upper Class suite, which boasts an on-board bar area, and the largest fully flat bed offered in business class by any airline. Virgin Atlantic provide a great in-flight experience and excellent customer service.
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Singapore Airlines
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Rating:
9
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One of the leading Asian flight operators, Singapore Airlines have extensive coverage across central Asia and the southern hemisphere as well as important European and US destinations. They operate daily scheduled services to long haul destinations in key eastern cities. Their service has been highly commended over recent years and is supported by one the youngest fleets within the industry.
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The Royal Dutch Airlines have built an enviable reputation as one of Europe's leading airlines. Having recently merged with Air France, KLM are now in a position to offer an even greater service with over 500 destinations world wide. Frequent flyers can earn air miles to be used on all KLM and Air France routes. They have extensive coverage across many regional UK airports and have an excellent reputation for first class service and hospitality on their scheduled services worldwide.
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With Eurostar you can travel from London to Paris in under 3 hours. Eurostar travel direct to cities such as Paris, Lille, Brussels and Avignon and offer connections to over 100 destinations across Europe. You could take advantage of the huge range of special offers available by booking your hotel and travel together and save money. Travelling on Eurostar is convenient and simple, and the carriages are spacious and air conditioned. It's easy to see why Eurostar now carries more passengers between London and Paris than all of the airlines put together!
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