Cuba with kids
Who hasn’t dreamed of the Caribbean? Guilty as charged! My choice for my first trip there was not that obvious – I opted for Cuba. Although everyone advised me to go to Dominican or some other paradise island, I think Cuba was just perfect, one of a kind – especially for a family holiday!
Dance, music and kids
If you love dance, rhythm, music – Cuba is the place to be! In Cuba, everyone is a dancer! Havana’s streets, Trinidad’s dance schools, beach bars are all filled with dance and music. And it’s not just salsa! Havana University courtyard gives you a chance to witness a beautiful dance performance which resembles the theater. An important note for families: Cubans love children, perhaps even more than music. All kids are welcome there ❤️ Our little M would kill time waiting for breakfast every day of our trip giving us a Polish-Spanish concert with… a waitress!
Amazing hospitality
Cuba is a poor country where life is not easy – however, this does not stop Cubans from enjoying it and celebrating the little things. Beautiful, colorful buildings of Havana and Trinidad clash with the grey, mundane reality. The atmosphere in the streets is truly amazing; it’s hard not to look inside haciendas and watch families gathered around TVs, talking, laughing, joking, commenting, and gesticulating lively. Just several blocks away, in a fancier area, we witnessed a very peculiar situation: some “big fish” from the USA were striking a deal with local rappers. An interpreter was present, and the whole deal was soaked in rum. There was even a photo-shoot – a scene straight from a movie! Watching everyday life in Cuba intertwined with such images really feels out of this world.
Cubans are patriots, proud of their country to the extent that often they believe it to be the best in the world. After we arrived, the taxi driver welcomed us with a loud “WELCOME TO CUBA” and dance music 😁 Our casa particulares hosts wore their hearts up their sleeves, and went out of their way to make us feel welcome and appreciated, always ready to offer recommendations for local attractions or restaurants. In Cienfuegos our host had fond memories of Poland – he had visited the country because of work years before – and generally speaking, many Cubans are sentimental about Poland. This sentiment results from some shared history, regime, and Polish accents present in Cuba. After all, the famous Polish “maluch” (Fiat 126p) roams Cuban streets, and there is even a statue of Chopin displayed with honors!
Playground
The Vinales Valley is perfect for cycling, horseback riding, and… letting the kids run wild and free ❤️ Spectacular landscapes and beautiful nature offer lots of space for running. The warm, azure Caribbean Sea with its lovely, sandy beaches and characteristic straw umbrellas are like a huge playground for children (of all ages 😉). Cuba – bucolic, homely, blissful and friendly – still has plenty of pristine places and honestly, anyone can feel like an explorer there. Havana’s streets, the picturesque Cienfuegos, or Trinidad with its lovely hills and paved streets offer a lot of excitement off the beaten track. The famous Bay of Pigs in the south with its somewhat forgotten town of Playa Larga and its wonderful haciendas and beaches where local bands play live music is a must-see, plus there are plenty of bars offering delicious seafood. In many places and ways, such as infrastructure, commercial availability and lines, architecture, cars, mentality – time stopped there, or at least slowed down a lot 😉 For tourists who are used to western, European standard this cultural clash can be shocking (for example, I saw a pig’s head rolling down a street…). But this is Cuba – freedom and space!
Planning is key
I recommend reading this post before every family trip. In the case of Cuba, we should remember about the heat, which can be a pain in the neck even at night. Some must-have’s include a sunscreen, something for sunburns, a hat (ideally also covering the back of your neck), UV clothes, and plenty of water. Try to stay out of the sun as much as possible! A small, fast-drying towel, large, thin scarf (blanket), needle and thread, adapters, pen and some paper are some other necessities. Obviously you need to have documents, take out an insurance policy, and make sure you’re vaccinated. Also, pack smartphones and chargers, buy a good data packet (Cuba has limited coverage), and download some useful aps (such as maps.me). Make a list of important phone numbers and addresses, and consult a pediatrician before your trip. You should bear in mind that many everyday products are hard to get in Cuba (such as tomatoes), so stock up whenever you can (nuts and other dry products). Only drink bottled water! Finally, it’s a good idea to pack some of your kids’ favorite snacks, as well as toys/books, nappies and wet wipes.
Cuba with children is an amazing, if slightly more demanding adventure. Such a long trip far away from home allows you to show your kids the world and have an amazing time together. Yes, there are some inconveniences, which is all the more reason to plan your trip thoroughly (here you can buy a good plan). Spontaneity is nice, but it can cost a lost, and – let’s face it – you really want to minimize the risk when on a holiday with kids so far away from home. You can have the time of your life without worrying what’s next. Peace of mind is a key word there! Cuba is a truly ten out of ten idea. So, hola Cuba?