About Cultural Island Travel - Travel To Cuba Legally
Has Cuba captured your imagination? Do you want to see a country that is in every way set apart from all of the others? Travel with us to this enchanting island full of friendly faces and discover why even our most seasoned travelers call Cuba their favorite country. Fall in love with an island of people who put the arts first. Meet Cuba’s finest musicians, artists, and dancers. Visit inspiring community project leaders and entrepreneurs. The treasure of Cuba is its people, and you will meet these spirited people that make Cuba unforgettable. You will benefit from our exclusive connections forged since our involvement with the arts in Cuba began in 1999, when our director first witnessed the extraordinary musicianship on the island. At Cultural Island Travel, our sought-after unique experiences lead to a journey of a lifetime. Ask us about our custom tours where we can creatively craft an itinerary based on your group’s interests and budget. We have recently taken amazing musicians such as Questlove.We have no minimum passengers on our custom tours. Contact us at 1-800-494-1945 or [email protected] so we can plan your unique Cuba trip!
Cultural Island Travel - Travel To Cuba Legally (culturalislandtravel.com) has 184 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.
Also known as
culturalislandtravel.com
Website
culturalislandtravel.com
Category
Activities & Tours
Location
New York, New York
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
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The company replied to 29% of reviews.
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Most recent review: October 2026.
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Cultural Island Travel - Travel To Cuba Legally reviews
184 approved reviews, newest moderated first
PZ
Paula Z.
One of the Top 10 Experiences of my life!
I traveled to Cuba in February 2017 and had the most amazing experience, due to the service and guidance received from Cultural Island Travel. A last minute change in plans caused me to scurry through many on-line searches to find a tour company that would allow me to join in on one of their tours. CIT was so informative, flexible and accommodating to my needs. Teresa, Shabi and Donna all helped me plan a perfect itinerary. As a single, female traveler, I had no idea what to expect when I arrived there. Was I going to be safe? Was I going to be able to go out at night and enjoy the music and nightlife that I had planned originally? I was treated like a princess and the answer is YES! Through some very good pre-planning questions with the staff of CIT, I arrived in Cuba and made it to my hotel on my own (with the help of a very friendly taxi driver). My first night in Havana was on my own, however I went on a restaurant recommendation by CIT for my first night in Havana and it was amazing!
My tour began the next morning and I was greeted promptly by my lovely Tour Guide, Irma. Irma was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. She took the time to explain who we were meeting with, what we would be seeing and some history about each excursion.
All of the sightseeing was very timely and it gave a perfect and thorough history of each place we visited. Irma and the other guides answered questions with poise and without hesitation. Our small tour group consisted of men and women ranging from 21 to 81 years old and all of the people in our group were very impressed with the services provided. The restaurants that we dined at as a group were very tasty and the service was excellent. CIT offered a nice variety of different restaurants during our tour. I took some recommendations for dinner reservations from CIT and also did some of my own research once I arrived in Havana. I was pleasantly pleased with all of my dining and entertainment selections. Although I traveled alone, I met people every evening I went out and had so much fun!
The drivers on tour were extremely safe, courteous, fun and engaging. One of the gentlemen on our tour left his bag in the restroom of the museum. He realized it as we got settled into our restaurant for lunch. The driver, without hesitation, went to the museum with him to retrieve the bag and all of his contents were safe and untouched.
On my classic car tour, Abraham was so cool! As we were driving along El Malecon. listening to Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" blast on the radio...we drove past the brand new United States Embassy, with our flag flying high. It was a very special moment and I was able to video tape it and note it as one of the highlights of my trip.
All in all, this was a fantastic experience and I feel lucky to have found CIT. I am a travel agent and will be using CIT to book all of my future Cuba trips for my clients. I cannot wait to return to Cuba again and explore all of it's beauty...people, sights and culture.
Thank you Shabi, Teresa, Irma, Donna and everyone else involved with CIT in Cuba for all that you do to make travel to Cuba so easy, fun and memorable.
Paula Z.
Hillsborough, NJ
Response from Cultural Island Travel - Travel To Cuba LegallyOct 22, 2017
Dear Paula,
I remember getting a call from Teresa when she first spoke to you. She told me that you were so wonderful to talk to and work with. She insisted that I meet with you since you were in New York and that was a great pleasure for me. You are an amazing princess. You are like family to us at CIT and we are so excited to be planning a trip for your family and friends.
Thank you for mentioning our drivers. Safety is their number one concern always. They really appreciated your feedback as they love to make our clients feel safe and comfortable at all times in Cuba.
With clients like you our job is completely easy and fun!
To many more wonderful experiences in Cuba!!
Shabi Samoohi
Director
Cultural Island Travel
DH
Doc H.
Cuba is very safe!!!!!!
Cuba is very safe, in fact, safer than some cities in the USA,i.e. small and big. Since we wanted to 'soak up' the culture, we went many places during the ten days we were there. The Cuban people were courteous, friendly, and helpful at all times. If we wanted to know something, i.e. directions to a particular store while shopping, they ensured we knew the way. One time, the person helping us, was headed that way and we had a great time discussing Cuba vis-a-vis USA. As a former Chief on a Police department, as well as education and experience in Criminal Justice, i believe my credibility in this arena is a backbone to my comments. PLease visit CUBA and you will be very pleased with the experince. Jim and Cindy Hendricks
Response from Cultural Island Travel - Travel To Cuba LegallyOct 22, 2017
Dear Jim and Cindy,
I wanted to thank you so much for providing your point of view and expertise on Cuba's safety. The number one question that we get is about safety. I have been to many Caribbean islands where I am told it is not safe out of the cruise ship port area or the resort areas. Luckily I never felt unsafe in Cuba anywhere. Guns are not allowed and there is virtually no violent crime. I have walked alone in the middle of the night and taken taxi with no issues. I think many people are worried that Cuba may not be safe and I thank you for your objective opinion.
Again, it makes me smile that you had a lovely experience in Cuba. We hope to plan another one for you in the future.
Many Thanks,
Shabi Samoohi
Director
Cultural Island Travel
FG
Fred G.
Accommodation not as discussed.
I just left the following on "Tripadvisor" and could certainly add a great deal to it following the previous review I just read on this site. There are many similar aspects that we also experienced, and would concur with the review. The director introduced sarcasm, and we felt, was most unprofessional, in the defense of the company. We were not offered any compensation for the significant shortening of our 9 day tour.
"My wife and I just returned early from a trip to Cuba with Cultural Island Travel. While some cultural aspects of the tour were as advertised, we were disappointed with the tour guide, who was far too reserved and non informative. Our 4.5 hr drive to Trinidad was in a classic 1950's car, totally unsuitable for the poorly maintained roads and driven at speeds that quite literally scared us. The accommodation tendered in Trinidad was not as discussed, and after consternation, upgraded, but when the same situation occurred upon our return to Havana, we were told that any change in accommodation would be totally at our own cost, no credit for amounts already paid, and the costs were exorbitant. We terminated our trip after 6 days of a 9 day tour. Management were unsympathetic in resultant correspondence."
In reply to SHABI's response below:
1) I used the words NON INFORMATIVE......not UNINFORMED. There is a significant difference, and this is not the first time Shabi has either deliberately or inadvertently changed the intended meaning of my written word. It makes any further discussion a waste of effort.
2) I invite any person to view the residence in Trinidad and compare it to the pictures on the included link. The dark, dreary, dusty residence bears little resemblance.
3) Shabi has ignored simple accounting principles of credits. She quotes the cost of the Hotel, but ignores the credit for the B&B, similarly, quotes the cost of the ticket exchange, and did she expect us to stay another 3 days without accommodation quoting it was our choice, yet no credit is mentioned for the 3 nights accommodation, meals, tours and supervision paid for in the cost of the tour.
I will let the reader judge the competency and professionalism of the company.
Response from Cultural Island Travel - Travel To Cuba LegallyOct 9, 2017
Dear Fred,
I am sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your trip to Cuba, and I would be more than happy to address your concerns below.
Trinidad is one of the most beautiful places in Cuba and yes, the drive from Havana can feel long. Despite the distance, we (and countless other Cuba tour companies) strongly feel that Trinidad is worth visiting for its rich history, charming landscape, and thriving culture. The visit there is typically a highlight for clients (as evidenced by other reviews on this very page), and the roads are by no means unsafe.
In your email to me on October 5th at 8:20AM, you wrote:
“The 5 hour drive each way in an inappropriate car at excessive speeds for the conditions certainly made the trip one that we would not recommend.”
The distance between Havana and Trinidad is 195 miles. If it took you 5 hours (as you said in your email to me, and then changed for this review) then you were traveling at an average of 40 miles per hour. While I truly am sorry that going at this speed made you feel scared, we do not consider this velocity to be unsafe or excessive. None of our drivers at CIT have ever had an accident or been involved in any incident whatsoever that would put our clients’ safety at risk or have been subject to any complaints previously.
Furthermore, classic American cars are a huge draw for travelers going to Cuba, and our clients generally request one of these cars as their mode of transportation during the tour. We use only the most well-maintained refurbished classic cars with new engines. When you mentioned to your guide that you felt the classic car was unsafe, she heeded your request and changed your vehicle to a modern car.
Regarding your lodging, I am truly baffled by your claim that your accommodation in Trinidad was not as discussed. During the planning stages of this trip, your CIT representative emailed you a list of B&Bs and hotels for you to choose from, with links to their websites or Tripadvisor pages, so that you could see pictures, read reviews, and make an informed decision. This is standard operating procedure for all our staff.
On May 23rd, at 9:34AM, you emailed us your top two choices in Trinidad. In case you have forgotten this correspondence, I have copied and pasted it below for your convenience:
“In Trinidad:
1) casa Rogelio
2) Iberostar
Please work on the best price as we really had set a budget . . . for the trip.
thanks,
Fred”
The B&B that you named as your first choice was Casa Rogelio, and we booked you there per your request. This is a place we have booked before to rave reviews and pre-approved in person. The B&B even has a five star rating on Tripadvisor (see below) and is featured on the historical walking tour of Trinidad. That you found the B&B inadequate is quite exceptional.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g285731-d967466-Reviews-Casa_Rogelio_Inchauspi_Bastida-Trinidad_Sancti_Spiritus_Province_Cuba.html
Regardless, upon hearing that you were dissatisfied, I immediately offered to upgrade you to the 5 star Iberostar - the only 5 star available in Trinidad - and paid over $650 to do so. There are several hotels and B&B’s in Trinidad, but we upgraded you to the finest and most expensive option. I asked you if this upgrade was okay not to be sarcastic, but rather because even though we resolved your issue in the best possible way it seemed as if you were still unhappy.
Lastly, I am sorry and surprised to hear that you felt that your tour leader was a disappointment. It sounds to me as if there may have been a personality conflict there, and had we known earlier in your tour, we would have been happy to switch her out for someone else.
However, to call Ebony uninformed is simply untrue. At CIT our greatest asset is our team of incredibly knowledgeable and capable tour leaders. I encourage people reading this to search for mentions of Ebony right here on this page, and you will find a slew of positive reviews about her including the below:
"... the BEST tour guide ever...Ebony was absolutely, positively AMAZING!"
"We met our travel guide, Ebony, who was amazing! She made sure ALL of us got to see and do everything we were interested in and made time for things that weren't necessarily on the agenda."
Upon your arrival in Havana Ebony informed us that you were also unhappy with the B&B in Havana. We have written confirmation that Ebony did in fact offer you another B&B in the same price range as the one you chose. Ebony informed us that she offered to find a new B&B to your liking 4 times but that you insisted on a 5 star hotel. I think anyone can see from all the other reviews on this page that we would never leave anyone without accommodations. That is not the way we operate based on many, many reviews.
In the end, we felt terrible that you were still unhappy with your experience, so we of course paid for all change fees for your flights so that you could cut your trip short per your request. Had you allowed us to find you another suitable B&B we would have been happy to pay for it and the rest of your trip and the Trinidad upgrade to a 5 star hotel as a courtesy.
I encourage you to go back and review your emails with us from the planning stages of this trip. I have personally reviewed these emails, and we were exceptionally clear with you regarding what your options were and we booked you at exactly the places that you requested.
Sincerely,
Shabi
BE
Becca
Lots Of B.S. Do your Research!
Decent tour : but not necessary!
We booked our trip, last minute wanting to go to Cuba, Kristen was the one that assisted us with our travel arrangements and told us we would have all the necessary Certificate travel documents that are needed under the new regulations. Little did we know, all of this was bogus and totally unnecessary paperwork and expenses. We spotted warnings about Hurricane Irma a week before leaving and asked if it was going to be approaching close, during the time of booking. If we should be worried, the response When alerting Kristen was , "oh no, Thats on the atlantic side if something happens it will hit me in florida not in Cuba!". She offered travel insurance, but, Making it seem as though it was a dumb question.
We all know what happened after that, Hurricane Irma hit!
This could have put our well being in jepordy because the agency wanted to make a quick buck on us and didn't do their do diligence to make sure that us as customers were not going to be in danger for sure during our trip. Thank god we got out on the last flight before the hurricane did hit! (We got lucky) I feel bad for other travelers that were arriving the day the hurricane did hit!
Besides this, I have to say the company was fairly organized and our Tour guide was great Mario. But, what we would have liked more is, for them to tell us about places to go and see on our own,( not only the places where there were kickbacks for the company). We eneded up at some amazing places but not reccomendations from the tour company or Mario but from the hotel and other Cubans we met.
When inquiring about the top 5 star hotels, we were told that only two existed, Iberostar and one other close to the water, but that was definetly not the case! We arrived and across the street there was a fabulous new Kempinski Hotel that was brand new and on a completely different level then our hotel. Sadly, the price difference wasn't even that much either. They said something about not being able to book rooms there but I don't buy it. We found out other clients were staying there and able to book just fine. Our rooms had rock hard beds and run down green carpet, a pretty big comparission to the New hotel that was Luxurious and had all New Amenities we had asked for when booking. Its a joke to even say that our hotel was 5 star or even close. Maybe 3 star at the most. Decent breakfast, but extremely run down and small showers.
The guided tour of the city was decent, we got to see certain things we probablly wouldnt have done on our own but for the most part not really worth spending the extra $300 a day. They didn't tell us about other amazing restaurants we found out about on our own in the city. Also, going to Pinar del Rio 2.5 hours away to a cigar factory that was a total waste of time, theres a few dry leaves hanging there and you don't even get to see the actual process, then they try to sell you fake cigars. Would not recommend that! They did take us to a farm to table lunch in the country side which was pretty great. They have art and music and it benefits the people and kids in the community so that was great but again the drive there back was rough, we would have prefered to go to the resort beach town which we heard so many amazing things about!
On our way back to the states, we didn't have to use those Travel Certificates not once! Thats when we knew we really didn't need to go through a travel company to go to Cuba. Its just a scare tactict so that you spend more $ with them. It was a decent expereience, would have expected a bit more since the reviews were so good. Disappointed with the lack of information or follow up especially with hurricane warnings. Would have loved to hear about other amazing restaurants then the ones that they get kickbacks at, and most importantly not wasting our time with seeing things that were mediocre.
Response from Cultural Island Travel - Travel To Cuba LegallySep 12, 2017
Hi Rebecca,
I am very sorry to hear that you did not fully enjoy your experience with Cultural Island Travel. I was surprised to see your review as we have had all positive reviews in the past. Our itineraries are created with my 20 years of experience on the island to show you the best of Cuba's architecture, musicians, artists, and overall people in Cuba. I believe there are some misunderstandings that I would be happy to respond to below:
Regarding your lodging:
The hotel you stayed at, the 5 star Iberostar Parque Central, is actually rated the #1 hotel in Havana on TripAdvisor. We've been booking clients here for years and have never had a complaint. By no means did we try to suggest that this is the only 5 star hotel in Havana, but this hotel and the other one you referred to (the Melia Cohiba) are generally considered the best overall options in terms of amenities, quality, and location.
As for the new Kempinski hotel that you mentioned, it *is* actually the case that US Citizens are not allowed to book there anymore. The hotel is operated by the Gaviota group, which is run by the Cuban military. After Trump's announcement, new bookings at this hotel are not considered legal for US citizens, since it would be considered doing direct business with the Cuban military. You can read more about that here: "Peek Inside the Luxury Hotel Trump Won't Let You Stay At": http://reason.com/blog/2017/09/05/peek-inside-the-luxury-hotel-trump-wont#slide1. The people you met who successfully booked there may have made their reservation prior to Trump's announcement, in which case they would have been okay.
Regarding the tour and legality in traveling to Cuba:
While I understand that you would have liked to visit the beach town of Varadero, such a trip is unfortunately not considered legal. Even prior to Trump's June 16th announcement, US travelers going to the island on their own were legally required to do a full cultural itinerary during their stay, and going to the beach is not considered a cultural activity. You can read more about how travel needs to be cultural in order to be legal on the Treasury Department's own website: https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/cuba_faqs_20170616.pdf
The trip out to the countryside (Pinar del Rio) is generally a highlight for our clients, so I was surprised to hear that you did not enjoy your visit. The Montecino tobacco farm that you went to is a 4th generation family farm responsible for making Cohiba brand cigars, which are considered the best cigars in the world. The cigars that they sell at the end are freshly hand rolled with the same tobacco grown on site. While they do not have the fancy Cohiba stickers and do not come in the Cohiba box, they are not, in fact, fake. I have personally visited this site with cigar aficionados who have told me that these were the best and freshest cigars they have ever smoked.
Regarding the restaurants:
We do not receive any kind of commission for taking our clients to particular establishments, and when we do receive a request for a restaurant that we don't typically visit, we are always happy to oblige.
The restaurants that we recommend - 304 O Reilly, Corte de Principe, El De Frente, San Cristobal, Starbien, La Guarida, Rio Mar, to name a few - are broadly considered some of the most respected and well liked establishments in Havana, which is why we recommend them. This does not necessarily mean other good restaurants don't exist. Similarly to how, for example, if a friend were to recommend restaurants in New York or San Francisco, you wouldn't automatically assume that those are the *only* good restaurants in those cities.
Food in Havana can really be hit or miss, so we find it important to recommend only places that have stood the test of time and consistently get good reviews from clients.
Regarding the hurricane:
When you initially called in on August 29th, Irma was indeed still a tropical storm with potential of becoming a hurricane with no definite path determined. On the day that you departed for Cuba, September 3rd, the most updated information from the National Hurricane Center was still vague:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/xgtwo/gtwo_archive.php?basin=atl&fdays=5¤t_issuance=201709030846
Historically, hurricanes do not hit Havana straight on; they typically hit the eastern provinces of the island, as was the case with Hurricane Matthew last year. Most predictions in the days leading up to landfall in Cuba had the hurricane skirting Havana and turning northwards towards Florida.
We are surprised and sorry to hear that you felt unsafe during your time in Cuba; we did not receive any communication from you during this time. Any and all clients that contacted us asking to change their flights prior to their scheduled departure were granted their request without hesitation. I left Havana on the same day you did, September 7th, and it was a clear and sunny day with no rain or even wind. You left 2 full days before the hurricane hit. Even as late as that date, the news showed Hurricane Irma turning north to Florida and not hitting Havana at all. We would never knowingly place our clients in the path of danger. Our clients that decided to stay in Havana despite the hurricane have reported to us that they are safe and having a great time.
If you still have questions about the legalities of Cuba travel, I encourage you to visit and carefully read the Treasury Department's webpage on Cuba sanctions. Doing a full cultural itinerary in Cuba is indeed necessary whether or not you are asked for your paperwork at the airport. As someone who has traveled to and from Cuba dozens of times in the last few years, I understand that the experience at the airport can vary, but that does not change the actual legal requirements.
All travelers going to Cuba are eligible for an audit regarding their trip for up to five years, so it is important that you continue to hold onto your paperwork and your itinerary.
Warm regards,
Shabi Samoohi
Director, Cultural Island Travel
NW
Nancy W.
Cuba with Cultural Island Travel on a moment's notice
Jamie Unger answered my call requesting traveling to Cuba,a place that was, until recently forbidden, by the powers that be, since I was a young boy and I told her I wanted to go...in less than a week!
In less than a week I was in Cuba.
The whole thing was a" bust your backside success" on her part ! While I had to get a travel partner, she was cutting through "Red Tape" to make it happen.
Every single thing that she told me- came about much better than advertised. We were greeted like old friends by our tour guide's husband, Ares, at the airport and it was like that from start to finish. While I am an explorer by nature with no use for such as a travel guide,I soon realized these people are" past masters" at doing what they do.
After few days I realized these people(Cultural Island Travel) know how to make what you hoped would happen...happen!
Ebony, our guide, was the perfect hostess and tour guide, that took care of more than I expected. The accommodations ,food and travel could not be handled better by the U.S. State Department.
Being a first timer to Cuba...Well, Cultural Island Travel-saved me more than the price by 2X!
While I am a "find it on my own" type -These folks are the "ticket".
Not one single complaint except it ended too soon.
Cultural Island Travel may mark me up as one more satisfied customer...
This is the first time I have ever written a recommendation for anything...that's how well they did it!
Reid Woodward
Colorado
Response from Cultural Island Travel - Travel To Cuba LegallyOct 22, 2017
Dear Reid,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share a bit about your experience in Cuba with us. We treasure Ebony. She has been working with us since we started Cultural Island Travel and she treats our clients like gold. She is not only a great tour leader but a wonderful and caring person who loves Cuba and wants everyone to have the same experience.
I understand what you mean about being a do it yourself type traveler. I am as well. I strongly feel though that in Cuba the best experiences can only be shown to you by someone who knows it and lives and breathes it every day. Our guides are like local friends who know all the special ins and outs. They make the experience. The current rules mandate that everyone should be on a tour but even if those were not the rules we would still run the organization the same way. It is important to us that our clients see the real Cuba and real people of Cuba. Architects, young entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, and dancers. These are the people that our clients remember for a lifetime.
Our team is so happy when we receive reviews like this one especially since you don't usually write them!!
Many Thanks,
Shabi Samoohi
Director
Cultural Island Travel
EP
Ela P.
In good hands.
We chose Cultural Island Travel for our first trip to Cuba in July this year and it was an excellent choice. Very good service from the very beginning, they listened to what we wanted and helped us with planning things accordingly. Our trip to Havana and other places in Cuba was very interesting and enjoyable. Our group was small (we prefer to travel with smaller groups) and our guide, Ebony took fantastic care of us.
I really hope I can repeat my Cuban adventure sometime in the future and when I do I will choose the same company for making my next trip possible. Thank you very much!
Response from Cultural Island Travel - Travel To Cuba LegallyOct 22, 2017
Dear Ela,
Thank you for reviewing your trip to Cuba. We love to plan small, intimate trips for you to be able to see the real Cuba at your own pace. I am glad to hear that Ebony showed great care on your trip. She is one of our most well reviewed tour leaders and cares about our clients happiness so much. We would love to plan another trip to Cuba for you whenever you are ready!
Many thanks,
Shabi Samoohi
Director
Cultural Island Travel
NS
Natasha S. W.
Best Birthday Trip!
Where do I even start...this year I turned 40 and I wanted to celebrate it in a monumental way. What better way than for myself and my sisters, blood and not blood, to travel to Cuba for 6 amazing days in a country I never thought I would see in my lifetime. The team at Cultural Island Travel were very accommodating and attentive to all of my questions, concerns and request. Shabi, is amazing. She has such a heart and passion for Cuba, that you can feel it through the phone when speaking to her. Once I let her know why I wanted to go and the significance of the trip, she when out of her way to make it happen. She assigned us the BEST tour guide ever...Ebony was absolutely, positively AMAZING! The country, the people, the food, and the history was breathtaking. We all learned so much and are forever changed. Thank Cultural Island Travel for making my birthday truly one to remember.
Response from Cultural Island Travel - Travel To Cuba LegallyOct 22, 2017
Dear Natasha,
It was absolutely a pleasure to plan your birthday trip for you and your lovely group of friends. I just spent my birthday in Cuba and loved it so much. It was really my most special birthday. I am glad that yours was also a great success.
I am so glad that Ebony showed you such a wonderful time. We hear these kind of comments all the time about her and are not surprised. She is so dedicated to making the clients feel at home in Cuba.
Lastly, thank you for mentioning my passion for Cuba. Cuba has been my world for the last 20 years and I hope to have the honor to continue taking traveler's there for a long time to come to experience the island I fell in love with in 1999.
Thank you again Natasha!
Shabi Samoohi
Director
Cultural Island Travel
AB
Anitra Bascom W.
where in the world to go to find adventure and with limited time?
CUBA, where else? Ordinarily tours are not my way to go but for this it was necessary! And how lucky that was. We had a very small group size and were spoiled on every turn with tour guides who loved Cuba and couldn't do enough or share enough about the island. Also, we stayed with families who rented out rooms so we got to know a little more about the island. I was curious about our freedom to walk about. We didn't get a lot of free time as it wasn't necessary. I want to add that this trip was about traveling with my daughter--my goal is that she have a great time. I had concerns it would be not much fun being with a bunch of older people (like her mom).
No problem, she had a great time met a fellow photographer who shared pics with her and our guide was about the same age. I couldn't have orchestrated this trip myself as CIT met all our needs. The guides were like friends and that made it very special. It was great. A quick view of a few of the sights include old havana, living on the Malecon, Trinidad, cigar factory, castle during an art exposition, Hemingway's house where they had a special drink with lemons and sugar cane, so much more--I think you get the drift.
Response from Cultural Island Travel - Travel To Cuba LegallyOct 22, 2017
Dear Anitra,
Thank you again for the taking the time to share your impressions of Cuba with us. We are elated that you loved our guides. The same ones are still with us and have now showed Cuba to thousands of travelers.
I agree that it's nice to stay at Cuba's B&B's. My family prefers them to hotels for the more personalized experience.
I am glad your daughter loved the trip as well. I think that Cuba is a nice place for young people of all ages since it's so safe and the people are so friendly. My 14 month daughter has a ball with all the attention she gets from adults and other kids and all the colors,antique cars, and sunshine. She just loves it!
You are the second person on this page to mention the sugarcane and I agree that it is exceptional!
Many thanks,
Shabi Samoohi
Director
Cultural Island Travel
