Cuba- Friendly Planet or Insight Cuba & weather questions

New York City, New...
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Cuba- Friendly Planet or Insight Cuba & weather questions
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Hi, I'm planning to go to Cuba this year and was wondering if anyone has any firsthand experience or familiarity with Friendly Planet or Insight Cuba or knows of any other tour companies for Cuba that you could recommend. I am a single traveler in my 40's. Also, was wondering what the weather might be like in November. I'm trying to decide between early and late November - I understand that could be hurricane time but was wondering when that ends and how bad the weather could get. Thanks much!

Calgary, Canada
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1. Re: Cuba- Friendly Planet or Insight Cuba & weather questions
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Recent discussions:

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g147270-i91-k5181988-Insight_Cuba_SUCKS-Cuba.html#38993540

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g147271-i387-k5054729-Travel_to_Cuba_with_Insight_Cuba-Havana_Cuba.html#38993082

Good luck.

Cheers,

Terry

K H
Philadelphia...
4 posts
2. Re: Cuba- Friendly Planet or Insight Cuba & weather questions
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I looked at both and I'm using Friendly Planet. They are less expensive and include the flight from Miami. I was surprised that the price on Insight didn't include the flight especially since the only way to get there is on a charter.

Calgary, Canada
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3. Re: Cuba- Friendly Planet or Insight Cuba & weather questions
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KH, there are loads of other flight options besides the American charters.

You can reach Cuba via Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Grand Cayman, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela and whenever else I'm forgetting.

Cheers,

Terry

Calgary, Canada
Destination Expert
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4. Re: Cuba- Friendly Planet or Insight Cuba & weather questions
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Kristine, I can't add anything more on the travel provider, but as far as the weather question, even though hurricane season officially runs from June 1st, to November 30th, November is a lot less active than earlier in the season.

The NOAA Hurricane Center website has a page that I check occasionally with some hurricane statistics. Wken I do a search for November hurricanes within a 100 mile radius of Havana, for example, it shows there have been only eight significant storms in November in the past 158 years.

Statistically, there is very little chance of a hurricane in November. And Cuba has the reputation of being very good at hurricane preparedness.

Personally, I would not be afraid to travel in November, even though, so far, the possibility of a hurricane has kept me from going in September or October. Many would tell me I am too overcautious.

K H
Philadelphia...
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5. Re: Cuba- Friendly Planet or Insight Cuba & weather questions
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Sure there are plenty of ways to get to Cuba, but I prefer to go legally. Why would I want to pay for a more expensive package that doesn't include the flight when the one I have includes everything for one price.

Calgary, Canada
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6. Re: Cuba- Friendly Planet or Insight Cuba & weather questions
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:... especially since the only way to get there is on a charter..."

======================

KH, my point was that you don't need to take a US charter flight in order to travel legally. There are many other options if your package dosn't include flight.

Cheers,

Terry

Edited: 8 years ago
7. Re: Cuba- Friendly Planet or Insight Cuba & weather questions

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honolulu
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8. Re: Cuba- Friendly Planet or Insight Cuba & weather questions
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Hi Kristine - I returned earlier this month from an 8-day Friendly Planet Trip to Cuba. It was wonderful. I am single, in my 50's and this was the first time I had ever joined a group as a "single"...I would do it again with FP in a heart beat. The staff both U. S. and our Cuba guide were wonderful. I would definitely recommend Friendly Planet. Our hotels were nice - nothing fancy, but good. Truthfully the food for the most part was medicore - but that is Cuba in general. I looked at InSight, but for me, Friendly Planet was the right choice. ENJOY!

As to the weather, I would look up weather histories for the month of November. I think hurricane season ends the beginning of November, but check the rainfall...would not be as much fun in the rain!

honolulu
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9. Re: Cuba- Friendly Planet or Insight Cuba & weather questions
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except none of those you listed are "legal" for US citizens

Calgary, Canada
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10. Re: Cuba- Friendly Planet or Insight Cuba & weather questions
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dsailgirl, what are you referring to in your Reply #9? If it's my explanations of flight options then you are incorrect - having an OFAC licence does not restrict you to the charters flying out of the US.

Sorry if I'm confused about what you're commenting on...

Cheers,

Terry

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