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 · 696 ratings  · 52 reviews

Start your review of Lonely Planet Cuba (Travel Guide)

I found both good and bad in this travel guide: the cultural background and history will no doubt help travellers to understand why Cubans are as they are, a very complexe people. But I also found some very unhelpful content, with too many sweeping generalisations and vague statements.

At any rate, all travel guides for Cuba are going to be out-of-date as soon as they are published, because so much is changing and will change in the near future; Sleeping Beauty has woken up!

Good for getting a general idea of the different areas of Cuba, what to see in them, and some basic cultural tips and tricks, but also outdated. Cuba travel is changing very, very quickly, so unless they start publishing yearly or so books, this will just keep getting out of date.

If you do go to Cuba, remember to read up on different types of scams prevalent in the area. There is nothing quite like explaining someone's scam to them as they are trying to pull it on you, and if you speak Spanish y

Good for getting a general idea of the different areas of Cuba, what to see in them, and some basic cultural tips and tricks, but also outdated. Cuba travel is changing very, very quickly, so unless they start publishing yearly or so books, this will just keep getting out of date.

If you do go to Cuba, remember to read up on different types of scams prevalent in the area. There is nothing quite like explaining someone's scam to them as they are trying to pull it on you, and if you speak Spanish you can get some practice before the big moment comes where a taxi driver will insist that you gave them CUP rather than CUC :)

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Ten years out of date now, very wordy, some references that are not explained. I didn't need to know that the author has a right-wing political bias. The ebook version has illegible maps and language guides. Otherwise, some good solid information. Ten years out of date now, very wordy, some references that are not explained. I didn't need to know that the author has a right-wing political bias. The ebook version has illegible maps and language guides. Otherwise, some good solid information. ...more

A great comprehensive view of Cuba and its 15 provinces. We found it very useful for our trip, and especially interesting because we have visited now 4 regions in Cuba and could learn about what each place has to offer. Great for a returning visitor or first timer.

The book I read to research this post was Lonely Planet Cuba which is a very good book which I bought at a car boot sale. The pace of life in Cuba is reminiscent and there isn't a huge amount of tourist attractions with the main attractions being the wildlife like the alligators and bee hummingbirds, the smallest birds in the world. There is a famous statue of John Lennon who with songs like Imagine later in his life he became regarded as a revolutionary by the father of this nation Fidel Castro The book I read to research this post was Lonely Planet Cuba which is a very good book which I bought at a car boot sale. The pace of life in Cuba is reminiscent and there isn't a huge amount of tourist attractions with the main attractions being the wildlife like the alligators and bee hummingbirds, the smallest birds in the world. There is a famous statue of John Lennon who with songs like Imagine later in his life he became regarded as a revolutionary by the father of this nation Fidel Castro. He is now in his 90's and his son has taken over. Cuba has such a first class health service few people wear glasses as they get laser eye surgery for free. Havana is the capital of Cuba and the country has a population of 11 million and is the largest island in the Carribean. Cuba is famed for its cigars which are reputed to be rolled by pretty women on the beaches. Something uniquely Cuban is they buy chevrolets and adapt them to have lada engines to make them cheaper to run and have compatible fuel. You can go tandem parachuting which consists of you being strapped to someone else who operates the parachute and apparently they have an excellent safety record. Cuba is famed for its pirates of days of old. In America if you wish to go to Cuba you can't use a travel agency based in America and must get a connection flight from somewhere like Mexico or Canada. There is a lot of bad feeling between the 2 countries. It's famed for its salsa music and I don't know about currently but has had a poor civil rights record with at one time Amnesty International campaigning to get over 100 prisoners of conscience out of prison. I think there are also some beaches reserved for tourists which has sparked controversy. I did quite enjoy reading this book and think it's somewhere I'd like to visit.
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Nov 25, 2012 Mag added it  · review of another edition

Recommended to Mag by: Cathy Brown

I wish I had had this book before I chose the hotel package for my trip. I would have never picked that particular one then... Wasn't too bad but there were better ones to be had.
A very good companion to whatever you want to do in Cuba. I wish I had had this book before I chose the hotel package for my trip. I would have never picked that particular one then... Wasn't too bad but there were better ones to be had.
A very good companion to whatever you want to do in Cuba. ...more

Do not buy the ebook version! The chapter titles are all mislinked, so it's a huge mess to find any information. Also the maps are really tiny and illegible and don't contain all the information. Do not buy the ebook version! The chapter titles are all mislinked, so it's a huge mess to find any information. Also the maps are really tiny and illegible and don't contain all the information. ...more

One of the smarter habits I acquired when I started to plan my own international trips was to read the Lonely Planet guides.  To be sure, the guide are not perfect, but they do present a great deal of information and give the reader a lot of insight into the feasibility of doing certain things.  I have not always taken up the writers of the guides on their more adventuresome suggestions, like how to travel across international borders in sketchy transportation options, but at the same time I hav One of the smarter habits I acquired when I started to plan my own international trips was to read the Lonely Planet guides.  To be sure, the guide are not perfect, but they do present a great deal of information and give the reader a lot of insight into the feasibility of doing certain things.  I have not always taken up the writers of the guides on their more adventuresome suggestions, like how to travel across international borders in sketchy transportation options, but at the same time I have always found myself being given lots of ideas and worthwhile advice that has made me a less vulnerable traveler, and that is something I always appreciate as a moderately clueless person who happens to like being abroad.  At any rate, if this book was not entirely useful given my plans to visit Havana and perhaps the immediate area outside of the city, it certainly did provide some useful information about food to try and places to visit, and that is always something to appreciate.  You will obviously get more out of this book if you plan on seeing more of the country, but the benefit of reading a book like this one is that it is useful so long as one plans on visiting the country at all.

This book is more than 500 pages long and well organized in the typical Lonely Planet fashion.  The book begins on how to plan one's trip with a welcome, national map, top 21 sights, need to know information, suggestions for first-time visitors, month-by-month information, itineraries, and a glance at Cuba's regions.  After that the vast majority of the rest of the book focuses on the usual detailed information about Cuba's various regions including the population of cities, maps of a lot of cities and towns, tourist sites, hotels and other places to stay, restaurants, clubs, and the like.  This begins with Havana and then progresses through the Artemisa & Mayabeque provinces of Eastern Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, the Valle de Viñales and Pinar del Río Province, Varadero & Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Trinidad & Sancti Spíritus Province, Ciego de Avila, Camagüey, Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo Provinces, making notes about which places have been overrun by touts and which remain available for tourists looking for more quiet and peaceful places to travel.  The book ends with some information to help the reader understand Cuba today as well as its history, food & drink, way of life, literature and arts, architecture, music and dance, and landscape and wildlife.  The book then ends with a survival guide that includes a directory, transportation, language help, and a glossary.

Admittedly, some aspects of this book will put off some readers.  The authors seem to think that naturists and the alphabetical community are a big part of their reading audience and so quite a bit of the discussion of places and their desirability is based on that, which is not particularly helpful for me personally.  More useful is the book's advice on how to avoid touts and their offers of cheap cigars and overpriced products.  The people who wrote this book have clearly been to Cuba and seen a lot of the country and have plenty of insight to share about their trips, and that is something that one can appreciate even if they give advice on a lot of areas that the reader may not be interested in at all.  Given the way that many parts of Cuba are very obscure despite interesting histories and worthwhile sights, this book is useful in encouraging its readers to step beyond the usual tourist norms, and as someone who strives not to be an ordinary tourist, this advice is something worth taking to heart whether it talks about Cuba or any other nation.

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As a veteran traveler to Cuba I would NOT recommend this guide book. While the "getting to and from" information is often accurate, what destroys this book as a pleasurable guide is the consistency of the writers' aimless and self-gratifying remarks on Cuba, its people, and all too often on places to stay, places to eat, and places of entertainment. Instead of clear observations and accurate information, they fill page after page with clever remarks and meant-to-be-funny pronouncements which ser As a veteran traveler to Cuba I would NOT recommend this guide book. While the "getting to and from" information is often accurate, what destroys this book as a pleasurable guide is the consistency of the writers' aimless and self-gratifying remarks on Cuba, its people, and all too often on places to stay, places to eat, and places of entertainment. Instead of clear observations and accurate information, they fill page after page with clever remarks and meant-to-be-funny pronouncements which serve no real guidance, especially for a first time traveler. ...more

The e-version doesn't work that well because the links don't respond right. There's great information to be found inside. Cuba such an amazing place I was lucky enough to find a company called Cuba tours and excursions in Santiago de Cuba where we took a road trip that was phenomenal and the price is what I would say cheap. The e-version doesn't work that well because the links don't respond right. There's great information to be found inside. Cuba such an amazing place I was lucky enough to find a company called Cuba tours and excursions in Santiago de Cuba where we took a road trip that was phenomenal and the price is what I would say cheap. ...more

Probably the least informative, most opinionated and weakest LP guide in the 30-40 I've used. Maps are inaccurate, how to get there info is inadequate and the all-Important history section (essential for understanding Cuba) is very weak.
Not recommended Probably the least informative, most opinionated and weakest LP guide in the 30-40 I've used. Maps are inaccurate, how to get there info is inadequate and the all-Important history section (essential for understanding Cuba) is very weak.
Not recommended ...more

I always enjoy the Lonely Planet guidebooks and this one is no exception. Great tips on where to go, what to do, what to eat and this one is a reasonable size to pop into your suitcase to take on your holiday!

Jul 12, 2017 James Turnbull rated it really liked it

Lots of great info (pretty much invaluable) if your travelling around Cuba, off resort.

Jul 20, 2017 Eric rated it liked it

Helped my girlfriend and I navigate Havana. Some of the homestays and restaurants were closed but that's hardly the book's fault. YMMV. Helped my girlfriend and I navigate Havana. Some of the homestays and restaurants were closed but that's hardly the book's fault. YMMV. ...more

Worthless piece of paper, don't go to Cuba by this book find a forum with people who's been there and go, wast of my money Worthless piece of paper, don't go to Cuba by this book find a forum with people who's been there and go, wast of my money ...more

Helpful for reviewing sights and bars in Havana for my 2018 trip to Cuba.

A good idea of Cuban culture and points of Interest..

A useful guide to have. Easy to use.

Made it easy to get around Havana. Good concise historical context. A good book

Enjoyable book with some great tips on places to visit but honestly, I didn't really open it up once I got to Cuba. Everything you need is on the internet! Enjoyable book with some great tips on places to visit but honestly, I didn't really open it up once I got to Cuba. Everything you need is on the internet! ...more

I thoroughly enjoyed Cuba. I do not expect any guidebook to be all encompassing especially for a destination that is evolving as a tourist destination. For example, the train mentioned in the guidebook hasn't run for six months (and that's a conservative estimate). You will definitely need other sources to complement your planning and be flexible on the journey (and bring toilet paper).

I didn't use t as a "bible", bur rather as a source to get information and a general idea of the highlights of the places I was visiting - I only used the Kindle version, as I did not want to carry around another book.
I used the maps for guidance, though I recognise they are not necessarily user-friendly (especially on my version of Kindle) and mostly if the reader does not have a very good sense of direction.
I would recommend it, but not as a single source of information - if you are planning I didn't use t as a "bible", bur rather as a source to get information and a general idea of the highlights of the places I was visiting - I only used the Kindle version, as I did not want to carry around another book.
I used the maps for guidance, though I recognise they are not necessarily user-friendly (especially on my version of Kindle) and mostly if the reader does not have a very good sense of direction.
I would recommend it, but not as a single source of information - if you are planning a trip to Cuba, check travellers blogs for tips and tricks BEFORE you travel there and save that information with you (digital/ paper version), as internet is not always available and easy to use. ...more

Dec 28, 2016 Jennifer rated it it was amazing

Whenever I plan a trip I always start with Lonely Planet, whether it is their website, forums or books. Luckily for me their books are currently free on Kindle Unlimited (gasp I know right?) Thankfully to the digital age you can download the books and take them with you, whereas before you had to take a heavy book around when you traveled. (I will never forget Jamaica and how heavy that book was) anyway that all being said this was a fantastic up to date guide. Given that American's are allowed Whenever I plan a trip I always start with Lonely Planet, whether it is their website, forums or books. Luckily for me their books are currently free on Kindle Unlimited (gasp I know right?) Thankfully to the digital age you can download the books and take them with you, whereas before you had to take a heavy book around when you traveled. (I will never forget Jamaica and how heavy that book was) anyway that all being said this was a fantastic up to date guide. Given that American's are allowed to travel with certain guidelines to Cuba right now, I am trying to absorb as much as I can in order to be prepared for the trip.

This guide gives you great budget food recommendations as well as ideas if you are wanting to venture out of Havana. Which I am not sure I will be doing, but hey if you plan on doing that then this IS the book for you.

Another must read if you are currently planning a trip to Cuba.

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Of all the Cuba guidebooks, the newer version of this book (with the classic car on the cover) is the best of the lot. There is a wonderful section on the music and dance of Cuba, along with great recommendations about where to find said music and dance, and what to look for when doing so. There is a huge problem with paladares closing, so that the only ones that are accurate in the book are the biggest ones--it is a culture that thrives on an underground that cannot be written about and therefo Of all the Cuba guidebooks, the newer version of this book (with the classic car on the cover) is the best of the lot. There is a wonderful section on the music and dance of Cuba, along with great recommendations about where to find said music and dance, and what to look for when doing so. There is a huge problem with paladares closing, so that the only ones that are accurate in the book are the biggest ones--it is a culture that thrives on an underground that cannot be written about and therefore all guidebooks will have some restrictions--this one does a wonderful job of characterizing the pluses and minuses of the culture ...more

Apr 03, 2016 Carol rated it did not like it

I took this book to Cuba. The history and background was good for reading before hand, but while there I found it close to useless. It was very difficult to use as a reference guide. I could almost never find what I needed. I am an older person, and the style was for a younger audience. If you were traveling solo, it seemed to have good tips for getting along assuming fluency in Spanish. Most estadosunidenses are still in groups. Others in my group had Eyewitness Cuba which I found better. One h I took this book to Cuba. The history and background was good for reading before hand, but while there I found it close to useless. It was very difficult to use as a reference guide. I could almost never find what I needed. I am an older person, and the style was for a younger audience. If you were traveling solo, it seemed to have good tips for getting along assuming fluency in Spanish. Most estadosunidenses are still in groups. Others in my group had Eyewitness Cuba which I found better. One had Foedors Cuba, but it was worse. By the way, I was on my own for 3 days after the guided trip, and found Havana to be an easy, safe place to get around even for a single woman. ...more

This edition is from 2015 but seems already very much out of date. Opening hours from lots of places are wrong. Almost all prices are increased with 2 CUC at least.

It's also a bit too opinionated. Just more facts and less opinions would probably be more helpful.

The part of Havana is really unhandy to work with. Segmented in the different districts. More handy would be one big complete map of Havana, then more in detail maps of the districts, then all the information sorted by theme, but not by d

This edition is from 2015 but seems already very much out of date. Opening hours from lots of places are wrong. Almost all prices are increased with 2 CUC at least.

It's also a bit too opinionated. Just more facts and less opinions would probably be more helpful.

The part of Havana is really unhandy to work with. Segmented in the different districts. More handy would be one big complete map of Havana, then more in detail maps of the districts, then all the information sorted by theme, but not by district, just alphabetically.

I heared Footprints might be better than Cuba than the Lonely Planet.

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Very complete. However, the reviews were often too positive. A tourist needs judgement on what is worth it and what is not, and I rarely found this kind of information.

The book is well written and provides a good idea of what Cuba would be like. Unfortunately, after reading this, decided not to go to Cuba - seems like it's a great place to visit but the lack of infrastructure and very high demand (likely created by its 'inaccessible' cache) makes for over-priced, low-quality conditions. It's no longer the place nobody goes to - but it's not yet ready for the hoards that are visiting. The book is well written and provides a good idea of what Cuba would be like. Unfortunately, after reading this, decided not to go to Cuba - seems like it's a great place to visit but the lack of infrastructure and very high demand (likely created by its 'inaccessible' cache) makes for over-priced, low-quality conditions. It's no longer the place nobody goes to - but it's not yet ready for the hoards that are visiting. ...more

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