Cuba

Cuba is a country apart from any other in the Caribbean. Its extraordinary history sets it apart and makes it a place of stark contrasts. In vibrant Havana you'll find 50s style Cadillac cars cruising down bustling streets nestled between colonial style architecture. In the beach resorts you'll find luxury facilities and spectacular beaches with every kind of water sport available. Holiday here and you'll soon feel at home with the friendly locals and relaxed Caribbean vibe. There's everything you would expect from a Caribbean island but also plenty of surprising quirks that will make it a holiday to remember.

Cuba enjoys some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. There is over 200 in all – mainly with soft sugar white sand backed by the archetypal Caribbean palm fringed vista. The Varadero region, the eastern beaches close to Havana and the secluded bays of Cayo Coco are definite highlights. As you would expect water sports are very popular, with good facilities on offer for sailing, kayaking and water skiing. Diving here is world–renowned. Cuba is blessed with spectacular coral reefs, varied marine life and excellent diving schools.

In the holiday resorts most restaurants are located in the hotels. You'll find a wide range of cuisine on offer from traditional English, American steak feasts, Italian and Chinese. Authentic Cuban cuisine is not typically Caribbean and has a definite Spanish and Latin American flavour with hearty meat dishes bathed in tomato, onions, peppers and garlic. In fact Cubans love their meat so much it's sometimes hard to find a dish without a meaty flavour. Typical Cuban main dishes are Arroz con Pollo (yellow–saffron rice with chicken), Arroz con Bistec y Papas Fritas (white rice with beef steak & French fries) and La Frita – the Cuban hamburger or sandwich. Try the world famous Cuban Mojito – a cocktail or mint, sugar and Cuban white rum.

Having experienced sanctions for decades shopping in Cuba by European standards is relatively basic. There are a few luxury shops in Havana which sell a range of perfume and ceramics. A range of handicrafts, cigars and rum are on sale via street vendors or markets. You won't find plush shopping centres or high street names here – but what would be the fun in that?

Beach life can be relaxed or adventurous as you choose. Water sports including diving are the main holiday activities on the island. Cuba has its fair share of natural wonders not least its beaches which wrap around the island in a swathe of sugar white sands. Playas del Este, just east of Havana, is a collection of particularly beautiful beaches that are very popular. Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás is Cuba's largest cave system with 29 miles of underground caverns to explore. Away from the beach resort, Cuba's capital Havana is without doubt the icing on the cake to any holiday. This vibrant city stands apart with its colonial splendour. There's a revolutionary vibe here as signs of its communist past sit side by side with chic bars, shops and restaurants. And of course no trip to Cuba would be complete without a visit to a cigar factory – there are three main factories in Havana that operate tours.