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cuba
Living Colour
It’s hard not to fall in love with a country as colourful, vibrant and sociable as Cuba, and smitten twosomes could choose a far worse destination in which to celebrate their ‘conscious coupling’ says Karen Luard
certain cache. The Caribbean’s largest island, with just under 4,000kms of coastline, it is perfect for a beach break. Combine that with historic Havana, in the north west, and you have a match made in heaven.
W
The island is remarkably safe, the welcome is natural and genuine and although English is not commonly spoken everyone is very polite and helpful – including the local police. Cuba is also noticeably clean and its towns, however humble, are neat and tidy.
Weddings Why should you consider planning a wedding in Havana, or any of the splendid Spanish colonial cities like Santiago de Cuba, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Camaguey, Sancti Spiritus, Pinar del Rio, Santa Clara or Holguin? Firstly, there is a plethora of impressive cathedrals and baroque churches for traditional ceremonies. And the ornate private compounds of former conquistadors and moguls also make impressive venues for wedding receptions. The magnifi cent Cathedral Square in Old Havana can be decked out for a private celebration, along with sensational entertainment. And then there’s the beach. A crystal-clear, blue-
green sea rings hundreds of tiny islets or ‘cayo’ with endless miles of spotless, fi ne white sand dotted with clusters of four- and fi ve-star resorts. While Varadero in Matanzas province in the north is an old favourite with the British ‘bucket-and-
hether planning an intimate family wedding or a honeymoon, Cuba has a
“Cuba is our most popular destination and offers great value so we have developed special packages for agents to sell on.”
Honeymoons Cuba really comes into its own as a honeymoon destination. Getting around is pretty straightforward: there’s a good network of domestic fl ights and, for the more adventurous, self-drive is a viable option. A variety of vehicles is available but most stylish are the classic 1950s cars – there are about 60,000 vintage cars still in use in Cuba. Better value than its Caribbean neighbours, a 10-
spade brigade’, Cayo Coco and its pink fl amingos is also popular. Further to the north east, spectacular new luxury resorts in Villa Clara’s Cayo Santa Maria are drawing a discerning clientele with hotels like the Playa Cayo Santa Maria able to dazzle guests with nocturnal water ballets in their pools. The helpful staff at the Cuba Tourist Offi ce in the
UK can assist anyone planning a wedding in Cuba, (check
cubadiplomatica.cu for legal requirements) and specialist tour operators can handle the fi ne detail including the paperwork. For example, Virgin Holidays has a dedicated
Cuba site incorporating weddings and honeymoons and offers the only direct fl ights. While The Weddings Place, a division of The Holiday Place, says 95% of its customers request tailor-made itineraries. Marketing Manager, Asa Sargeant, said:
sellingtravel.co.uk
day to two-week Cuban itinerary typically includes a combination of two or three days in Havana, followed by a week visiting historic towns and cities, ending with three or four days on a beach.
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