{"id":279535,"date":"2025-05-24T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-24T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milesopedia.com\/?p=279535"},"modified":"2025-07-28T11:02:51","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T15:02:51","slug":"cuba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/milesopedia.com\/en\/guide\/destination\/cuba\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba Beyond All-Inclusive Resorts: Travel Guide and Itinerary"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A must-visit island in the Caribbean and the largest in the region. Cuba entices visitors with its white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and its rich history tied to Spanish colonial heritage and the revolution of 1959.<\/p>\n

Cuba’<\/strong>s fascinating culture is steeped in African, Spanish and Caribbean influences. Salsa, rumba and mambo punctuate daily life, and the varied landscapes stretch from the seaside resorts of Varadero to the fertile valleys of Vi\u00f1ales. <\/p>\n

Renowned for the excellence of its Cohiba cigars and the distinct flavour of its rum, Cuba<\/strong> possesses a far more precious treasure: the warmth and authenticity of its people who, despite economic difficulties, welcome visitors with remarkable generosity.<\/p>\n

Following an invitation to the FITCuba 2025<\/a> international tourism festival last April, I had the privilege of exploring this destination on a press trip. I’d like to share my experience with you, with an overview of the main destinations, activities and practical tips for making the most of this fascinating island. <\/p>\n

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Cuba<\/strong> has been a favourite sunny destination for Canadians for many years. In less than a 4-hour flight from Montreal or Toronto, you’ll be greeted by palm trees and Cuban warmth (from both the people and the climate!) <\/p>\n

Already renowned for being an affordable country, it’s possible to save even more on a trip to Cuba<\/strong> with reward points.<\/p>\n

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Cuba’<\/strong> s main airports are Varadero (VAR), Havana (HAV), Cayo Coco (CCC) and Holgu\u00edn (HOL).<\/p>\n

Airlines operating flights between Canada and these airports include WestJet <\/strong>(formerly Sunwing), Air Transat <\/strong>and Air Canada<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Most flights are seasonal, with a large increase in winter service between November and April.<\/p>\n

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There are no longer any non-stop flights between Havana and Canada. Therefore, the best airport for travelling in Cuba outside of all-inclusive packages is Varadero, which is located about a two-hour drive from Havana. <\/p>\n

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For flights operated by Air Canada, you can use your Aeroplan points to fly to Cuba<\/strong>. Expect to use between 30,000<\/span> and 50,000<\/span> Aeroplan points and around $150<\/span> in taxes for a round-trip flight during the high season from Toronto or Montreal, depending on the dates. <\/p>\n

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With WestJet, it’s the WestJet Rewards points that will reduce your flight bill. A round-trip between Toronto or Montreal and Varadero costs about 50,000 WestJet Rewards points and $100 in taxes during the high season. <\/p>\n

Sunwing has been acquired by WestJet<\/a>, which will take over flights to sunny destinations. All Sunwing flights will be operated by WestJet starting from May 29, 2025. <\/p>\n

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Finally, you can also shop for your flights via National Bank \u00c0 la carte Travel<\/a>, then use your NBC Rewards points to cover all or part of the cost of your ticket.<\/p>\n

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There are no Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Cuba<\/strong>. The major international chains established on the island are mainly Meli\u00e1<\/a>, Iberostar<\/a>, Barcel\u00f3<\/a> and Gran Caribe<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Cuba<\/strong>‘s hotels are not on Expedia, Hotels.com or Booking.com: nor are they on the booking platforms of loyalty programs such as Scene+ Travel, powered by Expedia<\/a>, CIBC Aventura<\/a> or Expedia for TD<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You need to book these hotels directly on their website and pay in advance or on the spot. Then you can use the flexible points of your choice, such as those from Scene+, CIBC Aventura or NBC Rewards, to reimburse your accommodation. <\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Cuba Beyond All-Inclusive Resorts: The Perfect 8-Day Itinerary” css=”” el_id=”cuba_beyond_all-inclusive_resorts_the_perfect_8-day_itinerary”][vc_column_text css=”” el_class=”checkmarks”]<\/p>\n

Here’s my proposed 8-day itinerary in Cuba<\/strong>, taking in the island’s main attractions with a mix of culture, nature and beaches:<\/p>\n