Where to book Cuba holiday packages

1. STA Travel

As one of the world’s largest travel agencies that caters to young people, the team at STA Travel knows how to put together a tour package that will make sure you see as much as possible for the best prices.

• Price range: Low budget
• Trustpilot rating: 4.5/5
• Who should book a package with STA Travel? Youths and solo travellers
• What should I expect? A jam-packed itinerary to all of Cuba’s top sights. STA Travel tours are of different lengths to suit your time constraints. To keep costs low, accommodation is normally in hostels, guesthouses or low-budget hotels.

Book your holiday with STA Travel

2. First Choice

First Choice firmly believes that an all-inclusive holiday is the best way to experience a country. Organising everything from hotels to transport, activities to flights, you can rest assured knowing that First Choice has created your perfect holiday package.

• Price range: Mid-range to high-end
• Trustpilot rating: 3/5
• Who should book a package with First Choice? Families and seniors
• What should I expect? All-inclusive holiday packages that cover food, accommodation and transfers. If you are up for a night of salsa dancing or a tour around one of Havana’s many street markets, First Choice can organise this for you too.

Book your holiday with First Choice

3. lastminute.com

The team at lastminute.com spends hours trawling through the finest holiday deals, so you can get the best price on your flight and hotel package to Cuba, just in the nick of time.

• Price range: Low-budget to mid-range
• Trustpilot rating: 4.5/5
• Who should book a package with lastminute.com? Couples and budget travellers
• What should I expect? lasminute.com promises a price-match guarantee, so you know that you’re getting the best deals on your holiday package. Even better, it offers a range of flexible payment plans so you can book now and pay later.

Book your holiday with lastminute.com

4. Expedia

Working with a range of airlines and hotels around the world since 1996, Expedia can help you see the world on your own terms.

• Price range: Low-budget to mid-range
• Trustpilot rating: 2/5
• Who should book a package with Expedia? Families and couples
• What should I expect? Spend a relaxing week in one of Cuba’s coastal destinations when you book with Expedia. Working with a selection of airlines and large resorts, you are sure to get a package that caters to your wants and needs.

Book your holiday with Expedia

5. loveholidays

A pioneer of affordable, all-inclusive holidays to exciting and unique destinations, loveholidays has a wide range of pre-packaged holidays in Cuba to choose from.

• Price range: Mid-range
• Trustpilot rating: 4.5/5
• Who should book a package with loveholidays? Families and couples
• What should I expect? Holidaymakers can enjoy low deposits and monthly payback instalments. All packaged holidays are also ABTA and ATOL protected and include flights from London Gatwick to Havana.

Book your holiday with loveholidays

6. Virgin Holidays

If travelling to Cuba seems a little daunting, Virgin Holidays can arrange a guided tour around the country to make things easier. It also has a range of other multi-destination packages on offer, should you want to explore by yourself.

• Price range: Mid-range to high-end
• Trustpilot rating: 2/5
• Who should book a package with Virgin Holidays? Seniors and couples
• What should I expect? Choose to explore one city or the whole island with one of Virgin Holidays’ bespoke packages. Expect to stay in 3-4 star accommodation, with all-inclusive or bed and breakfast facilities.

Book your holiday with Virgin Holidays

Pros of pre-packaged holidays:

• When you book a pre-packaged holiday you don’t have to spend hours searching the Internet for the best flight and hotel deals. The travel operators can take care of everything for you, including your flights, accommodation, transfers and activities.
• The team working behind these pre-packaged holidays are travel experts who have been employed in the industry for years. They know the best destinations to visit, the best hotels to stay in and the best restaurants to eat at.
• Once upon a time, pre-packaged holidays were for luxurious getaways only. Now, travellers can choose from a myriad of packages to suit any budget. From low-cost backpacking holidays to an escape on a private island, there will be something to suit you.

Cons of pre-packaged holidays:

• Pre-packaged holidays can mean a lack of control of your own time. Everything from hotel transfers to mealtimes will be dictated to you and need to be diligently followed to avoid any nasty surcharges.
• To save time and money, some travel operators will try to cut corners by having meals “on the go” and cramming lots of activities into one day. This can result in a rushed, rather than relaxed, holiday.
• To keep costs low, travel operators often work with big holiday resorts rather than local boutique hotels. Staying in these bigger resorts, where many of your meals will be eaten too, can make it difficult to get out and about, meet the local people and learn about the local culture.

1. Havana

Only opened to tourists in the 1990s, Havana’s cobbled streets and vibrant architecture offer tourists a glimpse into a unique and fascinating culture, as well as ample opportunities to sample some of Cuba’s finest rum.

• Budget: Mid-range to high-end
• Best for: Couples and families
• What’s nearby? The Malecon, Cathedral Havana, Almances San Jose Market
• Distance to airport: 10 miles (16km) from Jose Marti International Airport

2. Cienfuegos

Settled by the English, Spanish and then the French, the seaside city of Cienfuegos has a characteristic European charm, only made better by the friendly locals.

• Budget: Mid-range
• Best for: Couples and solo travellers
• What’s nearby? Plaza de Armas, Arch de Triumph, Bahia de Jagua
• Distance to airport: 153 miles (246km) from Jose Marti International Airport

3. Trinidad

Second to Havana, Trinidad is considered to be one of Cuba’s most popular cities. Take a walk around the UNESCO world heritage streets of the Old Town, bustling with live music from dawn till dusk, and you will begin to understand why this city should be top of your itinerary.

• Budget: Mid-range to high-end
• Best for: Families and couples
• What’s nearby? Museo Romantico, Holy Trinity Church, Playa Ancon
• Distance to airport: 203 miles (327km) from Jose Marti International Airport

4. Vinales

A small village tucked high up in the mountains, Vinales is where Cuba’s very best cigar brands acquire their tobacco and is also a great place to discover the stunning Cuban countryside.

• Budget: Low-budget to mid-range
• Best for: Solo travellers and couples
• What’s nearby? Hotel Loa Jazmines, Traditional Cuban Dance Club, Jardin Botanico de Vinales
• Distance to airport: 112 miles (181km) from Jose Marti International Airport