Salsa Holidays Cuba - Frequently asked questions
Please note - All clients will receive up to date information packs prior to departure should answer any further questions they may have regarding your holiday.
- How much do I expect to pay in Cuba?
- What food is included?
- Optional Extra Programme/Costs
- Tipping
- What is the average age?
- What are the male and female ratios?
- Where do we take the dance classes?
- How much does it cost to get into the clubs?
- What sizes are the groups?
- What levels are the classes?
- I want to join you from outside the UK. How do I arrange this?
- How to book your holiday: UK and non-UK residents
Cost in Cuba
In Havana you can expect to pay the same price as you would in Spain for drinks and food. You will usually spend more in Havana and hardly anything in Cienfuegoes. It is a good idea to buy your presents and handicrafts in Cienfuegoes, and we will take to a very good place to shop.
Money
The new currency is the convertible peso which has the same value as the American dollar. For £100 you will get around 185 $/CCP, cuban equivalent, which is really good rate. You can change your money at the airport in Havana on arrival, or at the front desk in the reception of our hotel or in the bank next door to the hotel. All you will need is your passport and pounds in cash.
Travellers Cheques are tricky and American Express not bankable. You can take money out of the bank,with a visa card or Mastercard. If your Credit card is issued by an American company e.g. MBNA, Citibank you may not be able to use it in Cuba.
All clients will receive up to date information packs prior to departure should answer any further questions they may have regarding currency matters.
Food
Breakfast is included and is a real 5* feast of a buffet , which will set you up for the day. You will need to pay for your lunches and evening meals.
There is a lively cafe next door to the hotel and you can get healthy salads or beef steak hamburgers from $5- $10. There are also two other restaurants in the Hotel, Italian and Polynesian. When we eat out as a group, we usually pay between $10 and $13 for an evening meal, in a local palador, (someone's house). Occasionally stomach upsets can occur in Cuba, just like anywhere else - particularly when you change your diet on holiday- we advise bringing suitable stomach upset relief medicines with you and eat only in recommended venues.
Club entrances
Havana
Club entrance in Havana is usually $5 in the day, and from $15-25 at night, and at weekends. A week day night in Havana would cost from $5 -$10 entrance and an extra $5 for the coach there and back if we decide to travel.
We have two in house Salsa clubs in the hotel that are free of charge to us, and we are in walking distance to five more locally. The top floor club, la Turquino, has a live band every night and the roof top opens up at midnight to reveal the Havana skies and spectacular panoramic views from the 25th floor. The club on the first level is free to all our dancers, so we can party 24/7. All local clubs within walking distance are between $3 - $5, or $10 with a free bar.
Other holidays may be are cheaper because the hotels are not a good star hotel, which in Cuba can be challenging, or they are not ideally situated next to all the action. There are no Salsa night clubs in Old Havana for example, and if you are in Miramar, you are a good $18 round trip taxi ride to all the Salsa clubs.
What's important is that you go to the best club, wherever the action is, on that particular night. We have a dedicated team checking and making reservations at the best clubs so we hit the jack pot every night. We decide after class where we are going, and the coach will be waiting to take us wherever we want to go ! With 17 top Cuban dancers with us ,we are the party, wherever we go !
Cienfuegos
In Cienfuegoes the most you will pay is $10 per couple entrance in, i.e. $5 each, and this includes a bottle of decent rum to share between two of you, a fantastic Salsa show, live band and Salsa Dj's. Alternatively you can see Puppy or Los Van Van for a $3 for club entrance, at the Cienfuegoes, CASA DE LA MUSICA,which is opposite the hotel. No taxis needed, and all possible transport, $1 by horse and cart.
Our last Cuban meal in Cienfuegoes cost $7 for a three course Turkey dinner, with all the trimmings..it was Christmas !
Optional extra programme
On the December trip Los Van Van personally invited the Key2Cuba group to a concert in the country side. As we were their guests they provided us with back stage access , a Vip area, and the only cost was $5 for the coach to take us there ! Everyone was able to get signed copies of their new album Chapeando, and hang out with the band. It was great fun and well off the beaten track, without a tourist in sight !
This kind of event is exclusive to Key2Cuba, and part of the optional extra programme that is carefully researched and arranged the week prior to your arrival, so that it is fresh and up to date. Kerry and her team are able to negotiate great group discounts prices in restaurants, clubs or special venues for Private Parties. Also because kerry has spent eight years working with all the top artists in Cuba, you will have privileged access to an amazing spectrum of events off the beaten track.
The most expensive optional extra in Havana is $25/£12, for the beach party . This includes a trip down the coast on an air conditioned coach, lunch on the beach, fish / chicken, rice, beans salad, potatoes, and a live 9 piece band on the beach, and 17 Cuban dancers to party with. Bring your own rum and prepare to rueda in the sea. N.B. Rohan doesn't charge for massages, or for covering him in sun-tan oil!
In Cienfuegoes the most expensive optional extra is $30/ £17. This includes a trip into the mountains near Trinidad, a 30 minute horse ride through the countryside, past a beautiful lake down to a private exclusive beach, lunch on the beach and another beach party. The journey is about one hour and a half though amazing countryside. Smell the herbs , se the jungle, get to ride a horse into the sunset and swim in crystal clear waters with miles of beach to ourselves.
Extra costs
So the extras you need to pay for are your own own drinks, lunch and evening meal , club entrances and optional extras. The dancers are invited out with us on 9 occasions, by key2 Cuba, so only on a very few occasions do the group put in $5 into a kitty to bring the dancers along onto extra events. This is completely optional .
Tipping
Tipping is the culture in Cuba, just like America , so normally you would tip the bell boy for your bags and at the end of the holiday tip the driver and dancers, if you feel inspired to do so. All this and more is explained in the Key2 Cuba guide book, which you receive when you pay for your registration fee. In Cuba the average wage is $11, so most Cuban's working in the service industry are looking for a tip, and eager to please.
What spending money should I bring?
Imagine if you went on holiday to Spain, bring the same amount of extra money you would need for a two week holiday according to your taste, (approx £320 -£450 more.) This is for 14 days and nights eating, drinking, clubbing, tipping, optional extra visits out of town, private parties with Cuba top bands and a few presents/ CD's.
IMPORTANT - please read the money FAQ for further information on accessing your cash whilst in Cuba.
What is the average age
Most Salseros on the trips are from 25 - 50 years of age, but the actual limits so far have ranged from 21 to 71. Everyone is welcome, over the age of 21 years.
Cuba is a very sexually liberated place and it is important that everyone is an adult, and can handle the attention they may receive in the clubs and street. Cuba is a safe place and the Cubans are a very proud, passionate and intelligent race of people. Be warned about falling in love !
In the clubs, there is a huge age range of Cubans, as everyone dances, even into their 90's. This holiday is not suitable for children or teenagers, as we are in a Salsa club every day, and it is really a holiday where you can forget your responsibilities and let your hair down. Kerry, Rohan and the key2cuba team are there to take care of all the details so you can enjoy yourself, and mix with a like minded fun crowd.
What size are the groups?
Groups vary from 21-48 Salseros. Most popular is August and Christmas, which completely sell out. One trip for example 22 clients were repeat customers, and 10 clients had been more than 5 times with Key2 Cuba. There are up to 17 Cuban dancers, a Spanish translator at your service, a tour host or two and a Cuban programme manager. We become one huge Cuban family.
Male and female ratios
We normally have a good ratio between men and women, on the last trip we had 23 men and 25 women for the whole two weeks. All the numbers are evened out equally with professional male and female Cuban dancers.
What level are the classes?
There are four levels of classes. Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Professional. On the first night you get to dance with all the dancers and then in the first dance class , we all dance the together and Rohan, kerry and the Top Cuban teachers, will advise you as to which level, we believe you will get the most benefit from. There are usually many complete beginners and some top professionals in the group. We always warm up together and stretch down together and the classes include, partner work, body movement, Casino styling, Rueda, Templque, Afro Cuban Orishas, Dance technique, and technique. The course is 21 hours, with breaks.
Spacious rooms, air conditioning, our resident engineer playing the music. In Cienfuegos we actually dance on the water. The dance spaces are private and you will be able to learn in a really focused atmosphere.
The dance spaces
You will inspired and delighted with the most magical spaces that exist in Cuba. Views of Havana, the port and sea are all visible form the floor to ceiling windows, all from the for the 25th floor. We often open the roof top for some fresh air and direct sunlight.
Spacious rooms, air conditioning, our resident technician playing the music and in Cienfuegoes we actually dance on the water. The dance spaces are private and you will be able to learn in a really focused atmosphere.
Next step - book your holiday
Fill in the online Salsa Fever booking form and download and print out the Key2cuba ltd Terms & conditions form. Send the T&C form to Angela Johnson at key2cuba ltd, along with a registration fee of £150 payable to Captivating Cuba, non refundable. You will be booked onto the holiday, when you receive confirmation and a receipt. Alternatively, upon receipt of the Salsa Fever booking form Jasna from Captivating Cuba will call you so that you can pay the £150 deposit via credit or debit card. The address of Captivating Cuba is Island studios 22 St Peters Square, Hammersmith, London. W69NW
Booking from outside the UK
All payments need to be made in sterling although not necessarily sent by cheque. Upon receipt of booking form Jasna from Captivating Cuba will call you so that you can pay the £150 deposit via credit or debit card or cheque. The address of Captivating Cuba Island studios 22 St Peters Square, Hammersmith, London. W69NW.
Clients will be advised who to pay the balance to on receipt of their registration fees.
Joining us from outside the UK
Holidays do sell out so please plan ahead and book in advance. There will be no 1 week, or 3 week options. All clients interested in coming from abroad would make their own travel arrangements direct to Cuba and transfers to and from the hotel. From there on, they will be included as part of the group including transfers between Havana and Cienfuegos. All holidays are available without flights upon request so that you can make your own flight arrangements when travelling from outside the UK.
