Cuba in summer

Hi! I went to Cuba last year with my daughter.  She was a little over 1.  Cuba was beautiful and gorgeous.  I will say, it was just my daughter and I and sadly I didn't have as much fun as I wanted to.  Here are some pros and cons.

Cons

- Poor air quality with all the old time cars. It was fine if I didn't have a baby

- No seat belts in any of the cars. If you are one that is a stickler count this option out

- No internet. There were times when I was like jeez, if something happens to us out here no one in America would know.

- There weren't many activities that I could do with a child. Seemed like everything was centralized around adults (salsa dancing, museum, cigar tours etc)

- No other children around. I noticed no other kids were ever around unless they lived there.

Pros

- Great beaches, food, and people

- I always felt safe

- I would soooo go back without my daughter or when she's older

I would consider the cruise. Sounds like a great idea :)

Hi, my husband is from Habana and has taken his first son back in the past. Maybe he can give you some insight. Let me know and I can connect you.

We went to Cuba right after Obama's opening of relations. We flew through Miami. Three adults, 9 and 13 year old. You have to certify that you have a relative within 3 degrees - I think that's what it's called, 3 steps from you to them -- me to dad (1); dad to grandpa (2); grandpa to his sister, my great aunt (3). We were worried about what we'd have to do to demonstrate the family relationship, but there was nothing. This is a US rule and they don't have enough of a diplomatic relationship with Cuba to get help confirming anything. The only person who asked was the travel agent for the charter flight, so have your story ready. We made sure our story was all straight, had a name and address written down. No one asked anything. It was considerably easier to fly through Miami on a charter than fly to Mexico, etc.

We went at Christmas because we were worried about the heat in summer. Air quality in Havana wasn't great - one of our kids has asthma. He was fine and Cuba has good health care, but we just hadn't thought about it.

We're history geeks and we loved it. Hiked up to Fidel's mountain headquarters. Saw weapons from the Cuban Missile Crisis (not what they call it!) on the side of a road. Great museums. Snorkeled in the Bay of Pigs. We heard a lot about potential problems with trains and ended up taking private cars to travel from town to town. Stayed in private homes.

There's loads of information on line and guide books that will help with the logisitcs of internet access, money and credit cards, etc. I hear that there is a significant dip in tourism as a result of the administration's current attitude so it's probably a great time to go. We met loads of folks there for scuba and water sports, so lots to do beyond history and music, which is also amazing. Don't miss the state-run ice cream places. Not lots of choice, but very Cuban.

The only way to go to Cuba and have a good time, is to go with a group or stay in a hotel. Do not rent an apartment and try to live like a Cuban, since they have a really difficult life..

I have no idea about traveling with kids there. I'm Venezuelan and bias, my country is following Cuban steps and it is horrible. Dilapidates places, cars that barely run and people that seem happy in spite of their hours they have to be standing in a line to get food that has been assign by the government ( tourists don't see that).

I went to Cuba myself years ago, La Habana is a beautiful city, great music, nice people. My sister went last year and rented a place. She says it was pretty and different ( to see how people survive poverty) but because she stay off the grid, they run out of $, they don't take credit cards, it was difficult to get internet service....not fun...

It will be interesting to see other responses....