Anonymous wrote:I think that all high school kids should have to travel to Cuba once before they graduate. It could be sold as a field trip to the musuem of socialism in the real world. This would be a nice counter balance to the ivory tower socialism that they will learn in college.

Maybe you can offer to fund this, to help with that enormous chip on your shoulder.

I think that all high school kids should have to travel to Cuba once before they graduate. It could be sold as a field trip to the musuem of socialism in the real world. This would be a nice counter balance to the ivory tower socialism that they will learn in college.

We took our 8 y.o. DD for a long weekend in Trinidad Cuba. I thought it was fascinating to learn the Cuban history and see how the people live now. My daughter enjoyed the music, the people to people activities, and the food. I am not sure why taking children to Cuba is a special concern. None of us got sick and we felt very safe there. I do agree that if you are just going there for the beaches, there's no point and I would go to Virgin Gorda instead. But as a cultural exchange, it was an excellent experience. We did not go to Havana - may have had a different experience. And it's not like Cuba isn't already touristed, plenty of Europeans and Canadians there. The embargo is pointless in my opinion. Does nothing but hurt people whose lives are hard enough already.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on their ages. High school, yes. Great learning experience. I last visited about 6 years ago. I've really loved my trips there, but I wouldn't bother taking young children there. I also think 2-3 nights is enough. Old Havana.

pp who also visited cuba. old havana is somewhat of a tourist trap. worth seeing for the architecture. but to think that 2-3 nights in old havana is sufficient is sad. it is a tiny fraction of a large, diverse, beautiful country. unless you're rich and can afford to jetset to havana for a weekend.

True. It was more that I don't see the point of going there and staying in an all-inclusive on the beach. Weekends worked for us because we tacked it on to trips in the Caribbean.

I would not go there

Anonymous wrote:Depends on their ages. High school, yes. Great learning experience. I last visited about 6 years ago. I've really loved my trips there, but I wouldn't bother taking young children there. I also think 2-3 nights is enough. Old Havana.

pp who also visited cuba. old havana is somewhat of a tourist trap. worth seeing for the architecture. but to think that 2-3 nights in old havana is sufficient is sad. it is a tiny fraction of a large, diverse, beautiful country. unless you're rich and can afford to jetset to havana for a weekend.

I met someone who while sitting with friends in a bar in Havana was approached by a woman but offered an 8 year old prostitute.

That alone would make me hesitate to visit with my kids.

Depends on their ages. High school, yes. Great learning experience. I last visited about 6 years ago. I've really loved my trips there, but I wouldn't bother taking young children there. I also think 2-3 nights is enough. Old Havana.

See recent thread on this - I'm the poster in that thread who is Cuban - I would not go with kids. I was born there but my parents fled when I was a baby, and though I'm dying to see "my" country, I would definitely not go with kids.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/599039.page#9895907

And there's the NYT article that says locals have no fresh food because it's being fed to tourists!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give one good reaso to go to Cuba? Everyone has this stupid fairy tale dream of going there. It's a poor third world country with almost no human rights. Like most people you have these thoughts of seeing 1955 Cheys driving around like your back in time.

Many better Carribean island to visit then Cuba. Get off the band wagon.

Maybe they want to see it before it becomes sanitized and Disney like filled to capacity with 5th Abenue chain stores and hotels.Dunno, people like different stuff when they spend their money to travel.

+1.

Anonymous wrote:Give one good reaso to go to Cuba? Everyone has this stupid fairy tale dream of going there. It's a poor third world country with almost no human rights. Like most people you have these thoughts of seeing 1955 Cheys driving around like your back in time.

Many better Carribean island to visit then Cuba. Get off the band wagon.

Maybe they want to see it before it becomes sanitized and Disney like filled to capacity with 5th Abenue chain stores and hotels.Dunno, people like different stuff when they spend their money to travel.

Give one good reaso to go to Cuba? Everyone has this stupid fairy tale dream of going there. It's a poor third world country with almost no human rights. Like most people you have these thoughts of seeing 1955 Cheys driving around like your back in time.

Many better Carribean island to visit then Cuba. Get off the band wagon.

Anonymous wrote:Anybody have experience/recommendations?

did cuba with my now dh before kids and before embargo was lifted. i would not do it with kids unless they are older and want to do it. i'm assuming you won't just be sitting on a beach in varadero but actually traveling the country. happy to address specific questions/concerns. of course things are a bit easier now with the embargo lifted, but only a bit!

Anybody have experience/recommendations?