The Best of Cuba Reviews

4.9 Rating 18 Reviews

About smarTours:

smarTours is a leading provider of direct-to-consumer, affordable travel experiences to exotic global destinations. The Company offers travelers curated, pre-packaged itineraries to over 50 destinations across the globe. By offering tours directly to consumers, the Company provides premium-quality experiences at value prices, and as a result, has cultivated a highly passionate and loyal community of repeat travelers. More than 200,000 travelers have taken a smarTours trip since the founding of the Company in 1996. smarTours is… the smarter way to see the world.

Visit Product Page

Phone:

800-337-7773

Email:

info@smartours.com

Location:

500 7TH AVE, 8TH FL,
NEW YORK
New York
10018

Visit Product Page

“We loved our experience in Cuba and would highly recommend it for travelers who are seeking an immersive, activity filled opportunity to engage with the culture and people separated by only ninety miles from our shores. We found all of the activities to be extremely interesting and well selected, offering opportunities to learn about life, history and culture in Cuba. Our Smartours director was extremely knowledgeable, planned an excellent itinerary and presented information in a entertaining and dynamic way. She also demonstrated concern for the well being of every individual in our party. Our Cuban National Guide was excellent as well. She answered questions fully, exhibiting her expert knowledge of her homeland in a personable and engaging manner.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“My husband and I and our 4 adult children went on the Best of Cuba trip. We had an amazing time. Both the American and the Cuban tour guides were friendly, well organized, and informative. We had the opportunity to meet with and interact with a number of artists, musicians, educators, and theatrical performers. We covered a lot of ground and as a result had long bus rides, but this could not be helped as the roads were not always in good repair. Twice an informative film was shown on the bus with discussion afterwards and I think that we would have benefited from even more of these since there was ample time. Our driver was excellent and we had complete confidence in him. Everyone we met was welcoming and friendly and we were happy with the hospitality and service at the hotels and restaurants that were selected. Our group was just the right size—21 travelers and the 3 staff members. There was vague mention about bringing toys or school supplies to the children that we were to meet one day and I wish that we had been given more specific information on what to bring as I did not bring anything and wished that I had. Overall it was a fascinating experience and we hope to return to Cuba some day.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“SmarTours never disappoints! This was my 8th or 9th tour with smarTours and I will continue to come back because of the value offered for my travel dollars, small group sizes, destinations and consistently outstanding tour directors and guides. I was pleased with every aspect of "The Best of Cuba". The hotels and food were better than expected and the tour itself was fascinating. Marianne, our tour guide, was very engaging, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and responsive to our questions & requests. She was very organized and I especially liked that she had an effective system for group members to rotate seats on the bus each day. Enedis was an excellent local guide: very knowledgeable, professional and passionate about her beautiful country and people (although, I'm personally not drinking all of the “Kool Aid”.) Amet, our bus driver, was such a gentleman and always available to assist group members with the steps off the bus at each stop. As a true "people to people" experience, The Best of Cuba was filled with special moments and memorable opportunities to interact with artists, craftsmen, architects, school children, local performers etc. The vintage cars were one of my favorite things to see, but my most memorable experiences will be of conversations with locals. I will never forget one joke a local artist’s assistant made as it said so much about the life experiences of the Cuban people. She said, “If necessity is the Mother of invention, then surely its father is a Cuban!” Suggestions: 1.) Provide walking maps of Old Havana for group members during the free time in Old Havana. 2.) It would greatly facilitate communication if tour directors could post important time & schedule information in one central location in hotel lobbies--perhaps on a small bulletin board, easel, plastic frame or a flip chart near the front desk. If such space is not available, perhaps the info could be posted on the tour bus and group members could easily snap a photo with their cell phones or cameras for easy reference each day. #smarTours”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“SmarTours never disappoints! This was my 8th or 9th tour with smarTours and I will continue to come back because of the value offered for my travel dollars, small group sizes, destinations and consistently outstanding tour directors and guides. I was pleased with every aspect of "The Best of Cuba". The hotels and food were better than I expected and the tour itself was fascinating. Marianne, our tour guide, was very engaging, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and responsive our questions & requests. She was very organized and I especially liked that she had an effective system for group members to rotate seats on the bus each day. Enidis was an excellent local guide: very knowledgeable, professional and passionate about her beautiful country and people (although, I'm personally not drinking all of the Kool Aid.) Amet, our bus driver, was such a gentleman and always available to assist group members with the steps off the bus at each stop. As a true "people to people" experience, The Best of Cuba was filled with special moments and memorable opportunities to interact with artists, craftsmen, school children, local performers etc. Suggestions: 1.) Provide walking maps of Old Havana for group members during the free time in Old Havana. 2.) It would greatly facilitate communication if tour directors could post important time & schedule information in one central location in hotel lobbies --perhaps on a small bulletin board, easel, plastic frame or a flip chart near the front desk. If such space is not available, perhaps the info could be posted on the tour bus and group members could easily snap a photo with their cell phones or cameras for easy reference later.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“excellent leader and Cuban guide. It exceeded my expectation.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“'People to People' tour of Cuba was excellent. Variety of experiences - art, music, dance, history, architecture, food, culture. Tour guide Randy and Cuban guide Martha were excellent.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“It was a nice trip. Lots of do's and don't does, according to the tour director. Cuba is a different country to tour as they have strict rules about everything!”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Well run tour but some of the hotels were less than ideal. Not the tours fault. Don't think there were too many 4 or 5 star hotels in Cuba. The one in Havana could have been more central.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago