People-to-People Cuba Tours: Why They’re Better Than Going at It Alone

27.07.2023 - 18:30 / smartertravel.com / Can Usa

With the launch of many new direct flights from the U.S. to Cuba, it may seem like the door to the formerly forbidden country is wide open for Americans. Unfortunately, that’s still not quite the case. Right now, you’ll still need to travel under one of the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) 12 categories of travel, the easiest of which is a “people-to-people” Cuba educational tour.

Of course, many people who want to go to Cuba might not be the guided tour type of traveler. If you’re wondering whether or not to choose a people-to-people tour company when visiting Cuba, you’re not alone. Here’s why they make sense.

After participating in a Cuba Culinary Tour, I will enthusiastically vouch for the people-to-people Cuba tours offered by Access Trips—and this is coming from someone who’s only ever been on one other group tour in her life. Going with a people-to-people group make sense for Cuba.

Accommodations in Cuba are somewhat limited. You have your choice between state-run hotels, which can be very expensive (upwards of $600 a night) or casa particulars, which are privately rented apartments and rooms that can be hard to book online and might not be as comfortable as you’d like. Access Trips took all of the hassle and worry out of the equation on my trip by booking a spotless private apartment with en suite rooms, air conditioning, and a home-cooked breakfast every morning for my group.

Cuban cuisine is unbelievably fresh, innovative, and delicious … if you know where to eat. However, most of the worthwhile spots are paladares, or small restaurants that often have fewer than twenty tables. If you haven’t done the research and booked well in advance, you’ll likely get stuck at one of the extremely touristy government-run restaurants that aren’t nearly on the same level.

The problem: none of these paladares are online, so you’ll need to call to reserve (that’s assuming you can even find the contact information). Access Trips took my group to the best restaurants in Havana as well as to dining experiences that aren’t available through anyone else (like a private cooking class and a meal on an organic farm). They’re also helpful if you have special dietary considerations. I’m a vegetarian, and Access Trips had no problems making arrangements for me.

Although Havana is very walkable, you’ll need transportation if you want to see parts of the country beyond of the city. Rental cars are expensive and they add