Cuba! | Livin' la Vida
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October 6-10, 2022​
Contradictory and complex, Havana has something for everyone. Crackling with creativity and change, Havana is not the city suspended in time portrayed by glossy magazines with candy-colored convertibles splashed across their pages.
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After a few days in Cuba, you'll realize the face of Havana belies the sultry and cosmopolitan soul pulsating behind those tumbledown balconies. With a bit of serendipity—a powerful coin in the Cuban travel realm—the city's secrets will reveal themselves.
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Cuba has a very large soul. It’s all owing to a culture which is rich, vibrant and immensely varied. At the island’s heart are the Cubans, brought to the island by the trade winds from all corners of the earth to forge a new people.
Amerindian Taino, Spanish, African, French, Asian and English ways of life took root in Cuba, but in the mixing of the cultures became something new and utterly distinct.
The people of Cuba, the vibe of Cuba, the spirit of Cuba will touch you deep down in your soul.
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Join us.
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SOLD OUT!
ITINERARY
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Thursday, October 6, 2022
In the morning, our flight departs from the Ft. Lauderdale Airport.
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After clearing passport control and retrieving our baggage, our driver and guide will greet us. At our first stop, we will exchange our money to the local currency, CUC's.
Next ...our Welcome Lunch. (Included)
On our way to our home for the next few days, we will enjoy a Havana City Tour with a panoramic view of Plaza de Revolucion, Vedado, and the famous Malecon.
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After check in, take a few minutes to meet your new travel friends or maybe sneak in a nap.
In the evening our driver will pick us up - we will grab a bite to eat (not included). The restaurant choice will be the tour guide's choice. as he/she knows the best places!
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When the sun sets, our driver and guide will whisk us away to witness the 9:00 PM Cannon Firing Ceremony at Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña. After the ceremony, our driver returns us to our accommodations.
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>Meals: Lunch
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Friday, October 7. 2022
Breakfast at your leisure.
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Hot! Hot! Hot! Rooftop Salsa Lesson: Our driver will pick us up and take us to the dance studio. Enjoy fun class instructors, great salsa music, original Cuban salsa, and professional dancers.
We will have the unique experience of dancing on a terrace. After the two hour lesson, we will enjoy having the chance of interchanging thoughts and opinions with the teachers and staff.
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After our dance lesson, we will have lunch at an authentic Cuban restaurant (not included.) Tour guide's choice. After lunch, we will be returned to our accommodations.
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Evening on your own to explore Cuba.
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>Meals: Breakfast
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Saturday, October 8, 2022
Breakfast at your leisure.
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Today is an independent day to enjoy Cuba on your own.
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Optional Independent Tours to consider (Not included in the package)
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Spend the day at the beautiful Varadero Beach. Verardero is a popular beach town in Cuba and is known for its spectacular beaches and picturesque views. There’s plenty to see and do in Varadero including many tours. Swim with dolphins or explore the city ...either way, you’re sure to have a truly memorable trip when visiting Varadero.
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Head to Vinales in Pinar del Rio. Beautifully rural, Vinales is a Cuban national park. While in Vinales, visit a peasant's farm where you will learn about the processes of tobacco, rum, coffee and honey. Enjoy the tasting of a cigar, rum and honey ...ride a horse in Viñales Park ...visit the Cueva del Indio and sail by boat through the underground waters of the San Juan River.
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Visit The Museum of the Slave Route at the Castillo de San Severino. Cuba is one of the countries that experienced the longest slavery period in the world, from 1511 until 1886. Of the two and a half million enslaved people imported into the Spanish colonies from Africa, almost 40% were taken to Cuba. Objects, pieces, pictures and belongings that illustrate the slavery times are exhibited in the museum.
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​Turn up at The Tropicana. Known as a paradise under the stars, the club is located outdoors in a wooded area making it unique among the city’s traditional cabarets. This is a Vegas-style extravaganza with seating for 1,400 people and 200 performers going through the full range of popular Cuban dance. As you’d expect, the dancers are beautiful ...the costumes and choreography are amazing.
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This evening we will try out our new found Salsa dancing skills at one of Cuba's hottest clubs.
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​​​>Meals: Breakfast
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Sunday, October 9, 2022
Breakfast
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Our driver will pick us up for our Cuban Cigar making class. Using age old Cuban techniques, learn how to craft your very own cigar AND how to smoke a Cuban cigar! Your expert cigar aficionado will share some tips and best practices when smoking some of his own hand-rolled cigars like the impressive (5" long w/ 58 ring gauge) Robusto Supremo. During class, your host, a rum sommelier, will present some tremendous Cuban rums and coffees that will pair well with the cigar we will be smoking.
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After class, we will have lunch (not included). Tour guide's choice.
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After lunch, our classic convertible cars will pick up us for a two hour tour of Havana. One of the great charms of life in Cuba is the profusion of American classic cars that still provide transportation to the masses. A subclass of these cars is the fancy and colorful convertibles that take tourists throughout the city.
After our classic car tour, we will enjoy a walking tour through amazing Old Havana including visiting Floridita, Ernest Hemingway's favorite hangout in Havana, and shopping on the famed Calle Obispo. After shopping 'til we drop, our driver will return us to our accommodations.
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In the evening dress to impress for our All White Farewell Gala (All are requested to wear white but it is not required.)
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>Meals: Breakfast. Dinner.
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Monday, October 10, 2022
Breakfast at your leisure.
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Our driver will pick us up to transfer us to Jose Marti airport.
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Goodbye Cuba! Flight departs for Ft. Lauderdale.
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Arrive home to the good ol’ USA!
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​​>Meals: Breakfast
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​​(Itinerary is subject to change. Please be flexible and understand that the itinerary is subject to change based on availability at the time of arrival. It's "the Cuban Way" to make last minute changes. If any activity is not available it will be replaced with an activity deemed comparable by our local tour guide.)
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PROPOSED FLIGHTS (The flight schedule as well as departure location is subject to change i,e,. depart from Ft Lauderdale instead of Tampa.
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October 6, 2022 - Ft. Lauderdale - FLL to Havana, Cuba - HAV
Departs 12:10PM / Arrives 1:30PM
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October 10, 2022 - Havana, Cuba - HAV to Ft. Lauderdale FL - FLL
Departs 11:55AM - Arrives 1:15PM
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Accommodations
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Melia Cohiba
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The Meliá Cohiba offers spectacular views of the ocean, city and majestic Malecon ocean drive. Located n Havana’s El Vedado district, the hotel offers a nightclub with live shows and diverse bars where you can enjoy famous Cuban cigars and rum.
One of this hotel's most popular features is the huge outdoor swimming pool. it's a perfect place to lounge around on days off from exploring this amazing, historic city.
Meliá Cohiba offers five restaurants serving International, Mediterranean and Italian fare. For a more lively evening, head to Habana Café which has shows and dancing. This is a wonderful hotel which combines comfort with a great location and authentic Cuban touches.
The Cuba! Livin' La Vida package includes...
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Nonstop Roundtrip Flights from Ft. Lauderdale to Havana
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Transfers between the airport and Melia Cohiba
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Four-night stay at Melia Cohiba - Classic room
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Cuba Visa (Required to enter Cuba)
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Cuban medical insurance (if applicable)
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Tours and entrance fees included in the itinerary
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Salsa Dance Lessons
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Cigar rolling and Rum sipping
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Tour of Havana in a classic car
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Entry to a Salsa dance nightclub
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Four breakfasts
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All White Farewell Affair
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Welcome Lunch
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Cuba T-shirt
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Dedicated group manager
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$1589* per person / double occupancy
$1859* per person / single occupancy
$1498* per person / triple occupancy
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$200 Deposit per person (Nonrefundable. Nontransferable.)
LIMITED SPACE! Our last three Cuba trips SOLD OUT! Don't miss out!
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Balance due August 23, 2022
Cancellation policy...
If cancelled before 8/23/2022 your cancellation fee will be $350.00 per person
If cancelled after 8/24/2022 your cancellation fee will be total amount paid (Total is nonrefundable.)
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Cancellations must be requested by going here.
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In the event the trip is cancelled by Ebony Vacations | GoGIRLS! Travel Club, due to COVID -19 restrictions, all payments made will be refunded to the original form of payment. Should guests cancel their trip, normal cancellation policies apply.
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This is an escorted group trip. Women only, please..
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A passport valid at least six months past your tirp date and a Cuban visa are required to travel to Cuba.
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Each passenger must sign an affidavit (provided) stating she/he will be visiting Cuba to support the Cuban people.
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In order to satisfy US requirements, visitors must engage in the type of activities outlined in the itinerary full time and keep receipts and itineraries for 5 years.
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It is necessary to change USD or Euros to CUC's once in Cuba.
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Ways to meet the US State Department requirements of the In Support of the Cuban People Category
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Provide support by bringing needed contributions like toiletries, home goods, gently-worn clothing/foot wear, confections, souvenirs, school supplies. etc.
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Lodge at a private casa particular (Bed & Breakfast)
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Use private transportation
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Eat at private “paladares” (restaurants).
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Visit with Cuban families to learn about their goals and to get insight into ways to help in the future (vocation training, small business, children’s needs, etc.).
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Use a Cuban guide to explain all the important processes in Cuba (what type of licenses Cuba is providing for private businesses, how private enterprises work, and ways to support private projects).
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Must engage in these types of activities full time (minimum of 6 hrs. a day) and keep receipts and itineraries for 5 years.
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We reserve the right to refuse any reservation. We reserve the right to make comparable substitutions for hotels. Decisions are final.
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Disclaimer: The information provided on this itinerary is based on industry practices and standard interpretations of OFAC rules and does not constitute legal advice. For more information call OFAC at 202-622-2480
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Please note: flights and hotel are subject to change based on decisions made by the US and the Cuban government.
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Ebony Vacations enters into contracts with hotels and air, land, or water transportation companies, but all such entities are owned and operated by independent contractors.
Ebony Vacations is not responsible for any negligent or willful act, omission, or failure to act on the part of any such entity or its employees, or of any other third party beyond its direct control.
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GOT QUESTIONS? WE HAVE ANSWERS!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Q. Can flights from my city be included in my package?
A. Flights for this group trip are available from Tampa only.
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Q. Do roommates have to make their reservations at the same time?
A. It is not necessary for roommates to save their spot at the same time. However, if there is only one person on the reservation who has paid her/his deposit, the single occupancy rate will apply. If and when a roommate books her/his part of the reservation, the reservation will revert to the double occupancy rate. Please note: Naming your roommate in the comments of a reservation request does not make a reservation eligible for double occupancy. Double occupancy rates apply only when two people on a reservation have paid deposits.
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Q. Can I set up a payment plan?
A. Yes. After receiving your Confirmation-Receipt, you may go here to request your payment plan.
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Q. Who is Ebony Vacations?
A. Ebony Vacations is the travel agency of GoGIRLS! Black Travel Club.
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Q. Does GoGIRLS! offer roommate matching?
A. Because each guest is better at selecting a roommate than we are, we do not offer roommate matching. We do post for roommates on the Facebook page so members may contact each other.
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Q. If something comes up and I cannot go on the trip, can I get my deposit back?
A. Deposits are nonrefundable.
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Q. Can three guests to a room be accommodated?
A. Three guests can be accommodated. To request rates, please send an email to travel@ebonyvacations.com
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Q. Is insurance included in my package?
A. Medical insurance required by the Cuban government is included in your package. Our travel insurance providers do not offer insurance to Cuba. You may wish to check with your insurance company or credit card provider.
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Q. Is a land only option available?
A. Land only rates are available.
Q. Why is there a notice to substitute accommodations?
A. Chances are you will be lodged in the accommodations noted. However, there can be factors that are out of our control such as an Act of God, employee strikes, the location overbooking, etc.
Q. Do I need a visa to enter Cuba?
A. Visas are required to enter Cuba. Your Confirmation-Receipt will include a link to the affidavit you need to apply for your visa. We will apply for your Cuba visa on your behalf.
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Q. Can I use my miles/points toward my package?
A. Your miles/points cannot be used toward your package.
