Cuba Journal Air France-KLM foresees a 15% increase in passenger transportation in 2015 compared to 2014. The group is seeking to consolidate its position as the principal carrier between Cuba and Europe, Africa and Asia, according to Antoine Cros, general manager for Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Cros said, “During 2015 more than 420,000 passengers were transported, … Read more
According to a report in the Miami Herald, Stonegate Bank has announced plans to offer its customers the use of a debit card while traveling in Cuba. There will about 10,000 outlets in Cuba including hotels and restaurants capable of processing transactions with Stonegate’s debit card. Only Stonegate’s debit card (a Mastercard) will function in … Read more
Cuba cruise firm expands with new offering By Dana Niland Cuba Journal Contributor Group IST (International Specialty Travel) is adding a third small ship to its Havana to Cienfuegos people-to-people cruise program for the November 2016-April 2017 season. With the two vessels sailing the route in the 2015-16 season, Group IST will also offer year-round … Read more
Hoping for a hurricane is the latest sign that Cubans are suffering from an epic drought that appears to offer no foreseeable relief. In August, Cuba placed its civil defense system on alert and made plans to repair and replace its water infrastructure that is reported to be losing half its volume due to leaks. … Read more
We’ve long been passionate about a certain Cuban cigar: the Montecristo No. 2. The famous torpedo has always been one of the best cigars from Cuba, with its robust but not-too-strong body and classic Montecristo flavor. But on recent trips to both Cuba and the wider Caribbean, we’ve become particular to another Montecristo: the Edmundo. … Read more
New life for the Brisas Covarrubias By the Cuba Journal staff A major hotel in Cuba’s Las Tunas province has reopened its doors. The Brisas Covarrubias hotel, located on the beach in Puerto Padre, has 180 rooms, along with three bars and an international buffet restaurant. A government statement said the property had received major … Read more
What’s the best rum in Cuba? It’s a question people often asks us, but it’s one that has many answers. Is it the best value, like Havana Club Anejo Especial? Or the most expensive, like Havana Club Maximo? Right now, it’s one: Santiago de Cuba 11 Años. And it isn’t just the favorite of bartenders … Read more
By Alexander Britell Cuba Journal Travel giant Apple Leisure Group has its “eye on Cuba,” the company told me in an interview last week. While US hotel companies cannot currently expand their brands into Cuba, despite loosened restrictions, interest in the island remains high for hoteliers. “The size of the island and its rich culture … Read more
By the Cuba Journal staff Santiago de Cuba is showing significant tourism growth so far this year, Cuba’s tourism officials said this week. The country’s Second City market is reporting a 20 percent growth in tourist arrivals over the same period in 2014, with more growth projected as the tourist season begins in earnest. The … Read more
By the Cuba Journal staff The Memories Miramar Havana hotel has added a new specialty restaurant, parent company Sunwing Vacations announced. The NeXo restaurant features an “exciting fusion menu,” according to the company. More significantly, the restaurant is the brainchild of Michelin-star Chef Jesus del Cerro, one of the first of a number of culinary … Read more
