1. Sunwing - Did an excellent job! Transfer from Varadero was well organized and smooth. The rep was a very nice fellow and we booked 4 tours with him as follows:
a) Havana City Tour: This was excellent. Our guide spoke very good English, was very well prepared and it was a full tour - city sights, cigar factory, walking tours, harbour boat tour (see attached photo), pub stop with musicians.
* Click on the title to read the rest of the adventure!
 

b) Tropicana - This was a highlight. Our cab driver, Eric,  had a 1929 Ford Model T open car. And it was about a 20 minute ride so it was quite the treat. Hair a bit windblown (!) but I was prepared and had it tied back. He also made arrangements to meet us after and take us back, and it all worked out perfectly. And he was very open with his thoughts about the lifestyle and the government in Cuba. Very interesting - and good looking - young man. And the Tropicana show was wonderful! Our seating was excellent and a mickey of rum and a cigar came home with us as gifts.

c) Varadero - This was a day at one of the all-inclusives and was perhaps the most disappointing. Our guide, though a nice young man, was doing his first solo tour and his English was very poor and he didn't have much to say. It was a 1 1/2 hour ride to and from the resort, so our actual 'beach time' was very limited. The pool was nice and the beach outstanding, but the food was poor and the room and hotel somewhat run down.
d) Vindales - This was again a long bus ride but the Vindales valley is beautiful. Our guide was excellent and our group small. Our arranged lunch was the best food of the week. And again, there was a entertainer and just an all round great day.
 
2. Parque Central Hotel - EXCELLENT! Excellent location, excellent room, excellent staff and service.  We eventually ended up having our suppers at the hotel restaurant because our experience with outside restaurants was not good.  We absolutely loved the location and all the walking that we did. Our room was large with an OK view. The bathroom had a tub and a walk-in shower and a double vanity and the toilet in its own room. The TV worked well and we even got CNN, which was surprising. The lobby was lovely of the original hotel and we had a tunnel from our newer structure to the original. The rooftop pool was lovely and we used it pretty much every day. It had a spectacular view.
 
3. Money - I would say that this was our biggest frustration. We only took credit cards and some cash. Once we ran out of the cash, it was an effort to get banking done. The ATM would not take our bank cards and so we had to be assertive at the banks.  If I had had travellers cheques it would have been faster I think. Tipping was also strange. I kept getting mixed up as to what was reasonable.  

Although we have no desire to go back to Cuba, it was a wonderful holiday and a perfect week. And the weather was hot and windy (thank goodness). 
 
Kind regards,
Nora and Ross