2 Uni-Students, Varadero, Cuba (Aug15-22)

[Crimzaelus]

Hey,

I've been looking through several last-minute travel and vacation sites as well as some of the threads here on RFD but couldn't really decide, so I wanted some opinions from the RFD community :cheesygri

So my friends and I are planning a trip at the end of August but have no idea where to go; we're looking for:
- 5-7 days of vacation
- Under $1000, excluding personal expenses (but the $1000 should cover transportation and hotel)
- Most likely in North America cuz I know travelling abroad will cost way more
- A place where students can have a good time with a low budget :lol: nightlife, shopping, things to see/do

We're not sure if we want to go with a tour or simply just travel and do w/e we want during the week - so, any advices?

All opinions valued! thanks!

EDIT: Sorry, I'm departing from Toronto.

EDIT!!!
So final verdict:
Varadero, Cuba
Staying at Hotel Villa Cuba (used www.tripadvisor.com to decide)
Booked through www.redtag.ca, for $923 per person, I could've gotten a better deal if I booked it 1-2 weeks ago, but my other friends were hesitant and then they flopped on us, so only 2 of us are going.
If anyone is staying at Cuba during the week of Aug 15-22, let me know, we should def meet up and party! :) (btw, we're 2 guys, age20)

Thanks everyone for your input and advice!

[cadave]

Departing from...?

[custy]

I would travel in the Western portion of USA... states like California, Las Vegas etc.

But then again, I am not sure how your spending habits are... CA and LV can get expensive.

[feelthedeal]

Cuba?

One week all-inclusives can be done for about $650-$750 for a pretty good place

[krazynuck]

Cabo?

had a friend just come back from there and he said it was great....i dunno where you were departing from but he paid less then 1000$ from vancouver

[Crimzaelus]

Cuba?

One week all-inclusives can be done for about $650-$750 for a pretty good place

Oh...that sounds pretty good actually. It's definitely affordable!
I will look into this, but which travel company has the best service/rates?
I havent been out of Canada in 6 years or so, sorry if I sound annoying.

Cabo?

had a friend just come back from there and he said it was great....i dunno where you were departing from but he paid less then 1000$ from vancouver

Where's cabo?


I was wondering if it's still safe to travel to Cancun with the swine flu going around, cuz I saw some nice deals for there too.
I'm most likely leaning towards Caribbeans and locations like Cuba, but those places don't offer much when it comes to shopping, do they?

[krazynuck]

cabo is in mexico...

u still never mentioned where u are departing from....that would help find u the best deal

[terri009]

How about the Dominican Republic? I have a friend who just came back from a week long (I think it was a week) all-inclusive vacation at the Puerto Plata resort for around $650. She had an amazing time, she went with two other friends, and met many more friends. I believe she booked it last minute as that allows for a better deal.

[Crimzaelus]

cabo is in mexico...

u still never mentioned where u are departing from....that would help find u the best deal

I think I edited my original post, sorry. Departing from Toronto, ON.


How about the Dominican Republic? I have a friend who just came back from a week long (I think it was a week) all-inclusive vacation at the Puerto Plata resort for around $650. She had an amazing time, she went with two other friends, and met many more friends. I believe she booked it last minute as that allows for a better deal.

Wow! That does sound like an awesome deal, which travel company did she book it from?

[sreesha]

MIAMI...Florida...awesome:cheesygri

[krazynuck]

oops my bad OP did not see you edited it

it seems most trips for 4 star resort for under 1000$ CDN for 7 nights 8 days in cabo so its pretty much safe to say that anywhere you want to go will be under your budget....

[the_game151]

I think you should check out itravel2000, they have a lot of last minute specials!

[Crimzaelus]

Thanks for all the input.

Just another question...
For Cabo, in Mexico, is it safe cuz of the swine flu???

[Pvo1]

www.redtag.ca

tons of great trips and awesome prices. lots of all inclusive packages to cuba, dominica, etc

went to cuba a few weeks ago for just over 700$...

www.vegas.com also has alot of great flight/hotel packages for great prices...

[Crimzaelus]

So I think I've decided on Cuba for 7-nights.
Been lookin thru the sites that was posted and found some nice deals.

But the thing is...I know there's a few locations in Cuba that I can go to...

Which one's the best?
I've been hearing good things about Varadero and Havana...but can't decide!

[Crimzaelus]

bump, edited OP, vacation booked! :D
3 weeks til i fly, sweet!!

[HBP]

bump, edited OP, vacation booked! :D
3 weeks til i fly, sweet!!

Congrats. Prices went up significantly in the past 3 days. Dunno why. Hope they go back down soon so I can book my Aug 21st dep.

[Corinthein]

Congrats. Prices went up significantly in the past 3 days. Dunno why. Hope they go back down soon so I can book my Aug 21st dep.

I noticed that too. I am planning on going first two weeks of september, will book last minute as rates will hopefully be good and we can see if their is any forecast on hurricanes in the carib. so far its been a quiet year :)

[HBP]

I noticed that too. I am planning on going first two weeks of september, will book last minute as rates will hopefully be good and we can see if their is any forecast on hurricanes in the carib. so far its been a quiet year :)

September is better... for example, Breezes Bella Costa leaving Sept 1st was $750 a few days ago (it went up recently...)

Late Aug is ridiculous...

Where are you going to look for last minute? It seems that last minute is hard much of a savings (departures for Aug 1/2 are still around $1000...)

[Crimzaelus]

I just looked up some for early Sept, and they dropped only $100, so $750 can cover taxes too (for a week) - at a 3.5 star resort.

Not sure if that helps but for Sept, taxes drop by $100, maybe cuz it's off-season?