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Help required from the TEF travellers!  Anyone been to Cuba? Possibly looking to go in September and wanted some tips, advice,  experiences etc. Do you "wish you were here? " (our older members will know what I mean).  :)

Been there, was an excellent holiday.

Cayo Coco (the touristy bit) is basically paradise and is very insulated from the rest of Cuba, which is very different- if you can, go to the mainland which is very different and becomes a historical holiday rather than sea and sand. There's fuck all to buy there, but that's not necessarily a bad thing!

Spent two weeks there with the family in late October/early November last year.
We flew on Cuban airlines (quite an experience!!) to Holguin which was about an hours coach ride away from our resort in Guadalaveca.
The hotels are a little dated and the food isn't brilliant, but the beaches are the best I have ever seen, the sand is like white powder and the sea is crystal clear.
The locals are extremely friendly and the cigars and local rum are fantastic.

We went on an organised trip to swim with Dolphin's which I'd highly recommend.

On the way back we spent two nights in Havanna. The place is falling apart but well worth a visit.

If there's anything you want to know ask away.

Guadalavaca is where i'm looking at, all inclusive. Are there any sharks? :D

Domincan republic. That is all.

Have you tried asking the Gibson Brothers ?

Didn't see any, well not in the sea anyway!!
We stayed in Luna y Mares Hotel which was great for what we wanted,

I don't intend
 to Que bailar la salsa.  :dance:

Dirk, that is one of the places I was looking at!

My daughter went to caya coco in October for 2 weeks all incl.
She said that the beaches were superb, as good as they are in Kenya were her words. Food was basic, but no food poisoning. No shops really around & the hotel shop was a rip off as were the organised tours. (She went with First Choice), to the extent that they didn't go on any..  She bought a box of Cuban Cigars & they wanted £300 for it. One of the staff got her exactly the same thing for £30. When are you thinking of going. She went late Oct early Nov, & weather was decent, but earlier in the year is the Hurricane Season

If there is a Coral reef, the sharks tend to stay outside of it

My honeymoon was in Cuba, we stayed at a place called Playa Pesquero which is in Holguin.

Best holiday I've ever had. The hotel was amazing and the people were really friendly. Not a lot to do outside of the resort mind.

dont stay in a resort, unless you  fancy staying in a place that could be anywhere in the world, cuba has a system set up where you can stay b and b style with cubans, its ace.

Early September,  hope it's warm.

My dream holiday... need to go before Castro croaks it and the American's invade. Sipping rum in Havana and taking in some proper culture and all that, with a bit of all-in tagged on before or after for complete relaxation. Sigh.

you serious? thats slap bang in the middle of hurricane season, good luck.

I went mid-August and it caught the tail end of hurricane Irene.

Went there about six years ago, loved it but wouldn't go back to the same area.  We went to Cayo Coco, basically a series of holiday hotels about a mile apart with very little else to do.  Beaches were fabulous and the food was ok.  Took ourselves off for two nights to Havana, fantastic place where the old and the (fairly) modern mix together.  We were on a conducted tour so I don't know what we didn't see but it was a great experience!

You must go to Havana whatever you do. The place is falling to bits but loads of atmosphere, feels well dodgy half the time but locals are great and generally a very safe city centre. Go to the Bodeguita Del Medio for a Mojito or a Daiquiri in El Floridita, fantastic coktails and not changed much since Hemmingway was getting pissed in them. North of the Island is spectacular around the valley of Vinales, and if you're flush for an internal flight get out to Cayo Largo for a trip on a catamaran to tiny Islands that wouldn't be out of place in a Bounty commercial (not that they seem to do them these days). Also worth checking out the history in Havana itself if you're that way inclined. Also make sure you buy a copy of Granma ! Viva La Revolucion !

Ta all! Anyone been to sharm El sheik? I can't make my mind up.  :(

Depends on what you are after Egypt wise - I wouldn't bother with Sharm personally as I think there are much nicer places in Egypt.

If you want to do the culture/excursion thing as well as relaxation, I'd recommend Taba heights as from there you can do Petra, Jerusalem, Eilat etc. and the Red Sea but also, the snorkelling is awesome and you can really relax.