Recommend August 2015 - (Page 11)

tourtalk Cuba Calling Tour operators keep upping the ante when it comes to their Cuba offerings. Cuba Tour Planner's 6-night program includes a visit to Cienfuegos. paloma villaverde de rico "We have seen a very large increase [in interest for travel to Cuba]. People are very excited to visit a destination that has been off limits to U.S. citizens for so long." -Taryn Riquier, Cuba Travel Services "We initially thought the demographic [to Cuba] would be our traditional client-sophisticated, well traveled and over 55. Our Latour team was pleasantly surprised when statistics began to show a more diverse traveler, ranging in age from mid-20's all the way into their 70's. Clearly the lure of Cuba reaches travelers of all ages." -Richard Krieger, President, The Isramworld Portfolio of Brands "Although Cuba has been a Communist nation since the Revolution in 1959, the country has a very rich and interesting religious heritage. Our Spiritual Journey program will focus on this history with visits to the community of La Caridad del Cobre (the patron saint of Cuba); the oldest church in Cuba; and the Church of San Lazaro. We feel that Cuba is a great, emerging destination for American Catholics looking for a different kind of faith-based journey." -Wendy Mainerich, Product Manager, Globus North America, South Pacific and Cuba c ub a tour planner Cuba Tour Planner offers two people-to-people programs to the Caribbean island: the 6-night Colors of Cuba and the 4-night Havana Getaway 2015. The latter, which starts at $2,233 all-inclusive, offers travelers the chance to visit a community project, learn about Havana's recent preservation projects and history, and embark on a day trip to Cuba's tobacco country in inar de io to see rst- and t e entire ci ar-ma in rocess. e -ni t program ($2,733 all-inclusive), meanwhile, journeys across the island, taking participants to the colonial city of Trinidad to view a ceramic demonstration; Cienfuegos, where visitors learn the difference between ration stores and regular markets; Havana, where there's a stop at a local paladar, or private restaurant, for a Cuban meal; and Pinar del Rio, to enjoy the island's stunning countryside. cubatourplanner.com latour Have clients who want a quick weekend getaway to Cuba? Latour delivers with its new 5-day Weekend in Havana getaway. This limited departure program-next trip is planned for November (rates start at $2,999)-pays tribute to the days when a weekend in Havana was a reality for many Americans. The itinerary includes a 3-night stay at Havana's Melia Cohiba Hotel, and visits to old and modern Havana, Ernest Hemingway's home, a local rum museum, and a cigar factory. Latour also offers culturally s eci c ro rams inc din t e -da Shalom Cuba, which explores Cuba's Jewish history, and the 9-day LGBT Cuba-Pride World, in which travelers have the opportunity to discover what it is truly like for LGBTs on this island. latour.com g lob us Globus has unveiled a couple of new people-to-people programs to Cuba for 2016, including the 11-day Spiritual Journey through Cuba (priced from $3,799), which takes travelers to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption in Santiago; the Hill of the Cross in Holguin; the Church at Plaza de Carmen in Camaguey; and Cuba's oldest church in Sancti Spiritus. Other activities include a visit to a spice farm and interacting with workers; a visit to Finca Vigia, Hemingway's home; and spending time at a daycare center run by local nuns. Other new programs include the 10-day Cuba by Land & Sea aboard the Celestyal Crystal, with port stops in Havana, Maria La Gorda, Pinar del Rio, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba; and the 9-day Cuba Discovery (priced from $2,475) with Cosmos. globusjourneys.com Associate Editor Michelle Marie Arean contributed to this article. august 2015 9 http://www.cubatourplanner.com http://www.latour.com http://www.globusjourneys.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend August 2015

Editor’s Notes
Hotel Desk: AC Hotels by Marriott
Tour Talk: Cuba Calling
River Cruise Update
AmaWaterways’ AmaCerto
The Girls—& Guys— Just Wanna Have Fun
Martinique Travel Planner
Sint Maarten’s Three All-Inclusive Sonestas
Puerto Rico
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
Update on Air, Hotels & Tours
Israel: A Journey of Divine Discovery
Wales
Festival Time: “Step Outside the Ordinary”
Official Florida Travel Industry Education Program–Beaches Course
The Battle Begins: Girls vs. Guys Getaways

Recommend August 2015