Why not let someone else worry about Christmas and New Year this year and book a last minute stay in a hotel in Cuba over the festive period. Forget about buying the food, cooking the dinner, washing it up or organising the New Year party - just relax and enjoy a journey to Cuba which would definitely lighten up your holiday. Cuba is a country in the Caribbean that has Havana as the largest capital city and is home to over 11.3 million people who speak Spanish as their official language. Fortunately, the country has undergone a transformation since it opened its doors to global tourism in the 1990s. The country's heritage is in safe hands with the historic Havana and Trinidad having gone through some painstaking restoration and preservation. Walking around them is like a trip, way back in time.



However, in Cuba, where many of the hotels are sterile affairs offering little opportunity to interact with locals, the Casa is a good bet. Rooms are often offered in beautifully-kept homes complete with private bathrooms and breakfast. Evening meals are often on offer as well, which can be more varied and plentiful than in state-run restaurants. It all adds up to a cheaper choice and a great way to get a glimpse of the ?real Cuba'. Once in Cuba, it is very easy to move from one hotel to another by just a recommendation, whether in other parts of the same city, or anywhere else in Cuba.

It's surprising that an island so rich in marine life, fish and seafood rarely top most of the restaurants? menus for most of it is mostly exported. The cuisines offered are a mixture of Spanish and Afro-Caribbean that heavily depend on rice, beans, chicken and pork. Some of the delicacies comprise of soup made of chicken or black beans, black beans and rice, chicken or pork, baked or fried plantains and omelettes stuffed with meat or cheese. And to compliment these dishes are some national drinks like the strong Cuban coffee, the tasty Cuban beer and Rum cocktails; Daiquiri, Mojito and Cuba libre. Havana is renowned for its after-dark entertainment scene, and only the tip of the iceberg is visible to tourists on a short stay. Santiago de Cuba gave birth to salsa, and regular live sessions are on offer at the Casa de la Trova. In beach resorts, nightlife tends to mimic what is on offer in Havana, with varying degrees of success.

You can do a lot of things like taking a stroll along the Malec'n, soak up some sun on Cuba's beaches: Playas del Este and Cayo Coco or go for hiking at the Sierra Maestra and take an emotional journey to the museum at Playa Gir'n. Maybe you can saddle up and go for a gallop through the scenic sugarcane fields around Trinidad or the hills and valleys of Pinar del R'o or find time to make friends with the fellow locals. Appreciate Cuba's attraction sites like the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the Plaza de Armas, the Capitolio, the Museo de la Revoluci'n, the Pinar Del R'o and the revolutionary Santa Clara. They are just breathe taking. This is a country that enjoys a warm, tropical climate throughout the year and the months of November to April are the best times to visit. So why bother yourself looking for another holiday destination when Cuba is just within your reach? Tour her and experience what goodies she has in store for you.