Westworld Alberta

Fall 2014

Westworld Alberta

Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/365611

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f a l l 2 0 1 4 | w e s t w o r l d A l b e r t A 29 Where to Stay Cuba is well-stocked with all-inclusive resorts, most located along the white-sand beaches of the nor th coast in three large clusters: Varadero, Cayo Coco and Guardalavaca. Less- ambitious visitors may prefer to stay at one and explore the surrounding area on day trips. but the biggest bonus for independent travel- lers is the extensive web of aff ordable accom- modation available in casas particulares, private home-stays in meticulously main- tained family homes dotted all over Cuba. ese rarely cost more than $40 a night and are safe and comfortable, thanks to tight gov- ernment regulations. "Casas" allow travellers to see Cuba through Cuban eyes. Getting Around Getting around Cuba alone is relatively straightforward, even without a car. Viazul (viazul.com), the state-run bus company, links all the major towns with a safe and reliable bus service, for around $4 per hour travelled. book trips at least a day in advance. Many casa par- ticular owners pick up their pre-booked guests from city bus stations, handy if you want to avoid long walks and pushy touts offering cigars or bogus accommodation. Cuban trains are notoriously slow and poorly maintained; even the locals avoid them. Alternatively, charter a taxi with an english- speaking chauff eur. State-run Cubataxi off ers standard per-km rates for inter-city journeys (around $0.50 per km) in modern cars that will take you anywhere in the country. All resorts and major hotels can hook you up with a licensed Cubataxi driver. Agree on fares in advance and tip at least 10 per cent. W A taxi pulls up beside a colonial-style building in Trinidad, a 19th-century town that was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

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