1. ISBN13: 9781741049299
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Nobody knows Cuba like Lonely Planet. Whether you're looking to explore Havana's colorful architectural relics, laze languidly on an isolated beach or discover your inner Hemingway deep-sea fishing off the coast of Cayo Guillermo, this 5th edition gives you all the information you need to enjoy the best of Cuba.

Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honest advice, designed to give you the information you need to make the most of your trip.

In This Guide:

Full color section on Cuba's music, festivals, natural beauty and architecture
Unique Green Index makes ecofriendly travel easy

Customer Review :

One of Lonely Planet's few BESTS

I had used Lonely Planet on several trips where some of them were disappointing and not so much "guiding". Yet, this Cuba guide made our trip to visit the "real" Cuba our most memorable with sufficient information on each major and minor city.

From Havana to the far end of Baracoa, the guide has useful information on what to do and up to date info on traveling between cities

If any of the 8 cities i visited there was a major or minor event/attraction, Lonely planet had it listed and all you needed to do is choose what to go for.

A lot of detail, very friendly to read, and a nice/light take on history and politics of the Socialist nation

Rating :

Unprofessional, outdated, disappointment

I generally love the lonely planet series. In Vietnam it was our bible. This lonely planet was most disappointingly outdated, poorly researched and unprofessional. For example, It listed our hotel, the "hotel costa morena" as "very popular with cubans and the odd vacationing Canadian." The place was full of Canadians!

We would have missed one of the most amazing 20 minutes of a lifetime if we heeded it's advice on "Acquario Bacanao" that has "tacky" dolphin shows and "you can swim with the dolphins if you so desire". I've been to several dolphin shows and this one was among the most impressive. There was no cheezy storyline or tacky narration, just one difficult and visually amazing trick after another for about 40 minutes. Swimming with the dolphins is also nothing to take lightly. Not just a cheezy dip with the dolphins that many other north american aquariums charge for. The dolphins actually do a few tricks *with* you, including propelling you across the pool with their noses.

Even if it was up to date, it was embarrasingly unprofessional. It patronizes these "poor people" with condescending language. If you want to visit a country that "at times, seems to have had the life sucked out of it", populated by people who would "would much rather pack some beers, load up the car and drive there" ... "rather than spend all day bushwhacking along a path in order to reach a beautiful waterfall." Yes Cuba has it's quarks and annoyances, but other lonely planet writers have learnt to share these in more respectful, less over-generalizing ways. Perhaps it's time for the editor to commission someone else to write the book.





Rating :

Nearly Excellent Resource for the Uninitiated

Some Background:
My first trip off the continent and to a foreign speaking country was Cuba. I went with my girlfriend of two years plus in December of 2007. While most people on our flight were headed to Veradero on an all inclusive package, we were headed to Havana, Cuba's capital.

The Guide:
On the whole, one can't really go wrong purchasing this guide. It's small enough that it can be taken with you throughout the city, and cheap enough that one can afford to abuse it (or spill water on it, as my girlfriend did).

More specifically, the information presented about restaurants, banks, hotels, historic sites and the Cuban culture are usually spot on. Further, the section on Havana has superb maps that are easily intelligible and clear, and also included are two walking tours of Havana Vieja (Old Havana) and Centro Havana, which meant we could skip the tour companies and actually get our feet wet by exploring on our own. An amazing and valuable experience I will continue to recall many years from now.

Some Criticisms:
The most noteworthy criticism of this book is the lack of specific and concentrated information regarding tourist scams in Cuba. There is mention of it within the book, but it is not rigorous enough to prepare the naive first-time traveler; especially those who will be away from the security laden beaches of Veradero.

There is of course the obvious annoyances of people who offer cheap, but illegal and poor quality, cohibas (cigars), female prostitutes (jineteras, pronounced 'cheen-eteras) and general sellers of questionable wares. All this is, I think, expected by many travelers and poses no great risk to one who is moderately vigilant. The book also covers these points well enough.

What is not covered is the exceptionally profligate Cuban tendency to a) overcharge at restaurants by not giving one a menu, b) offer a service for what seems like a cheap price, but demand payment that is thrice or more what was initially agreed upon once the service has been rendered (bici-taxi's in particular do this) and c) inform tourists that there CUC (tourist currency) is worthless and offer to exchange it at whats seems like very favorable rates for the more "powerful" Peso, which is, in reality, 1/25 the value of the convertible.

One general rule of thumb for Cuba is this: 9 out 10, if not more, Cubans who approach you are probably running a scam. Further, never be afraid to assert yourself and say "No", walk away or refuse to pay for something that seems far too expensive (remember, a typical Cuban makes about 15 CUC a month, so this means that even 1 CUC is good deal of money to them). You may even have to be rude, but that's the name of the game for a tourist in Havana. The scammer intends to use your feelings of guilt against you, but remember, in almost every single case you are not guilty, although you will probably feel you are and the scammer will make every attempt to exploit this. I could go on in great detail about the scams, which can be quite clever and the scammers incredibly cunning. If you have questions about the scams, the best thing to do is a little research on the net (search "Cuba scams").

My other, less significant, criticism is the layout of content within the book. Regions of Havana are not entirely inclusive to each other within the book, i.e. a complete section on Havana Vieja, then a complete section on Centro Havana, etc. Structurally there are sections on sightseeing in Havana Vieja, Centro, and Vedado, then there are sections on sleeping, eating, drinking, etc. in Vieja, Centro, and Vedado that follow the sight seeing sections. Organizationally I would have preferred that Vieja have its own section inclusively (e.g. sight seeing, eating, sleeping, drinking, and the map would all be found in the 10 or so page section of Centro Havana), as well as the others. The constant flipping between pages was a common and avoidable irritation.

Verdict:
Buy the book! You might also be interested in buying "Culture Smart: Cuba: a guide to etiquette and customs"; and if "Let's Go" ever comes out with a guide to Cuba, it would be worth a look too, since traditionally Let's Go guides aim towards college and budget travelers who want the most bang for their buck.

P.S. Elisabeth Smith's "One Day Spanish" is also a wise-choice; since most people DO NOT speak English in Cuba. If you have more time, it would be wise to take a crash-course in Spanish. Elisabeth Smith is good because she caters to tourists and travelers. Her "Instant Spanish", a 6 week lengthened course of "One Day Spanish", is probably also be a safe bet for someone who has more time to prepare, though, to be honest, I have not tried it. I used the One Day Spanish, however, and found that it helped my cause tremendously, focusing only on essential and useful words, phrases, etc.

Rating :

Indispensable for a country tour

I spent almost 3 weeks traveling from Havana down to Baracoa via bus and plane. I met a lot of other tourists doing the same itinerary and they found Lonely Planet to be by far most useful, containing practical information on bus schedules, reliable casa recommendations, etc. Needless to say there are inaccuracies in the information and everything needs to be double checked, and many tourists did not agree at all with the recommendation lists of Lonely Planet, but I would not recommend traveling especially backpacking style without this book. All in all it should be noted that Cuba is an expensive country to travel and it is challenging in many ways. It is really not a vacation and one comes to understand after a couple of weeks why there are all inclusive resorts.

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Lonely Planet

I have bought in other trips, books from Lonely Planet and they are very acurate and also give you many "of the beaten track" details which make them one of my favorites guides when travelling.

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Editorial Review :

For forty-six years and counting, the U.S. government has forbidden its citizens from traveling to Cuba. The threat of stiff fines and jail time cause even the most adventurous American traveler to break out in a cold sweat at the mere thought of visiting Cuba without the proper permits from the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
But now, in a trailblazing first for travel guides published in the U.S., this daring and unconventional new guidebook openly challenges the U.S. embargo laws by offering inside secrets, tips, loopholes, and advice in order to help U.S. citizens travel legally or illegally to a country that has become known as the forbidden fruit in a Caribbean paradise.
Written in a style that is easy to read and seductively informative, this handbook decodes the intimidating and often misinterpreted embargo laws and offers tried-and-true information about how to get there, where to stay, how to get around, changing money, staying out of trouble with the Revolutionary police, dangers and annoyances, and navigating the very different laws and social customs that govern the communist country. Included in the manual are maps, an extensive reference section, and engaging color photographs that capture the flavor and character of an enigmatic tropical nation and her people who are the friendliest and most sociable on the planet.

Customer Review :

A Guide Book Valuable as a Dictionary and Readable as a Novel

This comprehensive guide is long overdue. Initially, Michael Bellows demystifies the "how to" process as he explains every step in getting to and leaving Cuba - with and without government sanction. Then he describes accommodations, dining and in-country travel options and distinguishes between the currencies, as well as imparting everything else a visitor would like to know. I foresee many copies of Cuba Information Manual dirty and dog-eared as they make the trip repeatedly. In addition to being an indispensible guide book I believe Bellows book will also stand over time as his paean to the Cuban people, rendering it a "why to" book as well.

Rating :

First time American travels should absolutely read this

If you're an American traveling to Cuba, this is the book to read from the beginning to the Appendix. The question and answer format makes it easy to follow along and tends to predict the next question on your mind.

Although it has a complete appendix, I did not reference it once throughout the trip. It also does not cover history, or give you great trip planning advice. I'd bank on Lonely Planet for that information.

Throughout my trip there were several moments where the expectations the book had set were precisely met. For example:

* The book prepares you to expect a strong reliance on queues in Cuba. I was not surprised to see the men in yellow suits managing the lines at bus stops.
* Jinitera/o were exactly as prevalent as the author describes. I set the expectation to be hustled in all the major cities and therefore did not feel surprised.
* Hitchhiking is very predominant in Cuba and the author hits the nail again right on the head. In my travels I used my rental car to give several Cubans rides. It was a safe a very pleasant experience. One I would have perhaps forgone had I not been prepared from the information in this book.

Those are just a few examples, but time and time again, the situations described in the book came to fruition exactly as described.

If it's your first trip to Cuba, it is totally worth a thorough read. Use other books as travel references while you're there.

Also if you are an American, the customs/immigration process was a cinch.

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Helpful Book

My busband and I are hoping to participte in a sailing regatta to Cuba and this book was recommended. It is very helpful to us for planning for our brief stay in Havana.

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Straight forward and completely unbiased

One of the most concise travel manuals I have ever come across period! Not only does Michael Bellows offer the most complete information available on travel to Cuba hands down, he also gives a sincere and insightful account of the state of affairs in Cuba in a completely unbiased way. A must for people traveling to Cuba but also for people who would like to know anything at all about Cuba and its incredible people.

Rating :

Great Resource

Besides the really beautiful photography in the book, it was exactly what I needed for travel in Cuba. It has all the little details of things you really need to know when traveling there. I had so many questions and this book answered ALL of them- even the most random things like being a vegetarian and where to eat. I feel truly prepared for trip and will carry it as my bible while there. It has emergency info and even what not to talk about with people that would cause offense. This book is WELL WORTH having if you need to know ANYTHING about Cuba. Thank you Michael Bellows for this incredibly great, easy to read book.

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Editorial Review :

Featuring hundreds of vintage photographs, postcards, brochures, and other materials evocative of time and place, Havana Before Castro: When Cuba Was a Tropical Playground documents how the city of Havana evolved from Prohibition haven and rich man's playground to a heady blend of glittering nightclubs, outrageous cabarets, all-night bars, and backstreet brothels. Here, captured in one amazing book, is the drama, passion, intrigue, and opulence of a legendary city during its heyday-before the Castro dictatorship re-imagined the country and Americans were banned from travel to this tropical paradise.
An architectural historian by profession, Peter Moruzzi is an acknowledged expert on mid-century Modern architecture and design. He is the founder of the Palm Springs Modern Committee, an internationally recognized historic preservation organization, and the writer/director of Desert Holiday, a documentary film chronicling the history of Palm Springs as seen through vintage postcards. He resides in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles and in Palm Springs.
(20080515)

Customer Review :

Beautiful book

Thank you for a wonderful trip down memory lane. Greatly enjoyed the many, many photos, some of places I was too young to have visited as a child, before I left Cuba.

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wonderful book

This is a wonderful book that describes Havana in the same way that my parents have always told me they remember. I lived in Cuba until the age of thirteen and in many parts of Havana i could see remains of what once was a grandiose city. This city is now converted into a total ruin. With regards to the writer "formoso" , he believes all the comunist propaganda written by the so called revolution. I imagine he believes that today's cuba is a paradise where everybody lives better.......how come all cubans want to leave that paradise?.........

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Any library strong in Cuban history and culture must have this

Color and vintage black and white photos abound in HAVANA BEFORE CASTRO: WHEN CUBA WAS A TROPICAL PLAYGROUND. It re-creates an era when the city was a popular destination for Americans between World War I and Castro's revolution, packing over 500 color and black and white images into a 'then and now' recreation contrasting past and present. Any library strong in Cuban history and culture must have this.

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FABULOUSLY researched and written!

The author's passion truly shines through in this book. And he doesn't cover just one or two aspects of Havana before Castro, but every facet that I think he could possibly fit in!

I simply love this book. Though I have to admit that I look through it and wonder to myself, "Where did American glamor go?" We used to be all about the little black dress and 3-piece suits, and now I can't get professionals that want to wear slacks to the office...

Oh well, FANTASTIC book! I'm donating a copy to my Lodge's cigar bar!

KUDOS to you, Mr. Moruzzi!!

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Havana before Castro

As someone who was born in Cuba in early 1940s and lived under Castro until 1964 I'm thoroughly enjoying this book - learning things I either had forgotten or never knew - it's bringing back very fond memories of the Cuba I grew up in.

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Editorial Review :

Matanzas - the name means literally 'slaughters' - is the Cuban city nearest the United States. Known at the heyday of the nineteenth-century sugar boom as the 'Athens of Cuba', it is renowned for its art, its music, and its rich African heritage. It is also the place where Latin American baseball began. Yet most Americans have never heard of it. Miguel Bretos' fascinating history of his hometown remedies this oversight. Though he came to the United States as a Pedro Pan child and has lived all over the world, his family is still closely tied to the city where they lived for generations. After forty years he returned to his homeland 'with the longing of an exile, the anticipation of a child, the curiosity of a visitor, the resentment of a victim, and - hopefully - the objectivity of a scholar'. Bretos unfolds the Matanzas story from the aboriginal Tainos to the coming of revolution with solid research, wit, clarity, and the kind of vivid detail that can come only from an insider. But he also deftly inserts Matanzas into a larger picture. More than local history, this original work is Cuban history from a local perspective.

Customer Review :

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Editorial Review :

At a time when more and more travelers are discovering Cuba, which has been locked away from the outside world for more than 40 years, this lavishly illustrated, absorbing volume offers a completely different view of the island from the one seen by most visitors. This book presents not the picturesque Cuba of Castro's era with its derelict buildings and peeling paint, but the opulent world of the Spanish Creole aristocracy of the colonial period, which has continued to influence Cuban taste and cultural life on a more modest scale even to this day.

Emphasizing the palatial homes and elegant furnishings of the island's enormously rich sugar, cotton, and tobacco barons, Cuban Elegance relates the social, cultural, architectural, and interior design history of Cuba, and of the Caribbean region in general. With an engaging text and gorgeous photographs taken especially for this sumptuous volume, Cuban Elegance offers a fresh, surprising perspective on an intriguing country.

Customer Review :

The Best of Cuba in a book.

I recently bought this book and despite that I had never being in Cuba before this is better than the real thing. Cuba was one the biggest economies in the region and such growth gave the possibility to create one of the most selected elites in the Caribbean islands. That prestige and class is all what you can find in this book full of excellent pictures. The reading of the book is pleasant, accurate and, full of details. I was amaze by the work around Cuban furniture which reflects the passion of the author in the topic. It's worth 5 out 5 starts with any doubts.

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Cuban Elegance

Cuban Elegance is a great book, has wonderful photography and dipicts the elegant decore of Cuba and its architecture as well.

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AWESOME!!!

THIS IS IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BOOK. THE PICTURES ARE BEAUTIFUL, THE TEXT REGARDING EACH ONE IS VERY CLEAR. IT HAS A GOOD FLOW AND MAY I DARE SAY IT IS A SEXY BOOK? IF THERE IS SUCH A THING. I WOULD RECOMMEND EVERYONE AND ANYONE TO GET IT. WHEATHER YOU'RE CUBAN OR NOT.

IT HELPS POINT OUT ALL THE BEATY THAT ONCE USED TO BE AS WELL AS THE ONE LEFT NOW AMIDST ALL THE DECAY AND ABANDONEMENT CURRENTLY AFFECTING THE ISLAND COUNTRY. I LOVED IT.

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Elegant nostalgia...

This is a beautiful book with gorgeous photos of Cuban architecture and furniture of the Cuba I left behind many, many years ago. I gave it to all of my siblings for Christmas and it was an instant hit! Its ovely pictures bring both smiles and tears. A must for those of us who want to keep a collection of what once was our life in Cuba before our exile.

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Gorgeous book

Going through this book I'm amazed Connors/Buck were able to capture the most beautiful pictures of the Cuba I once left.
As the tears flowed I knew I was home once again.
Thanks for bringing this gift to us readers.

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