The cigar culture fam 2024
immerse yourself in the CIGAR CULTURE OF CUBA
MARCH 14 - 21, 2024
THIS IS NOT YOUR MAMA’S FAM.
Have you ever thought about selling Cuba?
Do you have clients asking for travel to Cuba, but you don’t know how to start or even if you can?
Have you wanted to go, but you find yourself asking, “Is traveling to Cuba even LEGAL?”
Well! Absolutely Cuba is here to change all of that.
We are here to show you what is possible for travel to Cuba & how YOU can do the same for your clients.
THIS TRIP IS AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR TRAVEL BUSINESS.
LET CUBA BE THE JEWEL IN YOUR TRAVEL PLANNING CROWN.
ABOUT OUR FOUNDER:
My name is Danielle Linares and I am the founder and owner of Absolutely Cuba, a travel concierge service for people traveling to the island of Cuba.
Over nearly a decade, through several short- and long-term visits to the island, I have immersed myself in all aspects of Cuban culture. At Absolutely Cuba we believe in imagining your itinerary through the lens of a local — not a tourist perspective.
We curate authentic, immersive, and memorable experiences that reflect the true essence of the island, through an Afro-Cuban lens.
The motivation behind my work is to inspire people to see beyond what’s possible for their lives, through lush travel experiences, like I had the first time I went to Cuba.
I have the travel pedigree and expertise to answer your questions and make sure that you have everything you need to make Cuba a profitable destination for your travel company. I use my insight, connections and insider knowledge about Cuba to show you the many travel possibilities for your clients looking to travel to the island.
IN CUBA, CIGARS AND CULTURE ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED.
Tobacco produced in Cuba is easily the best in the world. Join us as we explore the culture of the Cuban cigar…all against the backdrop of Cuban culture and the rich and complicated history of Cuba.
This trip will take you deep into Cuban cigar culture through sommeliers and true cigar aficionados. This is an experience not to be missed.
We have created a GORGEOUS itinerary that is sure to WOW. From the food to the accommodations to the immersive, authentic experiences, what we offer is unmatched in the industry. This 7-day/6-night program highlights the best of Cuba’s cigar culture. You will come away from this experience ready and able to sell Cuba to your clients with the knowledge of an insider. This is not an experience to be missed.
But wait! There’s more!
TRAVEL DOESN’T SELL ITSELF!
A FAM trip is nothing if it does not prepare you to SELL the destination you’re visiting. Cuba is special. You should know how to market its uniqueness.
THIS FAM SETS YOU UP WITH RESOURCES GALORE!
HIGHLIGHTS OF the
havana experience
THE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Welcome cocktails & welcome dinner upon arrival
- As you get your bearings, walk the cobblestone streets of Havana and be mesmerized by the many plazas of the city
- Take in the far-flung parts of the city from the back seat of a convertible classic car
- Sip cocktails in the seat of history at the iconic Hotel Nacional.
- Pair the finest rums with the finest cigars at an EXCLUSIVE rum & cigar pairing experience
- Master the art of the Cuban cigar at our private cigar-rolling & rum pairing experience
- Tour the tobacco factories where cigar magic happens
- Learn the art of the rolling a Cuban cigar from a master cigar roller
- Explore the finest cigar lounges in Havana and the finest cigars
- Full day tour of Viñales – spend the day exploring the richest tobacco region in the world
- Dress to impress at our signature all-white farewell dinner hosted by Absolutely Cuba’s own personal chef
FAM INCLUSIONS:
- FAQs (& answers) so you can respond to client questions effectively and knowledgeably to quash any objections before they arise ($27 value)
- A comprehensive blueprint for how to entice & engage clients looking to travel to the island ($197 value)
- Email sequences to make your Cuba launch one of your most successful yet ($385 value)
- Packing & Prep List for your FAM Experience ($29 value)
- Twenty high resolution photos commissioned EXCLUSIVELY by Absolutely Cuba for you to use to promote your Cuba trips ($275 value)
- Pre- & post-FAM social media strategy that is sure to excite your clients ($95 value)
- A proven strategy for creating unshoppable, LEGAL travel to Cuba for your clients ($197 value)
- The hands-on expertise of Danielle Linares, speaker: travel consultant and Cuba Expert ($1995 value)
VALUE: $3195
This comprehensive marketing package could EASILY retail for over $3000, BUT when you participate in an Absolutely Cuba FAM, you get all of this amazing content for…
$3195 FREE!
YOUR Package includes:
- Welcome dinner prepared by our private chef
- Specially-curated classic car tour
- At least three site visits
- Our EXCLUSIVE cigar experience with a cigar maestro
- Our EXCLUSIVE rum & cigar pairing experience
- Cocktails at the iconic Hotel Nacional
- Tobacco factory tours
- Full-day tour of Viñales ~ Cuba's premier tobacco region
- Sumptuous farewell dinner at sunset
+
absolutely cuba’s Always INCLUSIONs:
- A one-of-a-kind, custom itinerary
- Round-trip airport transfers
- Breakfast daily
- Fully-staffed PREMIUM boutique casa accommodations
- All meal reservations
- Tourist cards/visas
- Currency exchange
- English-speaking guides, casa staff and tour hosts
- At least three site visits
- Social media blueprint, marketing materials, photos & style guide to help you prepare for your trip
- Our in-destination management team, including your dedicated Absolutely Cuba concierge & photographer
- In-destination Destination Manager
accommodation details
Premium boutique accommodations
Absolutely Cuba is known for attention to detail and the lushness of the itineraries we create. Travel with us is an EXPERIENCE.
Starting from the boutique accommodations we choose for our clients, we aim to show you what is possible for travel to Cuba through every unique travel experience we create. Every property we secure for our clients is:
• Centrally-located in Old Havana, Centro Havana or Vedado
• Classically colonial while being beautifully restored to modern standards
• Beautifully situated with SINGLE OCCUPANCY rooms, queen & king beds and EN SUITE bathrooms
• Fully-staffed
• Cleaned daily
• Private for our guests alone
• LEGAL for Americans visiting the island
• Always instagrammable – you know you want to do it for the ‘gram
*Pictured: Typical accommodations for tours arranged and executed by Absolutely Cuba*
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This is easily the question we get asked most often…and the answer is a loud YES! Travel to Cuba is governed by 12 categories of travel established by OFAC. Travel by most travelers is covered by the category ‘Support of the Cuban People’ which mandates that itineraries of American travelers demonstrate a full-time schedule of meaningful engagement with the Cuban people. Every itinerary created by Absolutely Cuba is not only legally compliant, but we make sure that your time on the island is meaningful, engaging and entirely immersive and authentic.
Every person traveling to Cuba must purchase a tourist visa prior to arriving on the island. This visa can be purchased in advance of departure, via mail or at the airport. When you travel with Absolutely Cuba, we include your visa in your travel package.
Absolutely not! Several major carriers fly directly to Cuba from the United States. It’s never been easier to travel to this beautiful island.
In Havana, USD is accepted almost everywhere. More often than not, however, the change you get will be in CUP (Cuba’s national currency) at a rate decided by the location of purchase. Though you cannot exchange USD for CUP in the US prior to departure, once you arrive in Havana, Absolutely Cuba can arrange for our in destination concierge to help you exchange your USD at the best possible rate.
Credit cards issued by US-based banks cannot be used in Cuba.
Cuba is the safest island in the Caribbean and you can absolutely travel alone. However, as with any destination, exercising good travel sense and maintaining awareness of your surroundings is key to having a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Unfortunately, many parts of Cuba are not ADA friendly. Between the cobblestone streets and the ever-present disrepair, strolls when one has a mobility issue can be a challenge. Additionally, our tours do have a decent amount of walking and some of our accommodations require walking up stairs to enter. The best way to see if one of our trips is right for you is to email Absolutely Cuba at hola@absolutelycuba.com. We are more than happy to provide the information to help you decide if this trip is the right one for you.
Cuba is a year-round destination. It’s always a good time to travel to Cuba!
As your preferred partner for travel to Cuba, we are committed to creating travel experiences that WOW your clients at every turn. We work with our travel advisor partners to educate their clients while making selling travel to Cuba seamless and PROFITABLE.
Absolutely Cuba is a boutique travel concierge service for Americans traveling to Cuba. We curate authentic, immersive, and memorable experiences that reflect the true essence of the island through an Afro-Cuban lens.
We create and book custom FITs, group and familiarization trips (FAMs) to the island of Cuba for our travel advisor partners. Our gorgeous itineraries are expertly curated with your client in mind. We customize travel to fit the particular interests of each client so that they can experience Cuba exactly how they’ve always envisioned.
additional information
All bookings are accepted by Absolutely Cuba as agent for the travel Suppliers on your itinerary. Separate Supplier terms and conditions will apply to your booking and purchase of travel-related goods and services that you select, and you understand and agree to abide by the terms and conditions of purchase imposed by any Supplier on an itinerary you have approved. As a condition of booking, you must provide information requested by Absolutely Cuba along with your initial payment. Absolutely Cuba reserves the right to cancel your booking and all services and retain all related cancellation fees if your information is incomplete or inaccurate. Travel and payments are governed by Absolutely Cuba’s Terms & Conditions.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:
• AIRFARE
• TRAVEL INSURANCE
• COVID TESTS, AS REQUIRED, FOR ENTRY & EXIT
• PRE- AND POST-STAYS
• MEALS NOT INDICATED
• TRANSPORTATION NOT INDICATED
• OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
• ANY PERSONAL EXPENSES
BILLING:
Once your deposit has been made you can relax knowing that your future payments will be made automatically. We have set up a convenient payment plan that has evenly divided the cost of the trip over the next five months. Your initial deposit is due at the time of booking, and your future payments will be charged according to the schedule you see on your invoice. This is a service we provide for your convenience and at no extra cost to you.
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
The unexpected is always a possibility. Losing money due to a cancelled vacation doesn’t have to be. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance for your travels. We cannot stress this enough.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Travel documents, itineraries and travel instructions will be sent via email 30 days or earlier prior to travel.
CHANGE OF INFORMATION
Every guest is responsible for notifying Absolutely Cuba of any changes to their information, including but not limited to phone number, address and/or email address. Absolutely Cuba will not be held liable for client’s failure to receive information or notification due to faulty or missing information.
You MUST purchase your own flight to Jose Marti International Airport in Havana no later than November 15, 2022. The airport code for Havana is HAV. Our accommodations are 30 minutes from the airport.
Once your flight has been purchased, ENTER YOUR FLIGHT INFORMATION HERE. This will ensure a smooth transfer from the airport to your casa accommodations.
ARRIVAL TO CUBA
Please be mindful of your arrival time to Jose Marti International Airport in Havana. Those arriving prior to 4 p.m. on October 5, 2023 will be entitled to pick-up and transfer from the airport.
MISCELLANEOUS
Not all parts of Cuba will afford you the familiar standards of Western culture, i.e., air conditioning, wifi or cultural norms. Especially in Cuba, a country like no other, this is part of the experience.
There will be parts of your trip where you will be “unplugged” and without access to technology. This is not a “lay on the beach” trip, but you will have the opportunity for leisure, allowing you to immerse yourself in the culture of Cuba, as it comes to you.
ENTRY TO CUBA
Beginning November 15, 2021, REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS, the testing mandate has been removed. Effective April 6 2022, the vaccine mandate to enter has been removed. You may still be given a PCR test on arrival in Cuba.
All travelers are required to complete a Health Declaration (Declaracíon Jurada de Sanidad) online before travel.
From December 1, 2020, all air tickets will have a sanitary fee of $30 included to cover the cost of various provisions associated with health and safety on the island.
Every traveler traveling with Absolutely Cuba is required to purchase Cuban health insurance. Cuban health insurance is not included in your package. Cost: approximately $30USD.
SCREENING AND QUARANTINE
At the discretion of the Cuban government, arriving tourists may be given a PCR test on arrival and may be subject to quarantine. Any costs related to additional testing and/or quarantine will be paid at the traveler’s expense.
If you are selected for testing and your first PCR test is positive, you will be transported to a state-run hospital or medical center. Arrangements will be made by the Ministry of Public Health.
Once discharged, the costs of the hospital or clinic stay are paid by you in cash. The cost of a hospital stay is roughly estimated at $300USD per day.
CUBA: FOR YOUR INFORMATION
OFAC COMPLIANCE
All itineraries created and executed by Destination by Danielle d/b/a Absolutely Cuba (“Absolutely Cuba”) are compliant with OFAC regulations. Our itineraries provide a a full-time schedule of experiences focused on meaningful engagement with the Cuban people.All U.S. Citizens must travel under one of 12 authorized categories. Your trip falls under the category “Support of the Cuban People”. PLEASE NOTE: By law, you are required to keep your itinerary on file for five (5) years.
PASSPORT VALIDITY
Your passport must be valid for at least SIX (6) months after your departure date from Cuba. Please be sure to verify your passport’s validity. Refunds will not be issued due to inability to travel.
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Some electrical items with heavy power consumption may be confiscated on entry to Cuba. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are also subject to import requirements and may be confiscated. Confiscated items are normally returned on departure.Mobile telephones, tablets and laptops can be taken to Cuba, but any inbuilt GPS should be disconnected or disabled. For more information on Cuban customs regulations, including a list of prohibited and regulated items, visit the Cuban Customs Administration website.Cuban regulations allow a maximum of two pieces of checked in luggage per person, each to a maximum weight of 32kgs. Passengers should confirm their luggage allowance, which may be more restrictive than this, and excess baggage charges with their airline.
RELEVANT LINKS:
ABSOLUTELY CUBA TERMS & CONDITIONS