Absolutely Cuba: the culinary experience fam
experience the culinary culture of cubA
APRIL 17-23, 2023
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.
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.
FOOD, CULTURE AND PEOPLE ARE INSEPARABLE.
Cuba, above all else, is a cultural destination. This FAM will take you into the paladares of Cuba, the kitchens of its chefs and the homes of real Cubans. You will enjoy Cuban cuisine on every level. From street food to elevated culinary inventions, this tour will whet the palate and fill the soul.
THE HIGHLIGHTS OF the
culinary experience
THE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Enjoy a private mixology class hosted by a master mixologist. Learn make mojitos like a pro!
- Explore Havana through a culinary view. Food and history are inextricably linked. See Havana through this unique view.
- Sip cocktails in the seat of history at the iconic Hotel Nacional.
- The Trilogy: Coffee. Rum. Cigars. Experience this trilogy a lo Cubano.
- You’re invited! Break bread with the locals as you enjoy dinner in a Cuban home.
- Experience la comida Cubana by your own hands at a private Afro-Cuban cooking class.
- Full-day farm-to-table culinary immersion.
- Rum & cigar pairing experience overlooking the Havana skyline.
- Get kissed by the sun as you take in the sea air at a full-day rum-soaked beach party ~ fresh seaside lunch included.
- Sip coffee with artists in Havana’s burgeoning art district.
- Takeover a paladar and delight in a modern take on Cuban cuisine.
- Have breakfast with a world-renowned Michelin rated chef.
- Dress to impress at our signature all-white farewell dinner hosted by Absolutely Cuba’s own personal chef.
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 the Havana culinary scene. 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 it’s uniqueness.
THIS FAM SETS YOU UP WITH RESOURCES GALORE:
FAM INCLUSIONS:
- FAQs (& answers) so you can respond to client questions effectively and knowledgeably to quash any objections before they arise
- A comprehensive blueprint for how to entice & engage clients looking to travel to the island
- A proven strategy for creating unshoppable, LEGAL travel to Cuba for your clients
- Packing & Prep List for the Absolutely Cuba FAM Experience
- TWENTY High resolution photos for you to promote Cuba to your clients ~ Stock photos these are not!
- Pre- & post-FAM social media strategy that is sure to excite your clients
- Email sequences to make your Cuba launch one of your most successful yet
Value: $500. When you participate in an Absolutely Cuba FAM, you get all of this amazing content for FREE!
Package includes
- A one-of-a-kind, custom itinerary
- Round-trip airport transfers
- Breakfast daily
- Fully-staffed PREMIUM boutique casa accommodations
- Welcome dinner & cocktails
- 3 lunches, 4 dinners
- Restaurant reservations at many of our curated list of paladares
- Tourist cards required for entry to Cuba
- Currency exchange
- English-speaking guides, casa staff and tour hosts
- Up to 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
• Prepared to
• 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*
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