yourcubatravel

A special experience for our guest Mariel Van Tatenhove

A special experience for our guest Mariel Van Tatenhove

Your Cuba Travel recently had the privilege to host travel blogger Mariel Van Tatenhov and her friends on a private tour for a week in Havana and Matanzas. She is someone who had previously visited Cuba in a different era and thus has a unique perspective on the changes the island has seen. Click below to visit her blog Marielstravels to read her story and see Cuba through her eyes!

From Dream to Reality

THE BACKSTORY

As a Cuban-American, I grew up in a family and city that instilled in me a deep sense of heritage.  Throughout my life, my family and friends who immigrated to the United States from Cuba, vividly shared their memories about the country they loved so deeply.  Growing up in Miami is a constant reminder of Cuba; the men smoking cigars and playing dominoes in tank tops, the food, the coffee, the music, and the dancing are all living ghosts of the Cuban culture’s past.

As a result, early on, I developed an intense desire to experience Cuba firsthand.  In 2010, I booked a trip to the island and I fell head-over-heels in love with it.  Cuba is stunningly beautiful, delicious, and mysterious.  It is no wonder that it has been a desirable destination for so many people.

THE DREAM

After my repeated trips to Cuba, people kept asking me: “What is Cuba like?”, “How were you able to go there?”, “Am I allowed to travel to Cuba?”, “What did you have to do in order to go?”

Today, almost everyone can travel to Cuba.

However, there is an intricate authorization process and the in-country coordination can be complex if not handled correctly.  After listening to so many people’s misinformation, confusion, and anxiety about traveling to Cuba, I decided to help others experience this beautiful paradise by creating "YOUR CUBA TRAVEL". 

I have developed and perfected a Cuba travel experience that is different from the others.  We do not offer cookie cutter tours; instead, we offer a true and very personal, cultural and educational experience.  We do not want our guests to simply see Cuba; we want our guests to live and feel Cuba through its people.  The island’s natural beauty, historical architecture, antique cars and welcoming people will possess you.   

THE REALITY

YOUR CUBA TRAVEL is now a full service agency that specializes in managing your trip from beginning to end.  Our multi-lingual (English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French) Cuban-American agency meticulously takes charge of every detail of the trip.  YOUR CUBA TRAVEL tackles the legal and logistical challenges of visiting Cuba so that our guests can simply relax and enjoy the experience.

Our goal is to launch our website by the end of March, after our return from one of our trips to Cuba.  The website will offer visitors an “about us” section, “our family and Cuban heritage”, a blog, tour details and prices, and the ability to sign up for updates about any changes in travel requirements.  We will also provide the official forms which are needed for each traveler.

We are also in the process of developing a newsletter which will be used to share pictures and stories about our trips, as well as interesting information about the history of some of the sites that we visit.  The newsletter will also highlight any special group trips that are already in the planning stages, which currently includes an art appreciation and exchange trip, a specialized photography tour, a yoga and wellness educational retreat and a Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cuban national team baseball exhibition.

You will also soon be able to follow YOUR CUBA TRAVEL on:  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and LinkedIn.

We look forward to sharing the realization of our dream and our passion … with you!

For more information contact:
YOUR CUBA TRAVEL, LLC
Eli Arroyo-Allen
eli@yourcubatravel.com
(305) 912-CUBA