Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.

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144 Reviews

4.5 out of 5

Reviewed March 2012

CYCLING CUBA

I’m not a keen cyclist but thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience . the only way to see the real Cuba . It would have been better if they’d cut out some of the boring long flat straight days against wind & done more in the central & east Cuba which is far prettier & interesting . More east to west would have avoided the prevailing [ & strong ] winds too .

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling in the Sierra Maestra [ day 9 ] . Quoted by exodus as being the toughest day but no worse than some of the others & far more enjoyable due to scenery & hills .

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ramon was excellent in every way . i've been on a few exodus trips now & he was up there with the best .

Advice for Potential Travellers

I'm not an enthusiastic cyclist so found 65km against the wind & in 32c tough going but don't feel bad about jumping in the bus for the last few klms !

Reviewed March 2012

CYCLING CUBA

Enjoyed getting to see Cuba up close and personal in a way that most tourist won’t. Found the group really compatible and lots of variety in the places we cycled.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me it had to be the time we got to spend in the Sierra Maestra Mountains

Thoughts on Group Leader

OK, but a bit burnt out since he had been doing back to back cycle trips for quite a while.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The two currency system really limits interaction with Cubans. Can't just stop at a local food stall for example. Found that quite frustrating. Also with the state running everything there was incredible amount of bureaucracy. For example, when you change money you will get a lot of large bills (50CUC notes), then if you want to use for a transaction you need to produce passport and provide address to shopkeeper!

Reviewed January 2012

CYCLING CUBA

Excellent holiday, brilliant guide and a fascinating insight into Cuba and the Cubans. Just be warned cycling in Cuba in August is HOT, HOT, HOT.

Most Inspirational Moment

Finishing the last leg of the last day and managing to keep up with everyone else - not something I'd managed on the other days!! Arriving at a village park on the day of Fidel Castro's Birthday to be greeted by children dancing salsa and being offered huge slabs of "Birthday Cake" with nothing other than Cuban Cola on sale which went perfectly with the Rum one of our party had purchased - classic!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose was a great guide, very knowledgable, enthusiastic and a great sense of humour. He definitely inspired an interest in the life and history of Cuba and the Cubans.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As I said in my summary be warned it is hot in August but the support vehicle is always there so if waivering just give it a go you'll see a life in a completely different way, take your own saddle or at least a gel cover as you don't want saddle sores to blight your trip. Fabulous people, so friendly, welcoming and generous when they have so little compared to us for such a well educated population, our driver was a lawyer and our guide was a languages teacher!

Reviewed January 2012

CYCLING CUBA

Great guide and back-up team – very enthusiastic and hard-working. Lovely group of friendly, sporty cyclists

Most Inspirational Moment

Listening to our guide Jose singing the Cuban national anthem in Revolutionary Square

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was great - very helpful, up-to-date with political, social and environmental issues in Cuba, and funny!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take your own saddle - those ones supplied by Exodus are ungiving to put it mildly. If you're fair-skinned invest in kaftan-type tops made of light material such as cheesecloth. You're in the sun for a long time each day. Take gifts such as soap, pens and pencils, which are in short supply in rural areas.

Reviewed January 2012

CYCLING CUBA

If you want to see Cuba before it all changes, go now! See it from the road; cycle through the bits the tour buses would rush past and see the real Cuba. The hotels are fine, the food is better than what the Cubans get and the tour guide was amazing.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed stopping off for breaks from the rides in the villages and sometimes in peoples' houses. The minibus driver would always have water, fruit and other snacks available to keep us going. The stay in the rainforest lodge was fab. The history provided us by our guide brought everything we saw into perspective - you wouldn't have got that out of a guidebook on your own!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hose was an amazing guide. He treated us like friends, really wanted to inspire us about his country, had a great sense of humour, was extremely well organised, and it all just ticked over perfectly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

August was hot, very hot. Obviously while you are cycling the breeze keeps you cooler, but as soon as you stop you realise how daft you've been to go out cycling. If you aren't very good with heat, avoid mid summer! Having said that the beer tastes oh so good in the heat! And its nice to go out at night in a T-shirt!Don't expect to stay in touch with the world with internet apps. Infrastructure currently not there, very slow and expensive. Just relax and pretend it 1960!

Reviewed January 2012

CYCLING CUBA

Cuba was a beautiful country, and a great place to cycle – there is very little traffic, and the local drivers are very considerate to cyclists (the occasional tourist hire car was less thoughtful).

Most Inspirational Moment

The toughest cycling day was also one of the best. It was nothing like as horrendously tough as I'd been expecting after the description our group leader had given, but it was certainly a long slog. The final, off road stretch was probably my favourite bit of cycling on the whole trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose was great, extremely knowledge and very enthusiastic to tell us about his country. The drivers/cycle mechanics were really friendly and helpful too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take cash - ATMs are few and far between.

Reviewed January 2012

CYCLING CUBA

Cuba is a unique caribbean country at times it feels more African than Latino due to a large Afro Caribbean Population. Religions Catholic and Santeria mix, music runs through the veins of the people and on a bike you can travel into the lush heartlands of the island far away from tourists. Routes are good, a few hilly sections but i am not a regular cycle tourer and i managed the trip although at a slower pace! Accommodation ranged from 5 star to beach bungalows, Some roads were empty some were busier but it was a great way to see the different forms of local transport be it a shining cadillac or a horse drawn carriage, facinating. I am a vegetarian but eat fish so food was not a problem as there was always an alternative for me. As a solo departure every one was mixing and we all became like a big family by the end of the journey!!

Most Inspirational Moment

At the end of every day i was always happy that i could keep up with the enthusiats and we could all relax with a few beers or Mojito in the bar before dinner. We also learnt alot about the events of the Cuban revolution and Cuba's history and the vital parts played by Castro and Che. The cuban people were welcoming and proud of their country.It was refreshing to see a country not blighted by commercialism.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose our group leader was fab. Full of energy and laughs and every day we were told of the program and the route. The two drivers were also lovely and on a few evenings we were salsaing with them to improve our steps. We also were lucky to be invited to one driver's house for lunch.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As long as you are relatively fit this tour is not too difficult, there is always a back up bus that i went into for two short times. Cycle shorts are a must! If you have time and money you may want to stay on a bit longer in Havana after the tour as there is not much time to take in all of Havana. Around Trindad locals kept asking for soap i gave them my soap that we invariably received in the hotel rooms they were only small bars but they were happy to receive them!If you have a video on your camera you can record some of the fantastic music and the memories will flood back when you get home

Reviewed January 2012

CYCLING CUBA

A lively holiday – great scenery, architecture, mohijitos, company – and the cycling through the countryside a lovely insight into the country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Sitting with the crew late in the night in the jungle/mountains having conquered the hills!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Great - encouraging, enthusiastic about his country, fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Cycle at your own pace and don't panic about the cycling; head off in small groups in evenings for a while to discover your own side of life; ie find a bit of opprtunity on and off bike to do your own thing

Reviewed January 2012

CYCLING CUBA

This holiday was everything we expected and more. Everything was brilliantly organised and we saw far more than we ever could have as independent travellers.

Most Inspirational Moment

We saw and did so much that it's hard to pick out any one thing. But for me, cycling through rural towns and villages and seeing and meeting real locals was quite special. But the history, the architecture and the cars were all pretty amazing too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our Group Leader was fantastic. He was a local man and very knowledgeable and took a lot of trouble to make sure we were looked after and well informed about the places and things that we visited, saw and experienced. He was also a real 'people person' and kept everyone happy. I'll always carry the memory of him saying "Listen! I have something to tell you."The drivers and cycle mechanic were also excellent and very friendly.This is probably the first holiday I've ever had that was entirely incident-free.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Relax. With Exodus there's really nothing to worry about.

Reviewed December 2011

CYCLING CUBA

This was a fantastic holiday. Cuba is an amazing country and we had a very good group led by an outstanding guide.

Most Inspirational Moment

The people singing and dancing everywhere. Beautiful buildings in various states of renovation. Laz, our guide who kept us entertained and educated the whole time and lastly just getting on your bike and seeing the country.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Laz, our guide was outstanding. He had an exceptional command of English, looked after the group well and had a devilish sense of humour. His story telling on the bus was particularly enjoyable, as were his inspirational team talks. The group were always well looked after even on the dance floor!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go to Cuba now before it really starts to change. It is an amazing country with a lot to offer. Cycling is ideal as it allows you to get out and see lots of different places.

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