Salsaville Dance Studios

Below you will see the 10-day trip we are offering to Havana, Cuba over this coming Thanksgiving.

We normally provide the option to add an extra week onto the trip where we visit the eastern part of the country (Santiago and Baracoa) as well. What's up? -- Cuba was closed to tourism for a while during the pandemic. They have now opened up, and are welcoming people from all over the world. While Havana is in good shape, things are not yet at all back to normal in the rest of the country.

The plan is to spend 9 nights taking in the big city and salsa capital, Havana. We will explore the salsa scene in depth (parties, concerts, local dance clubs, and more), meet locals, and take in the architectural splendor that is Havana.

Here are the details of our travel dates:

• Fly to Havana: Saturday, November 19th (It's recommended to fly out the evening before, departing 9:00pm, in order to have a better flight connection and to arrive mid-afternoon to Havana.)
• Fly home: Monday, November 28th (Or Sunday, November 27th, if you need to be back for work on Monday, but with likely a little higher airfare.)

Testimonials from Salsaville's 1st Music & Dance trip to Cuba - November 2015
Testimonials from Salsaville's 2nd Music & Dance trip to Cuba - January 2016
Testimonials from Salsaville's 3rd Music & Dance trip to Cuba - March 2016
Testimonials from Salsaville's 4th Music & Dance trip to Cuba - November 2016
Testimonials from Salsaville's 5th Music & Dance trip to Cuba - January 2017

And the trips just keep getting better and better each time. Here are some testimonials from more recent trips:

Testimonials from Salsaville's 11th Music & Dance trip to Cuba - January 2019
Testimonials from Salsaville's 12th Music & Dance trip to Cuba - November 2019

Any questions or concerns? Please just email me, or call me directly at 720-336-1239.

Back to the Cuba Trip home page

Read on for many more details ...

The Application Form is at bottom of this page.

This trip will be run under a legal "Support for the Cuban People" license (31 CFR § 515.574)

The group size will be limited to 16 or so travelers.
Please note that this will be run as a "semi-boutique" tour, meaning that the group size will kept on the small side, each member of the trip will receive individual attention, and the tour can be somewhat customized to your desires & interests. In addition, we are staying in upscale accommodations, but as a home-stay, not in a hotel. The group will be able to move around more efficiently and do more than a larger group could. This way we can all achieve my goal of making sure that each person has an amazing experience.

Included in the package price is:

Basic Travel:

• Roundtrip airline travel from Denver (or wherever you live) to Havana
• All airport transfers in Cuba.
• Cuban tourist visa (costs $100, but is paid for as part of the package price.)
• Departure tax
• Cuban medical insurance
• "Support for the Cuban Poeple" license.
• Every night at a fancy B&B in Havana with a private room, AC, and en-suite bathroom.
• Chauffeur-driven cars available in Havana for the group every day & night to take us wherever we need to go.

Music & Dance Activities:

• Welcome dinner & dance party at our Cuban dance school in Havana.
• Group dance lessons for 3 hours per day for 4 or 5 days. And each student will have his/her own Cuban professional dance assistant/partner during each class.
• Two private one-hour dance lessons. (With options to take additional private lessons, time permitting, at only a nominal extra cost.)
• 5 or 6 nights out dancing in authentic Cuban nightclubs. This includes going out to the best-known clubs of Havana to hear and dance to live famous international acts. In Havana, groups such as Maikel Blanco, Los Van Van, Havana De Primera, Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Manolito Simonet, Elito Revé, etc.
• For many of our nights out dancing, we will have along with us a group of our instructors and Cuban dance partners to dance and hang out with us all night long.
• Visit to rehearsal of a famous salsa band with a private performance and interactive lecture about Cuban music.
• Dance shows of the various genres of Cuban dance. (Rumba, Afro-Cuban, Son, Salsa (Casino), Rueda de Casino, Cha-cha-cha, Mambo, etc.)

Additional activities:

• At least one afternoon trip to "Playas del Este" -- a 30 minute drive to the most beautiful beaches in the Havana area.
• Guided tour through Havana for two or more afternoons -- one with a professional English-speaking Cuban guide, and the others with Eric.
• Wandering around the streets of Havana and encountering live son/salsa bands, and people to speak with.
• Visit to "El Morro" in Havana.
• Visit to a couple of Cubans' homes - on both sides of the economic spectrum - and hear them speak on life in Cuba today.
• If you have a special interest, such as seeing a Cuban school/university, baseball game, tobacco or coffee farm, etc., just ask and we will help to arrange this.
• Group dinners every night, including at some of Havana's best restaurants. (Cost of meals to be paid on your own.)

The only things that are not included in the package price and you should bring money for are:

• Meals:
  • Breakfasts: usually available in your casa/apartment. $5 is the typical price. Can go out for breakfast as well for a similar price.
  • Lunches: $2 to $12.
  • Dinners: $5 to $20. (We will usually go to fancier places, which will cost $10-$15 without drinks. A couple of nights we can eat for just $5.)
• Phone calls, internet use (Internet is between $1 to $2 per hour.)
• Drinks at clubs: alcohol, etc.
• Medical care if needed (However, likely any medical care needed will be covered by your included medical insurance.)
• Gifts and souvenirs
• Excess baggage fees for airplane flights: One free checked bag is included on all flights, plus a carry-on.
• Laundry services (For $10 you can have a entire load of laundry done along with ironing of the clothes right from your casa.)
• Gratuities - leaving tips

Trip cost, which INCLUDES all airline travel starting and ending at your home airport:

• The base price for the trip is $2,900 (double occupancy), $3,100 (single occupancy).

At the moment, there is a very good flight leaving Denver, but with an overnight in Houston, for about $900 including hotel. In this case you would need to add $100 to the above base trip price (just $40 extra if going double occupancy.) This flight departs Friday night, Nov. 18th @ 8:56pm, and is currently the recommended flight to take. (Departing instead on Saturday, Nov. 19th, and arriving to Havana the same day is currently running at $1,276. Otherwise, I'm not currently encountering any other good flight options.)

If you can return on Tuesday. Nov. 29th, instead of Monday, Nov. 28th, the airfare drops by a bit (even more so if you leave Wednesday, Nov. 30th.) Please contact me if you are interested in one of these later return dates, as special arrangements would need to be discussed.

• We will have some options for deluxe rooms in Havana:
  • Upgraded room with ocean view @ additional cost of $10 per night. (A few available.)
  • Deluxe room in penthouse apartment @ additional cost of $15 per night. (1 available total.)
  • Spectacular room in penthouse apartment with king-size bed with total ocean view @ additional cost of $35 per night. (2 available total.)
  • Upscale independent one bedroom apartment with kitchen, living room, and enclosed balcony overlooking ocean @ additional cost of $45 per night. (1 available total.)
  • These prices are per room, not per person. So if you are doing double occupancy, then the additional cost is only half that per person.
  • It's first come, first serve with reserving these rooms. Additional upgrade options might become available later on.

Payment schedule is as follows:

• $1,500 up front to reserve your spot on the trip.
• Another $500 due on October 10th.
• The remainder of the total trip cost minus $500 due on November 10th.
• Final $500 due upon arrival in Cuba.
• Late fees are $50 per day for any late payment.

If you need to cancel for whatever reason, I'm afraid none of the payments are refundable, except for a partial refund if we can find a replacement traveler and transfer the plane tickets into their name.

Why travel with Eric "El Cubanito" Freeman?
Eric has been traveling to Cuba since 1995. He has traveled there 26 times, and spent a total of over 28 months on the island. In addition, Eric has previously run a total of 13 group trips there, and is well-versed in the ins and outs of navigating Cuba and providing an amazing experience for all who choose to go on a Salsaville trip to Cuba. He has studied dance there extensively and has developed numerous connections over the years. Join him to explore and experience the amazing things Cuba has to offer. The focus of the trip will be dancing and music, but the tour includes exploring Cuba's history, architecture, beaches, and their fascinating people.

APPLICATION FORM:

Please copy & paste the below text into an email, fill in, and send to eric@salsaville.com.
(Please avoid printing out this form and writing in answers by hand.)

1. Would you like single or double occupancy?
If double occupancy, tell me the number of beds needed and the name of the person you are sharing a room with.
(Or, although tricky, let me know if you would like me to attempt to match you with another traveler to share a room with.)

Note: All rooms have AC and en-suite bathrooms (i.e. the bathroom is directly connected to your bedroom.)

2. Do you want any room upgrades? (This is on a space available basis only.)

Havana:

• Upgraded room with ocean view @ additional cost of $10 per night.
• Deluxe room in penthouse apartment @ additional cost of $15 per night.
• Spectacular room in penthouse apartment with king-size bed with total ocean view @ additional cost of $35 per night.
• Upscale independent one bedroom apartment with kitchen, living room, and enclosed balcony overlooking ocean @ additional cost of $45 per night.

Do you generally prefer window or aisle seats? (This could always be changed later on.)

Do you do overnight flights?
     a. Not at all.
     b. Yes, if it makes the connections work a bit better.
     c. Makes no difference to me either way.
     d. I actually prefer overnight flights.

Do you do very early flights (i.e. flights leaving between 5:30am and 7:00am)?
     a. Not at all.
     b. Yes, if it makes the connections work a bit better.
     c. Makes no difference to me either way.
     d. I actually prefer very early flights so I can get to my destination at an earlier hour.

4. Your email address:

Do you regularly check your email at least once every 24 hours?

5. Your cell phone number with the ability to receive text messages:

6. Fill in the info below as it appears on your passport:
First name:
Middle name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Gender:
Passport #:
Passport date of expiration:

7. Contact info for any emergency:
Name of person:
Relationship:
Phone number:

8. Your mailing address:

9. Attach a good quality scan of your passport. (Taking a photo with a smartphone camera works fine.)

10. Do you have any physical and/or psychological issues that could impede your ability to successfully participate in this trip?

11. This tour will involve walking a total of 1-3 miles per day. Are you able to do this while maintaining an average moderate pace? (If not, it does not mean you cannot come on the trip. I would just need to know this ahead of time in order to possibly make some adjustments.)

In addition, on about 5 days, we will be doing 2 to 3 hours a day of dance lessons in well-ventilated, but non-airconditioned rooms. Some evenings we will be going out dancing for 2-3 hours. All activities are optional. If you are tired at any point, you can always opt-out and go back to your room to relax, rest, etc.

12. You will need to sign a fairly standard liability waiver to sign which will be delivered to you upon accepting of your application.

13. From time to time you will be asked for your input on some aspect of planning the trip. You will sometimes be asked to respond in as little as 24 hours. (Examples include RSVP'ing to a proposed group orientation meeting time, and getting your go ahead in purchasing specific airline flights.) I will need your timely response in order to help effectively plan the trip. Do you agree to do your best to respond in a timely-manner?

14. What are your expectations for participating in this trip? (Two sentence minimum here please.)

15. Please list any dietary restrictions that could be relevant to this trip - like if you don't eat red meat, poultry, fish, dairy, etc.



Eric "El Cubanito" Freeman
Owner, Salsaville Dance Studios
www.Salsaville.com
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