My husband and I loved our experience… My husband and I loved our experience in Havana, Cuba with Blue Note. I don't think it would have been nearly as good if we had planned the trip ourselves. Blue Note gave access to music schools, music rehersals and opportunities to meet the artists. Our guides were knowledgeable and fun to be with. Irma, our wonderful guide even got us an artist home visit which was a trip highlight. Our friends who have seen our photos all want to go to Cuba now. I hope they do and I recommend they do it through Blue Note.

Havana is Amazing My husband and I have traveled the world for many years, but we never ventured to Cuba in spite it being so near. Cultural Island made obtaining the visa easy and designed an itinerary that highlighted the many cultural and historical offerings of the country. We loved the people, the music, the art and learning Cuba’s history. It’s truly a different world and Havana is beautiful, safe and clean. Most of all, we loved our guide Irma. Her knowledge and warmth and her joy in sharing Cuba was exceptional. My only reason for not rating 5 stars is there were glitches in where we stayed, but admittedly we have high expectations. I think all Americans should visit Cuba!

Theresa and Laura terrific team Theresa and Laura make a terrific team! Laura was always present with a smile providing factual information when available. The tours were well organized and the chance to interact with actual artists and chefs and dancers made it truly memorable. We will carry fond memories of Cuba and we hope that the two countries come closer in the future. Utmost appreciation for the Cuban people who have shown true resilience over the years. Thank you Cuba !!

Our trip was wonderful Our trip was wonderful! Laura was amazing! We felt so cared for and Laura did an amazing job being responsive to our individual requests and needs. We had two instances where we needed to go to the doctor/ER and she didn’t miss a beat. She made traveling with our two young boys as easy as can be expected, and they loved her. At the airport my six year old hugged her and said, “thank you for being our friend.” 🥹 Before we left, people warned us that the food wouldn’t be good. But, we never had a bad meal. In fact, the food was delicious and a big highlight for us. Laura understood quickly that we wanted to explore Cuba, but we also didn’t want a packed trip or to feel rushed. As a result, she asked a lot of questions and offered us opportunities to cancel scheduled items in the itinerary. For example, in Trinidad we really preferred to spend an entire day on the beach, and she accommodated that. The company made an itinerary for us customized to our desires. Our photoshoot was a real highlight for the whole family. We are eagerly awaiting those pictures! I also really loved the Beyond Roots trip with my reading. I would recommend that to future travelers. The kids enjoyed the Ashton Hotel on the last day, but we all agreed that Alex’s Airbnb was easily the best place we stayed. His house is amazing and the pool was exactly what we needed. We swam every single day with the kids!

Our trip to Cuba was extraordinary Our trip to Cuba was extraordinary. From the time we reached out to Teresa to begin planning the tour through the time Laura walked us to our return flight check-in, it was the epitome of a turn-key, customized experience. Our Cuban guide, Laura, was absolutely exceptional. She is a lawyer who guides in her spare time, so her credentials were off the chart. Those traits were matched by her kindness and sincere interest in making sure our vacation was top-notch, every moment of the day. She, and the wonderful driver Leo, escorted us - literally - from the moment we left the hotel lobby, until the time we returned at night. I would recommend her, and this travel experience, to anyone.