Re: Direct flights to Holguin

[JJay]

I really don't want to spend 3 hrs in Varadero airport.  I think a 10 hr flight is long enough without this addition.  Does anyone know which companies offer direct flights from Manchester.  I believe First Choice are direct.  Has anyone travelled with Direct Holidays?

[Harlequin]

We flew with Monarch on a Thomson holiday in May the flight was listed as a 10 hour flight, it took 8.5 hours direct to Holquin, T Cook also use Monarch for some of there flights, Direct holidays are part of My Travel

[bellagio]

JJay:
 
 I believe that My Travel (Airtours) are now flying to Holguin.  Not sure whether it is direct, non-stop though, as when I have checked their prices they are way out of line, so I have never checked flight times.
 
 If you are travelling in May the Thomas Cook flight should be direct.   It is only during the winter months (October to end of April) that they fly via Varadero.  Other than that First Choice fly direct, but only every second week, the other week they fly to Varadero.

[JJay]

Thanks Garin and Bellagio.  They all quote flight time as 10hrs thats assuming, if I'm correct, that Cuba must be 3 hrs behind us.

[Harlequin]

Cuba is 5 hours behind us, we left at 8 am and arrived at Holquin at 11-30 am local time

[JJay]

OK.  With the able assistance of my fingers and using First Choice flight times the sum adds up.  Cuba is indeed 5 hours behind us.
 
 Now another query.  First Choice includes your entry card into Cuba, but I'll need a Visa also to get into Cuba won't I?  Is this like in the Dominican and you just get it when you arrive at their airport?
 
 HELP.  I think I'll need a holiday after all of this!!!

[Harlequin]

You need a tourist card to enter Cuba which is a visa for tourists they will stamp this on entry and exit instead of your passport, you will need it before you leave the UK, we was asked to show our tourist card when checking in for the Monarch flight at Manchester, we booked with Thomson who didn't provide the card, I think you get the tourist card with your tickets with 1st choice and T Cook Bellagio will know more about this, make sure you fill the tourist card in with the correct date format, here is a link to a pic of the tourist card  
    http://www.7daysinparadise.com/gallery/album44/tourist_card

[JJay]

Thanks Garin.  So the card and visa are one in the same.  Travel brochures don't really state this very clearly.

[bellagio]

Garin is correct that if you BOOK your holidays with Thomas Cook or First Choice your tourist visa card is included in the price.   However if you BOOK with Thomson and fly with TC or Ist Choice it is NOT.    Therefore avoid booking with Thomson.
 
 During the winter months Cuba is only 4 hours behind the UK, as they do NOT alter their clocks - very wise move IMHO, however after April 29th (start of British Summer Time) they will revert to being 5 hours behind as Garin says.