Hi Avidtraveller,
Just recently booked the AI on it's own for the Dec. 28th period...(our son in grade twelve and like you don't want to pull him out of school). As I travel a fair bit, I was able to get flights using air miles (AC) to Holguin. I booked Playa Costa Verde (was there in March this year)through a Cuban tour company and got a pretty good price in my opinion, roughly $630 CDN for each person. Heather gives good advice - I checked the PCV for the same time period including flight and the price is $1400 before taxes, and that is per person.
Hope you are able to find something.
Kimber