I still vividly remember sitting in the back of the room during  a 5-hour meeting at the football stadium in Maryland, back in March, 2018. Completely uninterested and uninspired, I pondered upon where to go for the upcoming 4-day weekends; Independence and Labor Day. Independence Day was fast approaching and would cost more, so Labor Day it was. I had 3 destinations in mind, but it would all depend on the travel time and fare cost. Cuba, Colombia and Costa Rica . The 3 Cs ! In 2 hours, I had scanned, compared, made the decision and booked my flight, all while sitting in the meeting.

Hola Papi, que pasa! I was going to Cuba.

WHICH AIRLINE?

Grab a notepad, make a list of your non-negotiable and go shopping. To get the best deals, you have to shop around. Make sure you write down a list of the things you will consider like flight time, layovers, leg room, airport location, and etc.

1. Kayak, Skyscanner, Cheapflights, and Hopper are my go-to booking sites. I check them consecutively to see which fits my needs and schedule. Check out my 10 top travel site recommendations here.

2. Looking for the lowest fare right? Here is a major key: flying with a renowned US airline WILL NOT save you $$. Don’t be afraid to go for airlines you haven't heard of. Most of the time, they are continent specific and will cost less. Research their services and ratings separately.

3. Eeny meeny miny moe, I picked Copa Airlines for Cubana. This is a star alliance Southern American airline. They are mostly overlooked because of the unfamiliarity. It cost me a whopping $240 and they fed me well people!

4 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW.

1. DO NOT pay for a visa ahead of time. I paid $20 during my layover in Panama, and my friend paid $100 online.

2. DO NOT schedule a classic car tour online ahead of time. They will charge you individually, whereas on site you can haggle with drivers. We saved $100 by waiting.

3. Cuba has little to no WiFi connectivity, so be prepared to unplug or buy a temporary WiFi card in Havana for the low (Ask your tour guide, he'll look out).

4. The cost of living is cheap in Cuba, so fear not. The objective is to save money while traveling right? Bring a cap amount of money, it'll help you spend less. I spent $210 in 4 days, and this includes taxi, food, taxi, food, art exhibits, more taxis and food. That is pretty good, given the fact that I spent $300 in NY in 2 days once. Do not even get me started.

LET’S TALK TRAVEL EXPERIENCE!

1. You have landed safely, so what is next? You kill the travel experience and @ me on Instagram. 

2. Always check for all the free experiences available on site. Chances are it will be less touristy, since most people do the paid tours. Also, a lesser crowd makes for killer photographs.

3. For $2, check out Camara Oscura. It offers a panoramic view of Havana. For free.99, check out Habana Vieja Plaza, there are loads of personalized shops, museums and restaurants around. Check out La Flor de Loto, a Cuban Asian restaurant that is dirt cheap. Your appetizer, entree, desert and alcoholic beverage will not cost you more than $15. Throw in a Cigar factory visit, the Museum of Rum and a classic car tour just because!

4. Most importantly, walk around Old Havana and talk to the locals. Those conversations and strolls are what you remember about Cuba’s people and culture.

Wander with me today, wander alone tomorrow.  
Xx, Kris