Discover Cuba! Walk in the Footsteps of Hemingway October 24th-November 1st, 2015 Hemingway first visited Cuba in 1928, while on a layover while traveling to Spain. Now you can walk in Hemingway s footsteps in Cuba. If you love Hemingway, vintage American classic cars, colonial villages, the sea, a smooth Cuban cigar and rum then you must see Cuba before it changes. On this journey you ll walk in Hemingway s footsteps. At the café La Floridita you ll sample Hemingway's favorite daquiry where Hemingway himself once proclaimed that it was the best in the world. We ll also visit La Bodeguita del Medio where Hemingway would often spend a lazy afternoon enjoying a Mojito. Enjoy a coffee or cerveza on the rooftop of the hotel Hotel Ambos Mundos where Hemingway began his novel For Whom the Bell Tolls before purchasing his home, the Finca Vigia. In addition you ll visit the National Museum of Fine Arts, a school of music, Hemingway s home and enjoy meaningful exchanges with the people of Cuba. This in-depth people to people journey has been specially designed for the inquisitive traveler who has an interest in classic cars, music, art, history and culture.
TRIP AT A GLANCE WHERE YOU LL BE STAYING. 1 Night Miami Miami: Crowne Plaza 1 Night Historic Havana Havana: Hotel Nacional 2 Nights Colonial Trinidad Trinidad: Las Brisas 4 Nights Historic Havana Havana: Hotel Nacional IT S INCLUDED With host Ted Chandler Accompanied by Ted Chandler program director and a bilingual Cuban national guide People to People License provided by Cuban government emergency medical insurance plan up to $1,000 All meals (except one breakfast and two dinners in Havana) Bottled water daily An outing in a classic American car Transport by private motor coach while in Cuba Charter flight from Miami to Havana and return All entrances as listed in your itinerary Airport transfers while in Cuba Special insider people to people experiences Gratuities for your driver and guides City and country maps TRIP FACTS 9 Days/8 Nights $4,150 per person double occupancy (land and charter air from Miami) $ 735 Single Supplement (waived if you are willing to share and a roommate is found) Starting in Miami on Saturday, October 24th Returning to Miami Int l airport on October 31st (exact arrival time TBA) Note: Please do not book your air tickets to/from Miami until the charter flight times have been confirmed (typically 45 days prior to departure).
YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS Day 1 Gather in Miami at 8:00pm 8:00PM: Meet your host, Ted Chandler and program director for an informational wine and cheese gathering in our private reception room at the hotel. Sleep in Miami at the Crowne Plaza. Day 2 Miami to Havana, Cuba This morning depart your hotel for the airport to check in for our charter flight from Miami to Havana, Cuba. Charter flight times are not released until one month prior to departure. Your airline tickets and Cuban visas will be given to you when you check-in for your flight. After clearing Cuban immigrations and customs, you are welcomed by your Cuban National guide holding a sign reading outside the terminal, who will assist with the transfer to Old Havana (Habana Vieja) where we have a traditional lunch together. After lunch, our guide leads us on a stroll through the colorful cobblestone streets of Old Havana. We check into our hotel later this afternoon. 7:00PM: Meet your Cuban guide, program director and host, Ted Chandler and walk to dinner at one of Havana s best known Paladars. Sleep in Havana at the Hotel Nacional (L, D) Day 3 - Havana-Cienfuegos-Trinidad After breakfast, depart for Cienfuegos province, also known as the Pearl of the South. In Cienfuegos, you will be able to see remnants of French style architecture built by immigrants from Bordeaux. The majority of the city, however, displays 19th-century early Spanish Enlightenment implementation in urban planning and was declared a UNESCO heritage site for that reason. Arrive in the center of Cienfuegos and take a brief city tour to explore Cienfuegos magnificent wide boulevards and art galleries. Enjoy lunch at the former Cienfuegos Yacht Club ocean-side restaurant (Club Naútico de Cienfuegos). After lunch, we ll continue our drive on to Trinidad and check into the Las Brisas beach hotel. Sleep at Las Brisas (B, L, D) Day 4 Colonial Trinidad & Collante National Park After breakfast we ll take a day trip to historic Trinidad. Our first stop will be Topes de Collante National Park. For approximately 45 minutes we ll travel by way of old Soviet open air trucks into the lush mountains. Afterwards we ll stop at an organic farm to enjoy lunch and a talk on the biodiversity of this region. There will also be opportunities to take a light hike. After lunch we ll return to Trinidad, for a walking tour of the Old Center. We will visit the Museum of Architecture for a guided tour and presentation on Trinidad s architecture and the development of the city. We ll also meet with the Ballet Folklorico for a dance and music performance! In the late afternoon return to our hotel. Sleep at Las Brisas (B, L, D) Shanghai Acrobat Show Day 5 Return to Havana via Santa Clara/ Che s Mausoleum En route to Havana, we ll stop in the town of Santa Clara to learn more about one of the 20th century s most complex and controversial figures, Che Guevara. The Mausoleum Che Guevara (Che Guevara Mausoleum) is a memorial that houses the remains of executed Marxist revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara and twenty-nine of his fellow combatants killed in 1967 during Guevara's attempt to spur an armed uprising in Bolivia. The monument contains a bronze 22-foot statue of Guevara, who was buried with full military honors on October 17, 1997, after his exhumed remains were discovered in Bolivia and returned to Cuba. At the site, there is also a museum dedicated to Guevara's life and an eternal flame lit by Fidel Castro in Che's memory.
Santa Clara was chosen as the location in remembrance of Guevara's troops taking the city on December 31, 1958, during the Battle of Santa Clara. This final battle of the Cuban Revolution resulted in Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista fleeing into exile. After our visit we will arrive back in Havana in the late afternoon. Time permitting we ll stop and visit a cigar factory. Sleep in Havana at the Hotel Nacional (B, L, D) Day 6 A day with Hemingway & Cuban Revolution and the Museum of Fine Art Instead of hopping on a bus today we ll enjoy a full day tour in restored classic American cars! We head to Finca Vigía [Lookout Farm] where North America s literary giant, Ernest Hemingway, spent twenty-one of his most important and productive years penning building blocks of English literature. Claimed by both the United States and Cuba as their son, it was Hemingway himself who declared the island his true home. We ll also stop by Cojímar, a small costal fishing village northeast of Havana where Ernest Hemingway kept his boat during the decades he lived in Cuba. Cojímar was the inspiration for Ernest Hemingway s The Old Man and the Sea. After lunch this afternoon, we visit the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts), known for its international and Cuban art. We ll visit the comprehensive Colección de Arte Cubano comprised of three floors of art, spanning works from the 16th to 20th Centuries by prominent Cuban artists concentrating mostly on pieces from the 20 th Century. Across the street from the Fine Arts Museum is the impressive Museum of the Revolution. Sitting outside you ll find American Jeeps and planes used during the failed Bay of Pigs landing. Also worth noting, the yacht named Granma that was used to transport 82 Cuban fighters and Fidel Castro to the shores of Cuba from Mexico in 1956. We ll have a brief tour of this museum after lunch. Sleep in Havana at the Hotel Telegrafo (B, L, D) Day 7 Meet with Classic Car Club Members Enjoy a lively discussion with owners of classic American cars today. In addition to viewing the many different makes and models you ll share thoughts about how these gems are best maintained and how the embargo has impacted their ability to obtain spare parts. Next we ll visit the Depósito del Automóvil, the country s official antique car museum. Enjoy dinner on your own at a locally owned Palador this evening. Sleep in Havana at the Hotel Nacional (B, L,) Day 8 An Architectural Tour of Havana and the art studio of Jose Fuster This morning beautifully restored 1950-era Chevys and Fords will greet you at the door of the Hotel Nacional. From there we ll tour the city by car and by foot with local experts. We ll visit the old town and see the many old palaces, stroll though colorful art deco neighborhoods and tour the old grand hotels of Havana all by classic car. Enjoy lunch, then we ll continue to the home of the artist, Joe Fuster. Sleep in Havana at the Hotel Nacional (B, L, D) Day 9- Havana Miami We transfer to Havana s Jose Marti Airport where we check in for our flight to Miami. (Charter flight time TBA). (B)
Terms and Conditions Health Matters: It is the responsibility of each guest to be aware of their physical abilities or limitations, and to be in sufficient good health to undertake the trip. To make the most of your journey and participate in the various planned group activities, you should be able to be on your feet and walk unassisted for two to three hours (often over uneven cobblestones or pathways) with frequent standing. If you have questions about the physical requirements for your journey, please email or call our travel office. Any preexisting physical, mental, or emotional disability that may require attention must be reported in writing prior to beginning the journey. Although it is not mandatory to participate in every planned and included group activity, not doing so isn t cause for a refund. For those desiring additional exercise, our trips allow free time to explore at your own pace. On boats, planes, ships and ferries, guests will need to be able to maneuver unassisted up and down gangways, stairs and in between decks. Smokers may smoke outside and downwind of the group. Traveling with Children: With the exception of our adventures to Costa Rica, has been designed for the active, mature adult. Most of our journeys include cooking classes, wine tastings, concerts and late evenings out which are not suited for children under twelve. If you have questions about a specific journey please telephone our travel office. Tipping: Savvy travelers know that tipping is expected in most parts of the world, though never knowing when and how much can become a source of stress. To spare our guests hassle and anxiety, has included all gratuities for guides, drivers, dining room servers and local specialists on nearly all of our journeys. Some travelers like to reward outstanding service with an additional tip, gift or card. Gratuities for hotel staff, boat crew and those serving you while not with the group are not included. Travel Insurance: strongly encourages the purchase of Travel Insurance Coverage. We include information on trip insurance in your deposit information. It is important to check with your medical insurance provider to understand your medical benefits and coverage while traveling abroad. Please read our cancellation policy carefully in order to avoid incurring a costly penalty. Booking Your Air to Miami: Reserving and booking your airline ticket (if not traveling with the group) is a cinch and may be done in a matter of minutes online. To find the best price and arrange air travel we suggest you go to www.kayak.com. If you prefer, the staff at can do this for you for a $50 service fee. Solo Travelers and Single Accommodations: Single accommodations may be requested by paying a single supplement comfort fee; these are limited and based on availability. For those willing to share, will assist in finding a same-gender roommate, and if one is found, the Single Supplement is waived. If a roommate cannot be found, guests will be asked to pay the Single Supplement comfort fee. Fine Print: acts only as an agent for the supplier with respect to transportation and hotels, and exercises every care possible. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, delay, loss, accident or irregularity in connection with the services of any airplane, ship, motor-coach, train or other conveyance used in carrying out the arrangements of the journey. We cannot accept responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, acts of God or other causes beyond our control. All such losses and expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as journey rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. All published itineraries are subject to change, which would not be cause for a refund. We also reserve the right to amend typos and misprints in pricing and other trip information. The right is reserved to cancel the journey prior to departure, in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. We also reserve the right to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member of the journey, or to require a participant to withdraw from the journey at their own expense when such an action is determined by journey staff to be in the best interest of the participant s health and safety, and that of the group in general. No refund will be made for the unused portion of any journey. does not accept liability incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable airline ticket. Photos and comments: Please note that may use any film likenesses taken of a guest and any of their written comments made while on an tour for future marketing.
Final Payment: A non-refundable final payment, payable by money order or check is due 121 days before departure and should be made out to : It is the responsibility of each passenger to make a timely payment. A final packet of information will be sent approximately one month before departure. Mail checks to: 6417-A Fauntleroy Way SW Seattle WA 98136. Cancellations: All cancellations must be made in writing and are effective upon receipt in our office. Deposits are refundable for 121 days from the processing date. Deposits made 120 days prior to trip departure are not refundable. We strongly encourage the purchase of Travel Insurance at the same time you reserve your journey with us. Please refer to your specific journey details, especially private and hosted journeys, as policies may differ. Luggage: You should be able to comfortably manage your luggage over short distances. Porters are generally available to assist you. The key is not to over-pack. Consumer Disclosure Notice: Read the tour information and conditions carefully, as your deposit and any payments for a trip constitutes consent to all conditions and general information contained on your brochure and in this packet. This trip is operated by It has made the travel arrangements as agent for the transportation carriers and other suppliers (SUPS) of services connected with the tour, all of which are independent contractors. ALKI TOURS in no way owns or operates the vehicles or facilities to be used during the trip, and does not guarantee or assume responsibility for the acts and/or omissions of SUPS, their employees, agents, etc. All bookings are accepted subject to the conditions imposed by SUPS and ALKI TOURS, including airline, cruise line, rail, coach, hotel, restaurants, insurance, and other companies, firms or persons concerned with the trip, and ALKI TOURS will make no refund in the event of their delay, cancellations, overbooking, strike, force majeure or for elements of the package not used by customer. If there is a difference between ALKI TOURS Conditions and those published by a SUP, the conditions of SUP shall apply. ALKI TOURS reserves the right to cancel a trip, change the itinerary, airline and hotel or adjust rates whenever in its sole judgment conditions warrant, or if ALKI TOURS deems it necessary for your comfort, convenience or safety. Currency, taxes, fees and fuel surcharges are subject to change. Trips outside the USA require a valid U.S. passport. You are responsible for, and release ALKI TOURS from passport, visa, vaccination requirements, and safety conditions in travel destinations. ALKI TOURS strongly recommends you purchase appropriate cancellation/medical/baggage insurance for the trip. ALKI TOURS will provide options and information related to travel insurance products in your deposit letter. For medical information, call the U.S. Public Health Service at 301-443-2403, and for U.S. State Department travel advisories, 202-647-5225. ALKI TOURS reserves the right to decline to accept any person as a member of the tour, and require any participant to withdraw from the trip at any time who presents a significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or others which can not be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by ALKI TOURS s reasonable accommodation. ALKI TOURS reserves the right to correct an error in advertised price prior to your departure. A contract is made when your reservation and payment are accepted by ALKI TOURS at its offices, and any dispute shall be governed by Washington law and subject to the jurisdiction of Kitsap County, WA. In calculating the cost of your trip, ALKI TOURS has relied on your consent to these terms, and in the absence of this release, the trip cost would have been higher. ALKI TOURS also reserves the right to cancel a tour prior to departure, and in such cases all payments made to date will be refunded and shall constitute full settlement.
What Former Travelers Are Saying About Their Experience with Our trip to Cuba during the Havana jazz festival with Alki tours was a transformational experience. All the details big and small were handled with the utmost professionalism while we immersed ourselves in all things Cuban, from history to food to jazz music. Simon Rowe Executive Director Brubeck Institute Visiting Cuba is transformative, engaging and a real celebration of humanity. Add the tapestry of the island s rich musical landscape ready to be experienced by all visitors, and you come home with memories that will last a lifetime. In a word, Bravo!" Dr. Jonathan Overby, Higher Ground host Wisconsin Public Radio " Trinidad was excellent and so was the trip at large. I have tons of thoughts but not the time right now to fully express them well. Reader's Digest version: we should go every year! Matt Smith is amazing. Frank is also amazing. did an exceptional job and we had 30 very happy travelers." Ed Ronco KPLU-NPR Producer, Morning Edition -