What should I see in my trip to Cuba?

I already answered your other question, but let me break down why a casa is not cheaper.

In many cases you can buy a package to a three star resort for less than flight alone. Cost of taxi to and from airport is about 50CUC. Rental for 10 days is going to be minimum 200CUC for a small, single room with shared bathroom to 500CUC for really, really nice accommodations. I've rented a nice casa off of calle 54 with one bedroom, private bath, and dining area (but no cooking amenities) for 35CUC per night.

You'll need to buy all your food. In some cases, the casa owner will cook your meals for you. 5-7CUC for breakfast/lunch and 5-10CUC for dinner. You'll have to purchase all drinks and snacks. As a first time traveller to Cuba, if you eat out, it'll be in tourist establishments, which can be pricey. You'll also be buying groceries in tourist markets....again pricey.

Havana is also a tourist trap...almost as much so as Varadero. You will find most items priced in CUC as opposed to CUP. There are some establishments in which you can use CUP. Use those as much as possible, as it will be cheaper. You can exchange your CUC for CUP with any transportation driver (horse and buggy, bicycle taxi, coco taxi, etc), but do not exchange a lot because you won't need it. I never exchange more than 5CUC for CUP at a time. 24CUP=1CUC so you can often pay for higher priced items in CUP with CUC.

Long story short, booking an AI package includes all costs except for tips and outside travel. One week, in Varadero, at a 4 star resort costs us $1500 to book the package, and $200-400 for spending money. The same week in a casa costs us $900 for the flight (two people), 100CUC for taxis, 100CUC for eating in tourist establishments, 25-30CUC for eating in Cuban establishments, 5CUC for the Cuban pool per visit, 50CUC in the Cuban market for groceries, 75CUC in the tourist markets for items not available in the Cuban markets (mostly chicken and beef and snacks for my son), 245CUC for accomodations, and the same amount of spending money, plus you have to do all your own cooking and cleaning.

EDITED IN RESPONSE TO YOUR EDIT:

In the long run, it wouldn't be more expensive. You'll be paying a packaged price for the 10 days. Last minute, pre-packaged vacations are up for Cuba as low as $188 right now. Shorter duration stays are always more expensive and if you book flight and hotel seperately, you'll lose your airport transfers, which will save you 100CUC or more. A taxi from a hotel in Varadero from is 50CUC (unless you get a Cuban to arrange it...it'll be 30CUC). A taxi from Havana to Varadero is going to be over 250CUC. Much more worth it to have the hotel to store your belongings and travel via Viazul to and from Havana. I travel around Matanzas province on every trip. I always have a hotel or casa as a base and keep it for the duration of my trip. Just the hassle of not having to lug luggage everywhere is worth it, but it really does save money.

Cuba is incredibly safe, including the casas. You can book your casa in advance, or do it through your hotel. In many cases, you'll have the only key to your room. If that is not the case, your casa owner is trust worthy. Make sure it is an actual casa, with the symbol for tourist accomodation on the front of the house. Cuba Junky is a good place to view casas and read reviews.

If you 're on a tight budget stay in a casa (between 20-30 per night)

If you want to see the real Cuba, run away from the resorts.

Trinidad is a nice town, but the place to go is Havana.

To me Havana has it all, nightlife, local bars (far from the touristas) decent restaurants, wonderfull

beaches.

On a lazy day take the bus (Havana tour bus) in front of the hotel Inglattera to Mar Azul on the Habana del Este beaches.

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AM happy that someone wants to go to Cuba and feel and see the real Cuba,not like some of the people in this forum,that go and stay in the Resort or tours bus most of the time and then they become experts on Cuba.

As a tourist is very easy to say that government is very nice,but what they don't see is killing the people of the country,some may said ,oh cubans are not suffering a repression been to the real Cuba that's why am very happy that you are willing to go and see the real Cubans,not the ones at the Resorts,which are trained by the government to only say good things about the government.So good luck and I hope you have a good trip.

a buddy of mine spent a month wandering around Cuba going from casa to casa but he is one of God's special people who no mater what happens to him he ends up ok. I would only go to Varadero for your resort portion as it is a tourist town, try Cienfuegos or Trinidad de Cuba both are very nice but I didn't get to spend a lot of time in either of them. Havana is just too big and busy for me for a relaxing holiday BUT other have liked it, my buddy did.

The Ladies in White