Judy from Portland OR Fall in love one more time; with the Cuban people, the land, the culture and even yourself. Lana your american guide and Dayron your Cuban guide will support, inform, and entertain you. The heart and soul of Cuba will awaken your heart and delight your senses.

Go! Just go! You will meet wonderful people. You will learn some interesting things about their country...and yours! Lana, your group leader will take great care of you and of everything!! You will dance, laugh a lot and come home with bright and happy memories that you will cherish for a lifetime.

For a half-dozen years I'd been hoping to find a way to visit Cuba and so had built up a lot of expectations, but this program was better than my best hopes for the opportunity to learn about Cuban history and culture through its music, dance, visual arts, and architecture. Lana and Dayron were outstanding group leaders, and the other participants in the program all added to my enjoyment. The schedule was intense at times, but I'm amazed at how much we were able to learn in one week--all in all, a wonderful experience!

Muy fantastico! The trip to Cuba (with a focus on Havana and art, music and dance), surpassed my wildest dreams. The friendly, welcoming Cuban people that we met are a big reason to return. Our fellow travelers were superb company, and I look forward to keeping in touch with some awesome new friends. Our guide Lana was superb and someone I will keep in touch with. Also our guide in Cuba, Dayron, was friendly, fun and an expert in all topics Cuban. I am still dreaming about Cuba!

The Arts, Music and Dance tour was fabulous and I would recommend it to anyone!

This trip fulfill my expectations. it was full of life with art and dancing that enhanced the local culture and its history. Loved it! It was amassing!

This was one of the best tours that I have ever been on and I feel very fortunate to have been able to travel to Cuba with such competent and skilled guides. Maria's knowledge and skills made all of us feel safe and secure and I am very grateful to her and to our Cuban guide, Nilda. The content of the program is excellent and the educational value is tremendous. Overall, this has been an incredible experience!

It was a fantastic trip! While packed with almost too much, the scheduled activities were so worthwhile that we wouldn't have wanted to miss any of them. The quality of the talks given were universally good. Especially outstanding though were the gentleman who spoke on Cuban art, culture and history at the National Museum of Fine Arts of Havana and the gentleman who spoke, and played and sung a wonderful presentation of the music of Cuba one evening at the Hotel Nacional. Our Cuban-American guide, Maria, was perfect, as was our Cuban guide, Nilda, and our driver, Luis, was both remarkably skillful and helpful. The friendliness, happiness, and optimism the Cuban people seemed to convey was heartening. With this great attitude, their intelligence and long rich history in music and the visual arts they have much to offer the world. It is long past time we did our part to help them do so by lifting our stifling embargo. Topping off all else was the fine, interesting and enjoyable group of fellow travelers with whom we shared this grand experience. We give this trip the highest recommendation.

This was an amazing trip. Where to begin? Maria Valdes, the Road Scholars guide was perfection--organized, clear, efficient, professional, personable--a complete delight! Our Cuban guide, Nilda, was knowledgeable, efficient, open, honest, thorough, and personable. I was so appreciative of the openness of her responses to our questions. The art, music, and dance of Cuba were well represented. I can't really express my joy and amazement for their arts. It is a real contribution to the arts of the world and I wish more US citizens were familiar with it. Accommodations and food were fine. Staying at the National Hotel in Habana was pleasant and was its own lesson in Cuba's history and architecture. While I am not a fan of resorts, I did appreciate that the last two days at the resort because they afforded us access to places in small towns and with the everyday lives of people who were not from the city. I have spoken highly of my experience to family and friends and hope to return with some of them before too long.

This was a very exciting and informative tour.Everything was perfect and the Cubans welcome us.I will recommend this program and our tour leader Maria Valdes .She was the best.Our guide and driver were also excellent

This was a wonderful experience that I highly recommend. Ask for Marie Valdes as your Miami guide into Cuba. She's the best! The artists, dancers and musicans were great. Shopping is not the best. We certainly didn't need $500. pp.

This trip should be on everyone's bucket list. The people and culture were wonderful and the educational value was high. It was amazing to find such a new experience that's only 90 miles away.

I went to Cuba in January 2013 with no expectations and very little knowledge of it's history. This trip was fabulous. Of course going through Road Scholar it was well organized. My very first impression was how clean it is. Absolutely no litter. The hotels were more than adequate. The meals were fabulous . . . especially as they were accompanied by several mojitos!!! But the program, lectures and trips were informative and wonderful. I went on this trip to see Cuban art . . and we certainly did that. The music (and history of Cuban music) was delightful. But I have NEVER seen dance as creative, abstract, athletic, mesmerizing as some of the things we saw in the dancing schools. Incredible. And the people of Cuba were delightful. They would approach you to shake hands and see where you came from. They would also delight in telling you about events you should experience while in Havana. I raved so much about Cuba that several of my friends are going. I certainly plan to return at the end of this year and see it once again . . . . before it changes.

Our first trip with Road Scholar. Excellent in all ways - we will consider future trips with them. You can read about our Cuban excursion on my website: www.profsharon.net

ONE OF THE BEST TRIPS I HAVE EVER TAKEN WITH ROAD SCHOLAR.

I am so lucky to have been able to visit Cuba. It was a beautiful country with a strong artistic history. I loved the scenery, the food, the people I met, the music, and the Dancing! I can't wait to go back some day.

I enjoyed every moment of the Cuban Arts and Dance program. It was informative, invigorating, well run and lots of fun. Cuba is a fascinting place and this is a wonderful exposrure to the people and the culture.

A unique opportunity to see Cuba, its musicians, artists, and dancers, before it is "too late". More than one participant in our group said that it was their "best travel experience ever", and that is coming from well traveled people. I would agree. And the history, especially as it relates to the USA is fascinating, and very well presented by the program leader and local guide.

Most Americans only know Cuba as a thorne in the side of the US government. What a delight to meet a vibrant and hopeful people and to be exposed to their artistic talents. Be sure to read in preparation for this trip--especially Ned Sublette's Cuba and Its Music. This is an excellent history of Cuba and also gives you a wonderful understanding of the huge impact of Afro-Cuban music on music in general.

This is a terrific, if exhausting program. And probably our last chance to see Havana before McDonald's and Starbucks gets there. Great opportunities to meet Cuban people and learn about their lives. My views on Cuban society are much different after meeting these wonderful people.

The Cuban Art Revolution is a well planned introduction to artists, musicians, dancers and peoples of this lively and fascinating country. I learned that there is a creative spirit that, despite many obstacles, is alive and well. There is a also a desire among these artists to share their talents with visitors. I felt both welcomed and invited to enjoy the beauty and talents of the Cuban people.

This was a fabulous trip--our first with Road Scholar. Vicki, our so-helpful driver and Daron were Super and hard working. Our fellow travellers were a varied and exceptional group. We enjoyed most meals and accommodations despite what we'd heard. Kudos all around. People to People is a wonderful concept. Thanks.

Great staff-bus driver,tour director and wonderful people.

I enjoyed the trip to Cuba with Road Scholar enormously. The focus was on Music, Art, and Dance and was well planned and organized and happily exceeded my expectations. The people we met in Cuba were very warm and welcoming and seemed appreciative of our visit.

The people to people aspect was far more meaningful than I thought it would be and the trip exceeded my expectations.

Our Art and Culture Tour in Cuba was a trip of a lifetime. I went with my father so it was a very special time for us. We were able to meet people and experience things that we could never have had access to on our own. The sharing we had with people brought tears to us both many times. I was within inches of dancers leaping through the air, I talked to artists and dancers and singers and seniors and great minds about the things that move them. I loved our two guides, Lana and Dayron. They were charming and funny and knowledgeable and they took care of all of our needs and made us feel very safe and comfortable. Our group was fabulous and I loved the sharing that we had together as well. I am still thinking of them and all the things I forgot to ask. I already miss them. I am so impressed with the people of Cuba. They have experienced so many hard times throughout their history, torture and hunger and more, yet they are so warm and welcoming and affectionate and generous of heart and soul. They take every opportunity to celebrate and dance. I have fallen in love. Overall this was a fabulous experience and I will travel with Road Scholar again. Jenny Rangan, Boston, MA

Joyce Young - Raleigh NC The trip of lifetime- but you should be prepared and read the preliminary material provided to you- This is not like any other trip you may have taken- We are allowed to go by special permit of the US government and it is important to realize you must stay with the program and there is little free time- days are 12 hrs long as dinner lasts till nine- all meals here are leisurely and service is slow- Above all, be flexible and open and you will be given many special experiences. The Cuban people are warm, open and love to talk to you. They will speak very freely of politics and they are not a homogenous mind- opinions run as diverse as any in the US and they may not always match any preconceived ideas you may have. Our local guide, Dayron Gonzales, was a miracle worker who fluidly worked with a schedule that may change daily and was able to get us access to many very important people and wonderful events. He gave to me the gift of his country and his people that I will always be grateful for. Our Group leader, Yeraldine, was kind patient, communicative, and became a friend as well as a guide. This trip is an important cultural exchange and you should consider yourself an emissary not a tourist - there is little time for shopping so if you get 5 minutes in a market take advantage of it. I plan to go back as soon as possible and hope these trips will continue.

We just returned from this Fabulous program, and our expectations were far exceeded. The events took place during the Havana Biennial, and the venues, presentations, and people-to-people discussions were exceptional.
Special thanks to the outstanding work, warmth and recommendations of Dayron Gonzales, who put us in contact with truly exceptional and talented people. He also had invaluable suggestions, (jazz club, Paladares (private restaurant), and guests). Lana Mullen was consistently attentive, cool under pressure, and flexible to a fault.
We had many one on one discussions with the most friendly and intelligent Cubans. Having been on several great foreign tours, this one was clearly the most valuable and well run.
Very enjoyable and pleasant experience.

The only caveat is to be advised to lower your expectations on the culinary aspects of Cuban meals.