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My answer to the above question would be – definitely yes, with no doubts about it, there’s no better way to explore Cuba than by renting your own car, finding a good road map and driving to the places you wan to see first hand. There’s nothing like getting there by yourself and the freedom of exploring around on your own. And if you’re wondering why my personal opinion about this way of getting out and about in Cuba should be valid, then let me tell you how I know about it through my son’s experience and my very own.

My son Ricky recently graduated from university, so my present to reward his achievement was a trip to Cuba last summer. He is a sociologist and he always wanted to see and experience Cuba. But he didn’t want any of the packaged Cuba holidays that are so popular among average tourists; where you stay in an all inclusive resort and hardly get to go out to explore the country. He didn’t just want the average pre-packaged holiday to Cuba; he wanted to see and live the country for himself, on his own, without any tour guide leading the way or taking them to certain specific spots, he didn’t want to just see the highlights, he wanted to see and breathe the real Cuba atmosphere, away from the big resorts, glitzy hotels and museums, he wanted to go outside the main radar and off the beaten path. As the only communist country in the Western Hemisphere he was really interested in getting the most authentic Cuba experience possible.

So I suggested he rented a car during his holidays in Cuba so that he could plan his own route and get to the places he wanted without interference from tour guides who may want to p. I myself have been to the island a few times now, and to me it has some kind of secret appeal and attraction that leaves you fascinated and inspired. Once you’ve been to Cuba once, you either go again or recommend it to people you love or appreciate.

I suggested car rental to him (he is an excellent driver) since, based on my previous experiences, renting a car in Cuba it gives you unique freedom to explore most of the country and more importantly see places not commonly visited by tourists.

The hotels in Havana and the beach resorts in Cuba are all lovely, no question about it; however the small hostels (some of them boutique hostels) you can find across many of Cuba’s smaller towns and cities have a unique and special appeal and they’re also quick and hassle-free to book if you’re on the go and need a place to spend the night.

And what better way to explore all of those charming little hostels full of character and history (some owned by locals and some being private rooms inside locals’ homes) than by renting a car and going from town to town? That way you can get to see some of Cuba’s less trodden paths, passing through Cuba’s tortuous, yet somewhat quaint (even when very rustic and aged) central road (Carretera Central) and seeing regular people going about their business in less well-known but equally charming areas off the beaten path. It was a great experience for Ricky and he took hundreds of pictures of his road trip in Cuba and jotted down millions of notes in his travel diary.

Although roads in Cuba are not exactly first class (you can sure expect it to be a bumpy ride), there is so little traffic that there are virtually no risks with regards to safety issues, parking areas, or even giving lifts to locals, something that is quite the norm over there as Cubans struggle with very poor public transport. On the plus side, if you’re taking someone on board and giving them a quick lift you might get to enjoy some genuinely lovely company, riding next to someone that may give you tips about how to get to places you may be interested in seeing or suggest interesting places to go to in that area. And although some locals might try to come up with stories for a few pounds they will always be helpful and respectful.

One thing I explained to Ricky was the road signs issue in Cuba (a bit difficult to find them at every road), but it still adds a bit of fun to the adventure, though the car rental agency always provides a road map.

I remember once I was in Villa Clara trying to reach the road to Trinidad city and I almost ended up in Varadero. It was not exactly what I intended to do, but we were rescued by our poor Spanish and the good advice of a farmer we found in the road. Car rental in Cuba is definitely the best option to explore the whole island and get in touch with its people and way of live. For the curious and inquisitive traveller that wants to learn, see and experience what the real Cuba is truly about, I would definitely say that renting a car in Cuba is the way to go.