Dry, chapped hands. Windchill. Skating rink-esque sidewalks. Freezing rain. Waiting for the TTC bus in a blizzard and your app tells you it’s not going to arrive for another 21 minutes. UGH. If you’ve had it up to here with winter and feel like you’d do just about anything to get away from it all on a hot, sandy beach: you just might be able to.

According to my most recent Red Tag search, the cheapest all-inclusive vacations out of all the countries (like, in the world) are in Cuba. If you save your pennies, you can book a cheap vacay and get outta here for under $1000! This past December marked my 5th time flying to the beautiful country, where I stayed at the Brisas Sierra Mar resort in Santiago de Cuba. You can see more photos here.

Breakdown of a Cuban getaway for under $1000:

Airfare, transport, hotel, food and alcohol for 8 days and 7 nights: $715.

CUC tourist tax: $25. 

Tipping the staff, rum, gifts and souvenirs: $255. 

Total: $995!

I’ll take it! Here’s how you can do the same:

1. If you want to save some bucks by vacationing Cuba, know what it’s like there and be realistic if that’s what you want from a vacation. Looking for infrastructure and development? Go to Barbados. Incredible, top-notch dining experiences? Go to Anguilla. But compared to other poor Caribbean nations, Cuba is one of the safest countries in the world, and has amazing landscapes, beaches, music and culture to experience.

2. Research where you want to go in the country. Havana is beautiful for urban exploring. Cayo Coco and Veradero are more touristy. Santiago is mountainous and slightly more rustic. Brisas, the resort I last went to, was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy and has yet to rebuild the damaged areas, which you walked past on your way to the beach. A 5 star resort in Cayo Coco will likely have different standards than a 5 star in Santiago.

3. Bring gifts. It’s common knowledge amongst regular travellers to Cuba to bring some goods to leave in your hotel room on your last day. Some extra sunscreen, beach clothes you could do without, batteries, band-aids or Tylenol will be very much appreciated. I get the sense that money isn’t what Cubans are after. Sadly they are cut off from the plethora of Dollaramas and Wal Marts we have here, so helpful, everyday life stuff is much appreciated in addition to a tip.

4. Make sure you save $25 CUC (Cuban convertible pesos, or the currency tourists use) for the end of your trip. You have to pay it at the airport in order to leave the country. Call it a tourist tax? Whatever, my whole trip was $425 including flight soooooo… I dun care.

5. Experience your resort’s nightlife entertainment! These guys are mega-talented. Dancing, singing, synchronized swimming, theatrics—it’s all there on stage after sundown! On my last night, the entertainment staff went all out and performed an amazing number to Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance, all whilst dressed in different Hallowe’en-costume-store type outfits.

6. Bring your camera and go for a walk. As I mentioned, Cuba is very safe, which makes it an easy favorite for the photographers and general wander-y types. You will probably be asked for money, but beyond that nothing else will likely happen.

7. Taste the rum. Mojitos! Pina Coladas! Mmmm-MMM! Rum is a big deal in the Caribbean. Most islands have their own unique brands and distilleries, each with their own specific flavour. Did you know that Bacardi comes from Cuba? Take a tour of a rum factory, enjoy a tasting, and don’t forget to bring a few bottles home with you. They’re actually, like, 4 dollars a bottle.

8. If a guy walks up to you in Havana and asks if you want to go to his friend’s house to buy cigars, say no! Duh!

9. If you have a sensitive stomach, don’t eat the goat lasagna. It’s just common sense.

Bon voyage!