Canadians have told me that Cuba is a good vacation spot when you want some warmth during the winter and need to do it on the cheap. However, you definitely need to go with managed expectations. They say that the beaches are beautiful and the service is excellent, but when it comes to food it's not so great and the facilities need some TLC (hence a ceiling collapse). One told me that it was the only AI vacation on which they lost weight. Another told me that some Cubans of a certain class are allowed to stay at a local rate and they had to compete with the Cubans for food at the buffet. Instead of picking up a plate and walking the buffet line and choosing what they wanted, Cubans would pick up entire platters and bring them back to their tables. Whole platters of cold cuts, cheese, whatever.
Spending that much money on a wedding in Cuba when they already have a nine year old? Should have been a small family affair followed by a nice holiday for just the two of them. But then I also don't understand re-commitment or re-tie the knot ceremonies. People spend big bucks on those, too, white dress and all. Some of our friends invited us to theirs in a Caribbean destination and it would have cost us several thousand just to go -- when they are already married! I suspect that the more that joined them, the deeper the discount on their room. I tell hubby (and he agrees) that how can one re-commit unless they've become uncommitted? How can you re-tie a knot that hasn't come untied?