Four days at Varadero, often paired with a Havana extension, gives a relaxed beach-resort experience that contrasts naturally with the capital's more demanding city pace. Day 1 is for arrival and settling into the resort. Most visitors book all-inclusive, so the first afternoon is simply about adjusting to the pace and spending time on the beach — Varadero's roughly 20km of near-continuous white sand is genuinely one of the best stretches in the Caribbean. Day 2 covers the water more directly. Coral reefs sit just offshore, accessible for snorkelling without much effort, while dive operators run trips further out to slightly more developed sites for those with certification. A half-day is usually enough to cover this comfortably before returning to resort time in the afternoon. Day 3 is for a catamaran or sunset cruise along the coast, typically including snorkelling stops and a beach barbecue. This is a relaxed, low-effort way to see more of the coastline than the resort's immediate beach offers, and the sunset timing makes for a particularly scenic close to the day. Day 4, for those not already including Havana elsewhere in their trip, is best spent on a long but worthwhile day trip into the capital, about two hours away. This covers Habana Vieja's main plazas and a classic car tour in a single day, though if you can spare an overnight extension instead, Havana genuinely rewards more time than a single rushed day trip allows. A few practical notes: bring cash, ideally in Euros or another widely exchanged currency, since card payments remain unreliable across Cuba due to ongoing sanctions. Check current entry and visa requirements closely before travelling, as Cuba's rules shift more frequently than most destinations. And budget primarily around your resort's all-inclusive rate, since meals and drinks are typically bundled into the nightly price rather than charged separately.