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Started By
Message
re: Cuba
Posted on 7/24/19 at 11:06 am to rbdallas
Posted on 7/24/19 at 11:06 am to rbdallas
Honestly, I wouldn’t go. A friend of mine went on a cruise (before they were banned) and said the infrastructure is not there to support tourism. You’re better off going elsewhere in the Caribbean where you don’t have to deal with all of the red tape.
1
Posted on 7/24/19 at 1:26 pm to bluestem75
quote:
and said the infrastructure is not there to support tourism
Your friend doesn't know what he's talking about. Europeans and people from other countries and continents have been traveling to Cuba for decades. Is it poor? Yes. Can and does it support tourism? Yes.
American credit cards aren't accepted so we have to take cash. Other than that there was very little red tape to deal with. No worse that what I endure when I visit any other foreign country.
I used ViaHero as rbdallas suggested and it was a fantastic service that helped me to meet all of the US government requirements without having to lift a finger.
quote:
A friend of mine went on a cruise
So he was ther a half day and went to the sites that the cruise ship steered him to and has an opinion on Cuba.
This post was edited on 7/24/19 at 2:22 pm
Posted on 8/1/19 at 6:32 am to VABuckeye
Your friend is right and wrong.
OPEN transportation is a headache, but most things tourist oriented are treated as priority....just do not go 2 blocks beyond the facade, the city is crumbling. Many buses available to tourist places.
Stay in private homes (if not on a cruise)...can send you links to those services....try to eat at PALADARES. You will be less likely to get into any trouble w US. Create an itinerary to show if asked (not likely) BUT.
Most of the policies are aimed at stopping the flow of DOLLARS into the government (DIRECTLY) ..they are still into everything.
CCards (American) not accepted....hell I would not plan on ANY being accepted. You will lose 13% of value upon conversion. DO NOT OVER EXCHANGE ..not allowed to take the CUC out and will have to turn into US$ and lose in the exchange rate again.
Also, although you can take $10,000 from US, you can only declare (bring) $5000 into Cuba. (Cuban gov't).
BTW... cruises are a little different in that you have a place to sleep and eat some meals.
OPEN transportation is a headache, but most things tourist oriented are treated as priority....just do not go 2 blocks beyond the facade, the city is crumbling. Many buses available to tourist places.
Stay in private homes (if not on a cruise)...can send you links to those services....try to eat at PALADARES. You will be less likely to get into any trouble w US. Create an itinerary to show if asked (not likely) BUT.
Most of the policies are aimed at stopping the flow of DOLLARS into the government (DIRECTLY) ..they are still into everything.
CCards (American) not accepted....hell I would not plan on ANY being accepted. You will lose 13% of value upon conversion. DO NOT OVER EXCHANGE ..not allowed to take the CUC out and will have to turn into US$ and lose in the exchange rate again.
Also, although you can take $10,000 from US, you can only declare (bring) $5000 into Cuba. (Cuban gov't).
BTW... cruises are a little different in that you have a place to sleep and eat some meals.
This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 6:35 am
Posted on 8/1/19 at 12:58 pm to rbdallas
If you plan on buying cigars buy them ONLY from places off this LIST . Fake Cuban cigars are everywhere, especially Cohibas.
If you do smoke, go to the La Casa Del Habano inside the Hotel Naccional. Those ashtrays sell for extremely high back in the states. Also check out the trenches/bunker from the Cuban missile crisis in the back of the hotel.
For money, I exchanged all the US dollars I was bringing to Euros at my bank before I flew out, and then exchanged the euros to cuc once I got there. You’ll save $ from the fees.
As for transportation, we loved the little Coco taxis over everything else. We only took an old school Chevy the night we went to the Tropicana Club.
Oh, wear your sunglasses. The Cuban women are beautiful and your Mrs will be eye checking you the whole time. The average Cuban girl walking to the store are miles ahead of some of the best here in the US.
If you do smoke, go to the La Casa Del Habano inside the Hotel Naccional. Those ashtrays sell for extremely high back in the states. Also check out the trenches/bunker from the Cuban missile crisis in the back of the hotel.
For money, I exchanged all the US dollars I was bringing to Euros at my bank before I flew out, and then exchanged the euros to cuc once I got there. You’ll save $ from the fees.
As for transportation, we loved the little Coco taxis over everything else. We only took an old school Chevy the night we went to the Tropicana Club.
Oh, wear your sunglasses. The Cuban women are beautiful and your Mrs will be eye checking you the whole time. The average Cuban girl walking to the store are miles ahead of some of the best here in the US.
Posted on 8/2/19 at 6:39 am to Modern
quote:
For money, I exchanged all the US dollars I was bringing to Euros at my bank before I flew out, and then exchanged the euros to cuc once I got there. You’ll save $ from the fees.
NOT NECESSARILY SO.
At least in Dallas, I have not found a place to get Euros for US$ free, so by the time you pay here you are not really saving.
In fact, you may be paying more.
As far as cigars, if you use the reputable places you are likely to get the real brand BUT at a much higher price .... Remember the GOVERNMENT controls all and they set the prices. In the other places is POT LUCK.....not automatically bad cigars, but the box may include variations blends. Hotel Nacional will be at the high end.
As far as Taxis, remember that you can negotiate...times are hard so do not be a jerk. If they say $10, offer $8 ..if you go to $5 you may be walking as it may be perceived as an insult. specially if you have expensive jewelry on. The coco taxis are fun, but slow and have the highest rate of crashes.
Posted on 8/2/19 at 7:21 am to rbdallas
Jewelry or signs of affluence.
Just don't take it. Cuba is a poor country. What you think of as an everyday item is something that's out of most people grasp there. Don't make yourself a target and leave the fancy stuff at home.
rbdallas is right about money. Even though you get a better conversion for Euro in Cuba by the time you pay your bank to get Euro and then convert to CUC in Cuba you don't come out ahead on the deal. Just take the 13% (I think that's correct) hit and convert in Cuba
ETA: In Havana stay in an AirBnB in Old Havana in the middle of everything. You'll save yourself a lot of CUC on taxi fares.
Just don't take it. Cuba is a poor country. What you think of as an everyday item is something that's out of most people grasp there. Don't make yourself a target and leave the fancy stuff at home.
rbdallas is right about money. Even though you get a better conversion for Euro in Cuba by the time you pay your bank to get Euro and then convert to CUC in Cuba you don't come out ahead on the deal. Just take the 13% (I think that's correct) hit and convert in Cuba
ETA: In Havana stay in an AirBnB in Old Havana in the middle of everything. You'll save yourself a lot of CUC on taxi fares.
This post was edited on 8/2/19 at 9:14 am
Posted on 8/3/19 at 6:22 am to VABuckeye
quote:
ETA: In Havana stay in an AirBnB in Old Havana in the middle of everything. You'll save yourself a lot of CUC on taxi fares.
agree BUT only if you will be JUST doing the "Tourist in Havana" thing. I stay in Vedado .. somewhat adjacent and a few more options at night (via taxi)....some in walking distance too
If you can communicate in Spanish, I use:
LINK
and
LINK
you will find some of the same properties as Airbnb and Tripadvisor but at a lower price.
Not for Tourists but I hear that some "internal-private" exchange places (also illegal) are paying $1.05 CUC to the $ a long way from the 13% penalty and the 17% of about 8 or so years back....... some are trying to get rid of CUC for dollars as CUC could go away at any time....have been discussing that for almost 10 years.
This post was edited on 8/3/19 at 6:23 am
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