Thanks for the feedback and suggestions.
My sincere thanks to Taboc, MrSoulo, Cubiche and SirMarjAlot for your reply's and suggestions.
You all sum up the beach scene the same, what a hassle. Even a bit of a struggle getting a SW or club girl back to the casa.
Having mongered in many countries as long as I have little expectations and view the travel as just another experience in life's journey, when I have this mind set I typically come out of the visit at the other end just simply enjoying the adventure of it.
It sounds like I need to keep this same mindset in my travels to Cuba next week.
I recall back in 1999 to 2002 I had to pick either Brazil or Cuba, yes I chose Brazil and had a great time on a number of trips. Times have changed, the scene has changed in both countries. If I had to pick again I don't know if I would chose any different EVEN knowing what I know now how vastly things have changed in Cuba during the past +/- 15 years.
Thanks again!
The Tall Man.
Want to plan a trip to Havana for the first time but I have doubts
Hi,
From what it seems the us dollar is 1 to 1 almost with the cuc. For mongering that doesn't seem cheap to me. If the average girl cost 50 cuc that's 50 usd. What do I have it right. I read the forums and club girls go from 50 to 150 cuc and street girls range from 50 cuc? Can someone help me understand the price structure its inconsistent and can't make up my mind if the trip is worth it. If I go I will add a full report.
Trip Report July 30-August 1
First, thank you to everyone who offered advice and patiently read through my posts.
I planned on staying a week but left after two days. I arrived at my hotel in Vedado at about 3 pm on July 30 after a transfer from Varadero airport. The area was packed with people sitting on the steps near the libre hotel. It was scorching hot and most of the tourists packed the hotel lobbies. Lots of Cubans everywhere of all ages. Lots of nice looking girls for sure.
I told my casa owner in central I'd be arriving around 4 pm, so I decided to walk there right after dropping off my luggage. Mistake. Super hot outside, all the stores I walked in seemed to be out of water, so I ended up just drinking lots of juice. Anyways, long story short, I tried to walk down Neptuno street but got lost and it ended up taking me two hours to find the casa. Should have just took a cab. When I arrived, casa owner was there but he told me apt was rented. You guys said this was common and likely known well in advance, so when he tried to refer me somewhere else I declined. I took a cab back to my hotel as I had to use the bathroom. Toilet had no water, oh well could be worse. You get what you pay for. They did a good job of killing the roaches, but not so much sweeping them up. Es Cuba!
Initially I wondered if this hotel was chica friendly, as it was a real dive. No such luck. A lot of employees sitting around in the tiny lobby and the side door had security 24/7. I bought a couple beers and hung around the patio bar for a few hours. Only had 1 lady asking for milk for her baby the first day, and a ton of guys asking me where I was from. Oddly I never had a girl approach me once and I never even really saw many police. Most of them were near the malecon preparing for carnival the next week.
I went to a very nice paladar two blocks away called la Pailla the Fonda. I had a pork chop dinner with rice and beans and a cristal for 7 cuc. Very delicious. I figured I would start thinking about girls the next day so I just went back to my hotel for the night and watched a naked and afraid marathon on discovery. Only had two English channels and ESPN was the other. Slept like crap that night as it was a Thursday and the music was loud outside and there were car horns honking until 2 am. Thankfully they didn't start again til 7 am.
The next day I walked up and down 23rd from the trip down to the malecon. Had a 11 am meeting with my tour rep at the hotel St. John but they didn't show. At that time I still planned on staying a week so I was a little disappointed. Spent the afternoon walking, buying beers (avg was about two cuc a can along la rampa). Lots of people around vying for WiFi signals. Got a few more leche for baby women, and a lot of guys with nice cell phones asking me how I was doing. One guy followed me for four blocks after I left the cadeca near Coppellia park. Scared the crap out of me. He stopped to talk to me eventually and I asked where I could find WiFi, he told me the Libre, then asked for five cucs. I told him to bugger off. BTW, one hour WiFi there was 10 cuc. I got 74 cuc for 100 cad at the cadeca BTW. Bank machines there as well, and beside the zorro jazz club. My debit card worked no problem.
Friday was another super hot day and people were everywhere. My general impression was most people were just doing their everyday things and not really aware of the tourists. 99% of the time someone talked to me I felt like I was being hassled. It is my fault as I know very little Spanish and a translator app doesn't cut it. Spanish is a must. If I was going to get laid it would have to be with a hardcore and I would have to rely on her to find a place to go as well. Long story short. No Spanish, first timer, look like a solo traveler = not good. As I already felt unsafe in a few circumstances I didn't feel like taking any risks just for sex with a hooker. So I gave up on the idea all together. Most of the girls I saw that were obvious hookers I would have felt pretty sleazy with, and the other girls wouldn't look my way. I went to the libre and booked a flight home at 8 am the next day. Cost me more for that flight home then it did for my round trip + hotel for the week. Spent $1500 to stay for two nights but lessoned learned. I just did not feel comfortable. I negotiated a cab from Havana to Varadero airport for 85 cuc. Took 1 1/2 hrs but comfortable.
In summation. I traveled solo, single male, been to Havana before in 2004. Lots of hustlers, very hot, prices for everything have gone way up. There are police but not tons everywhere. Never felt like they were watching me. Lots of beautiful girls in Vedado and centro. Not once was I approached by a girl aside for milk money. Spanish is a must. This place is not for newbies, it takes work, patience, and lowered expectations,. I think Adinga is spot on with his assessments. I had some very good food, people always smiled but otherwise busy with everyday stuff. Plan your trip well, have lots of casa options, travel with a partner, and expect hiccups. I'm sure it could be paradise for some, but for me I felt. Off.
So that's it. Not the glowing report we usually see but honest nonetheless.
Thanks again to Gogo, Adinga, and Taboc in particular.