Travel Questions and Advice

[Pacific1]

Are these readily available? With all the various shortages, I was wondering if it's better to just bring my own.

[RainmanSahut]

The tourist card is sold at the gate next to boarding desk for both Holguin & Havana Flights. They work directly with gate agents. Less than 5 minutes to process transaction. They know you are coming, they have passenger list.

Happy times & Happy trip.

Also remember to complete before travel 24 hours.

https://www.dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/datosPersonales

Rainman.

[John Clayton]

If you are flying American you can buy through them online for 85 I believe.

Yeah, but being a poor planner and major, major procrastinator, I put it off so long I ended paying 85+overnight shipping + handling fee = $140! (I hope it gets here in time).

[SwimmingFish22]

I am flying SFO to HAV. I understand that the normal procedure is to buy the entry visa in Miami. I have exactly 1:30 in MIA -- is this enough time to get the visa, or is there a chance this will f!ck up?

If you are flying American you can buy through them online for 85 I believe.

[John Clayton]

That is not a lot of time in Miami.

I got my visa online at Easy Tourist Card:

https://www.easytouristcard.com/

Probably mo' bettah'. Looks like an extra $15, but it's "the cheapskate what pays the most".

[TomJackin]

I am flying SFO to HAV. I understand that the normal procedure is to buy the entry visa in Miami. I have exactly 1:30 in MIA -- is this enough time to get the visa, or is there a chance this will f!ck up?

That is not a lot of time in Miami.

I got my visa online at Easy Tourist Card:

https://www.easytouristcard.com/

[John Clayton]

I am flying SFO to HAV. I understand that the normal procedure is to buy the entry visa in Miami. I have exactly 1:30 in MIA -- is this enough time to get the visa, or is there a chance this will f!ck up?

[Zizou23]

Hi, any suggestions to contact girls in Havana before arriving via internet? I mean dating site, facebook, Messenger. Thanks in advance FL.

Bumble premium worked for me get there whatsapp number and start negociation.

[FuckLife]

Hi, any suggestions to contact girls in Havana before arriving via internet? I mean dating site, facebook, Messenger. Thanks in advance FL.

[Questner]

I am planning an early March visit to Havana. There seems to be tons of well rated Air b&b's available. But Havana looks huge, what district should I concentrate on? Vedado, Old Havana, Malecon? I'm looking for a lot of safe walkable exploration, with bars restaurants, and night life.

Any suggestions to narrow my search?

Thanks for any help.

Stay in Vedado. Explore along the Malecon into Old City during the day, and Vedado and / or Miramar at night.

[SpacedCowboy]

I am planning an early March visit to Havana. There seems to be tons of well rated Air b&b's available. But Havana looks huge, what district should I concentrate on? Vedado, Old Havana, Malecon? I'm looking for a lot of safe walkable exploration, with bars restaurants, and night life.

Any suggestions to narrow my search?

Thanks for any help.

[Zeos1]

Now on to the most important topic for newbies to know: WiFi.

To get WiFi access you have to buy ETESCA cards. One hour or 5 hour. Each hour is 1 CUC. No discount for buying 5.

Fastest way to buy is at Ingleterra hotel. They are a reseller for ETESCA. Cards are same as the ones you get at ETESCA office on Obispo.

The WiFi hotspots I tried suck and they are overloaded with users, slow and motivate you to shoot yourself or kill somebody.

The ETESCA cards don't work in other fancy hotel hotspots. They have their own higher priced packages. Parque central is 4 CUC per hour but comes with a soft drink. You will spend more while having coffee at Inglaterra.

Meli Cohiba is 2 CUC per hour.

Airport is 1 CUC for 30 min card.

Changing Money. I took Canadian dollars and that saved me bunch of money. Most part of my trip was with a non mongering group. (Lickynuts, please don't laugh).

Airport change place always has long lines. Bank also takes time but at least I am not at the fucking airport sweating.

The most efficient place I found is on Obispo. They are crazy efficient for commies. I chatted a cute teller and she was glad to chat and take a break. She told me it is better to bring Canadian even if it costs 3% to buy Canadian in US it is worth it because of 10% surcharge on dollar and this is on top of 3% Cuban exchange cost. Basically you buy 87.5 CUC for 100 USD sold. By selling the $100 USD and buying Canadian in a US bank and then buying CUC, I got 95 CUC. Worth it if you are changing in thousands.

BTW, she also told me that there are serious discussions of eliminating CUC this year.

CUC is gone I'm told. And all of the past currency stuff has changed. I think there are some previous posts about it. Perhaps in the Havana section

[Mondo707]

I see many people saying they have been to Cuba 50+ times. I am just wondering do you have to buy a tourist card every single time? Am I missing something?

It's actually a visa and most folks get it at the airport before taking the flight to Cuba. Also, every time you go back to Cuba you have to pony up for this visa.

You'll have to choose one of the categories allowing you to travel, (most folks choose the category "help for the Cuban people", as Americans are not allowed to go to Cuba as tourists. This is bc of the so call embargo as it's call here or bloqueo as the Cubans call it.
I'm guessing you live the USA, right? If you live any place else on this planet you can go as a tourist with no restrictions.

[RainmanSahut]

I see see many people saying they have been to Cuba 50+ times. I am just wondering do you have to buy a tourist card every single time? Am I missing something?

YES.

You must purchase new tourist card for each trip. If flying American Airlines, you will be able to purchase tourist card at the departing gate in Miami. They setup a rolling ticket counter and process your card in a matter of minutes.

Remember you must complete migratory information form 48 hours prior to travel to Cuba.

https://dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/datosMigratorios

Remember, US credit cards or bank cards do not work in Cuba.

Carry cash. US Dollars work great. Exchange on black market for best exchange. Somewhere 160-200 Cuban pesos / dollar.

Your taxi driver or apartment host can help you exchange money.

Safe travels.

Be careful water. Much contaminated.

Rainman.

[HiFive1234]

I see many people saying they have been to Cuba 50+ times. I am just wondering do you have to buy a tourist card every single time? Am I missing something?