Guanabo

[Questner]

Google maps search shows casas de cambio, CADECA and ATM most of them in Havana. 200 CUC per day is great (example, 35 - casa, 100 - entertainment, 40 - lunch money, 25 - transport and miscellaneous).

[Peaty]

In my limited understanding, Cuba is not the place to be on a budget unless you know the country well and you are a frequent f----r. (...) You have to speak with Cubans, someone always know of a tia or prima or someone else.

I don't think I'm on a budget. I am planning on staying below 200 CUC per day on average though, excluding flights. That should be plenty, right? I'm just worried about handling cash, are there ATMs in Guanabo that take (non-american) VISA cards?

Also on your second point, I've never really done that before. I've always searched for the chicas or let them find me and talked to them directly. Isn't that "do you have a tia / prima" question a bit awkward? Especially if I don't like the match in the end?

You do know that it is winter in Cuba, right? At night it is fucking windy. Everywhere. In Guanabo, in Havana. It is okay During the day but nighttime is a different story. It is offseason, you can get a casa anywhere in Guanabo. Forget the Christmas gifts. Cash is king, your business is good enough.

Yeah, from my experience, gifts are, at best, a welcome small thank you and cash is king. Unless it's something like high quality hair extensions or something that the girls can't get otherwise for ridiculous prices.

But on the point of a casa, can I really just get a casa anywhere? Because I thought picking the right casa is crucial as many require registering the chica which they don't want to do.

Can someone recommend a couple of Casas in Guanabo?

I think ideally they'd have:

* a separate entrance to bring chicas.

* an owner who is low-key okay with non-registered chicas.

* a shower with constant, hot water (is this standard?

* possibility of authentic breakfast / lunch / dinner, cooked by the casa owning / managing family.

* close to the beach.

* close to bars and restaurants.

That's quite a list so I'm really thankful for any casa recommendations you guys might have.

Currently, I was planning on using an independent casa (https://www.yourcasaparticular.com) because all respectable AirBnbs seem to require registering the Chicas.

[Questner]

Thanks for the response! I will be taking your advice and avoid that place. It seems okay if you're on a budget and only want AI beach vacation. But for mongering it'd be a hassle.

It seems that most of the action I am seeking happens in the city center of Guanabo, around the bars and clubs there. So I'll take a casa particular in the center of Guanabo that's close to the beach and has a separate entrance to bring visitors. I think that's the way to go, it will probably save a lot of money on taxis and hotel bribes and I'm sure the experience will be more authentic, too.

Can you share more about that casa strategy? How do I find the right one? And am I supposed to bring presents to the casa manager so that he will refer me a nice student "as a guide"? That part didn't click for me.

I was definitely looking to ask locals for help, I've had great success with trustworthy looking taxi drivers and old hustlers around town. They generally know where and how to find the best of everything, for a price, obviously, but the 5 CUC or whatever is probably worth the advice.

In my limited understanding, Cuba is not the place to be on a budget unless you know the country well and you are a frequent f----r. You can do everything you want as long you are not into politics, substance abuse and abide by the age of majority. You are a man in LA, a payor, a boss, be upfront, firm and fair and everything will be ok. Again, I would stay in Miramar at best, or Vedado. You have to speak with Cubans, someone always know of a tia or prima or someone else.

[BeersTerry]

You do know that it is winter in Cuba, right? At night it is fucking windy. Everywhere. In Guanabo, in Havana. It is okay During the day but nighttime is a different story. It is offseason, you can get a casa anywhere in Guanabo. Forget the Christmas gifts. Cash is king, your business is good enough.

[Peaty]

This may or may not work. Beaches there are not like in Sosua at all. Also it may be chilly, rough seas and no locals at the beach. Personally I would not stay there. Any additional payment will make the stay there a losing proposition if you are on a budget. Why do you think you can get there GFE in your short stay as opposite to Havana? Just stay at casa, bring some nice presents for the holidays, ask the owner you are a looking for a nice student as a guide for the time or your stay or something like that. You can then take a day trip with your girl to the beaches if weather allows. Just ask yourself two questions, a) where exactly would you find a girl b) will you pay 50 CUC each time to bring her in? If you are OK with 50 CUC why stay there? There are better options.

Thanks for the response! I will be taking your advice and avoid that place. It seems okay if you're on a budget and only want AI beach vacation. But for mongering it'd be a hassle.

It seems that most of the action I am seeking happens in the city center of Guanabo, around the bars and clubs there. So I'll take a casa particular in the center of Guanabo that's close to the beach and has a separate entrance to bring visitors. I think that's the way to go, it will probably save a lot of money on taxis and hotel bribes and I'm sure the experience will be more authentic, too.

Can you share more about that casa strategy? How do I find the right one? And am I supposed to bring presents to the casa manager so that he will refer me a nice student "as a guide"? That part didn't click for me.

I was definitely looking to ask locals for help, I've had great success with trustworthy looking taxi drivers and old hustlers around town. They generally know where and how to find the best of everything, for a price, obviously, but the 5 CUC or whatever is probably worth the advice.

[Questner]

This may or may not work. Beaches there are not like in Sosua at all. Also it may be chilly, rough seas and no locals at the beach. Personally I would not stay there. Any additional payment will make the stay there a losing proposition if you are on a budget. Why do you think you can get there GFE in your short stay as opposite to Havana? Just stay at casa, bring some nice presents for the holidays, ask the owner you are a looking for a nice student as a guide for the time or your stay or something like that. You can then take a day trip with your girl to the beaches if weather allows. Just ask yourself two questions, a) where exactly would you find a girl b) will you pay 50 CUC each time to bring her in? If you are OK with 50 CUC why stay there? There are better options.

[Peaty]

Hey,

Is guanabo currently a good place to find GFE and non-/ semi-pros?

I'll be in Cuba for a couple of weeks and am looking for a home base close to both Havana and Varadero.

I'll quote myself because I forgot to add:

I found a nice looking All Inclusive option for the "Adult Only" Hotel MarAzul (formerly Tropicoco). Does anyone know if mongering / GFE is allowed there? Can I bring girls to my room without expensive bribes?

If it's not an option, where do I best stay in that area? Casa particular or AirBnb shouldn't make much difference right?

I'd like to be as free about GFE as possible, I. E. Take the girl out, go the beach and restaurants and obviously the bed room, without tiptoeing around police or security.

This is my most pressing concern when booking the vacation. I'd be very glad for some input!

[Peaty]

Hey,

Is guanabo currently a good place to find GFE and non-/ semi-pros?

I'll be in Cuba for a couple of weeks and am looking for a home base close to both Havana and Varadero.

[SanJoseFan]

Anybody been in Santa Maria recently? Any update on the property that used to be known as the Tropicoco? I'm getting a Cuba itch that needs to be scratched in the coming weeks.

[El Grande]

It could be that the situation is different depending on the town we could be talking about. In Guanabo itself I can recall taking 6 girls to the same casa and none of them had problem showing their Carnet except the one trying to lie on her age (she was only 17 and pretending she was 18). So many girls, so many casas. Nobody seemed to worry except when walking in the streets with me. Anyway, if I ever get stopped by Police in Cuba with a girl, I know what to tell them to get the girl out of problem. Being a little smart and speaking the language can make a huge difference!

Depends on whether the casa owner actually notes her down in the book or not. Just showing the ID does no harm but as already stated, the books are reviewed by officials and if a girl is noted to many times it's quite obvious what she's doing for a living.

[Coco Des Iles]

Mr Gogo is exactly right, most girls DO NOT like giving their Carnet to the Casa owners, I know a couple chicas who outright refuses to give their Carnet card. The girls told me that the police do check the Casa's log books and if their names start popping up here and there the police will put them in prison, and the chicas I know are absolutely terrified of that.

It could be that the situation is different depending on the town we could be talking about. In Guanabo itself I can recall taking 6 girls to the same casa and none of them had problem showing their Carnet except the one trying to lie on her age (she was only 17 and pretending she was 18). So many girls, so many casas. Nobody seemed to worry except when walking in the streets with me. Anyway, if I ever get stopped by Police in Cuba with a girl, I know what to tell them to get the girl out of problem. Being a little smart and speaking the language can make a huge difference!

[Ty Down]

By the way girls are not nervous to give their cards (Carn) when registering at a Casa (again registering girls is primary designed to protect the tourist security, if other words if your wallet disappear during the night, the Police know who to look for.). I had only one issue of a girl refusing to give her card because she said she had forgotten it. The casa owner told me latter that she tried to register in other house but she was not 18 as she told me, she was only 17!

Mr Gogo is exactly right, most girls DO NOT like giving their Carnet to the Casa owners, I know a couple chicas who outright refuses to give their Carnet card. The girls told me that the police do check the Casa's log books and if their names start popping up here and there the police will put them in prison, and the chicas I know are absolutely terrified of that.

[Mr Gogo]

By the way girls are not nervous to give their cards (Carn) when registering at a Casa (again registering girls is primary designed to protect the tourist security, if other words if your wallet disappear during the night, the Police know who to look for.). I had only one issue of a girl refusing to give her card because she said she had forgotten it. The casa owner told me latter that she tried to register in other house but she was not 18 as she told me, she was only 17!

The girls don't like to give their Carnet but some don't care because they have a working relationship with the local police or they are so poor they weigh the risk. Sure it also protects the visitor from theft and problems.

Once I was leaving my casa in Havana Vienna with a girl going to dinner when two well dressed older women approached us and asked for my girls Carnet. I got pissed but my girl said it's okay. They logged her in the books outside and we went to a restaurant to eat. Ten minutes later we see the same two ladies catching the bus. Did someone snitch from the neighborhood and these ladies come to investigate?

My date later told me they build a pattern and if the same girl has her name popping up with several tourists then they are arrested and given a year in jail.

[Coco Des Iles]

Coco. Please tell me more. I've been going to Havana for many years and love the scene. I've also been to Camaguey and it was a ton of fun. I'm flying into Varadero in a few weeks and thought of going to Cienfuegos but someone said that Mantanzas and Guanabo is great. I'm just worried that we won't be able to bring our friends back to the casa. I've read where the girls are nervous to give their card.

Any extra advise would be greatly appreciated. Gracias.

By the way girls are not nervous to give their cards (Carné) when registering at a Casa (again registering girls is primary designed to protect the tourist security, if other words if your wallet disappear during the night, the Police know who to look for.). I had only one issue of a girl refusing to give her card because she said she had forgotten it. The casa owner told me latter that she tried to register in other house but she was not 18 as she told me, she was only 17!

[Coco Des Iles]

Coco. Please tell me more. I've been going to Havana for many years and love the scene. I've also been to Camaguey and it was a ton of fun. I'm flying into Varadero in a few weeks and thought of going to Cienfuegos but someone said that Mantanzas and Guanabo is great. I'm just worried that we won't be able to bring our friends back to the casa. I've read where the girls are nervous to give their card.

Any extra advise would be greatly appreciated. Gracias.

I have to admit that I speak fluent Spanish being in part from that origin so my comments could be sometimes inadequate for the majority of readers. This being said, I found the overall situation in Guanabo to be quite liberal and it usually takes me no more than five minutes to pick up a girl in the main square during the day. At night it could be a little bit longer as the scene moves to the surrounding bars. Again Police is present but seem to be overwhelmed by the situation and won't bother you if you keep a discreet distance from your chica walking to the casa. Casa owners seem to be as liberal when time comes to make business. As far as Mantanzas is concerned, I have no ideas, I only drove through it in between Varadero and Guanabo-Playas del Este when landing in Varadero. I doubt there is anything going on there.