Havana

[Newport]

I have a weekend coming up to escape. I kept my options very open.

I almost pulled the trigger on Sosua, but something keeps pulling me back to Havana.

Wifi is easy nowadays, 99% of Airbnb hosts provide a sim, all you have to so is give them money to load it.

Regular home wifi is limited, very few locals have it, don't expect it.

If your Airbnb host is useless, ask your chica or a taxi guy to help you for a fee.

I can't wait to eat some delicious Cuban food and wash it down with a cigar and rum.

[Mondo707]

To add a bit to that. In most places we visit we take the internet for granted. Meaning that we don't worry about the backbone stuff. The high speed and capacity connections via fiber optic and commercial high speed connections for the vast amounts of data. But Cuba does not have that. Last I heard there is only one connection to the outside world via cable to Venezuela. Certainly nothing to the USA. So basically to the outside world you have access somewhat similar to the old dial up days of the 1980's. You will likely be able to access your email and basics like that. But I doubt very much whether anything close to data streaming capacity exists. Perhaps at some of the resorts if they are allowed to use satellite connections, but even then most satellite connections have too much of a delay to work well for live connections. And again, these technologies are very carefully watched by the government there.

An FYI.

Recently (within the last 3 months) Cuba announced the new accord with Martinique (French) with a high speed cable to access the internet (Web) last I heard the completion of laying the cable was in the final stages, if not already completed while you read this.

Cuba's government has not publicized this much since it prolly afraid about getting it block by the USA government.

[Chris H]

I am looking to stay in Havana in June. I need a 4* hotel with good internet. Recommendations would be appreciated. Prefer downtown near the action.

Hey, not sure about hotels, but the casa we stay in, near the action, has wifi, with little issues. And won't need any wifi card. It's just life connecting at home.

[Zeos1]

I don't think there are hotel rooms with internet. No wifi, and you have to purchase time for access in an area for guests to connect to an ethernet connection. Someone can correct this if it is outdated, but the Cuban gov't does not allow internet connections to the outside world that freely.

To add a bit to that. In most places we visit we take the internet for granted. Meaning that we don't worry about the backbone stuff. The high speed and capacity connections via fiber optic and commercial high speed connections for the vast amounts of data. But Cuba does not have that. Last I heard there is only one connection to the outside world via cable to Venezuela. Certainly nothing to the USA. So basically to the outside world you have access somewhat similar to the old dial up days of the 1980's. You will likely be able to access your email and basics like that. But I doubt very much whether anything close to data streaming capacity exists. Perhaps at some of the resorts if they are allowed to use satellite connections, but even then most satellite connections have too much of a delay to work well for live connections. And again, these technologies are very carefully watched by the government there.

[SpacedCowboy]

I don't think there are hotel rooms with internet. No wifi, and you have to purchase time for access in an area for guests to connect to an ethernet connection. Someone can correct this if it is outdated, but the Cuban gov't does not allow internet connections to the outside world that freely.

It doesn't seem to be that difficult anymore. "Good" depends a lot on your definition. None of it is Canada / USA quality, but I managed more than a few video calls. I found many Airbnbs with included WiFi. They preload an account for the room, and you use their account / password / access point. Even easier, if you're staying in Havana, just get a SIM with a few gig. It's only 4 g at best, but I found the coverage to be excellent. And again, good enough for video, but at a low bit rate. It is physical sim only. IPhone 14 users are SOL. Another benefit of the sim, you can load up the La Navi app. It is a crude copy of Uber, but it works well enough, and it forced the driver to stay honest. The total is right on the screen, no argument.

Also, I had no problems using a VPN on WiFi or cellular.

[AtlantisFan]

It would be nice if you copied the link to # 1745.

http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/...131&viewfull=1#post2791131.

[Zeos1]

I am looking to stay in Havana in June. I need a 4* hotel with good internet. Recommendations would be appreciated. Prefer downtown near the action.

I don't think there are hotel rooms with internet. No wifi, and you have to purchase time for access in an area for guests to connect to an ethernet connection. Someone can correct this if it is outdated, but the Cuban gov't does not allow internet connections to the outside world that freely.

[TruthToPower]

If you read post # 1745 under the general info thread you will find out about what you need to know b4 traveling to Cuba.

Btw, AFAIK, American insurance doesn't work in Cuba.

It would be nice if you copied the link to # 1745.

[Jwa9072]

I am looking to stay in Havana in June. I need a 4* hotel with good internet. Recommendations would be appreciated. Prefer downtown near the action.

[Mondo707]

I'm sure many of you now know, you can't buy cigars from a Habano SA or rum from a shop, without the Cuban debit card.

I was told its available at the airport, anyone know where exactly?

Which currency is best to load it with?

Any detailed and accurate info is appreciated!

I was in Havana at the end of January and after going thru customs I bought the MC card with Euros (100) If you have USD you can also buy it. Don't know about other currencies.
They have the exchange rates for all the currencies just like banks or currency exchange places you see @ airports.

In case you don't buy the card, lots of casas sell bottles of rum out their front door. They have little cabinets with lots of stuff they resell for a small profit. I'd buy water bottles and sodas this way almost daily since the places I went to buy with the MC were almost always out of water and sodas.

I bought one bottle of Havana club añejo with the MC card which lasted me the whole time I was there. As far as cigars, I don't smoke but bought a 3 pack before coming back at the airport, went thru customs in Newark and was never searched (had it on my coat) Also, a gal sitting next to me on the plane from Habana to Newark had a bottle of Santiago rum (really good shit) and they confiscated it in customs. She's really pissed when I saw her afterwards.

As far as changing money is concerned, I brought most of my cash in USD and had a connection to exchange it at 160 CUP to 1 USD.

Heads up: When you exchange your currency I'd advise you to get the CUP in the higher denomination bills, eg; 200,500, & 1000 bills. Some funny shit, 2nd time a contact that got me and exchange the 2nd time I needed it, got me all of it in smaller bills, like 10 & 20 CUP. Man what a bummer, just think what 16,000 CUP looked like, well it's actually like 2 huge bricks! No kidding, so trying to carry those bills around became a huge problem and paying also was a hassle. I remember going to El Biky (one of my fave places to eat) the bill was something like 4000 CUP and you should have seen the waiter's face when I handed him that sum in CUP, haha.

BTW, most places give you the option to pay both in CUP or USD, just make sure to ask what exchange rate they'll give you if pay in USD, otherwise you might get shorted on the exchange.

Enjoy your trip and report back.

Saludos.

[MocosGuey]

I'm sure many of you now know, you can't buy cigars from a Habano SA or rum from a shop, without the Cuban debit card.

I was told its available at the airport, anyone know where exactly?

Which currency is best to load it with?

Any detailed and accurate info is appreciated!

I just booked a trip for May and bought my tourist cards online from the Cuba travel services site. They came in 2 days via fedex. I've read it's available at the airport as well but also higher price.

[Newport]

I'm sure many of you now know, you can't buy cigars from a Habano SA or rum from a shop, without the Cuban debit card.

I was told its available at the airport, anyone know where exactly?

Which currency is best to load it with?

Any detailed and accurate info is appreciated!

[Dealdo]

If you read post # 1745 under the general info thread you will find out about what you need to know b4 traveling to Cuba.

Btw, AFAIK, American insurance doesn't work in Cuba.

Thanks Mondo! Hey I haven't heard from you in long time bro. Are you in Cuba now or soon. Good times last time I saw you there.

[Jesterl]

Coming from a Miami native(yes there are a few), we have a saying here that MOST women from other countries rot in customs. In other words once they get in they totally change and become rotten just like the native women. In spanish it sound mush better "Se pudren en la aduana". And to multiply that exponentially, she is from Cuba! No way man, they are the most shysters out there. Never trust a cuban woman, remember their culture is tainted by soviet era morals. Please don't get me wrong they fuck like animals though. I have travelled a bit and this is rule number one for an american, atleast. Never bring a girl in that can not come in by herself. If she is a successful lawyer in country X and she is making a sacrifice that is one thing but if she is desperate to get out, she will do or say almost anything to whomever to get what she wants.

I know someone who sponsored a girl from Colombia to come visit him and travel to Disney world together. They went and had a good time. When it was time to leave she said she could not pass up this oppurtunity and had someone pick her up at his house and dissappeared. Now he can't sponsor anyone, not even a fiancee for ten years I think it was.

That sucks!

I wasn't aware you could sponsor girls? What is the mechanism.

[Mondo707]

Is it true now we must have an insurance to travel to Cuba?

I'm not sure if American insurance work in Cuba.

And how about the visa flying from Mexico, do the airlines sell the visa right before departing like in the US?

Thanks guys.

If you read post # 1745 under the general info thread you will find out about what you need to know b4 traveling to Cuba.

Btw, AFAIK, American insurance doesn't work in Cuba.