Havana

[ElephantBeer]

No questions on this one (I think).

Just planning an 8 day trip to Havana in November with my Filipinia girlfriend.

First (and last) trip to Havana was around 2004. Time seems to pass and before you know it you've gone from a youngish man, to an oldish one. (sigh).

I stayed at the Gran Hotel, had good drinks at Flordita, remember watching some salsa shows and other dancing places. The yellow coconut taxis on the street.

Couldn't talk to locals on the street much, or the cops would come ask them for their papers. One guy started talking to me on the Malecon and that exact thing happened.

As for girls, there was a place by the water at night? Or (god I forget) but it was outdoors. You paid to get in and there were lots of girls hanging about. Was fantastic! Tried to bring her back to the hotel and a big deal was made. I had to end up paying a security guard money to let her up the back and she could only stay a few hours he said. Shift change?

Switched to a local room in someone's house and from then on had no problems bringing girls. Was one of those fantastic trips that always stays with you and sort of haunts you. Of course all that is gone now. Just bare snippets of images left in my head.

Hoping this trip will be similar. The exchange rate from the informal market is fantastic. Curious if anyone knows or remembers the outdoor place?

[Ash17]

The restaurants leave much to be desired but a meal can be anywhere between 200-1000 pesos or 2-10 dollars. Many of the businesses closed, la rampa and malecon are essentially dead but I guess the government is investing because I saw like 5-10 buildings under construction throughout Havana.

I tried talking to some locals, I speak Spanish BTW. And one tried to introduce me to his "cousin" but she was in her 30's and had a belly and saggy tits so I passed, she did danced for me and was grinding her ass into my crutch so that was nice.

By the time I was leaving she followed me home, she said she was a masseuse and wanted to give a massage, tho earlier she said she wanted to eat my ass LOL, I politely declined but she followed me home. She wanted to get into my building and was starting to make a scene so I pushed her away and closed the door.

Maybe I'm just unlucky, I don't know.

Let me know what it's like when you get to Holguin, make sure you pick a Casa near the Center.

[Zeos1]

When you want to support Cuban people stop using this American company taking high commissions and book your room from a taxi driver or street hawker.

The old system for booking "casas particulares" was phone based. You could find places online on their site, but at their end they phoned the owners to check if they really were available for the dates you wanted. So it took a couple of days for a confirmation.

Not sure if enough people have access to the internet to use Airbnb for their places. And my guess is that those that do have to pay a fee directly to the government for this. When I was there the casas particulares had to pay 50% tax to the government almost immediately. Perhaps Airbnb has a similar deal with the Cuban government.

The point of booking before you get there is to know what you are getting, or that you have something. Using a street hawker or taxi driver to me is a very bad idea. Very bad. But perhaps you were not serious.

[Vesemir]

Thanks for the report. Talk to some of the pedicab drivers in old town. Some of them know hot chicas. How are the restaurants doing?

The restaurants leave much to be desired but a meal can be anywhere between 200-1000 pesos or 2-10 dollars. Many of the businesses closed, la rampa and malecon are essentially dead but I guess the government is investing because I saw like 5-10 buildings under construction throughout Havana.

I tried talking to some locals, I speak Spanish BTW. And one tried to introduce me to his "cousin" but she was in her 30's and had a belly and saggy tits so I passed, she did danced for me and was grinding her ass into my crutch so that was nice.

By the time I was leaving she followed me home, she said she was a masseuse and wanted to give a massage, tho earlier she said she wanted to eat my ass LOL, I politely declined but she followed me home. She wanted to get into my building and was starting to make a scene so I pushed her away and closed the door.

Maybe I'm just unlucky, I don't know.

It's been raining every day in the afternoon.

I hope I have better luck in Santiago.

Peace.

[AmorPorFavor]

Hi fellow travelers!

First post here!

It's been about 3 to 4 years since I visited last. Havana is not the same as before, tourism has just reopened and finding new friends has become a bit more difficult. I'm staying at an Airbnb in old Havana.

Hustlers are still annoying, I was trying to find some weed but the only thing they could find for me was "hachi" some brown little balls that are supposed to be mixed with cigarettes, anyway, it was all bullshit at the end. So don't even try.

Exchange rates are about 1:100, someone tried to give me 1:90 but I walked away and the guy left it at 1:100.

I walked around old Havana trying to meet some new friends but all I could find was 30-40 yo pros 3-5/10. Nobody I would like to spend time with.

Today I'm trying Miramar and in a couple days Santiago.

Like some other users mentioned bottle water is scarce so I would recommend bringing a life straw or Britta bottle.

All in all I'm disappointed, I've been traveling to Cartagena and Bogota so I'm used to young babes. I was supposed to stay here for a month but if things don't improve I'll cut my trip short and go to Colombia instead LOL.

I'll update how things are in Santiago and Holguin.

Peace.

Thanks for the report. Talk to some of the pedicab drivers in old town. Some of them know hot chicas. How are the restaurants doing?

[Vesemir]

Hi fellow travelers!

First post here!

It's been about 3 to 4 years since I visited last. Havana is not the same as before, tourism has just reopened and finding new friends has become a bit more difficult. I'm staying at an Airbnb in old Havana.

Hustlers are still annoying, I was trying to find some weed but the only thing they could find for me was "hachi" some brown little balls that are supposed to be mixed with cigarettes, anyway, it was all bullshit at the end. So don't even try.

Exchange rates are about 1:100, someone tried to give me 1:90 but I walked away and the guy left it at 1:100.

I walked around old Havana trying to meet some new friends but all I could find was 30-40 yo pros 3-5/10. Nobody I would like to spend time with.

Today I'm trying Miramar and in a couple days Santiago.

Like some other users mentioned bottle water is scarce so I would recommend bringing a life straw or Britta bottle.

All in all I'm disappointed, I've been traveling to Cartagena and Bogota so I'm used to young babes. I was supposed to stay here for a month but if things don't improve I'll cut my trip short and go to Colombia instead LOL.

I'll update how things are in Santiago and Holguin.

Peace.

[Muzungufotsy]

I'm in Havana from next week. Supporting the Cuban People. So I'm airbnb'ing.

I'd like to know if anyone would be willing to PM any details of an airbnb with ok wifi that will not give me any hassle if my friends come to visit. I do have an airbnb booked but I'm paying over the odds, purely because they provide a cellphone that you can use for a wifi hotspot. I don't plan to work much but I WILL have to check emails a few times and potentially download a couple of sizeable documents, so I wanted the security (as far as a promise on airbnb goes) that I'll have the best chance of being able to access the internet when I need to.

Most places with wifi advertised do not allow guests, and most that appear to permit guests do not advertise wifi! Looking for the airbnb unicorn LOL.

I'm low key, and will not be having parties or groups, or even that many friends. Maybe one or two. The Wifi is pretty important though and if I have to sacrifice having friends around to have a place with wifi, I will have to do that.

Can anyone help?

Don't use Airbnb if you really want to support Cuban people. You will save money and them too.

[DzikaBomba]

I'm in Havana from next week. Supporting the Cuban People. So I'm airbnb'ing.

When you want to support Cuban people stop using this American company taking high commissions and book your room from a taxi driver or street hawker.

[SuperMon]

I just got my tickets. Landing in Havana at 6 pm on the 23rd of May.

Tried to subscribe but seems like a very hard work buying bitcoins etc.

Could you please try to send me contact details of the driver girl.

I would like to use her for a full week. Perhaps she can meet me at the airport and then drive to Miramar.

You need to PM so I can send you driver details.

[Lucky Nuts]

I'm in Havana from next week. Supporting the Cuban People. So I'm airbnb'ing.

I'd like to know if anyone would be willing to PM any details of an airbnb with ok wifi that will not give me any hassle if my friends come to visit. I do have an airbnb booked but I'm paying over the odds, purely because they provide a cellphone that you can use for a wifi hotspot. I don't plan to work much but I WILL have to check emails a few times and potentially download a couple of sizeable documents, so I wanted the security (as far as a promise on airbnb goes) that I'll have the best chance of being able to access the internet when I need to.

Most places with wifi advertised do not allow guests, and most that appear to permit guests do not advertise wifi! Looking for the airbnb unicorn LOL.

I'm low key, and will not be having parties or groups, or even that many friends. Maybe one or two. The Wifi is pretty important though and if I have to sacrifice having friends around to have a place with wifi, I will have to do that.

Can anyone help?

If you only need to check email and get downloads a couple times per day just use one of the public wifi areas in parks or the big hotels. Your connection speeds will be better than a cellphone hotspot. You do need to buy internet access cards to use these public wifi hotspots. At least that was the system my last visit a few years ago.

And find an apartment you can easily bring in chicas. They are not that hard to find in Havana

[AmorPorFavor]

I'm in Havana from next week. Supporting the Cuban People. So I'm airbnb'ing.

I'd like to know if anyone would be willing to PM any details of an airbnb with ok wifi that will not give me any hassle if my friends come to visit. I do have an airbnb booked but I'm paying over the odds, purely because they provide a cellphone that you can use for a wifi hotspot. I don't plan to work much but I WILL have to check emails a few times and potentially download a couple of sizeable documents, so I wanted the security (as far as a promise on airbnb goes) that I'll have the best chance of being able to access the internet when I need to.

Most places with wifi advertised do not allow guests, and most that appear to permit guests do not advertise wifi! Looking for the airbnb unicorn LOL.

I'm low key, and will not be having parties or groups, or even that many friends. Maybe one or two. The Wifi is pretty important though and if I have to sacrifice having friends around to have a place with wifi, I will have to do that.

Can anyone help?

An airbnb with both of those will be very hard to find. Its hard enough trying to find one that you can sneak girls into. I would take the girl friendly apartment and bring your laptop to the lobby of the nicer hotels that have wifi you can connect to with an internet card that you can buy with wifi access on it. Please give us a report as to the conditions on the ground as to chicas, restaurants, clubs ect.

[Zeos1]

I'm in Havana from next week. Supporting the Cuban People. So I'm airbnb'ing.

I'd like to know if anyone would be willing to PM any details of an airbnb with ok wifi that will not give me any hassle if my friends come to visit. I do have an airbnb booked but I'm paying over the odds, purely because they provide a cellphone that you can use for a wifi hotspot. I don't plan to work much but I WILL have to check emails a few times and potentially download a couple of sizeable documents, so I wanted the security (as far as a promise on airbnb goes) that I'll have the best chance of being able to access the internet when I need to.

Most places with wifi advertised do not allow guests, and most that appear to permit guests do not advertise wifi! Looking for the airbnb unicorn LOL.

I'm low key, and will not be having parties or groups, or even that many friends. Maybe one or two. The Wifi is pretty important though and if I have to sacrifice having friends around to have a place with wifi, I will have to do that.

Can anyone help?

I would be surprised if you can get wifi that you could download anything. But let us know. In the past there were so many things blocked that the only thing you could really do was email.

[FlagRunner77]

I'm in Havana from next week. Supporting the Cuban People. So I'm airbnb'ing.

I'd like to know if anyone would be willing to PM any details of an airbnb with ok wifi that will not give me any hassle if my friends come to visit. I do have an airbnb booked but I'm paying over the odds, purely because they provide a cellphone that you can use for a wifi hotspot. I don't plan to work much but I WILL have to check emails a few times and potentially download a couple of sizeable documents, so I wanted the security (as far as a promise on airbnb goes) that I'll have the best chance of being able to access the internet when I need to.

Most places with wifi advertised do not allow guests, and most that appear to permit guests do not advertise wifi! Looking for the airbnb unicorn LOL.

I'm low key, and will not be having parties or groups, or even that many friends. Maybe one or two. The Wifi is pretty important though and if I have to sacrifice having friends around to have a place with wifi, I will have to do that.

Can anyone help?

[BernardW]

I just got my tickets. Landing in Havana at 6 pm on the 23rd of May.

Tried to subscribe but seems like a very hard work buying bitcoins etc.

Could you please try to send me contact details of the driver girl.

I would like to use her for a full week. Perhaps she can meet me at the airport and then drive to Miramar.

[HarryDubois]

Also from what I remember many of the casas in that specific area are a bit strict with bringing girls into your casa with out showing ID. If you ask them straight out they may respond with an answer to cover their ass. I would not recommend that Airbnb for what you are trying to do. I can send you a link to a better Airbnb that works for the hobby but it will be in the Miramar area. A 1 bedroom apt all to yourself. The owner does not even live in the area. I would also not mention to them about bringing girls to the casa. They know what you are there for. No need to tell them.

So what I understand is: Look for an Airbnb with a separate entrance and without the owner living in the building and then just bring in girls and hope for the best. "Don't ask Don't tell."