Havana

[AmorPorFavor]

I've been to Cuba 3 times in 2018 and 19 and my Verizon service there was horrible. Could not even text most of the time. When you buy a new SIM in Cuba or another country does it come with a new phone number? If so, how do you manage to get or make calls from your existing number?

[John Clayton]

... then going to Varadero for kitesurfing 3 weeks...

There's wind there now? I would guess it is erratic / not dependable at this time of year. What are you kiting on?

[MrJibb]

Greetings. I'm not new in the game but rarely write here but do read before my travels to find out things about my destination and get tips, should I now not. Not just for mongering but general tips too. Just arrived to Havana two days ago and thought I'd update on what's going on here as things are VERY different from everywhere else I've travelled before. I'm a very experienced traveller all over the world so definately not a rookie in any way but Cuba is very different from other places.

I booked a casa particular in old havana for my first three nights here, then going to Varadero for kitesurfing 3 weeks. The house is not girl friendly, no visitors allowed but great host helping with everything, transportation, money exchange and so on. Changing USD or EUR through him I get 145-155 CUP per unit, if you take out at the ATM the exchange rate is 120 and I can only get 10000 CUP per transaction with my European card. In other words, bring lots of cash. I or he wouldn't recommend changing anywhere on the street as you get fake money. I'm sure you can find "the right guy" but probably difficult to find as everyone here are EXTREMELY "helpful", want to show you around, girls, sell paintings, money, beer, restaurants etc. It's actually quite annoying walking on Obispo, CRAZY intense with people on you asking / suggesting things, especially at night. I'm from northern Europe, blonde curly hair, tattoos, proper surf look so I'm a big target, for good and bad.

Wifi is non existing here, even in "decent" restaurants there usually non. Food is quite awful and pricy to be honest, for the quality. Almost no tourists here and Cuban people doing nothing but lining up waiting all day for food, water, money etc etc. I got a cuban SIM for 1000 CUP plus 250 CUP for 3,5 gb data that actually works good. Go to the ETECSA to get it, bring your passport and it's a simple transaction. It's slow but it works. Essential here on the island.

People here are quite friendly, but feels like there always a thought behind it, to get something out of you, so be aware, don't trust anyone even though they are just trying to make a better life for themselves.

Girls are VERY approachable in the street. Just waiting 30 minutes to get my SIM card I had two beautiful girls fliring, smiling at me and talking a bit. Feels like you can approach anyone, but almost need to speak Spanish as few speak English. My spanish is not great, it's good for everyday things and getting by, but not longer conversations. At night walking around you get hundreds of offers from girls everywhere, saying Hola, whistling at you, approaching, waving. It's easy to find girls no doubt and some are great looking, others not so much. I avoid night girls as it feels dodgy, also for me now impossible to bring back to house which is an issue. If yout want that, make sure to get a girl friendly airbnb or similar. Makes things easier. Tinder is bad, almost no girls, Badoo is GREAT, lots of girls to match and contact, but again, language barrier and somewhere to meet is an issue. No girls has their own place but stay with family. Some are friendly and good looking, some not so much, lots of matches though. I prefer to meet a girl to talk to, hence English is important to me, to have food, drinks, good connection and obviously more if we like each other. Can I help her with some money sure. I'm not so much for just quick fucking, unless it's something extra special, which I encountered on the street in broad daylight (1 pm) after just being here 4 hours.

I was walking down Obispo and saw this beautiful pregnant girl approaching me. We got eye contact and she smiled, we said hola. She stopped as did I and started talking. She had a HUGE belly, 6 months pregnant, big swollen breasts, just an absolute DREAM to me as I have thing for preggos and lactation. She spoke decent English, didn't take long before she offered massage which I couldn't resist. She said she knew a place to rent an hour for 1500 CUP which was fine, and she just needed some "help" for her baby. I had just withdrawn 10000 CUP from the ATM (about 80 USD with bank rate) which was all I had on me. The place she took me had no room but she knew other place. Where the room all of a sudden was 3000 :/ but ok. She also wanted me to buy a few beers from the guy there, 1000 CUP so I only had about 7000 CUP left for her. We agreed on that as that was all I had, she was vevry friendly, kissing, hugging, letting me suck her HUGE nipples with some raw milk already, touch her belly, hugging, very GFE. She said I was dream guy to her, her fantasy about big euro surfer, haha. Maybe lie but felt true, and considering there's no one like me here it may be true. BBBJ which she loved doing, let me take photos, film it, DATY with VERY clean clean shaved downstairs, tasted amazing and she was really in to it all. Covered FS felt amazing, unloaded all over tits and belly which she laughed about. She later said she would like anal too, she loves it, so there will be repeat, probably offer her much more for a whole night. She said she had house and I could come to her, she would cook us food and we could enjoy more time together. Considering she was nice and accomodating, friendly and spoke English, and VERY enthusiastic in bed I'm down for that.

First impression of Cuba is decent in some ways, not so great in others. Girls CRAZY easy to find and approach. I've had girls willing for FS for 5000 CUP (about 30 USD with best rate) so it's cheap too. I'm happt to pay 7-10000 for something like I had, but don't give too much as that woould "ruin" the market.

Feel free to reply and ask questions, I'll try and respond when I have internet access.

[RainmanSahut]

Hello.

If you get a cubacel SIM card You are good to go for call, text or internet in Havana and most of the island.

The SIM card will work most places in Cuba as seen from my travels in the past 6 months.

Basically the cost $1/ hour usage. They claim they have 4 G coverage most of the island, my observation was 3 G coverage maybe 60% of island. Havana 80% coverage.

Basically there is NO such thing as Free Wi-Fi. In fact not so many places even have Wi-Fi. Public parks are main location for Wi-Fi and you need a separate account called a NAUTA card to access the Wi-Fi.

I found it easier to operate off my cell phone.

Once you get a SIM card you can recharge as needed by Ding or Revolt or many other applications. Can use credit card to pay.

Remember, you are best advised to run a VPN on cell or computer to protect yourself.

Finally, Do not drink the water. Cost me 8 days hospital and almost a trip.

My first and only trip to Cuba was for 10 days in 2017. While walking through Havana on my first day a girl asked me:"Do you need company?" She was not a great looker facially but had a nice body and a 10/10 attitude and I ended up spending my entire stay in Havana with her. Our communication since then was quite infrequent and sporadic. However, starting a few weeks ago we started daily regular communication by whatsapp. For her to be able to do that makes me suspect the internet situation in Havana is improving.

[RainmanSahut]

Hello.

If you get a cubacel SIM card You are good to go for call, text or internet in Havana and most of the island.

The SIM card will work most places in Cuba as seen from my travels in the past 6 months.

Basically the cost $1/ hour usage. They claim they have 4 G coverage most of the island, my observation was 3 G coverage maybe 60% of island. Havana 80% coverage.

Basically there is NO such thing as Free Wi-Fi. In fact not so many places even have Wi-Fi. Public parks are the main location for Wi-Fi and you need a separate account called a NAUTA card to access the Wi-Fi.

I found it easier to operate off my cell phone.

Once you get a SIM card you can recharge as needed by Ding or Revolt or many other applications. Can use credit card to pay.

Remember, you are best advised to run a VPN on cell or computer to protect yourself.

Finally, Do not drink the water. Cost me 8 days hospital and almost a trip to meet Saint Peter.

If you see bottled water, Buy it, check the seal unbroken. Also do not use ice. Eat food cooked well done. My advice.

Lots of lonely girls. Meet Tinder, Cupid, Facebook good to go. Police no trouble. Most landlords girl friendly.

Best places to stay are on Airbnb.

Have a great time.

Rainman.

My first and only trip to Cuba was for 10 days in 2017. While walking through Havana on my first day a girl asked me:"Do you need company?" She was not a great looker facially but had a nice body and a 10/10 attitude and I ended up spending my entire stay in Havana with her. Our communication since then was quite infrequent and sporadic. However, starting a few weeks ago we started daily regular communication by whatsapp. For her to be able to do that makes me suspect the internet situation in Havana is improving.

[Turgid]

Sorry mate,

But are you sure about that? Because last time I was in Cuba, about 3/4 years ago, you had to buy an ETECSA card, and use WiFi in one of the places where WiFi is available. Usually in parks.

You can't put a SIM card on your phone and use 4 G. Not that I am aware. Cuba is connected with only a fibre optic with Venezuela, there is no connection with Miami, for the reason you may know, so the connections aren't good.

I didn't test video calls, you shall see. According to OKLA speed test you should have enough bandwidth, but. Who knows, you will tell us:

https://www.speedtest.net/performanc.../havana/havana

At the time I was there I remember they had two types of ETECSA cards, one was for casa particular, and the other one is for people using their phone. It's time based if I am not mistaken. You buy hours of usage, not traffic. The traffic is anyway capped, because connections aren't great.

Working remotely from Cuba is a very bad idea. You should have thought about this before going.

Now prices are much lower than they used to be, because they are in CUP, before they were CUC. You'll benefit of the black market exchange. But you have to find a casa particular with WiFi.

https://cubasbest.com/wifi-in-cuba/

Good luck!

My first and only trip to Cuba was for 10 days in 2017. While walking through Havana on my first day a girl asked me:"Do you need company?" She was not a great looker facially but had a nice body and a 10/10 attitude and I ended up spending my entire stay in Havana with her. Our communication since then was quite infrequent and sporadic. However, starting a few weeks ago we started daily regular communication by whatsapp. For her to be able to do that makes me suspect the internet situation in Havana is improving.

[Incrociatore]

Sorry mate,

But are you sure about that? Because last time I was in Cuba, about 3/4 years ago, you had to buy an ETECSA card, and use WiFi in one of the places where WiFi is available. Usually in parks.

You can't put a SIM card on your phone and use 4 G. Not that I am aware. Cuba is connected with only a fibre optic with Venezuela, there is no connection with Miami, for the reason you may know, so the connections aren't good.

I didn't test video calls, you shall see. According to OKLA speed test you should have enough bandwidth, but. Who knows, you will tell us:

https://www.speedtest.net/performanc.../havana/havana

At the time I was there I remember they had two types of ETECSA cards, one was for casa particular, and the other one is for people using their phone. It's time based if I am not mistaken. You buy hours of usage, not traffic. The traffic is anyway capped, because connections aren't great.

Working remotely from Cuba is a very bad idea. You should have thought about this before going.

Now prices are much lower than they used to be, because they are in CUP, before they were CUC. You'll benefit of the black market exchange. But you have to find a casa particular with WiFi.

https://cubasbest.com/wifi-in-cuba/

Good luck!

Hi all,

I am going to Cuba in Jan. I am planning to go for 3 weeks, but I will need to work remotely for 2 weeks.

I understand there is not WIFI (or very limited) and that internet is all based on 4 G. I saw it is expensive (maybe 70 USD for 40 GB).

But my concern is: is it good enough to do video calls (zoom / teams)? I mean in Havana, not in the country side. And I mean in 2022/2023, not 2 years ago.

I have managed to work remotely and do video calls in Kenya on 4 G for 2 month before. So I am hoping Cuba will be ok. But any insights would be great.

Thanks.

[Adinga]

I found the best internet speeds were in the Hotel National and the Hotel Melia Cohiba in Vedado.

The both have a business section with desktop computers forget WIFI. The cost was $10 a hour pre pandemic.

[DanielDuran]

Hi all,

I am going to Cuba in Jan. I am planning to go for 3 weeks, but I will need to work remotely for 2 weeks.

I understand there is not WIFI (or very limited) and that internet is all based on 4 G. I saw it is expensive (maybe 70 USD for 40 GB).

But my concern is: is it good enough to do video calls (zoom / teams)? I mean in Havana, not in the country side. And I mean in 2022/2023, not 2 years ago.

I have managed to work remotely and do video calls in Kenya on 4 G for 2 month before. So I am hoping Cuba will be ok. But any insights would be great.

Thanks.

[Incrociatore]

Sound like you don't know WTF you are talking about and usually overpay. I got a girl at night. She didn't leave until I told her that I had things to do. Girls loved my place, going out to eat etc. Maybe you should get a clue! How much do you think 3000p-5000p is at 130p/$1 USD?

Spot on! I was getting 130p/$1 USD my whole trip! Even at the airport they were giving 110p/$1 USD

I didn't know that. Internet gives you a different figure. Last time I was there it was CUC, not CUP. CUC has been eliminated, and now CUP is getting depreciated day after day. I read you can get laid with 1500/2000 CUP easily nowadays on another forum, different language. That pussy in Cuba has never been so cheap in years.

[Mexidan]

You massively overpaid. I never paid more than $30 for a quick, $50 for the night or for a threesome. I even got laid for free in a few occasions. You guys need to stop to get robbed. You are ruining the market everywhere you go. Stay home please, watch porn and jerk off.

Sound like you don't know WTF you are talking about and usually overpay. I got a girl at night. She didn't leave until I told her that I had things to do. Girls loved my place, going out to eat etc. Maybe you should get a clue! How much do you think 3000p-5000p is at 130p/$1 USD?

Let me explain what is going on. You can easily get 120 pesos to the dollar on the street. Maybe even 130. So 5,000 pesos is around $40.

Spot on! I was getting 130p/$1 USD my whole trip! Even at the airport they were giving 110p/$1 USD

[Incrociatore]

Official rates are a long ways from the going rate on the street, from what I read here in prior reports. Over 100 pesos to the dollar, therefore 3000 pesos would be more like $30. Of course if you go into a Cadeca you will get the government rate.

If this is the case, then it's all good. Last time I was there, there was still the CUC, and you had to exchange 1:1 with USD. Looks like after they made a stronger CUP and removed the CUC, things changed. This would help in general with prices, making everything cheaper.

[AmorPorFavor]

Let me explain what is going on. For over 2 years Cuba has been in lockdown. You could only travel, fully vaccinated or with a test, to a resort, and stay there. The resorts are in Varadero, Cayo Guillermo, etc. , not in the capital. You couldn't travel to Habana and roaming around, you had to stay in the resort. I don't remember exactly when they removed the restrictions, but I think it was this year, maybe in April. If you want to get laid, Habana is the best place to be in Cuba. So, considering the Habana girls didn't see tourists for two years, you can imagine how much these girls are in need for money. You can't just go there and throw away money like this. Do you know how much is a monthly salary in Cuba? The same goes for Africa. You don't go there and pay like you would pay in Europe. We decide the market price, not them. We need to pay what is right, considering the local salaries.

Let me explain what is going on. You can easily get 120 pesos to the dollar on the street. Maybe even 130. So 5,000 pesos is around $40.

[DzikaBomba]

Yes, many beautiful hungry girls on Tinder and Facebook. $50 goes a long way.

Hunting in Havana good. Holguin better. Girls more hungry.

How did you get the Chicas in Holguin? Online through Tinder or are there some places to go, where you can pick them up?

And how much you paid them in Holguin?

How would you compare the quantity of Chicas in Holguin compared to Havana? Are there plenty of them in Holguin?

Anyway thanks for the report!

[DzikaBomba]

Everything in Cuba is covered. Public TV promotes condoms. Sex with a condom is like a handshake. Means very little. And they are jinateras, translated, horse riders or jockeys who ride you for money.

Is this really the case? My last information is it was quite easy to get BBFS wit some propina.

I'm also considering a travel to Cuba, but when its hard to get BBFS, I will not go there.

Does someone have other experiences in Cuba regarding availability of BBFS?

Please share.