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?
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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."
How did you find an Airbnb where the owner doesn't require registration for girls? Did he say that in advance online? I have been in contact with this Airbnb owner.
He was extremely understanding about my plans to meet girls and apparently there is a separate entrance. The ad says: "Designed to enjoy it with total privacy. " However when asked the owner explained that by law guests must register with him. However maybe he just had to say that?
There is a possibility he may just have to say that. I looked at the link from your Airbnb and I don't see a private entrance. 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 my trip ended up being a bust. I only had 1 short window of freedom and wasn't able to find anyone on short notice. I tried sitting at Hotel Inglaterra and I did see about 5 or 6 women walk by who seemed to be looking for some business but they not ones I wanted to spend money on.
As for money, that I did get a good handle on. Forget about Plaza Fe del Valle. I did not find anyone there. I did get a couple "change money" whispers on the pedestrian street between Hotel Inglaterra and Plaza fe del Valle. But where I got the most offers was over by Plaza de la Catedral. Found one guy who was reliable right near El Rum Rum. Got 100 pesos per USD there when Eltoque was saying the average value was 108 or so.
Casa owners were offering 80 to 90 CUP per Dollar which was pretty weak.
But really your best bet is to try to find someone who is about to try to get to the US. A friend from a prior trip was getting ready to fly to Nicaragua and then transit Mexico and was liquidating everything. I think I could have easily gotten 110 or 120 if I wasn't that friendly.
Also as the other person mentioned, there seemed to be some bottled water scarcity, so if you see some, buy some.
Food scarcity was the typical. Just ask restaurant staff what they do not have and then assume the next 2 things you also ask for they won't have. Rum, fruit, and juice are all still in great supply.
WiFi was also much more prevalent. Half the places I stayed had it for free.
I wasn't trying to bring guests back, but most owners will want to cover their ass and do not want to get caught with girls in their place. Somy best recommendation is to read between the lines and see if it is a whole place and private or shared entrance or what. Ask if you can bring a French woman over without issues or something along those lines. Or just don't ask at all until you are there.
The Airbnb I stay at in Miramar do not ask for the girl to register. In fact I had a completely private entrance so the owner does not even see me enter. I would not stay at any that would insist the girl register with the owner.
How did you find an Airbnb where the owner doesn't require registration for girls? Did he say that in advance online? I have been in contact with this Airbnb owner.
He was extremely understanding about my plans to meet girls and apparently there is a separate entrance. The ad says: "Designed to enjoy it with total privacy. " However when asked the owner explained that by law guests must register with him. However maybe he just had to say that?
Excellent read. Thank you for being so specific. As you seem very knowledgeable on Havana could you please share the driver details.
I am going in a couple of weeks and it seems like a great idea to have a driver.
Also, would you mind sharing some chicas details as well?
And any other bars, please?
Thanks again for your thorough assessment of the current Cuba. I has been extremely helpful so far.
Driver is a great idea, she can also supply you with neighborhood chicas, not pros.
I have no problem sharing driver detail. PM just please don't contact unless you are sure you are traveling. They get a lot men hitting them up that have no real plans on going and turn out to be a waste of time.
As far as bars go, Walk around old Havana in particular Obispo Street during the day or early evening, any girl that catches your attention just go up to her. Invite her for a drink and from there she is all yours. The Comodoro shopping Center and Hotel has a nice new Open air bar that operates during the day. Free to get in and cheap beer. I am sure you will find some girls there. I don't go out to bars or clubs as night I stay away from the pros those are the ones you will run into problems with.
Sorry I can't help you much with the nightlife, I'm usually with a chica by 10 pm in my casa with a bottle of rum. I am sure the driver can recommend a few good spots for the night action. Oh I did hear that the club at the Hemmingway Marina works on the weekends at night. That's always been a good spot to pic up local girls. I had many a good times there with out any problems. I think there is also a good daytime bar at the marina. I would have your driver with you when you venture out at night. Its good that they see who you are bringing home. I am attaching a pic of the Driver girl.