Havana

[TomJackin]

I have been curious about traveling to Cuba for years, but never pulled the trigger. Finally I did and I had a blast!

Logistics: Can people from the USA travel to Cuba? YES! But, you must declare one of the following reasons to travel to Cuba:

Here's the full list of categories:

Family visits.
Journalism.
Professional research.
Religious activities.
Public performances.
Support for the Cuban people.
Educational activities and people to people travel.
Humanitarian projects.
Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes.
Exportation, importation or transmission of information or informational materials.

I choose the most common and broad reason; Support for the Cuban people.

What activities count toward Support for the Cuban People?

The category is fairly broad, so it really depends on your interests. In general, you'll need to:

Stay at a casa particular (these can be booked via Airbnb).
Support and engage with local businesses and independent entrepreneurs like artists, musicians, food vendors, filmmakers, etc.
Whatever your interests, you can find a way to support the Cuban people.
Eat at local restaurants or paladares.
Avoid transactions at military-owned businesses.

There is a new article out today about the "People to people" category that no longer exist:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/...ggbePH9juPIM7c

So, I'm not sure what will happen now. I know the "People to people" category was replaced with the "Support for the Cuban people" category some time ago, but I could be wrong.

Visa: I bought my visa online at Easy Tourist Card. I bought the green card because I was arriving from Mexico. I paid 35 Euros, plus 35 for shipping. Did I pay too much, I think so. I was told by Aeromexico that I could purchase the visa in Mexico City, but I wanted it before I left. From the US, the visa is a different color.

Travel insurance: I paid $43 for the Med Evac plan from Travel Guard.

Getting there: I flew round trip from Tijuana to Mexico City, and on to Havana for less than $500.

My trip to Havana: I took the CBX bridge for $30 round trip to the Tijuana airport. I headed to the VIP lounge and paid around $22 for free flowing drinks and chow.

Immigration in Havana: The line was not very long, but I arrived at 10:30 in the evening. I was under the understanding that my passport would not be stamped, but it was when I entered and when I left; that surprised me to say the least.

Logging: I stayed at an Airbnb in a great area for a good price. I was the only one in the apartment and the host was great. I will not go into details because I don't want to cause any trouble for the host.

Money: There are two currencies in Cuba; the CUP and CUC. Why, I have no fucking idea.

CUP (for Cubans) 1 US for 25 pesos.
CUC (for us fucking visitors) 1 to 1.

But it is never one to one, because of the service charge. I received, from my host, 1 dollar = 90 cents. During my research, I was informed that I would receive a better exchange rate if I brought canadian or euro currency; no time for that crap.

Weather: I was concerned about the heat, humidity, and those pesky fucking mosquitoes. But because Havana is next to the ocean, there was a great breeze and the weather was pleasant, and without the flying pests!

Electric: The apartment had 110 and 220 outlets. Word of advice, bring a surge protector because there are power surges in Havana.

Internet / Wi-Fi: Have fun with this one! My host helped me out on this. But, the Cuban government does not want outside communication from Cuba. Thus, the internet is expensive for the Cuban people. You can buy ETECSA cards, not sure of the price. But then you have to find a Wi-Fi hotspot to use the internet, like in one of the parks or other places. It sucks!

Getting around Havana: The most expensive thing I experienced in Havana was the taxis. They all want 10-20 to go any damn where. From the airport or back is 25. Most will bargain, but the classic cars won't. A lot of my money went straight to the taxis.

Warning: Almost all of the restrooms in the restaurants, bars, clubs have no toilet seats, and even worse, no toilet paper. Thus, bring your own just in case.

Food: Don't go to Cuba for great food. But I did find some decent to good food in several restaurants.

El Guajirito. Good lobster dish, but pricy.
El Biki. Good chicken in a wine sauce dish.
D Lirios. Good mixed meat dish.
Habana Blues. Unique place with good food.
O' Reilly. Good drinks and food.
El Aljibe. Good roasted chicken and excellent black beans.

Street food stand. Next to Hotel Nacional and across from the Malecon, there were several food stands. I noticed there were several pigs being roasted and just had to have a pork sandwich; it was so damn good!

Drinks: Yep, I did my share of drinking there.

Flordita. Hemmingway's old hang out; daiquiris of course.
Hotel Nacional. Just because it's a must.
Gran Hotel Manzana. Great rooftop bar with a great view.
Caf Mambo Habana. Nice place in Plaza Vieja.
Turquino at the top of Hotel Tryp Habana Libre. Great band, show, and view of Habana; 10 CUC cover.

Venues: I went to several venues and here are my thoughts:

Club Up and Down: I was there around 1:00 Thursday night. There were about 10 hotties and they all wanted 100 CUC for 2 hours. I guess there is a chica union in that place.

Piano Bar: I was there around 2:00 Thursday night. First off, the place has a butt-load of fucking stairs! But, many options for chicas inside. Pulled one for 60, + taxi for two hours. She was a blast in the rack!

Went back there on Friday around 2:00. I partied with two girls and could not chose between the both, so I took them both, 60 each for 2 hours. They were hungry, so I ordered the food platter; it sucked. Did I mention the place has too many fucking stairs? Both of the chicas were a blast during rack operations!

On Friday night, I headed for three clubs in Miramar:

Mio why Tuyo: Got there around midnight. Very nice place with around 10 chicas. I chatted with a couple and was quoted 100. I stayed there for around 30 minutes, before I realized I was just wasting my time.

Q Bola: A short walk from the last club. Got there around 12:45. Nice club with a lot of chicas, but I think it was just a regular club. Really no eye contact. I offered to buy a few drinks, but was turned downed; no worries, off to the next club!

Casa de la Musica: Got there around 1:30. Big music joint with a great band; 15 cover. Lots of people, but it seemed like a dating place; full of couples and groups. I did not see much opportunity there; fuck it, back to the Piano Bar!

Street action: I walked down La Rampa twice during my stay. I did see many women available, but also many police and cameras; was not worth my time to play the "Cat and Mouse" game. It was the same on the Malecon. Others have had luck, but I had enough on my plate, so I didn't waste my time.

Other chicas: Before I left, I was talking to three chicas on WhatsApp. One was solid, the other two were a bit flaky. This takes a lot of time and effort, but it can pay off in the end. My solid chica stayed with me for my last two nights and never asked me for a single CUC. One of the best GFE experience I've ever had in years!

Overall thoughts on Havana: I loved the place and the people. The people are hurting, but they are resilient and proud!

I urge everyone to visit the country in order to support the people; enough said.

As always, just my two pinche pesos.

[Rebel Monger]

In additional and to what Chris H said, I would also mention the police presence. If police is in the vicinity chicas are very careful and may not talk with you, particularly if your looks don't fit in.

It's under surveillance all the time, in the 90's there was a big revolt in that area (El Maleconazo), whatever you do they are watching, but as long as you're just looking for jineteras, they won't bother you. In Cuba, like any other country in the world, don't be shy, talk to the girls! And keep in mind, Colombia is better!

[TadaiMaybe]

Guys,

I have just a question for those who know! Is there any action to find on the Malecon. I would imagine that some girls are looking for customers there.

In additional and to what Chris H said, I would also mention the police presence. If police is in the vicinity chicas are very careful and may not talk with you, particularly if your looks don't fit in.

[Chris H]

Guys,

I have just a question for those who know! Is there any action to find on the Malecon. I would imagine that some girls are looking for customers there.

Yes, definitely. Plenty to choose from, but of course timing is everything, and of course, that's unpredictable.

[Frank58]

Guys,

I have just a question for those who know! Is there any action to find on the Malecon. I would imagine that some girls are looking for customers there.

[Ty Down]

Hola senorita.

[KiteRunner1979]

See my report below, Badoo was good for me. Tagged I wouldn't recommend. Girls can be slow to reply due to lack of internet so set up in advance get numbers to call / text when arrive.

Thank you, I will.

[MtVadose]

I am finally going back to Cuba after a few years, last time I went Badoo was a really good way of making contact before arriving. Does anyone know if Badoo is still the go to site or has it graduated into another site?

Thanks in advance.

See my report below, Badoo was good for me. Tagged I wouldn't recommend. Girls can be slow to reply due to lack of internet so set up in advance get numbers to call / text when arrive.

[KiteRunner1979]

I am finally going back to Cuba after a few years, last time I went Badoo was a really good way of making contact before arriving. Does anyone know if Badoo is still the go to site or has it graduated into another site?

Thanks in advance.

[MtVadose]

Back from Cuba, spent 6 nights of my trip in Havana.

Taxis can be a pain, at night when with a girl some want 20-30 cuc even for a few minutes journey and it can take a while to bring them down. Even during the day they want a lot of money for small journeys. I never paid more than 10 cuc for a taxi anywhere though, a couple times if the taxi wouldn't budge outside a club I would walk down the road and always other drivers happy to take the fare. As mentioned watch out for the change in CUP scam, happened once to me.

Police are always on la rampa and at points opposite the malecon, twice I was stopped by police while in a taxi with a girl. First time they ID the driver and girl but ignore me then let us go, second time they exchanged words while driving along side us then just drove on. This second time the driver asked for an extra 10 cuc for bribe, no money was exchanged so I refused and he then pretended to call the police, I called his bluff and he left it.

I would say getting a local sim is key, not all girls are on what's app or using it frequent enough. Even if they do relying on WiFi to chat can make it difficult to arrange a meet. Half way through my trip I rented one from a guy I chatted to on the street and it made life easier.

Dating apps: I used tagged, lots of fake pictures and poor quality on here, doesn't seem to be used by many girls. I did arrange to meet a girl from here but at the time I didn't have a sim and she was operating on Cuban time so impossible to sort something. Was one girl on here who wanted 200 for the night or 100 for an hour. I used Badoo also, more people use this, met one girl from here and spent two nights with her giving 80 cuc each night, she was the easiest to deal with all trip, a nice girl.

Clubs: These places get busy between 12-1 am.

La gruta - 3 cuc entry, lots of locals, few gringos, I'd say quality is generally low, few doable girls. I brought one back from here who was a bit crazy, had to hold her off me in the taxi and I didn't fuck this girl she fucked me. I think I gave her 60 for 2 pops?

Tikoa. Terrible place, do not go to this club! They said 5 entry but when I handed over 10 someone tried to usher me in the club saying its 10 for tourists, I refused and they accepted 5 cuc. Once in its a small place and seems to have a main group of hardcore girls and a couple pimps sort of directing them all night. I was pestered by girls all the time I'm here, once you tell them your not interested every single one asks if you can buy them a drink, pimps would also come and ask me what I'm after, I was really targeted here. Quality also generally low, just a few alright girls about. I brought a girl back from here for 50 two cums, I didn't think she was one of the main group of girls as she hadn't approach me, but one of the pimps follows us out and flags a taxi for us, should of bailed at that point. Get back and have one round, she is poor but her big ass keeps me sort of happy, too much beer and going out previous nights means another round isn't happening so I tell her she can leave. When I look in the bathroom I notice my soap is gone, ask for it back, she plays dumb at first then acts like it was a mix up and returns it. I pay her and she wants extra for taxi money but I say its not happening, she keeps telling me I'm going to pay, once she realizes I'm not she has an absolute meltdown and starts knocking over everything she can while heading to the door shouting for me to let her out. I let her out and she makes a last lunge for my wallet in my pocket. Luckily the only damage was one broken mug, and I don't know when she swiped it but my juice was gone.

Piano bar. Again quality generally low in here, first time here I bring back the only girl I like, she was absolutely great but starts to call a taxi after one shot, I had agreed 80 and she said I never mentioned till morning but she does take 50 instead with no hassle. I think this could of been a mix-up, I didn't fully confirm. Thinking back this girl was the best shag of my trip and maybe the best looking, I should of repeated.

Second time here the girl I bring back wants payment upfront back at my casa (Majority of girls out here do, after this I made sure to confirm this before leaving) and it takes ages for her to agree, also this one tries to leave after one shot and I was clear this time. We had agreed 50 I think and she would not budge and was getting quite aggressive so I just gave it her. Before leaving she goes go the bathroom and I see she is hiding my floss in her hand so get that back and check nothing else was missing but I didn't spot she also took wipes.

Q'bola. While other clubs had plenty of locals this place is just prossies and punters so lots of choice and quality is generally high. Problem is they want payment upfront and won't budge on that, in hindsight I should agreed half before half after with one from here but at the time I didn't think of that and there was no way I was risking upfront payment so I left to somewhere else. Girls asking price was starting at 120-150 cuc here.

The report sounds negative but I actually had good fun 4 of the 6 nights, but just had some real problems with the other two that dampened things. I do think the place has loads of potential, I admittedly made plenty of mistakes. My main advice would be get a local sim, focus more outside the clubs for less hardcore girls but if you go clubs do 100% confirm everything before leaving including when payment is. And stay out of Tikoa, haha.

[DiavelLoco]

Cuba has had its share of up and downs lately but some of us are just waiting out the cycle. They just changed presidents so I expected all of this as the incoming president just putting up a tough front. Cracking down on the casa owners and girls is something I have seen before many times in my years in Cuba. The ones who will ride the waves of Cuba best are the guys who have gone there and made connections. The weekend warriors might be stuck with the hardest girls who over charge gringos.

Develop some local friends over time and they will treat you to their Cuba. Otherwise it's the tourist mode you are stuck with and that involves attention from the police. Even the bicitaxi boys can deliver if you can get on their good side. Guys in flip flops and tourist hats won't get much play at reasonable prices.

Look, Cuba is hurting. Food shortages, electric blackouts and tornadoes have rocked the island recently. But the Cubans are the strongest of people and have weathered these storms previously. Cuba now has hot spots with girls for the locals that won't get reported here for about two years but slowly foreigners will catch on and it will be back to good times. Those already connected will still reap its rewards. I've experienced the DR, PI, Thailand several times over and now I'm living in Medellin but the best sex of my life, has been in Cuba. And when you leave Havana it only gets better.

I totally agree with you 100%. I wish life is more free here. For expats, we have to be extra careful not to be caught by the authorities here. We don't want to be expelled from the country and lose our jobs. I would be more gungho and adventurous without a doubt if its free and easy.

[Mr Gogo]

Cuba has had its share of up and downs lately but some of us are just waiting out the cycle. They just changed presidents so I expected all of this as the incoming president just putting up a tough front. Cracking down on the casa owners and girls is something I have seen before many times in my years in Cuba. The ones who will ride the waves of Cuba best are the guys who have gone there and made connections. The weekend warriors might be stuck with the hardest girls who over charge gringos.

Develop some local friends over time and they will treat you to their Cuba. Otherwise it's the tourist mode you are stuck with and that involves attention from the police. Even the bicitaxi boys can deliver if you can get on their good side. Guys in flip flops and tourist hats won't get much play at reasonable prices.

Look, Cuba is hurting. Food shortages, electric blackouts and tornadoes have rocked the island recently. But the Cubans are the strongest of people and have weathered these storms previously. Cuba now has hot spots with girls for the locals that won't get reported here for about two years but slowly foreigners will catch on and it will be back to good times. Those already connected will still reap its rewards. I've experienced the DR, PI, Thailand several times over and now I'm living in Medellin but the best sex of my life, has been in Cuba. And when you leave Havana it only gets better.

[The Tall Man]

There must be something really great about Cuban women that you guys go through so much hustle to get laid. When I used to monger I'd rather go to places where I didn't have to hide from the authorities to buy sex. You can get better in Colombia.

By the way, unless that guy at el aljibe is connected to the police, his pimp days are getting to a close.

So true. Just last night, as I am about 3 or 4 evenings each week, I am in centro Medellin and cops everywhere, in bunches of 4 and 5 and 2 or 3 of these bunches on a given street AND best part is that prostitution and soliciting is legal, I find myself so use to the police stationed on street corners that at times I catch myself working out details with my street girl and I am standing literally within 5 feet of police.

What a relief when you don't have to dodge police like in Cuba, and yes I spent a few weeks in Havana about 3 years back, it is a hassle and you only appreciate freedom of P4P when its all above board.

The Tall Man.

[NamasteParis]

I live here and I love to explore. Who doesn't like the idea of not hiding from authorities to get laid. BTW I am just sharing some intel and sorry if you can't appreciate it.

Man, WE DO really appreciate your intel, but this Cuba forum is much likely read by cuban police also. Too much intel kiils it. Same for casa intel, this one accepts putas, this other one doesn't register chicas, and so on. How many times should we tell you to be careful about what you say in this forum. Not for you or for us, but for THEM!

I understand your frustration not sharing great info that you might have discovered. But intel here means denouncement there, especially in this forum.

[DiavelLoco]

There must be something really great about Cuban women that you guys go through so much hustle to get laid. When I used to monger I'd rather go to places where I didn't have to hide from the authorities to buy sex. You can get better in Colombia.

By the way, unless that guy at el aljibe is connected to the police, his pimp days are getting to a close.

I live here and I love to explore. Who doesn't like the idea of not hiding from authorities to get laid. BTW I am just sharing some intel and sorry if you can't appreciate it.