Havana

[RamoneAustin]

+1+1+1 on all the posts about how bad Havana has become. Nice to hear I'm not alone. I was there in 2002 and loved it and have been trying to get back ever since.

Has it really gotten this bad in Cuba (especially Havana)? It has been a year since the last time I was there (I have been doing scuba diving trips instead). I know that you have to plan, have to put in some work in, have to be vigilant and have to try to be aware of the best spots and time periods so it wasn't easy hunting in Cuba. But still I thought my time there was worth it. I hope it hasn't really gotten this bad there.

Me in Action in my 1st Cuban Trip:

https://www.pornhub.com/view_video.p...h5c3fdbac2fffe

[Uncle Volodya]

+1+1+1 on all the posts about how bad Havana has become. Nice to hear I'm not alone. !

I'm sorry to hear you had a bad time but I can't say I agree.

Yes Havana is not easy point and click mongering like Pattaya or Sosua. But if you put in the work the results can be great, as I and several other BMs who were there in November and posted can attest.

You can find some very cute, young, and fresh girls who will rock your world with real GFE experience for 50 bucks or less. Not hard core putas but part times who are doign it for a little bit of extra cash.

But don' look to the bars or clubs. Those are a complete waste of time.

The key is to spend time at the hotspots. Certain sections of the Malecon, La Rampa. Be friendly, smiling, and gregarious. You don't' need a lot of spanish but a few phrases help. And above all be patient. It can take some time to find the right one and there will be a lot of dead time on the calle when the police presence is high and the girls are scared to talk. But if you take your time you will really be rewarded.

Collect the numbers for the good ones and call them over to your casa for repeat sessions. Bring modest gifts (chocolates, cheap perfume, clothes) and these girls will love you.

[Balimassage]

+1+1+1 on all the posts about how bad Havana has become. Nice to hear I'm not alone. I was there in 2002 and loved it and have been trying to get back ever since.

I was there last Feb, and took a room over in the "new town" by the US Embassy because some guidebook said it was the good part of town. Stick with old town. No taxi would touch me for under $10 for a 2 km drive. Hope I wasn't blasted by whatever they are nuking the embassy folks with.

The rip off and hassle was never-ending. The Cubans I met were so angry and sad. I'd walk in a bar and sit there for 5 minutes before anyone would bother to talk with me, and I've got money! I'd just come from Puerto Rico where it's smiles all over, what a contrast. I couldn't wait to leave. I never want to leave when I'm on vacation.

I flew out of Varadero, which was also terrible. Not a single bar on the beach out of some sort of "beach natural law" I'm guessing.

How terrible was it? I got to the airport 4 hrs early, just so I wouldn't miss my flight. Flying home never felt so good.

I wish you better Cuba, I know you're all fighting to just get by, but I ain't going back any time soon.

I think the only way to do Cuba is with organized tours. Those folks hopping in a convertible old USA car for the day and paying $150 are going to have a blast. Used to traveling latin america? You're going to go crazy.

Sorry for the debbie-downer post. I changed my USD to Euro's to avoid the conversion fees, and walked home w 300 E, money that could have been well spent, but wasn't. #SAD!

[The Tall Man]

Firstly it's 10 cuc fantaxy to vedado. I did it twenty times. They always asked for 20 and I said no. Start walking and they will chase you. Or walk to a main road and call one by sticking your arm up. It will probably be 8 cuc then. These hookers are losing control. They are asking mental money and most have flabby stomachs after having a kid or two. They asked me for 150 and I never paid more than 50 for all night. 95% leave the club empty handed. Taxis are ripping everyone off, bank cashiers are short changing you, etesca telephone kiosk women are ripping us off. I am sick of their theft. The police are stealing from the cabbies. This I saw! The tourist money has made them real crazy in the last year. The malecon is dead! I walked it twenty times at night. 18 months ago there were dozens and dozens, now there aren't any birds at all. Even the amount of youngsters having a good time has dropped. There are police everywhere and this year they have dogs. They also turn up in a white lorry with about 15 in at a time. Arresting the locals for absolutely anything. Man, what a police state this is.

Outside hotel National the hotel National taxi and security guy said the price of taxi to Varadero was 150 cuc. He said it was the ' Law' , well across the road three yellow govt taxis all quoted 100 cuc!! Everyone is ripping tourists off. They target Americans and Asians. They prey on you because some of these tourists are very very gullible. They have no respect for you whatsoever and are just stealing from you. It's as plain as that. The city is also very dirty and the broken roads and pavements are a serious health hazard especially at night. I won't be going back. It's the theft that got to me. The rest I can put up with, but all this fake socialist none sense is a joke. I know one thing though, Donald getting Bolsonaro to kick 8000 Cuban doctors and their paid salaries out of Brazil is going to hurt like hell. I met a lot of very unhappy Cubans during my long stay. Some people are getting very rich and a lot of poor people can see this and don't like it. Good luck Cuba, you are going to need it!!

Yep Havana is done now, I threw in my hat after my visit 3 and a half years ago. Too many rip-offs and trouble with enjoying the ladies and having to feel like you have to constantly watch your back. Too bad. Prayers for the common Cuban along with Venezuelans.

The Tall Man.

[BeersTerry]

Ya. Havana is a shit show, but it gets under your skin. I like it and I hate it.

Cuba is going into the toilet. Their ability to import goods has declined significantly. You can see it on the store shelves. You can see it in the shortage of cans to even package their own beer production.

This situation got a major impetus a few years ago during a corruption crackdown. They fired alot of middle managers who were corrupt BUT those managers stole a little bit, comparatively speaking. When those managers were fired and not replaced, everyone below working in the stores stole just about everything. You could see it in the streets at that time, Cubans had disposable income, they were spending it at the clubs, at the restaurants. The problem was that all that government inventory generated very little income to the state, the state had little money to rebuy goods for sale. The spiral that you are seeing today is the result of that massive firing.

[Ty Down]

Firstly it's 10 cuc fantaxy to vedado. I did it twenty times. They always asked for 20 and I said no. Start walking and they will chase you. Or walk to a main road and call one by sticking your arm up. It will probably be 8 cuc then. These hookers are losing control. They are asking mental money and most have flabby stomachs after having a kid or two. They asked me for 150 and I never paid more than 50 for all night. 95% leave the club empty handed. Taxis are ripping everyone off, bank cashiers are short changing you, etesca telephone kiosk women are ripping us off. I am sick of their theft. The police are stealing from the cabbies. This I saw! The tourist money has made them real crazy in the last year. The malecon is dead! I walked it twenty times at night. 18 months ago there were dozens and dozens, now there aren't any birds at all. Even the amount of youngsters having a good time has dropped. There are police everywhere and this year they have dogs. They also turn up in a white lorry with about 15 in at a time. Arresting the locals for absolutely anything. Man, what a police state this is.

Outside hotel National the hotel National taxi and security guy said the price of taxi to Varadero was 150 cuc. He said it was the ' Law' , well across the road three yellow govt taxis all quoted 100 cuc!! Everyone is ripping tourists off. They target Americans and Asians. They prey on you because some of these tourists are very very gullible. They have no respect for you whatsoever and are just stealing from you. It's as plain as that. The city is also very dirty and the broken roads and pavements are a serious health hazard especially at night. I won't be going back. It's the theft that got to me. The rest I can put up with, but all this fake socialist none sense is a joke. I know one thing though, Donald getting Bolsonaro to kick 8000 Cuban doctors and their paid salaries out of Brazil is going to hurt like hell. I met a lot of very unhappy Cubans during my long stay. Some people are getting very rich and a lot of poor people can see this and don't like it. Good luck Cuba, you are going to need it!!

Exactly, I've ranted about the Police situation a couple times here, nothing short of highway robbery going on in Havana. The taxi drivers are a huge problem as well.

[TadaiMaybe]

Firstly it's 10 cuc fantaxy to vedado. I did it twenty times. They always asked for 20 and I said no. Start walking and they will chase you. Or walk to a main road and call one by sticking your arm up. It will probably be 8 cuc then. These hookers are losing control. They are asking mental money and most have flabby stomachs after having a kid or two. They asked me for 150 and I never paid more than 50 for all night. 95% leave the club empty handed. Taxis are ripping everyone off, bank cashiers are short changing you, etesca telephone kiosk women are ripping us off. I am sick of their theft. The police are stealing from the cabbies. This I saw! The tourist money has made them real crazy in the last year. The malecon is dead! I walked it twenty times at night. 18 months ago there were dozens and dozens, now there aren't any birds at all. Even the amount of youngsters having a good time has dropped. There are police everywhere and this year they have dogs. They also turn up in a white lorry with about 15 in at a time. Arresting the locals for absolutely anything. Man, what a police state this is.

Outside hotel National the hotel National taxi and security guy said the price of taxi to Varadero was 150 cuc. He said it was the ' Law' , well across the road three yellow govt taxis all quoted 100 cuc!! Everyone is ripping tourists off. They target Americans and Asians. They prey on you because some of these tourists are very very gullible. They have no respect for you whatsoever and are just stealing from you. It's as plain as that. The city is also very dirty and the broken roads and pavements are a serious health hazard especially at night. I won't be going back. It's the theft that got to me. The rest I can put up with, but all this fake socialist none sense is a joke. I know one thing though, Donald getting Bolsonaro to kick 8000 Cuban doctors and their paid salaries out of Brazil is going to hurt like hell. I met a lot of very unhappy Cubans during my long stay. Some people are getting very rich and a lot of poor people can see this and don't like it. Good luck Cuba, you are going to need it!!

My sentiments also. I can't compare Havana to what it may have been in the past few years because I was there just once. Nevertheless when I was there in July it felt like attempts at ripoff happened incessantly. I am not naive to say foreigners visiting any other countries don't get ripped off but Cuba was particularly a standout, starting from the gringo price list to taxis to putas. You feel like there a constant barrage of elements after your pocket. Been there done that is all I can say.

[Dave1111]

We were in Havana for work with limited free time, since we had more money than we had time, we went to Fantaxy. And yes, if you read my note, I know we were really ripped off for taxi. My teaching point to other visitors is not to trust what the chicas say about taxi, make sure you negotiate the price yourself.

Firstly it's 10 cuc fantaxy to vedado. I did it twenty times. They always asked for 20 and I said no. Start walking and they will chase you. Or walk to a main road and call one by sticking your arm up. It will probably be 8 cuc then. These hookers are losing control. They are asking mental money and most have flabby stomachs after having a kid or two. They asked me for 150 and I never paid more than 50 for all night. 95% leave the club empty handed. Taxis are ripping everyone off, bank cashiers are short changing you, etesca telephone kiosk women are ripping us off. I am sick of their theft. The police are stealing from the cabbies. This I saw! The tourist money has made them real crazy in the last year. The malecon is dead! I walked it twenty times at night. 18 months ago there were dozens and dozens, now there aren't any birds at all. Even the amount of youngsters having a good time has dropped. There are police everywhere and this year they have dogs. They also turn up in a white lorry with about 15 in at a time. Arresting the locals for absolutely anything. Man, what a police state this is.

Outside hotel National the hotel National taxi and security guy said the price of taxi to Varadero was 150 cuc. He said it was the ' Law' , well across the road three yellow govt taxis all quoted 100 cuc!! Everyone is ripping tourists off. They target Americans and Asians. They prey on you because some of these tourists are very very gullible. They have no respect for you whatsoever and are just stealing from you. It's as plain as that. The city is also very dirty and the broken roads and pavements are a serious health hazard especially at night. I won't be going back. It's the theft that got to me. The rest I can put up with, but all this fake socialist none sense is a joke. I know one thing though, Donald getting Bolsonaro to kick 8000 Cuban doctors and their paid salaries out of Brazil is going to hurt like hell. I met a lot of very unhappy Cubans during my long stay. Some people are getting very rich and a lot of poor people can see this and don't like it. Good luck Cuba, you are going to need it!!

[DocInHeat]

We were in Havana for work with limited free time, since we had more money than we had time, we went to Fantaxy. And yes, if you read my note, I know we were really ripped off for taxi. My teaching point to other visitors is not to trust what the chicas say about taxi, make sure you negotiate the price yourself.

I suggest you read this forum more mate you can find places you can get girls all night for 40-50 cuc and its not hard at all. Taxi 40 cuc? I don't know where was you going.But they rip you off. Like example you can manage to get taxi from fantaxy to vedado for 10 cuc, most of the times they asking 15-20 cuc just negotiate little bit or walk 50 metres on main road and catch from here for 8-10 cuc easy to vedado.

[Mr Gogo]

Thanks for the report! Where outside of Havana would you suggest going?

I am fit and speak Spanish so I'm looking to vibe with girls and get more of a GFE, not the hardcore pros from Havana clubs.

Where do I go to find those semi-/ non-pros that's still close to Havana and / or Varadero?

Guanabo?

Sir,

90 percent of the guys here wish they can say that,"fit and speak Spanish " LOL. You have the gifts already, Latin America is made for you.

[Peaty]

And one more thing Sir, the sex only gets better when you get outside of Havana.

You are doing better than most that report here. But on your next trip step outside of Havana and take a road trip and things get better. Peace.

Thanks for the report! Where outside of Havana would you suggest going?

I am fit and speak Spanish so I'm looking to vibe with girls and get more of a GFE, not the hardcore pros from Havana clubs.

Where do I go to find those semi-/ non-pros that's still close to Havana and / or Varadero?

Guanabo?

[BeersTerry]

Normally, the honest cabbies don't like the hustle nor hanging around clubs to rip off gringos. They just want to earn an honest living.

That said, it is mostly hustlers and rip off artists that hang out around clubs. All they need is to rip off one gringo to make their night. Rates are higher at night but if in doubt, ask that they use the meter. Prices drop real fast when you do that.

[Pokeris]

I forgot to mention: Our girls wanted to travel separately to the casa and told us the fare would be 40 CUC, 20 for each car. When we got to the casa, the drivers demanded 80 CUC, 40 for each. Even though we were good in negotiating ride prices in general, we didn't actually negotiate these prices ourselves and I don't think the girls did either. I think they just assumed we'd get the going rate, but the drivers saw a couple of Americans and screwed us. Negotiate before you get to the car!

I suggest you read this forum more mate you can find places you can get girls all night for 40-50 cuc and its not hard at all. Taxi 40 cuc? I don't know where was you going.But they rip you off. Like example you can manage to get taxi from fantaxy to vedado for 10 cuc, most of the times they asking 15-20 cuc just negotiate little bit or walk 50 metres on main road and catch from here for 8-10 cuc easy to vedado.

[DocInHeat]

Got caught up in a super-long dinner with some business people and so ended up going to Fantaxy late. Much too late. Got there at 12:30 am and the place was packed (Thursday night) there was a short line getting in and had to fight our way to the bar to get a drink. It was simply too crowded to even talk to anyone. Did see a few lookers and also, it was so jam-packed, I accidentally saw negotiations occurring via google translate between a chica and prospective client. Her starting price was 150 CUC. Not sure he was able to get it down further as she also was busy explaining to him that his hotel wouldn't allow her in, etc. It was just too much for me and my friend, so after a couple drinks, we left with a few memories of our first Havana experience.

[DocInHeat]

I forgot to mention: Our girls wanted to travel separately to the casa and told us the fare would be 40 CUC, 20 for each car. When we got to the casa, the drivers demanded 80 CUC, 40 for each. Even though we were good in negotiating ride prices in general, we didn't actually negotiate these prices ourselves and I don't think the girls did either. I think they just assumed we'd get the going rate, but the drivers saw a couple of Americans and screwed us. Negotiate before you get to the car!

Since it was a little cool out and few chicas to be seen on Malecon or La Rampa, went to Club Fantaxy. As it turned out, 10 pm was WAY too early. Maybe 4 other customers and 8 staff! But the staff assured us that it picks up around 11 and sure enough, right around 11, people starting coming in steadily and by 11:30 it was medium full. By then, we had seen several potential partners for the night. Unfortunately, since I was wingman, I had to partner up with a chubby girl, Darelys, while my friend had a very pretty blonde chica, Diana. Why is it all over the world, its usually a pretty girl who has a much less pretty friend? Oh well, we had a reasonably good time at the club, drinking, dancing and negotiating. Prices started at 150 CUC and since we were in a hotel, we had to go to the girls' recommendations for accommodations. Overnight was 30 CUC per room and as mentioned elsewhere, it was a little weird going through someone's house with the owners there to go to our bedrooms.

Both of the girls wanted payment upfront, which we tried to deflect, but finally gave in. Fortunately, it wasn't a hit and run, the girls stayed all night. We each had a good time and slept peacefully, till we had to get up and go back to the hotel in time to change and go to work. A problem with these private rooms is that they are in real neighborhoods, far from any taxi routes. The girls called several times to get rides, before we finally got someone to pick us up after 20-30 minutes of waiting.