Havana

[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.

[Zeos1]

3000 Cuban Pesos is about 116 USD from what I can see on the Internet. It's a lot of money.

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.

[RainmanSahut]

I just returned from Cuba.

Local exchange was 113 Cuban pesos per $1 usd. $100 usd would be 11,300 Cuban pesos.

USD is King. They will take Euros or Canadian, But, they ask for Dollars $$.

Once feet on the ground, exchange for stash of pesos. Your advantage to pay most things in pesos.

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

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

How get to Holguin? Fly to Havana. Walk out of departure door straight into parking lot and catch Viazul bus to Holguin $48. Buy ticket online in advance. Yes, takes US credit card.

https://viazul.wetransp.com/

Be careful on food and water. I caught Salmonella. Made it back to USA straight to hospital 8 days. Almost died.

Don't trust the ice. Bottled water very scarce.

Many many great rentals Airbnb.

Every Airbnb that I stayed, I paid with USA credit card thru internet checkout.

Remember, cannot use US credit card basically anywhere Cuba, so, carry enough cash for your trip.

I've stayed in 3 different Airbnb units and 1 Facebook rental.

All girl friendly and most accommodating.

Internet terrible at best.

Taxis expensive and sometimes difficult to catch late at night. Remember to save driver contact numbers. Will need later.

Remember do this for travel. Forget, no travel. I learned the hard way.

Immigration submit Form 48 hours prior to flight. 1 day works.

https://dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/datosPersonales

Purchase Cuba visa / travel card at American Airlines Departure gate Miami.

Or online at https://cubavisaservices.com/.

Remember, the reason you are traveling is: "Support for the Cuban People. " Your travel under "Support for the Cuban People" is authorized by general license. This means you do not need to request permission from the USA Government or obtain any physical document from Us government.

Good hunting.

Rainman.

3000 Cuban Pesos is about 116 USD from what I can see on the Internet. It's a lot of money.

[Incrociatore]

How about writing a trip report for us. Its not easy to figure out what is going on in Cuba these days.

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.

[Incrociatore]

Relax and properly inform yourself about the current currency exchange, you will avoid making a fool of yourself.

https://www.cadeca.cu/

3000 Cuban Pesos is about 116 USD from what I can see on the Internet. It's a lot of money.