Havana

[Lalela]

Spent 4 nights in Havana recently, thank you to the members of this forum for answering some of my questions before I left and for contributing some great info on this thread.

Flight:

Flight was delayed and landed in Havana at 1 am. After baggage claim, customs, and the drive to the apartment / checking in, it was already close to 2:30 am. I was tired anyway so decided to just call it a night so I could wake up early the next day to do touristy things. Side note: The currency exchange stays open even late at the airport so there was no problems changing money upon arrival.

Apartment:

My apartment was in Vedado. Good neighborhood with lots of restaurants in walking distance. Also was walking distance to La Rampa. Vedado is a good option to stay since there are many private apartments. I was able to find an apartment on airbnb where the owner did not mind if I brought over guests, in fact there was no doorman or security at this building so it made it very easy to bring back chicas, but at the same time I still felt very safe during my entire stay. This apartment also had its own WiFi which was really nice. I still had to use the internet cards to connect but I was able to do it from the comfort of my own apartment instead of having to go to an internet park or hotel lobby.

Some of the places I checked out Fri, Sat and Sun:

First thing I will say is nightlife here starts late. Most clubs bars will not be good until 12:30-1 am, and places do not close until 4, 5 or 6 am.

La Rampa aka calle 23: I would sometimes start my nights on La Rampa and just grab a beer and watch the people go by. First thing I noticed is the police presence here. It would be hard to have a conversation with a girl since the cops are really patrolling this street. One night I saw a nice looking girl, dressed sexy but still classy and the cops stopped her as she was walking, not sure for what reason, but she was told to get into the Police car. Not sure where they drove her off to, but this is just one example I saw of the cops making it hard on the girls here. Many girls would be stopped and questioned, asked for ID's, etc. Much easier to talk to girls, inside the clubs where there are no police.

La Gruta: This is a good sized basement club on Calle 23. Saw 6 girls there. Quality of the girls was just okay imo, but of course everyone's taste is different. Did not talk to any of the girls, since none were to my liking but from previous reports and info from friends who have been here before general price is 50 cuc.

Piano Bar: Piano Bar is on Neptuno and Galiano, you will see a sign that says "Piano Bar" and stairs that lead up to the club. 5 cuc cover charge. The vibe and atmosphere of this place is fun, There are a good number of working girls (I want to say about 10-15), but the crowd was mixed with locals and other tourists as well, dancing and having fun. IMO the quality is a little better than the girls at La Gruta, but don't expect any 9's or 10's. Met a nice girl here when I asked her how much she said "80 but we can negotiate" LOL we settled on 60. She was a good time and a nice girl, and performance was great. Took her number down but didn't use it after.

Up and Down: This club is in Vedado. No cover charge. It was a 15 minute walk from my apartment so I decided to walk and grab a late dinner at El Tablazo which is very close to the club. Food at El Tablazo was good and prices were very reasonable. They have a nice patio / outdoor seating so you have a view of the malecon and the street while you eat. Saw 2 chicas walking the street while I ate but other than that not much action. After dinner walked to Up and Down and got there at midnight I think. Still kind of quiet. Saw about 6 working girls here (including the 2 that I saw walking the street earlier haha). Quality was decent but none of the chicas were my type. I like curvier women, and none of the girls here fit my criteria LOL so I can't comment on how much. From what I heard though prices are around 100.

Mio why Tuyo: This is a small club, like really small LOL. No cover charge. Located in Miramar, which is a more upscale neighborhood. Didn't see much here tbh. Saw a few good looking girls, but they were tourists, and the good looking Cuban girls were partying in groups, or with their BF. Next!

Q Bola: This was my favourite club. Also located in Miramar close to Mio why Tuyo. No Cover charge. The girls here are the best of the best imo. Much better looking than any of the other places listed. Once again this is only my opinion, as everyone has different tastes. I would say the girls here are 7's and 8's, with the occasional 9. Pretty faces and dressed to impress. The party here doesn't get good until 12:45-1 am. The first time I came here I didn't know, and I was too early LOL, I came at 12 and it was literally just me in the club with 20-25 girls LOL. So I grabbed a beer took a seat at a booth and enjoyed the eye candy and waited for the place to get busier LOL. The girls here ask for 100. They are fun and down to party and dance until you are ready to leave. I have experience in places like Cartagena, Bogota, Medellin, Sosua and Asia, and I can honestly say I had one of my best nights, with a girl here. Super GFE, passionate, fun, and basically I had to tell her to leave otherwise she may have stayed the whole night and I had a flight to catch at 7:30 am! LOL She is definitely in my top 3.

Overall I had a great time in Havana. Got to do fun touristy things during the day and go out at night and party with beautiful Cuban women. Not sure when I will be back but it was a nice short trip to get an idea of what the city has to offer.

Some other notes:

Taxis:

Anyone who has read this forum knows that the taxi costs can add up. During my entire trip I never paid more than 10 cuc for a taxi, except for 1 time when I paid 15 on my last night going home from Q Bola with a chica. The surprising thing is after reading the forum I thought it was going to be so much worse than it actually was. Most taxi drivers I would wave down, and before getting in the car I would peek my head in the window and ask how much and tell them where I was going. I would always ask in Spanish, so maybe this helped. 90% of the time they would say 10 cuc. I had 2 drivers actually ask for less, 7 and 8 cuc during the day. Some would ask for 15 or 20 but would quickly accept when I countered with 10. The only times I actually had to put effort into negotiating is leaving Q Bola at night with a chica, the drivers try to take advantage of the fact that you have a chica with you and need to get home. They always want 20 or more, just counter with 10, and if they say no just walk away, and they will change their mind. Tip: If you find an honest taxi driver, get his phone number. That way you can text them or tell your chica to text them when you are leaving the club to pick you up.

Bici-Taxi- The guys driving the tricycles around centro, make friends with one and tell him you're looking for chicas, he'll drive you around centro for a couple hours for 10 cuc and help you find chicas LOL. Got a few phone numbers by doing this, but couldn't find a girl that I really liked enough to pull the trigger.

That's pretty much it if I remember anything else I'll be sure to add. Cheers!

[TomJackin]

You make me laugh when you wrote: my girl. How many more tourists and locals think that she is their girl?

As the old saying goes: It's not your girl, it's just your turn.

[Lenin]

Cuba is safe, but not incredible save.
Three things happened to me and my fiancee last year...

That's true. Stealing is problem in Cuba. Someone stole my video camera in Havana from apparent on the second floor when I was not at home. I was lucky that thief didn't find the laptop. Thief managed to get very high into open balcony, probably he was very sporty guy. Night before I had chica from Malecon in my apartment. I suspect they worked together.

Also don't put money or something precious in your luggage.

I read on Russian forum about at least two separate cases when money was stolen by security right from the luggage on the custom control in the airport.

[Lenin]

Just talked to my girl in Cuba.

You make me laugh when you wrote: my girl. How many more tourists and locals think that she is their girl?

[Mr Gogo]

Cuba is safe, but not incredible save.

Three things happened to me and my fiancee last year.

1. Pickpocked in Tikoa.

For the first time in Tikoa with two chica's on a Saturday night with lots of people in the bar.

Upon arrival we stood in the corner near the toilet.

I went to the bar to buy beer, and walked back among the crowd while simultaneously holding 3 cans of beer in front of my stomach in both hands.

We drank our beer and a girl asked me to buy cigarettes.

Then I missed my purse that was stolen while I came back with the beer in my hands.

The purse was in the front pocket of my jeans while my shirt hung over the jeans.

I took a taxi to my home in Havana Viega to get new money, and to lead the second time to Tikoa with the same taxi and the same girls.

Again three beers but now two beers in one hand and one beer in the other. With my arms down, in front of my pockets.

As I walked back among the people to the girls, a person lifted my shirt to reach the pocket of my jeans!

2. Stolen Celurar in Neptuno.

I bought a celular for my novia and a few weeks later her bag containing the celular was stolen by a chico on foot at 5 pm in Neptuno at broad daylight.

Before she realized what was happening, the boy had disappeared in a side street.

I think the boy saw that she was using the phone and putting it in her bag.

3 Attempted theft with knife.

I was at the Prado in Asturia that Tuesday evening.

The good days of Asturia are over, so little chicas are present and not of the desired quality.

After closing Asturia I walked to my house just 3 blocks away.

Two blocks on the Prado and one block in a side street.

In the side street I heard footsteps behind me from running people.

I didn't look back because I felt completely safe in Cuba.

Then two chicos grabbed me and tried to pull me down.

They hung around my neck but were not strong enough.

I weigh 90 kg and the young boys maybe 60 kg.

I dragged them on while they were hanging on my neck and I screamed as loud as I could.

One of the boys said "No grita" and I screamed louder.

One held his hand over my mouth and his finger came between my jaws. I bet his finger with all the power that I had.

In the meantime I had towed them 8 or 10 meters and we arrived at the Consulado intersection. Around the corner two Cubans were sitting on the doorstep of their house.

When the chicos saw the Cubans, they fled.

At home in my room I saw some blood on my bed. I wondered where that came from and then I noticed that I had two stab wounds. One at the front at the height of my heart, and one at the top next to the spine.

Because of the adrenaline I did not feel the wounds..

I appreciate your post but I have to be honest with you with my response (please don't take offense). First, I hope your fiance is not your wife because she didn't protect you from yourself (and others) and probably picked a very bad location to party at. You even double downed on the crime from the pick pocketers.

It was your first time at Tikao but let me tell you about that spot as I used to frequent it much. Tikao is a ghetto dirt trap. The pimps and hustlers hangout there because it is perfect for criminals Its small and always packed, never enough seating and the guy at the door will try to over-charge you as a gringo. You have St Johns, La Grunge and Sofias cafe nearby which are large and open places where you won't be crowded. Its usually normal people at these three spots but Tikao is where all the hustlers gather trying to catch a gringo slipping. If you got to stand with your dates by the bathroom is it really worth it?

The only way people would know you had money in your front pocket with your shirt over is if they saw you pay at the bar and watched where you stored your money (first time gringo draws attention). Plus you were more concerned about not spilling your beer that you didn't notice much else. Your 'purse" was probably easier to fish for because it was bulky than having to find single bills. How do you put a purse in a pocket without it hanging out? Then you double down and went home for more money only to return to Tikao, why? This is where you fiancé should have put her foot down if she cared about your safety. Running back to a bar where you have just been pick pocketed instead of one of the other nearby bars is weird. Can you give me a good reason to return? Please don't tell me that your fiancé wanted to return.

Sorry about the situation with the two guys with knives, very unfortunate. If I have a hole bleeding from near my heart and my spine I'm taking my ass to the police and hospital ASAP, not sure I would wait. Cuban police are very efficient when doing an investigation and its cameras on those side street near Prada and the tourist district. I've lived one block from Prada and have never had a problem. If you go back to a bar where you have been robbed and get hit again, makes me wonder what other mistakes you made in that neighborhood that might have contributed to you getting attacked (maybe it was just random). In a post below I talk about people gossipping around your casa and being low key: What made them choose you to run up on that night? Something let them them think you were a gringo with money. Please evaluate your steps and make changes because you made many.

Life is a learning lesson hope you can think about what I'm saying and not compound your mistakes in the future. Good luck and find another fiancé.

[Ty Down]

Just talked to my girl in Cuba. She's saying they have very little fuel, or petro, gasolina, diesel, for their cars, tractors, etc. Something to keep in mind.

https://en.mercopress.com/2019/09/14...nd-long-queues

[Ty Down]

Hey Mr G.

The main fest goes from the 15th to the 20th (January) and the events take place at different theaters and venues mostly around La Habana, in the Vedado, Centro Habana & Habana Vieja sections.

Also there are a couple of adjacent events around this time. So, to catch all of these events, plan on being there from the 13th to the 21st.

I'll post additional info once I get an official listing of artists / performers.

Mondo.

Thanks Mondo, I'll plan on being there. If things go "as planned" I should be in Havana in mid November for a couple weeks, then again in mid January. Should be interesting.

[Mr Gogo]

Hey Mr G.

The main fest goes from the 15th to the 20th (January) and the events take place at different theaters and venues mostly around La Habana, in the Vedado, Centro Habana & Habana Vieja sections.

Also there are a couple of adjacent events around this time. So, to catch all of these events, plan on being there from the 13th to the 21st.

I'll post additional info once I get an official listing of artists / performers.

Mondo.

Great info Mondo. I did some checking myself and I saw a tour with the Jazz fest for 2767 usd. I think that you can also do individual events. Sounds like a good show coming thanks.

[Mondo707]

Hey Mondo,

Can you give more info on the jazz festival in January. Thanks.

Hey Mr G.

The main fest goes from the 15th to the 20th (January) and the events take place at different theaters and venues mostly around La Habana, in the Vedado, Centro Habana & Habana Vieja sections.

Also there are a couple of adjacent events around this time. So, to catch all of these events, plan on being there from the 13th to the 21st.

I'll post additional info once I get an official listing of artists / performers.

Mondo.

[Edye Minetye]

Cuba is safe, but not incredible save.

Three things happened to me and my fiancee last year.

1. Pickpocked in Tikoa.

For the first time in Tikoa with two chica's on a Saturday night with lots of people in the bar.

Upon arrival we stood in the corner near the toilet.

I went to the bar to buy beer, and walked back among the crowd while simultaneously holding 3 cans of beer in front of my stomach in both hands.

We drank our beer and a girl asked me to buy cigarettes.

Then I missed my purse that was stolen while I came back with the beer in my hands.

The purse was in the front pocket of my jeans while my shirt hung over the jeans.

I took a taxi to my home in Havana Viega to get new money, and to lead the second time to Tikoa with the same taxi and the same girls.

Again three beers but now two beers in one hand and one beer in the other. With my arms down, in front of my pockets.

As I walked back among the people to the girls, a person lifted my shirt to reach the pocket of my jeans!

2. Stolen Celurar in Neptuno.

I bought a celular for my novia and a few weeks later her bag containing the celular was stolen by a chico on foot at 5 pm in Neptuno at broad daylight.

Before she realized what was happening, the boy had disappeared in a side street.

I think the boy saw that she was using the phone and putting it in her bag.

3 Attempted theft with knife.

I was at the Prado in Asturia that Tuesday evening.

The good days of Asturia are over, so little chicas are present and not of the desired quality.

After closing Asturia I walked to my house just 3 blocks away.

Two blocks on the Prado and one block in a side street.

In the side street I heard footsteps behind me from running people.

I didn't look back because I felt completely safe in Cuba.

Then two chicos grabbed me and tried to pull me down.

They hung around my neck but were not strong enough.

I weigh 90 kg and the young boys maybe 60 kg.

I dragged them on while they were hanging on my neck and I screamed as loud as I could.

One of the boys said "No grita" and I screamed louder.

One held his hand over my mouth and his finger came between my jaws. I bet his finger with all the power that I had.

In the meantime I had towed them 8 or 10 meters and we arrived at the Consulado intersection. Around the corner two Cubans were sitting on the doorstep of their house.

When the chicos saw the Cubans, they fled.

At home in my room I saw some blood on my bed. I wondered where that came from and then I noticed that I had two stab wounds. One at the front at the height of my heart, and one at the top next to the spine.

Because of the adrenaline I did not feel the wounds.

I did not want to leave the house to go to a medical post and the next day I went to the police who took me to a hospital where the wounds were stitched. They were not that deep.

It was a small knife and the boys were not professionals.

In terms of safety in Cuba, the following applies:

Havana is safe during the day and in the evening.

At night there is only safety in the main streets, where people almost always walk, or sit in front of their house.

The side streets are dangerous on weekdays from 12 am.

And on weekends from 1 o'clock in the night.

Then you always have to be transported by taxi or bicitaxi.

I walked from Asturia to my house almost 100 times and nothing ever happened.

But then I always had a chica by my side.

[Muzungufotsy]

He got "accused" of having sex with a couple girls. Real young girls. That's all it takes.

https://www.cp24.com/news/benjamin-t...wyer-1.4568132

First time I hear about this kind of accusation in Cuba. Setup or not? Weird anyway.

[Mr Gogo]

Hey Chris,

Man, amen to your post. Btw, I'm heading down for the Habana Jazz fest in January. Let me know if by chance you'll be there, I'll buy you a Cristal.

Mondo.

Hey Mondo,

Can you give more info on the jazz festival in January. Thanks.

[Chris H]

Hey Chris,

Man, amen to your post. Btw, I'm heading down for the Habana Jazz fest in January. Let me know if by chance you'll be there, I'll buy you a Cristal.

Mondo.

I will definitely reach out if I am there in January. Can never get enough of Havana!

[Chris H]

I agree that some Mongers may not find Cuba worth the "risks" involved. But these risks have more to do with wasted time and opportunity costs (as I, Chris H and many others have iterated this is not Point and shoot like Thailand) than with risks to personal safety. Liek Chris was saying I have never felt unsafe in Havana.

But with these risks can also come nice rewards too.

Stay horny my friends.

Uncle-V.

P.S.: I will be back in Havana / Cuba November 14-23.

See you there. I will be in Havana, November 8th thru the 16th.

[Uncle Volodya]

I still believe that Cuba is not worth the risks. I can find better somewhere else.

I agree that some Mongers may not find Cuba worth the "risks" involved. But these risks have more to do with wasted time and opportunity costs (as I, Chris H and many others have iterated this is not Point and shoot like Thailand) than with risks to personal safety. Liek Chris was saying I have never felt unsafe in Havana.

But with these risks can also come nice rewards too.

Stay horny my friends.

Uncle-V.

P.S.: I will be back in Havana / Cuba November 14-23.