Havana

[Huacho]

Expect to see poorly functioning aircon, bad food, awful furniture and mattresses, and old worn out buildings. If you're from a big city with a competitive food scene you'll find the best restaurants in Cuba sorely lacking.

That was a great report and I will be sure not to ever go there.

[AmericanPi]

Hi all,

Just got back from Havana. Putting together some pointers-for-punters. All in all a successful trip. I liked it. Not as much as Mexico City or Madrid, but it was different.

- Bring many small bills of USD. They take and want USD. They are more useful than large bills. You will have taxi rides for 10 dollars and such, but nobody will ever have change of course. And if you get change in pesos you don't know at what rate it'll be and you have no control over that. A few hundred singles is not a bad idea to bring.

- Bring more money than you need. You can always change back. I went through quite a bit of money because I was free-spending like crazy.

- I changed with my Airbnb host. They were happy to do it and were happy to change back to USD whatever I didn't spend.

- La Guarida sucks. Don't believe the hype. Go to the ones that aren't resting on their laurels.

- You can find girls on Badoo. Most Cuban girls do that stupid shit with the long fingernails and lots of tattoos. Not my jam, frankly. Send a LOT of messages because many of them don't reply or aren't on badoo much. I think maybe you don't show up in their "swipe left swipe right" thing if you're not in their target age range, so trust me just say you're 25 and then in the bio write "actually I'm X age". I wish I'd done that. Once you're offering them money, they don't care.

- I offered girls 15,000 pesos. Every single one, without fail, jumped at that in an instant. It's a lot of money in Cuba. It's only like 75 US dollars. You can 100% get cheaper, but I think it's worth it to pay money to be generous, especially when being generous is so inexpensive. Don't try to save 20 dollars here and there. This money is life changing for them there and they will be at your beck and call if you just dig a little deeper in your pocket.

- Taxis will charge you 10 USD per ride. It's too much. But it's not worth negotiating. Just suck up and figure you're out 100 bucks on transportation on this trip and deal with it. It's better than wandering around trying to shave a few dollars off and wasting your time. There seems to be an agreement among cabs that 10 dollars is the gringo rate.

- don't go if you don't speak decent Spanish. Honestly. This is not the place for it. This is third world. If you even speak some it'll make it so much easier. Girls there for the most part speak zero English.

- AirBnBs: ask in advance "can I have a guest over. " Literally every host said yes. It's weird to ask, especially female hosts, but they all said yes.

- have low expectations for your accommodations. I spent on the high side for my Airbnb and it was less nice than most Ramada Inns by a mile. They just don't have luxuries in this country. Expect to see poorly functioning aircon, bad food, awful furniture and mattresses, and old worn out buildings. If you're from a big city with a competitive food scene you'll find the best restaurants in Cuba sorely lacking. Don't be the kind of tourist who gasps. This is a choice to visit a third world communist country, not an obligation. Take the educational experience and bank it.

Ok those are the tips. I actually have some hidden special secret ones too. I'm not going to share them publicly. But if you are a paying member with at least 200 posts, meaning you're one of the people who keep this community alive, you can DM me and I'll share vía DM. If you don't have 200 yet don't DM me but do keep participating in the community. This only works if we share what we learn.

[Kokoss1]

Thanks for info, but you have any great air bnb or good hotels as I am a bit lazy in servise such as a pool as there is no beach hotels here? Any RbB to suggest that are near these hotels?

As I like the services in these hotels and quality of the stay here,.

To bad they don't allow guest,?

Thanks mate!

Nice hotels there don't allow Cubans. Plain and simple.

You get an Airbnb. And just ask the host if guests are ok. They will say yea.

[AmericanPi]

Well I am going to Habana but would like some advise onbthe 4 5 star greater hotels like Roc, Aston hotel, LE presidentbe or similar hotels, to ask are these places guest friendly?

So far they have not answered my request on this queustion, I guess busy screening guests lo!

Or if they are tried and tested casa in these areas for short term visits?

Thanks mates!

Nice hotels there don't allow Cubans. Plain and simple.

You get an Airbnb. And just ask the host if guests are ok. They will say yea.

[Kokoss1]

Well I am going to Habana but would like some advise onbthe 4 5 star greater hotels like Roc, Aston hotel, LE presidentbe or similar hotels, to ask are these places guest friendly?

So far they have not answered my request on this queustion, I guess busy screening guests lo!

Or if they are tried and tested casa in these areas for short term visits?

Thanks mates!

[Bone Yard]

Just curious why you can't bring too much chocolate? Also does customs in Cuba open search your luggage after arriving?

I went to Havana a little over a year ago and your carry-on goes through a scanner right after immigration. I believe they're looking for weapons and drugs, not chocolate.

[Huacho]

Just curious why you can't bring too much chocolate?

He means the chicas can eat as much chocolate as you can bring. And yeah chicas all over LatAm love Nutella. They'll mix it with peanut butter sometimes.

[Sangnyc21]

Well, I'm back in the US after two weeks on the island. And it is good to be home and breathe fresh air, have potable water, and be where I can relax and eat anything without fear of a gastrointestinal disaster (in Cuba I generally live off of protein bars, cheese / salami & crackers, and a few other things I make there).

Anyway, a good trip. My contacts were solely through Badoo and Bumble. I also had some repeat amigas that I looked up again after my last trip in August. If I can give any advice, it's set yourself up in advance with Badoo. And by "in advance" I mean *months* in advance. Some girls get a little data on their phones, create a Badoo profile, but are gone quickly (and sometimes, forever) when their data runs out. You have to strike and get their Whatsapp within a few PM's, and then you are set unless they change their number. If you are really motivated to have a great trip with lots of variety and don't just want to hook up with anything with a hole (I. E. , you have standards and high motivation), it's a process that you must go through to curate a stable of your type of chicas. This means regularly checking Badoo for new profiles a few times a week (months before your trip), and making contact, and getting those Whatsapp numbers. You can't wait until your trip to start looking if you want to find the stars...

Just curious why you can't bring too much chocolate? Also does customs in Cuba open search your luggage after arriving?

[AmorPorFavor]

This was a report of distinction.

Yes an excellent report and I completely agree with his thoughts on how to pay these girls in dirt poor counties. We were very fortunate to be born in the first world. I have not been back to Cuba since covid but it was great times in 17,18 and 19. Probably the best it will ever be. I met an extremely beautiful Cubana there. We had a thing going. She asked if I would sponsor her to come to the US through the new parole program. I said yes. I put the app in a year ago but CIS is not moving on it but it has not been denied. I figured that while she lived with me and I was supporting and helping her to build a new life I would have a 21 yo 10 in my bed every night. If she left me so be it and I would not be paying anymore. I am in my early 60's (but look about 50) so no thoughts of marriage and kids just lots of great sex. She managed to get to Dubai where she is hooking and making good money. She went after we waited over 6 months for CIS. Her instagram is incredible sooo hot. I have been going to Colombia since 21 and I am in Medellin right now fucking my brains out with sexy Colombianas.

[AmericanPi]

Well, I'm back in the US after two weeks on the island. And it is good to be home and breathe fresh air, have potable water, and be where I can relax and eat anything without fear of a gastrointestinal disaster (in Cuba I generally live off of protein bars, cheese / salami & crackers, and a few other things I make there).

I'm sure I'll remember more later. Maybe a list of things I brought, or wish I had brought. Cheers.

This was a report of distinction.

[JinaWrangler]

Well, I'm back in the US after two weeks on the island. And it is good to be home and breathe fresh air, have potable water, and be where I can relax and eat anything without fear of a gastrointestinal disaster (in Cuba I generally live off of protein bars, cheese / salami & crackers, and a few other things I make there).

Anyway, a good trip. My contacts were solely through Badoo and Bumble. I also had some repeat amigas that I looked up again after my last trip in August. If I can give any advice, it's set yourself up in advance with Badoo. And by "in advance" I mean *months* in advance. Some girls get a little data on their phones, create a Badoo profile, but are gone quickly (and sometimes, forever) when their data runs out. You have to strike and get their Whatsapp within a few PM's, and then you are set unless they change their number. If you are really motivated to have a great trip with lots of variety and don't just want to hook up with anything with a hole (I. E. , you have standards and high motivation), it's a process that you must go through to curate a stable of your type of chicas. This means regularly checking Badoo for new profiles a few times a week (months before your trip), and making contact, and getting those Whatsapp numbers. You can't wait until your trip to start looking if you want to find the stars.

With that said, some are extremely flaky, or live too far away for taxis, so be sure to find out how close they live to your casa. Some will just ghost. Some suddenly start just getting one checkmark on your PM's, which means message not delivered. Phone lost, stolen, or new phone number? Who knows, just poof. This is why you build a little rapport with them over time, to keep them motivated to see you. My advice is, if you want 10 girls in 10 nights, you'd better have 20 whataspp numbers. This is work, boys!

To me it is reminiscent of recruiting in college sports. First you have to ID and locate the talent, then you need to convince them to come on your team. Once they meet me, they are locked in because I take care of them. I actually had a few of my repeats mad at me that I didn't see them on my first night (see my entitlement discussion below)! But honestly it was like herding cats, getting them to show up and not end up with a lost night. My advice is to book them earlier in the day, so that if they flake, you can sub in a plan be from your bullpen. But the hard part is getting them to come for that first visit without flaking. Appointment dates and times, like much of Latin America, are general guidelines in Cuba. They will invariably be late.

My Spanish is minimal but improved from last visit (I've been using the Babbel app). But that is unimportant on Badoo since you can just use a translator app. By the time you see them in person, maybe PM them that you are not great at spoken Spanish, and they'll need to talk slowly and you'll be using a traductir (translator) (habla mas despacio por favor!) I was surprised how well Google Translate app could pick up one of my all-stars' machine gun spoken Spanish. (Be sure to download the proper dictionaries so you can use offline). Anyway, for those with weak Spanish, get a Badoo profile and Google Translate.

Ask what they want you to bring them (one girl asked for Nutella! Nutella FFS! So I brought her a jar of that and she was thrilled). Also, you cannot bring too much chocolate. Buy a few of those Hershey's 6-packs and you can't go wrong. And of course bring a full medicine (Immodium laxative analgesic tums antihistamine burn itch antibiotic cremes, etc) and bandage kit for yourself, which you can give away at the end. The girls with kids will really appreciate meds. I even brought my own beer and energy drinks (although I was overweight at the airport despite 2 free 70 lbs checked bags and I had to leave some of my beer with the baggage lady).

And don't forget such gifts for your AirBNB hosts and their employees (whom you should be tipping). You definitely want them on your side.

Some thoughts:

First thing after I collected my baggage, bought an MLC card with $200 on it (the currency exchange stores are on the outside of the airport building), and then across the street from Jose Marti Airport to the mini mall and the ETECSA store for my Cubacel SIM and activation. I don't know how you would call your AirBNB hosts otherwise. There's also a store there that has bottled water.

It was definitely easier to explore on foot during the day versus August, much cooler. There were actually a couple of days that were so windy, it was too chilly to go out!

I didn't walk around after dark, so my street interaction information is limited. I will say that the Paseo Prado is a great walk in the late afternoon, especially on weekends. Most times I saw come chicas sitting on the benches, either starting at me or trying to get my attention. But this is not my wheelhouse, sorry. I think you get more variety and higher standards on Badoo.

The walk up the Prado, then a right at San Rafael at the Hotel Inglaterra, is good exercise and always some interesting people, if you get my drift. Also some great stores on SanRafael. One even had Lysol!

I never once used anything but dollars (other than MLC in some limited places that demanded it). The only peso I touched was a 20 one of my chicas gave me as a momento (She wrote a note on it).

WRT building relationships there, I think it is a spectrum like autism or the amateur-pro jinetera scale. I definitely have some quality starters in my bullpen. Keeping in touch with them and giving them some love and flirtation every so often via Whatsapp seems to help build rapport and keep them in the rotation. Obviously, making one your girlfriend or something serious is a very bad idea. But I take good care of my starting rotation. You get what you pay for (I have very specific standards and they are not low).

Again, I'll say to the guy who says if you pay them well you don't respect yourself. One, don't judge me just because you are cheap. Two, I feel a lot better about myself when I give a little extra to someone who needs it in a shitty situation, when I have been blessed with a lot of discretionary income. Just because you are cheap or poor, don't judge what I do with my money! If anything, a trip to Cuba makes me appreciate what I have more, and I go out of my way to be generous to these poor unfortunate souls. Some of them are very desperate and it can be very depressing if you possess any empathy whatsoever. And I say this as an extremely conservative person when it comes to the deadbeats in my own country. So when I leave Cuba, I do so with my head held high that I didn't lowball some desperate person because some judgmental cheapo on ISL says so.

With that said, the downside can be basic human nature: Gratitude is a very fleeting emotion, and can quickly convert to entitlement. I was very taken aback by the entitlement and attitude of one of my starters, so she had to go on the waiver wire. Not to be too crude, but one starts to understand what having "a strong pimp hand" means. Without setting limits or expectations, people will roll over you. This is not to judge those in a crappy shithole country. It's just human nature. You feed a stray cat, and it is very happy the first time. The next day it expects it, and will resent you if you don't feed it what it likes to eat when it knows you have a huge refrigerator full of food. It is natural for someone to push for more until they hear the word "no". So you have to balance generosity with an understanding of human nature. Treat them with understanding, empathy, and respect. Just don't be a pushover.

I did notice the jineteros seem even more aggressive than in August. Constant offers by the carnival barkers on the streets for puros or money change or chicas. You will be yelled at regularly "TAXI? Even when it is obvious that you are walking on purpose. One dude came up to me after I left my local mercado with a (see through) sack full of beer and was very aggressive in asking for one (no you can't have a beer for doing nothing). I switched to using opaque bags for such store visits. My advice is do not engage anyone on the street who even seems to be nice. Pretend to be deaf (obviously this excludes those looking to meet chicas). I also had a bici taxi guy I offered $10 to take me less than a mile promptly demand $40 when we arrived. I told him to pound sand and left the $10 on the seat and walked away. So yeah, you have be on your guard and be firm. I would advise getting to know some local taxi guys. The ones who are reasonable, get their business cards so you can call them. I had a guy named Leudar of Taxi-Cuba who was great, reasonable and always available. This is particularly important if you go somewhere where there aren't a lot of taxis, like the beach, and want to get home.

WRT AirBNB's, again I think not mentioning guests in advance is the best policy. Look under "house rules. " If it's silent, you're probably fine. And ask if the host lives on site. If they live 20 minutes away, you should be golden. I'd also ask, do they have water and beer available to buy? Or is there at least a close store nearby that has such? One of my hosts had *American* Kirkland bottled water for $1/ ea, like gold bars in Cuba (she claimed that they have been burned by fake Cuban bottled water). Water is life, so ask your host about your options. And bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper. Cuba is always noisy, especially on weekend nights.

I'm sure I'll remember more later. Maybe a list of things I brought, or wish I had brought. Cheers.

[AmericanPi]

Treat each woman you meet in foreign countries with dignity, respect and manners; but when your arrangement with each woman terminates, make sure it truly ends upon your departure from her country.

Those are such wise words I wish they were not confined to this little corner of ISG. Everyone should have this imprinted in their brains.

Every man who thinks to themselves: but she's special, she's not like the others. I can tell the difference. Those words have been uttered by many before and many after.

[WanderingMan]

Agree 100% with the previous poster and it's not unique to Cuba. For any country where we pursue this hobby, taking the girl out of her country is a terrible decision. You will get screwed every single time. Even building a relationship with a pro or semi-pro in her own country is probably not wise, but the problems multiply if you take her out.

In my experiences you are correct. When abroad in the military, I saw several service members fall for pros, semi-pros and the girls who "never did this with a foreigner before. " It happened all over the world, in Asia, Europe, South America, etc. Each and every time, bringing a girl back to the USA ended in disaster for the service members, some lost only money, others friends, military careers, etc. I would like to say only young service members fell prey to the trap, but the expression, "there is no fool like an old fool," proved to include service members.

Treat each woman you meet in foreign countries with dignity, respect and manners; but when your arrangement with each woman terminates, make sure it truly ends upon your departure from her country.

[Combo]

Agree 100% with the previous poster and it's not unique to Cuba. For any country where we pursue this hobby, taking the girl out of her country is a terrible decision. You will get screwed every single time. Even building a relationship with a pro or semi-pro in her own country is probably not wise, but the problems multiply if you take her out.

[Edye Minetye]

Hey gents,

Headed to Isla de Juventud for some fishing in a couple months. Have 1 night in Havana and would love to experience the local offerings. Staying at the Parque Central Hotel. Can you bring ladies back to the hotel? I read somewhere that is frowned upon.

Any suggestions to make my trip memorable are appreciated!

Thanks.

Moog.

A few years ago during corona I chose to spend the 5 days of quarantine in the Parque Central hotel.

When I sent for my fiance on the 6th day, she was not allowed to check in.