Havana

[Uncle Volodya]

If our normal guy can't come get us and take us to Centro for 15 cuc, we just go upstairs, where they are dropping people off, and get one of those taxis to take us to for 20 cuc. That's better than nothing, especially since they are headed back to town anyways.

Awesome! Thanks Chris!

[Chris H]

Hi guys,

I will be travelling to Havana in a couple of days.

I usually have my casa owner arrange the airport pick-up. However, this time my usual place is booked and the owner where I will be staying just suggested I take one of the yellow taxis available at the airport when you leave departures.

Does anyone have any tips about airport taxis or any insights about taxi scams to avoid?

Many thanks!

Uncle-V.

If our normal guy can't come get us and take us to Centro for 15 cuc, we just go upstairs, where they are dropping people off, and get one of those taxis to take us to for 20 cuc. That's better than nothing, especially since they are headed back to town anyways.

[Uncle Volodya]

Hi guys,

I will be travelling to Havana in a couple of days.

I usually have my casa owner arrange the airport pick-up. However, this time my usual place is booked and the owner where I will be staying just suggested I take one of the yellow taxis available at the airport when you leave departures.

Does anyone have any tips about airport taxis or any insights about taxi scams to avoid?

Many thanks!

Uncle-V.

[Ty Down]

RTFF! Have a quick snapshot of Cuba in the Links of distinction reports Section, and here:

http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/...=1#post2150238

And my other posts, specific to mobile / internet.

Plus, some other golden rules:

1/ don't touch / use any drug.

2/ always check the girl is at least 18 year old.

3/ If anybody is coming to you like "Hey my friend!" don't even answer and walk straight. Not because they might be dangerous, but these people will steal your time, and maybe your money with their scam BS. The friendly people in Cuba (like in many countries) are the one you talk to, not the one talking to you without your consent. By not answering nor even looking at them, they know you know the game, and they won't bother you.

4/ don't try to invite a guest at your casa / hotel without registering her. If the girl doesn't want to register, find another place (that she certainly knows) to do the deed.

It's true that not speaking Spanish in Cuba is like not speaking Portuguese in Brazil: you will probably miss 80% of the country riches.
Enjoy!

Spot on Namaste. The girls know where to go.

On my first trip to Havana a couple years ago, I stayed here at Casa Particular Alejandro Penthouse – Independent Apartment.

http://bestcubaguide.com/portfolio-i...ent-apartment/

At the time I was totally unaware of the whole "registering every guest including me" deal, but at this casa we had reserved, the owner rarely showed up. The cleaning lady would come in around 9 am to cook breakfast and clean house, and she was gone by lunch time. So basically there wasn't anybody there to register guest, especially in the evenings and night. We had a blast!

It turned out to be an awesome casa, and the chicas loved it. Since then, I have found a few other casa's with the same arrangement.

[NamasteParis]

Hi guys,

I am traveling to Havana for the first time in a month. I am a newbie and don't speak Spanish but want some fun. I am looking at the aribnb and how do I find a place that I could bring chica to? Are there any things to look for? What areas would be the best? Thanks a lot!

RTFF! Have a quick snapshot of Cuba in the Links of distinction reports Section, and here:

http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/...=1#post2150238

And my other posts, specific to mobile / internet.

Plus, some other golden rules:

1/ don't touch / use any drug.

2/ always check the girl is at least 18 year old.

3/ If anybody is coming to you like "Hey my friend!" don't even answer and walk straight. Not because they might be dangerous, but these people will steal your time, and maybe your money with their scam BS. The friendly people in Cuba (like in many countries) are the one you talk to, not the one talking to you without your consent. By not answering nor even looking at them, they know you know the game, and they won't bother you.

4/ don't try to invite a guest at your casa / hotel without registering her. If the girl doesn't want to register, find another place (that she certainly knows) to do the deed.

It's true that not speaking Spanish in Cuba is like not speaking Portuguese in Brazil: you will probably miss 80% of the country riches.
Enjoy!

[BeersTerry]

Hi,

I was there a year ago for a long time. I walked the city and went to bars and clubs every single night. I can honestly say I didn't see a sniff of trouble. I never even saw two people arguing. Went swimming in the malecon with some locals. Police walked past blew a whistle and twenty people flew out of that sea quicker than a rat up a drain pipe. That's the power and obvious fear the locals have. No-one said a word to the cop and no one went back in for over an hour and it wasn't the same people who got out earlier. Scams you have to watch. Anyone who try to speak to you will come across as nice but then always asks for something, I had this many times. Count your change because they will steal from you that way. Taxi drivers are the worst but also the small shop under the Havana Libre hotel is terrible for short changing tourists. They really are blatant and it changes your opinion of them. People aren't starving in Cuba and both health care and university is free to anyone (practically). This is plain theft, simple as that. The whole place has been heavily brain washed into thinking the west and capitalism is the worth thing since sliced bread. Funny though how so many crave to leave! I always explain that life outside is not all London flats by the Thames or Disney World in Florida. Life is tough for us on the other side.

If you know of any dangers that I have missed then spread the word.

Cheers.

You are a quick study. Yes, the danger is petty crime and minor scams though unaware tourists are victims of crimes of opportunity. It is a country to stay away from drugs also. Normally, they are fake or a setup. Prison in a country like Cuba usually leads to death from dysentry. That is unless your family likes you enough to pay someone to bring you food and water at the prison every day.

There are so many destinations to indulge your drug habit with fewer consequences than Cuba

[Dave1111]

Havana is no longer a point and click destination. It's probably 5% as good as it was 15 years ago. Without knowing any Spanish and never having been there it will be very difficult for you to have a great time unless you don't care how much money you spend and have an unlimited budget. If you buy a subscription to this forum so you can do private messaging maybe a senior member will help you. Choose wisely where you stay and be very careful at all times.

Hi,

I was there a year ago for a long time. I walked the city and went to bars and clubs every single night. I can honestly say I didn't see a sniff of trouble. I never even saw two people arguing. Went swimming in the malecon with some locals. Police walked past blew a whistle and twenty people flew out of that sea quicker than a rat up a drain pipe. That's the power and obvious fear the locals have. No-one said a word to the cop and no one went back in for over an hour and it wasn't the same people who got out earlier. Scams you have to watch. Anyone who try to speak to you will come across as nice but then always asks for something, I had this many times. Count your change because they will steal from you that way. Taxi drivers are the worst but also the small shop under the Havana Libre hotel is terrible for short changing tourists. They really are blatant and it changes your opinion of them. People aren't starving in Cuba and both health care and university is free to anyone (practically). This is plain theft, simple as that. The whole place has been heavily brain washed into thinking the west and capitalism is the worth thing since sliced bread. Funny though how so many crave to leave! I always explain that life outside is not all London flats by the Thames or Disney World in Florida. Life is tough for us on the other side.

If you know of any dangers that I have missed then spread the word.

Cheers.

[Vedado Fun]

Hi guys,

I am traveling to Havana for the first time in a month. I am a newbie and don't speak Spanish but want some fun. I am looking at the aribnb and how do I find a place that I could bring chica to? Are there any things to look for? What areas would be the best? Thanks a lot!

Havana is no longer a point and click destination. It's probably 5% as good as it was 15 years ago. Without knowing any Spanish and never having been there it will be very difficult for you to have a great time unless you don't care how much money you spend and have an unlimited budget. If you buy a subscription to this forum so you can do private messaging maybe a senior member will help you. Choose wisely where you stay and be very careful at all times.

[LxrUS]

Hi guys,

I am traveling to Havana for the first time in a month. I am a newbie and don't speak Spanish but want some fun. I am looking at the aribnb and how do I find a place that I could bring chica to? Are there any things to look for? What areas would be the best? Thanks a lot!

[MadisonGuy]

Yes my figs are really "worst case", as I'm looking for a complete casa to myself for easy chica access, and as I like a bit of street meat I probably won't be paying $80 a pop. On the other hand if they're hot enough I may want 2 a day.

They're seem to be a few more restaurants than before I've got Restaurant Mediterraneo, California Cafe and even the Opera restaurant nearby so its not like the very first time I went to habana 15 years ago. Although that was a blessed time for chica availability.

I'the be impressed if you can pull 2 a day in Havana. Maybe we weren't aggressive enough, but I walked over 10 miles a day per my phone and said Hi to a lot of girls who didn't look like working girls and wasn't getting a lot of feedback. 12 am hits in the night club and I'm fighting them off. I just don't get it. It isn't like anywhere I've been. The street girls that were available I wouldn't have paid they were worse than $20 Tijuana street girls. The one I did get from the street was literally probably the worst experience I've had, now I was a little sick so that wasn't helping but I had to throw her out I didn't even want to try and felt giving her the money and relaxing was better than wasting my time. Maybe with more time I would have got a better base line but it was so polar, I still have a super hottie writing me everyday and was blowing up our phone while we were there. She brought two chicks for my buddy. But plenty totally ignoring advancements outside the club. I wish we had tried the lower end malls, I feel like there's a lot of opportunity but time is needed which really isn't my thing anymore. I tried giving a security girl a lollipop at airport when I arrived and she was definitely into it but I guess it wouldn't go over well with the look her boss gave her. I would say work the clubs really hard the first night and get numbers, I wish we had done that more. Good luck, I wish I knew more places, Fantaxy was tough to beat come 12 am though.

[DarrenGap]

Did the California reopen?

Trip advisor review added last week and functioning website californiacafehabana dot com is all I know.

[PeacefulRunner]

The mobile call or internet cards work anywhere in Cuba. No roaming fee There is one exception though. Don't buy these cards in a famous hotel at la Havana especially(Hotel Nacional for example), because this card will work only in this hotel, and NOT in the wifi places everywhere else. Calls and internet are debited from your credit by the second. How much time should you buy? Well it depends on you and your girlfriends. Some spend hours talking, others minutes / day. First buy one or two 5 CUC (5 $) cards, and then you'll see. Pay attention though that the MOBILE CALLING cards are way less commercialized than the internet cards. You don't find them easily, and the street vendors never have them. So once you are in a Etecsa (and spent 30 mn in the queue), buy several. If you still have some unused cards the last days before you leave, they can be used as gift for your chicas.

As I said in my trip report (general section), there are 2 queues at ETECSA: one for internet, one for calls. Ask as soon as you arrive. So if you intend to buy both, select the smallest queue..

Thanks buddy! It's very helpful!

[Confiable]

OK, and I guess most of the women at the clubs (of whatever age) are available, so sounds like business as usual to me.

Was the streetscene still in place? Did you get approached walking between the clubs, even if its subtle?

Anyone want to meet up around Sophies, will be there week of 12th Nov.

Not with $500 per day, mind you.

What I know so far: $50 casa, $50 food for the day. Maybe $30 drinks on average per day and $80-$100 chica allowance, $20 for taxis etc, I guess around $250 would cover the basics, say $300 per day to cover the unexpected.

Yes the street scene is still in place. A few girls will say something but for the most part they will stare at you to let you know they are available. Last night was dead. The Club at the corner of 23rd and and is Coctel Habana. The Hostess who stands outside this place suggested Fantasy and Cafe de Revolution.

[Confiable]

23rd and what?

23 Y N.

[BeersTerry]

Yes my figs are really "worst case", as I'm looking for a complete casa to myself for easy chica access, and as I like a bit of street meat I probably won't be paying $80 a pop. On the other hand if they're hot enough I may want 2 a day.

They're seem to be a few more restaurants than before I've got Restaurant Mediterraneo, California Cafe and even the Opera restaurant nearby so its not like the very first time I went to habana 15 years ago. Although that was a blessed time for chica availability.

Did the California reopen?