Havana

[Adventurer1]

Ee2002 great report! Things described just as they are now and how I found them in last Feb!

[Ee2002]

Not to get overly philosophical, but IMO the presence of pimping is to a large extent a product of prostitution being illegal. And it is VERY illegal in Cuba -- with severe penalties for the women (but not the customers).

You look at places where our hobby is legal (Brasil, Colombia, etc), there is very little need for a girl to have a pimp. Not saying it doesn't exist, but it's not nearly as widespread as it is in Cuba.

I do agree that the Cubanas are as hot in the cama as any chicas, save possibly the Brasilenas. I will be returning to la Habana in November and I can't wait!

I got the same impression too as far as the pimping there.

[Ee2002]

Great report dude, plenty of good info and well written. It appears you did your homework and read previous reports going back. You handled yourself like a true veteran. Cubans think they are always smarter than everyone else and like to dictate everything, just the way the culture is and I respect that. You did a great job of sticking to your terms and that probably frustrated them, oh well.

As far as the Cuban pimps they are the worse and usually hands on. They have no idea of how to be discreet and invisible. Goes back to the control thing with the culture I guess.

I've traveled all over the world mongering and Cuban women are the only ones I can't figure out. It's so many dynamics within the Cuban culture that unless you are Cuban you will probably never figure them out. Always thinking, completely unreliable most of the time, slightly arrogant, hidden agenda but they are hot and the sex is the best I have ever had.

Thank you sir.

Your reports and posts were very helpful during my research. I'm still trying to find that elusive hot in the cama Cubana you talk about though, LOL (although, I will say I had one that came close). I will keep trying, hope to try again (maybe Sept, when it cools down) before the new OFAC rules are published.

Thanks again.

[Ee2002]

Great report! How would you grade the appearance of the chicas? Body type? Age? Also, how fluent in Spanish are you and how did that affect your experience? Thanks!

Thanks everybody.

The chicas ranged in looks, age and body type. Lots of gorgeous to pretty Cuban woman in Havana, can't say that what I saw on the strip (LaRampa and Malecon) was as good, but there are definitely diamonds in the rough if look hard enough.

As far as Spanish, I can speak some, but far from good. I know enough to get the deal done, but not much for anything beyond basic questions and some convo. I can't say it would have made a difference because most were looking to hit and run. However, I will say if you speak the language, there seems to be a lot of potential semi to non pros available to you, if you're up for the chase.

[Combo]

Great report dude, plenty of good info and well written. It appears you did your homework and read previous reports going back. You handled yourself like a true veteran. Cubans think they are always smarter than everyone else and like to dictate everything, just the way the culture is and I respect that. You did a great job of sticking to your terms and that probably frustrated them, oh well.

As far as the Cuban pimps they are the worse and usually hands on. They have no idea of how to be discreet and invisible. Goes back to the control thing with the culture I guess.

I've traveled all over the world mongering and Cuban women are the only ones I can't figure out. It's so many dynamics within the Cuban culture that unless you are Cuban you will probably never figure them out. Always thinking, completely unreliable most of the time, slightly arrogant, hidden agenda but they are hot and the sex is the best I have ever had.

Not to get overly philosophical, but IMO the presence of pimping is to a large extent a product of prostitution being illegal. And it is VERY illegal in Cuba -- with severe penalties for the women (but not the customers).

You look at places where our hobby is legal (Brasil, Colombia, etc), there is very little need for a girl to have a pimp. Not saying it doesn't exist, but it's not nearly as widespread as it is in Cuba.

I do agree that the Cubanas are as hot in the cama as any chicas, save possibly the Brasilenas. I will be returning to la Habana in November and I can't wait!

[Mr Gogo]

Great report dude, plenty of good info and well written. It appears you did your homework and read previous reports going back. You handled yourself like a true veteran. Cubans think they are always smarter than everyone else and like to dictate everything, just the way the culture is and I respect that. You did a great job of sticking to your terms and that probably frustrated them, oh well.

As far as the Cuban pimps they are the worse and usually hands on. They have no idea of how to be discreet and invisible. Goes back to the control thing with the culture I guess.

I've traveled all over the world mongering and Cuban women are the only ones I can't figure out. It's so many dynamics within the Cuban culture that unless you are Cuban you will probably never figure them out. Always thinking, completely unreliable most of the time, slightly arrogant, hidden agenda but they are hot and the sex is the best I have ever had.

[Gardelito]

I just wrapped up another trip to Havana (all within the last 4 months). The trips were very interesting and fascinating. Cuba is definitely worth seeing at least once in your life time if you can, especially in it's current state. I have been wanting to go to Cuba for years. I would have gone years ago, but I had my hands full traveling to my other favorite destinations, so going to Cuba took a backseat. But with the Obama era easing of the travel restrictions and direct / cheap flights to Cuba, I decided to finally take the plunge. I originally wanted to go for sight seeing and taking in the culture, with mongering being at the bottom of the list of things to do. Since the scene was more in your face than we expected and I was with others who didn't really share my non-mongering interest in Cuba, I ended up mongering way more than expected the first time, LOL.

TRAVEL.

Anyone thinking of taking the plunge, just do it while you can (especially guys from the US). Easy to book and fairly cheap flights (between $350-$500 from the west coast). Expect to pay $50-$100 more for the tourist visa, depending on which airline you are flying with. The airport in Havana is a breeze to go through. The only drawback can be the checked luggage, which might take a while to go through the conveyer belt. The return trips back to the states were seamless as well. I went before and after the Trump announcement and nothing has changed, SO FAR!

MONEY.

I've read conflicting opinions on the subject of exchanging dollars to euros. It seemed like too much of a hassle to me, so I opted to stick to my dollars. Thankfully, I came in on the first trip with some CUC's I exchanged with someone else I knew that returned with extra CUC's, so there was no need to exchange at the airport. Other than that, all of our money exchanges were through the casa owners and we were only getting 1 to 90. We were never able to get anything better.

CASAS.

We first stayed at a casa that was recommended by a friend of a friend in Vedado (next to the university), which was not far from the action. Very lively area throughout the day and night. A little bit of a distance from the main tourist area of the Capitolio and Old Havana, but if you can hack it, it's not a bad walk. They charged $80 CUC for the private apt with two bedrooms (extra bed in one, not bad if you are with others and split the cost). The location was great and no need to check in the chicas.

TAXI.

I believe the first time we went, the taxi cost about $40 CUC (our pre arranged driver didn't show up and we had to scramble at the last minute and ended up in a shuttle type van to our casa). All the subsequent trips to and from the airport cost $20 CUC, but they were all pre arranged with drivers we met throughout our trips.

At first we were getting hit for $10 CUC to and from the Capitolio, but later realized you could go for $5 CUC or take one of the taxis that pick up multiple passengers for $1 CUC. The taxi drivers that hang out in front of the clubs and at LA Rampa at night will charge $10 CUC. Same with the classic car drivers that park in Old Havana and the Capitolio. Like others have suggested, just tell them how much you will pay ($5 CUC) and they will either except it, move on or find you someone who will go for your asking price. After the first trip we mostly walked everywhere, unless we were pressed for time or it was too hot.

P4 P SCENE.

As far as my experience with the P4 P scene, we pretty much concentrated our efforts on La Rampa, Malecon and the Prado (to a lesser extent) over the course of the trips. With the vast majority being at La Rampa. We only checked out one club, Casa de Musica in Miramar, once during our first trip and the pickings weren't that great and the chicas were asking for a lot. Never checked out any other club after that.

For anyone who doesn't know, La Rampa is Ave (or Calle) 23, which runs through the Vedado area and stops at the seashore aka the Malecon. The action appears to start really jumping off after 10 pm or 11 pm. The main stretch of interest is from Calle 0 to about Calle M, but mainly between Calle O and and. From Calle O to the Malecon is mostly guys, so beware. A lot of LB's are also on the stroll too, so be very careful. Other than that, as you walk along the strip, there are chicas lined up on both sides of the strip, although some nights the strip was very weak. Some were outright bold in their approach and others will just give you the look. The police are usually present throughout the strip, so some chicas will be very hesitant to talk to you in the open. So try to be discreet and careful for their sake, because they will be the ones in trouble, not you.

The Malecon (the sea wall along the shore) seems to pick up in the late afternoon / early evening. The action was mostly concentrated further east from where La Rampa and Malecon intersect, particularly in the area around Ave Italia aka Galiano (good landmark is the big blue hotel called the Deauville and the large black statue of lady). The chicas along the Malecon were usually a little more subdued in their approach, but they will usually let you know if they are in the game. I found that making eye contact and seeing their response was the best approach, even if they were with a guy. A lot of the working girls will be hanging with their "amigo" aka pimp, who will either step aside when you approach or try to play the middle man. Again, be discreet because of the police presence..

Great report! How would you grade the appearance of the chicas? Body type? Age? Also, how fluent in Spanish are you and how did that affect your experience? Thanks!

[Devilb]

I just wrapped up another trip to Havana (all within the last 4 months). The trips were very interesting and fascinating. Cuba is definitely worth seeing at least once in your life time if you can, especially in it's current state. I have been wanting to go to Cuba for years. I would have gone years ago, but I had my hands full traveling to my other favorite destinations, so going to Cuba took a backseat. But with the Obama era easing of the travel restrictions and direct / cheap flights to Cuba, I decided to finally take the plunge. I originally wanted to go for sight seeing and taking in the culture, with mongering being at the bottom of the list of things to do. Since the scene was more in your face than we expected and I was with others who didn't really share my non-mongering interest in Cuba, I ended up mongering way more than expected the first time, LOL.

TRAVEL.

Anyone thinking of taking the plunge, just do it while you can (especially guys from the US). Easy to book and fairly cheap flights (between $350-$500 from the west coast). Expect to pay $50-$100 more for the tourist visa, depending on which airline you are flying with. The airport in Havana is a breeze to go through. The only drawback can be the checked luggage, which might take a while to go through the conveyer belt. The return trips back to the states were seamless as well. I went before and after the Trump announcement and nothing has changed, SO FAR!.

Thanks for your detail information. It's great!

[Ee2002]

I just wrapped up another trip to Havana (all within the last 4 months). The trips were very interesting and fascinating. Cuba is definitely worth seeing at least once in your life time if you can, especially in it's current state. I have been wanting to go to Cuba for years. I would have gone years ago, but I had my hands full traveling to my other favorite destinations, so going to Cuba took a backseat. But with the Obama era easing of the travel restrictions and direct / cheap flights to Cuba, I decided to finally take the plunge. I originally wanted to go for sight seeing and taking in the culture, with mongering being at the bottom of the list of things to do. Since the scene was more in your face than we expected and I was with others who didn't really share my non-mongering interest in Cuba, I ended up mongering way more than expected the first time, LOL.

TRAVEL.

Anyone thinking of taking the plunge, just do it while you can (especially guys from the US). Easy to book and fairly cheap flights (between $350-$500 from the west coast). Expect to pay $50-$100 more for the tourist visa, depending on which airline you are flying with. The airport in Havana is a breeze to go through. The only drawback can be the checked luggage, which might take a while to go through the conveyer belt. The return trips back to the states were seamless as well. I went before and after the Trump announcement and nothing has changed, SO FAR!

MONEY.

I've read conflicting opinions on the subject of exchanging dollars to euros. It seemed like too much of a hassle to me, so I opted to stick to my dollars. Thankfully, I came in on the first trip with some CUC's I exchanged with someone else I knew that returned with extra CUC's, so there was no need to exchange at the airport. Other than that, all of our money exchanges were through the casa owners and we were only getting 1 to 90. We were never able to get anything better.

CASAS.

We first stayed at a casa that was recommended by a friend of a friend in Vedado (next to the university), which was not far from the action. Very lively area throughout the day and night. A little bit of a distance from the main tourist area of the Capitolio and Old Havana, but if you can hack it, it's not a bad walk. They charged $80 CUC for the private apt with two bedrooms (extra bed in one, not bad if you are with others and split the cost). The location was great and no need to check in the chicas.

TAXI.

I believe the first time we went, the taxi cost about $40 CUC (our pre arranged driver didn't show up and we had to scramble at the last minute and ended up in a shuttle type van to our casa). All the subsequent trips to and from the airport cost $20 CUC, but they were all pre arranged with drivers we met throughout our trips.

At first we were getting hit for $10 CUC to and from the Capitolio, but later realized you could go for $5 CUC or take one of the taxis that pick up multiple passengers for $1 CUC. The taxi drivers that hang out in front of the clubs and at LA Rampa at night will charge $10 CUC. Same with the classic car drivers that park in Old Havana and the Capitolio. Like others have suggested, just tell them how much you will pay ($5 CUC) and they will either except it, move on or find you someone who will go for your asking price. After the first trip we mostly walked everywhere, unless we were pressed for time or it was too hot.

P4 P SCENE.

As far as my experience with the P4 P scene, we pretty much concentrated our efforts on La Rampa, Malecon and the Prado (to a lesser extent) over the course of the trips. With the vast majority being at La Rampa. We only checked out one club, Casa de Musica in Miramar, once during our first trip and the pickings weren't that great and the chicas were asking for a lot. Never checked out any other club after that.

For anyone who doesn't know, La Rampa is Ave (or Calle) 23, which runs through the Vedado area and stops at the seashore aka the Malecon. The action appears to start really jumping off after 10 pm or 11 pm. The main stretch of interest is from Calle 0 to about Calle M, but mainly between Calle O and and. From Calle O to the Malecon is mostly guys, so beware. A lot of LB's are also on the stroll too, so be very careful. Other than that, as you walk along the strip, there are chicas lined up on both sides of the strip, although some nights the strip was very weak. Some were outright bold in their approach and others will just give you the look. The police are usually present throughout the strip, so some chicas will be very hesitant to talk to you in the open. So try to be discreet and careful for their sake, because they will be the ones in trouble, not you.

The Malecon (the sea wall along the shore) seems to pick up in the late afternoon / early evening. The action was mostly concentrated further east from where La Rampa and Malecon intersect, particularly in the area around Ave Italia aka Galiano (good landmark is the big blue hotel called the Deauville and the large black statue of lady). The chicas along the Malecon were usually a little more subdued in their approach, but they will usually let you know if they are in the game. I found that making eye contact and seeing their response was the best approach, even if they were with a guy. A lot of the working girls will be hanging with their "amigo" aka pimp, who will either step aside when you approach or try to play the middle man. Again, be discreet because of the police presence.

During my first trip, the Prado (the walkway plaza that separates Old Havana and Centro that leads to the Malecon from the Capitolio) had a lot of action, but during the subsequent trip it was pretty dead.

Since I don't necessarily like taking any chica back to my place, so at times, I tried a handful of the nearby temporary rental rooms. Usually the chica would have a nearby place that they preferred to frequent, if not then it was easy to find someone (usually the amigo / pimp) who would point out a spot or take you to a spot. I generally paid between $10-15 CUC. The places ranged as far as cleansiness, a couple were out right filthy without any place to wash up (I usually carry a backpack with a small towel, wipes and gel, just in case) and others were pretty decent with what appeared to be clean beds and shower. I felt odd walking through the living room with family members present, while they lead you and your chica to the room, LOL.

For the chicas, we mostly paid within the range of $30-40 CUC. Most will quote you $50 CUC or more, but can be talked down to the $30-$40 CUC price range most of the time. Most of the chicas would try and ask for a tip or taxi money towards the end. In all my travels, I have never encountered so many chicas who asked for the money up front. This happened to me 99% of the time. I never caved in to those request. Most would relent after I either assured them that there wasn't going to be any problem with me paying them or showed them the money. After a while, I had to admonish the chica before we even came to an agreement, that the money would come after the session, which was something I've never really experienced in the past.

Also a lot of chicas wanted any little item you could give them. Anything from wipes, gel, soap, lotion, candy, snacks etc. If it was out in the open, they wanted it. One chica proceeded to open my backpack looking for items I could give her. A few just wanted the stuff for their relatives / siblings, like one who asked me for underwear for her little brother.

The two issues that stood out with the Havana P4 P experience were the large presence of pimps / jineteros and the police situation. The pimp situation, which I noticed practically everywhere the P4 P was present, was what I hated the most. I mostly avoided it, but it was very entrenched in the scene there from what I experienced. They usually played the middleman and would usually ask for $5 CUC for merely introducing you to the chica. Some would stay in the background, like pimps usually do, but you could tell they were pimping the chica. Also be prepared to constantly being offered chicas by the Cubanos throughout Havana. Other than cigars, that was the second most frequent thing that we were offered, once they realized we were tourist.

The police issue was a little bit confusing in that some seriously feared getting caught and some didn't seem to care at all. I had some who did the whole, walking separately and entering / exiting the taxi separately. One chick tried to use the police situation to get me to take a cab that belonged to her friend and I declined, since I was staying at a casa that was a short walking distance from the Ramp and I had walked with other chicas from there without any issues. When I finally told her, she could take a cab by herself and meet me at my casa, she relented after she realized that I wasn't going to budge. She had no problems walking with me back to my apt and even insisted on holding hands. I even had another one use the pay off to the police to justify the higher rate she was asking for. Not to say that the fear of the police isn't real, but just be wary of chicas using that as an excuse to get more money out of you.

FINAL THOUGHTS.

Anyways, I really liked Havana for the cultural and historical aspects of it, but the P4 P left a lot to be desired. To me it was too limited as far as different venues. The heavy presence of pimps in the game was a major turn off. And while there are definitely some sweethearts and beauties there, most that I encountered were trying to hustle you for more money whenever they could, not let you do much during the deed (don't touch this or that, no BJ, no to different positions, etc) or rush you. I found the work ethic and performance of most of the chicas I dealt with to be subpar. I wouldn't necessarily recommend the place solely for P4 P, based on my experience, but like they say YMMV.

I went in with an open mind, so a lot of the other issues people write about in Havana in this and other travel forums didn't bother me much. But I expected a little better from the chicas, as far as performance and attitudes. That being said, something about that place makes me want to go back and give it another try, despite the short comings of the P4 P scene. Compared to the other places I love to frequent, Havana is easier to travel to, much cheaper and fascinating. Sorry this isn't as exciting as Black Lexus's report, which I'm looking forward to reading more of, but this is my take and hopefully it's helpful to someone out there.

[RamoneAustin]

Use my driver Diego, his number is..

My man! I appreciate it a lot Sho423. I will call him to see what I can arrange with him. Thanks!

[MistryBoy]

Hey MB,

Forgot to mention on my last post about insurance. The apt that I rent in Vedado section a few trips back I had an issue (medical) and when I asked the owner about seeing a medic, she referred me to their neighborhood clinic.
When I arrived told him about being referred to this place by the owner where I's staying and without hesitation after giving him the addy, he proceeded to address my issue. (made me rethink market insurance as compare to universal one)

Now, one other thing, if an emergency arises and you need to be flown out of Cuba, then, YES you'd have to buy insurance here before leaving. Don't think the Cuban government will fly you out. LOL.

Below is the State Dept website, click on the health section for further info.

https://travel.state.gov/content/pas...ntry/cuba.html

Mondo

Thanks again for the great feedback, I just bought one for 7 days cost was only $24 max. Coverage 100 K.

[Sho423]

Dear fellow mongers,

I will be in Havana Aug 26 - Sept 8 and am asking if any of you fine gentlemen could refer me to a trusted person who could be my "personal taxi driver". I speak decent (enough) Spanish so this person doesn't have to speak English. Any help would be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance.

Use my driver Diego, his number is.

0053XXXX3968.

He speaks good English and is well trusted. Very nice guy. Took me and my friends to the beach and waited in his car while we were there. Nice classic car too. I don't know if he knows the spots at night time but we mostly used him during the daytime.

[Adventurer1]

Plan on finally hitting Havana next week, and have a few questions. From reading around here it seems best to hang out in Malecon. Would any of you recommend staying in Malecon or would it be better to stay in Vedado? Also, is there any major difference in booking with Airbnb vs Casa Particular? Trying to get in contact with someone like Grownman so I can get a personal taxi to hit up the best spots as well on specific info on where to get the visa in the airport without hassle. Thanks for all the info you all have already provided.

I suggest you to stay either in Vedado or Malecon (but near Vedado area because Malecon is some km long).

[Mondo707]

Mondo 707 and Bdb013 , thank you very much for your help.

Hey MB,

Forgot to mention on my last post about insurance. The apt that I rent in Vedado section a few trips back I had an issue (medical) and when I asked the owner about seeing a medic, she referred me to their neighborhood clinic.
When I arrived told him about being referred to this place by the owner where I's staying and without hesitation after giving him the addy, he proceeded to address my issue. (made me rethink market insurance as compare to universal one)

Now, one other thing, if an emergency arises and you need to be flown out of Cuba, then, YES you'd have to buy insurance here before leaving. Don't think the Cuban government will fly you out. LOL.

Below is the State Dept website, click on the health section for further info.

https://travel.state.gov/content/pas...ntry/cuba.html

Mondo

[MistryBoy]

Here is where I get travel health insurance. Pretty cheap, or you can get it at the airport when you arrive in Cuba for like $3 cuc a day.

https://www.visitorscoverage.com/

Mondo 707 and Bdb013 , thank you very much for your help.