Havana

[Adinga]

Just arrived home from Havana and basically there is nothing exciting going on.

The chica scene is dead unless your into the late night disco club scene and nothing spectacular is happening there either.

Some advice for first time travelers:

* Havana is expensive when you take into consideration the quality of what your getting.

* Prices are increasing in anticipation of arrival of American tourists.

* $100 US will convert to 87 Cuban Convertible pesos at major hotels (13% Haircut).

* Poor food except in local paladars.

* Internet is extremely slow.

* Women will not proposition tourists in public unless they are hardcore prostitutes. The real pay for pussy scene exists only in the clubs / discos.

* Average girls are asking 60 cuc for short term session. Don't give more than $50.

* There's not much to do in Havana during daytime because of extreme heat and humidity.

* Always count your change and check bills.

* Always ask how much before you engage in any type of transaction whether it be for a taxi, girl, ect.

* Cubans don't respect generous people. Be polite and buy them a beer that's it.

* A lot of cheap new clubs popping up with little to offer.

* Cubans are smart and very street savvy.

[Mondo707]

In recent years I have become accustomed to using google maps and GPS on my mobile phone to navigate around. This is not possible in Havana as there is no internet.

What I did before I left was print out some maps. I compiled a mongering map of Havana during my research stage.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...Ik&usp=sharing

I was often using these printed maps to work out where I was. It helped a lot.

Hey SirMarjAlot,

Thanks for posting the map. I had previously done the google map thing on my computer and it worked fine to find your way around (here in the USA).

I have some relative of mine that live on calle San Rafael and when in Havana I often walk there with the help of a Havana map (hardcopy).

Nonetheless, I've been reading that cell phone use in Cuba is being adopted by lots of people (specially the young) and read recently about the availability of WiFi in different parts of the city / island.

Did you not use your cell phone while there? Was wondering since I was under the impression that one can buy a Sim card (to use with your phone) and fill it with as much time as one wants, a long as the cell phone is compatible with the system Cuba uses (I think it's the 900 band).

Would be interest on your take on this, also anybody that knows about this feel free to post any info regarding cell phone use in Cuba.

One more thing anybody know if it's possible to have this map downloaded unto one's cell phone?

Mondo

[SirMarjAlot]

By all means post the picture, Sir.

Cheers, FF.

In recent years I have become accustomed to using google maps and GPS on my mobile phone to navigate around. This is not possible in Havana as there is no internet.

What I did before I left was print out some maps. I compiled a mongering map of Havana during my research stage.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...Ik&usp=sharing

I was often using these printed maps to work out where I was. It helped a lot.

[Finnish Fucker]

Good time though, wanted to take pic, but she say no! Then I offer her 5 cuc for pic and she say yes!

By all means post the picture, Sir.

Cheers, FF.

[The Tall Man]

Dandyist, We all learn from experiences, and unfortunately it is an expensive one for you. You felt unsafe and left, what if you have stayed and something happened to you? So, I think you made the right call to leave. Many of us would not understand why you did what you did, same like why we do not understand someone being schinzopronic (you are not BTW).

I can understand the heat, a language you do not understand, macho cubanos etc would have played a role I think. You could have stepped out of Havana, and went to Playa Del Este, and relaxed in the beach and could have taken a tour and slowly get used to the place. Again, you elt what you felt, who am I to analyze that.

The milk thing is a scam. Children get free milk every day as well as eggs.

Spot on Taboc. In 20 minutes I am heading for LAX and will be in Havana tomorrow. My first time in Cuba but after 15-20 years of mongering in many other countries. I always remind myself about setting expectations. When I do keep any expectations reasonable and with a mindset that "It's the journey and not the destination" I always come out the other end with a sense of gratitude for the friendships and experiences.

Like I said tomorrow at this time I will be in Havana. I am grateful for another seasoned Cuba vet who has taken me under his wings and whom I will be sharing the next week or so with.

I will report during and / or after my travels.

Be safe all!

The Tall Man.

[Taboc]

Most of the girls I saw that were obvious hookers I would have felt pretty sleazy with, and the other girls wouldn't look my way.

Dandyist, We all learn from experiences, and unfortunately it is an expensive one for you. You felt unsafe and left, what if you have stayed and something happened to you? So, I think you made the right call to leave. Many of us would not understand why you did what you did, same like why we do not understand someone being schinzopronic (you are not BTW).

I can understand the heat, a language you do not understand, macho cubanos etc would have played a role I think. You could have stepped out of Havana, and went to Playa Del Este, and relaxed in the beach and could have taken a tour and slowly get used to the place. Again, you elt what you felt, who am I to analyze that.

The milk thing is a scam. Children get free milk every day as well as eggs.

[Bart1]

I've said it lots of time, I keep reading people paying 10 cuc for 1 HR Internet, it's 4 cuc 1 HR hotel Capri just walk up to lobby desk and they sell the cards their, if you know how to travel, you will have fun in Cuba, the last report he was walking for 2 hrs looking for casa, he must of passed at least 99 of them in two hrs! Do your homework and you will have a blast! Good times,

Most people are paying the high price cards haven't heard about the capri hotel low price out in vedado, first I knew about it. Havana libre hotel 10 cuc, in centro havana parque central hotel they won't sell to you unless you are a guest, but in the ajoining hotel anex part the cafe price is 9 cuc, they would not even give this info out at the desk. Plaza hotel 2 blocks away is 8 cuc. In the varadero airport the price is 4. 50cuc, at the wifi card company office about 20 meters from the cadeca. This info from April 2015. In April I asked for 2 cards in the cafe when the plaza was out of stock, he said 9 cuc, when I walked onto the street thinking what a good deal, I looked and they were 30 minute cards, I went back in and he said we are out of the 1 hour cards. My smile was short lived.

[Dandyist]

I have to agree with Mr Gogo. Why not stick it out and see if you can make it work? While Spanish certainly helps, I've visited plenty of places where I didn't speak the language and I still managed to have a decent time. Regarding the temperature, get real. If you don't like steaming hot weather, don't visit Havana in August. Weather charts are one of the first things I look at when I'm planning a trip.

All of that said, Cuba is definitely not as easy of a mongering venue as some of the other places. And it generally isn't cheap either.

I agree with everything you said and it is hard to explain, but my gut was really sending me odd signals. Like I was in impending danger. I know I am overreacting but that is how I felt at the time. This was my 7th trip to Cuba, 2nd to Havana, but my first attempt at Mongering, and that was my problem. I underestimated the game. I probably should have stuck it out longer, switched to a hotel with a pool, and found another casa. Looking back, I am sure I could have had a fine time doing the normal tourist thing there but I went with my gut.

[SirMarjAlot]

Due to jet lag was up early and went for an early morning walk along the Malecon.

I travel better east than west.

Later that day I met up with my casa landlord and paid him for 5 nights. He could introduce me to a nice mulatto girl aged 26 for 60 cuc.

He not have any pics of her on his mobile, so let it go, like to do my own hunting.

Plan was tonight to walk down Neptuno from Vedado into centro and then into the old town.

When you cross Infanta you pass from Vedado to Centro. Almost a group of black girls call me over.

One of them is real cute, lovely big black rack on her.

She grabs my balls and says Bonga Bonga! Whatever that means?

She would do nicely, aged probably about 19. She led me a few doors down into an old couples casa and for 10 CUC we could use their bedroom.

Not convenient to take the girl back to my casa, a taxi would have tried to charge the same amount, so went with the flow.

Agreed with the girl 40 CUC.

Lovely tits, almost made me want to cum just looking at her tits, she gave me some BBBJ before bending her over the bed and fucking her doggy.

Her pussy smelt a bit and for a young girl was like throwing a sausage in a bucket.

Many casa have en suite bathroom, prefer this as I want the girl to shower and me, provides a much better experience, especially with all that heat outside.

Good time though, wanted to take pic, but she say no! Then I offer her 5 cuc for pic and she say yes!

Centro was becoming my harem, my brothel, going well so far as far as meeting chicas I like went I want.

[Sammytheman]

Thanks for the report sir. 1st time I went to Cuba, I felt the same way. I wanted to leave the next day. I travelled solo just like yourself to a resort in Varadero. But I gave it another shot and took a wingman next trip and have been there 18 more times and absolutely love it!

[Combo]

I have to agree with Mr Gogo. Why not stick it out and see if you can make it work? While Spanish certainly helps, I've visited plenty of places where I didn't speak the language and I still managed to have a decent time. Regarding the temperature, get real. If you don't like steaming hot weather, don't visit Havana in August. Weather charts are one of the first things I look at when I'm planning a trip.

All of that said, Cuba is definitely not as easy of a mongering venue as some of the other places. And it generally isn't cheap either.

[Mr Gogo]

First, thanks for your honest report, you said you would report back and you did. I think when you summed it up by saying " learn basic Spanish, team up with someone, and be prepared for problems to surface" that was correct but we also told you this prior to you going.

I think you quit too soon and didn't shake the jinx. I've also had trips before where everything goes wrong the first few days of my trip and then the last few everything falls into line. You could have made it a sightseeing trip to view all the history before it is ruined by the American dollar. You could have even taken a non-stop flight to the DR for a few days and returned for your departure from Cuba. For what you paid to change the flight and go home early is ridiculous.

Maybe traveling isn't in your blood anymore because you gave up on everything; The Casa, the resort, avenida 23, the taxi hustlers, and everything else in Cuba except one restaurant.

It was a missed opportunity and a very expensive one at that, I guess we can say that Maybe Cuba got the last laugh.

[Dandyist]

I've said it lots of time, I keep reading people paying 10 cuc for 1 HR Internet, it's 4 cuc 1 HR hotel Capri just walk up to lobby desk and they sell the cards their, if you know how to travel, you will have fun in Cuba, the last report he was walking for 2 hrs looking for casa, he must of passed at least 99 of them in two hrs! Do your homework and you will have a blast! Good times,

I didn't spend 2 hours looking for a casa to stay in, I spent 2 hours trying to find the casa I had reserved before I left for Cuba. I passed dozens of casas in my time there, but after the first full day there I had pretty much made up my mind that I didn't want to be there anymore anyways. ID rather just fly back home. I know I could have also gotten cheaper internet elsewhere had I walked more, but I had already gotten lost once, all the cab drivers were in hustle mode, I was frustrated, it was almost 40 c that day. And I took the easy way out and just spent the 10 cuc at the hotel across the street.

I spent months on these boards researching, but unfortunately a series of bad events soured my experience. I'm sure others are luckier than I am.

[RacShack]

I too have my doubts but all things considered I pulled the trigger and am arriving in Havana this Thursday August 20th. I will report my experiences and if my expectations were met.

"Just do it"! Even if cost is on par with other mongering waterholes I love the adventure and experience of visiting new places and seeing for myself how things work.

The Tall Man.

I've said it lots of time, I keep reading people paying 10 cuc for 1 HR Internet, it's 4 cuc 1 HR hotel Capri just walk up to lobby desk and they sell the cards their, if you know how to travel, you will have fun in Cuba, the last report he was walking for 2 hrs looking for casa, he must of passed at least 99 of them in two hrs! Do your homework and you will have a blast! Good times,

[The Tall Man]

Hi,

From what it seems the us dollar is 1 to 1 almost with the cuc. For mongering that doesn't seem cheap to me. If the average girl cost 50 cuc that's 50 usd. What do I have it right. I read the forums and club girls go from 50 to 150 cuc and street girls range from 50 cuc? Can someone help me understand the price structure its inconsistent and can't make up my mind if the trip is worth it. If I go I will add a full report.

I too have my doubts but all things considered I pulled the trigger and am arriving in Havana this Thursday August 20th. I will report my experiences and if my expectations were met.

"Just do it"! Even if cost is on par with other mongering waterholes I love the adventure and experience of visiting new places and seeing for myself how things work.

The Tall Man.