Havana

[Eclectic]

Does anyone know if there is a way for a foreigner to buy internet for a month in Cuba? How bad is the connection? I hear that it's pretty bad but I wonder if there is a way to improve it? Who should I grease and how much? LOL If anybody have been in Suriname how does it compare to the connection there?

You need to buy a prepaid ETECSA card (the State owed telecommunications company). Cards are sold at hotels (usually just to their guests), at the Etecsa locations, or through street vendors (who will charge a premium). It is $1 per hour. You can access the internet from most hotels, many parks and a few of the casa particulars. The connection is not real fast, but it is adequate. If there are a lot of people trying to connect in the same hotel lobby or at the same park, it will be much slower. I do not believe there are any ways of improving the process.

[Nrlmus]

Does anyone know if there is a way for a foreigner to buy internet for a month in Cuba? How bad is the connection? I hear that it's pretty bad but I wonder if there is a way to improve it? Who should I grease and how much? LOL If anybody have been in Suriname how does it compare to the connection there?

[ChuchoLoco]

Not necessarily easy to do after you get there. Do you speak fluent Spanish? Do you know what part of the city or where you are going? Do you have some leads on places?

I would have something booked, hopefully not prepaid, And then play it by ear when I got there.

I'm about at the intermediate level with Spanish and while not fluent, I can get by pretty well but not sure about other two. Will do more research but like old parts of cities usually as long as fairly modern accommodations. I think that your suggestion of booking but not prepaying seems perfect. Thanks! Kind of torn where to go next. Cuba has been on my mind for many many years so it's at the top of the list. Or I may get lazy and head back to Medellin or Granada where I know my ways around. Thanks again.

[Zeos1]

Do you need to show proof of lodging reservation? If no, is it easy to find a place after you get there? Thanks.

Not necessarily easy to do after you get there. Do you speak fluent Spanish? Do you know what part of the city or where you are going? Do you have some leads on places?

I would have something booked, hopefully not prepaid, And then play it by ear when I got there.

[ChuchoLoco]

You can fly directly from many airports in the USA to Havana. I fly southwest and they go out of FFL and Tampa. Trump didn't start this embargo so you can't blame him, it's been in place forever. Obama tried to work with Cuba and ease restrictions and it was one sided and the Cuba president wanted to take but not give them they messed with our diplomats and Trump changes some Obama changes but he didn't start all of the restrictions. If you google reasons to go to Cuba you will see a list. I'd say 99% of people use support of Cuban people as their reason. It's super easy to go.

Do you need to show proof of lodging reservation? If no, is it easy to find a place after you get there? Thanks.

[Nrlmus]

I just returned from Havana and can provide a good update with recent info.

First and foremost the girls are plentiful in San Rafael, Central Park and to an extent Obispo. You can find some at all hours in these areas but your best hunting time will be after dark. All this area is foot access only and maybe 10 minutes walking from end to end. In the evening you can easily find 40-50 girls around 18 years old sitting on the benches on San Rafael and Central Park. They will call out to you etc. They will only want payment in US dollars and start high asking for $80-100 USD. Tell them that's really high for the area and counter with $40 and they will prolly counter with $50 as their lowest or agree to $40. Almost anything you can imagine can be had including 3-somes for $50 each chick. You can literally decide hey I want a blonde today and go find a blonde.

I found the best way for me because I don't speak Spanish was to exchange their WhatsApp and message them and negotiate and then send them my address to meet me once we agree on price and have them walk in their own. They won't walk with you anyway, they will want to follow from a distance as it was not uncommon to see 50 or so police and military in the area watching the girls, stopping them ID'ing then and at times taking some away. That said in 6 nights they never said a word to me and I spent hours each night out shopping and sitting in the park etc.

I highly recommend you get a Cuban SIM card for your phone so you have data and WhatsApp. Also the exchange rate varies but sim for 160 pesos per dollar. You will really only be able to use pesos in restaurants but it's cheaper for you to do this. That said every restaurant I went to presented bills with pesos, US dollars and euro prices listed on them so you can pay in any of those no issues just expect to get change in pesos and not a great exchange rate.

For a great meal go to kilometer Zero it's very close to the hunting grounds and has great food and people watching.

I have only used an Airbnb where I have the place to myself. It's going to complicate things if you don't have a place within a few blocks of the hunting grounds. There are tons of Airbnb's around Central Park. When looking at Airbnb look at the house rules. Some say no guests. If it was unclear I would message the host and ask hey if I meet a girl while out dancing or something is there any issue with me bringing her back for a couple hours and several will say no problem.

It's an easy trip from the USA. You really just need a passport, a visa and a ofac reason which most say support of Cuban people.

I'm sure I'm leaving things out, any questions let me know.

I really would love to communicate with you but can't but you can find me on USASG LOL.

[Chris H]

Seems a number of people going there in Jan. I will be there from 8th to 15th.

I could not figure out how to send you private message to exchange phone number tough.

Cool, I arrive on the 12th, depart on the 15th, let's definitely hook up for some real Cuban Fun!

[DanielDuran]

Seems a number of people going there in Jan. I will be there from 8th to 15th.

I could not figure out how to send you private message to exchange phone number tough.

Seems like you have a decent plan ready to be executed. When in January will you be there. I will also be there for 4 days that month. It will be my 17th time to Havana, so I will be happy to show you the true ropes and how it really goes down in Havana. I have been to most the cited you mentioned you been to, and I can tell you, Havana is definitely near the top, if not THE top. So, if we are there at the same time, let's link, we will have a blast, and you won't need no short time hotel, the case we stay at has plenty of rooms, for some fun!

[Mondo707]

On the SIM card I rented one from a local driver for $20 USD for the week with 16 gig data. They are sold by in etesca stores for $25 USD for tourist sims and come with limited data and only good for 30 days. If you google Cuba tourist sim you can find info on them. I walked by the etesca store one day and someone outside wanted to sell me a cubacell sim for $14 USD but I didn't need it.

Kilometer zero had Cuban food and also something called sweet chicken which was like Chinese to me. The price was about $35000 pesos for 2 Stella's, cheese balls and entree. I'll see if I can add a menu page. Also look as the' next which is pizza and hamburgers on the same corner and el'cafe right down the street for breakfast.

I went to kilometer zero 3 times and the' next two time during a week mostly because they were open late and convenient but the food was good at both.

The street exchange rate varies from 150-170 CUP per USD.

Hey Drew,

Here's the info on Kilometro restaurant along with prices and photos of the joint.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=kilometro+cero+habana#lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D,ik:CAoSLEFGMVFpcE9VSTZnbWhGQTEwRFI5UzJvVFRMWDYzVnpUd0RKd3h3c0hhX3c4

Mondo.

[MjTravelLove]

Excellent post.

I just returned from Havana and can provide a good update with recent info.

First and foremost the girls are plentiful in San Rafael, Central Park and to an extent Obispo. You can find some at all hours in these areas but your best hunting time will be after dark. All this area is foot access only and maybe 10 minutes walking from end to end. In the evening you can easily find 40-50 girls around 18 years old sitting on the benches on San Rafael and Central Park. They will call out to you etc. They will only want payment in US dollars and start high asking for $80-100 USD. Tell them that's really high for the area and counter with $40 and they will prolly counter with $50 as their lowest or agree to $40. Almost anything you can imagine can be had including 3-somes for $50 each chick. You can literally decide hey I want a blonde today and go find a blonde.

I found the best way for me because I don't speak Spanish was to exchange their WhatsApp and message them and negotiate and then send them my address to meet me once we agree on price and have them walk in their own. They won't walk with you anyway, they will want to follow from a distance as it was not uncommon to see 50 or so police and military in the area watching the girls, stopping them ID'ing then and at times taking some away. That said in 6 nights they never said a word to me and I spent hours each night out shopping and sitting in the park etc.

I highly recommend you get a Cuban SIM card for your phone so you have data and WhatsApp. Also the exchange rate varies but sim for 160 pesos per dollar. You will really only be able to use pesos in restaurants but it's cheaper for you to do this. That said every restaurant I went to presented bills with pesos, US dollars and euro prices listed on them so you can pay in any of those no issues just expect to get change in pesos and not a great exchange rate.

For a great meal go to kilometer Zero it's very close to the hunting grounds and has great food and people watching.

I have only used an Airbnb where I have the place to myself. It's going to complicate things if you don't have a place within a few blocks of the hunting grounds. There are tons of Airbnb's around Central Park. When looking at Airbnb look at the house rules. Some say no guests. If it was unclear I would message the host and ask hey if I meet a girl while out dancing or something is there any issue with me bringing her back for a couple hours and several will say no problem.

It's an easy trip from the USA. You really just need a passport, a visa and a ofac reason which most say support of Cuban people.

I'm sure I'm leaving things out, any questions let me know.

[Chris H]

First and foremost the girls are plentiful in San Rafael, Central Park and to an extent Obispo. You can find some at all hours in these areas but your best hunting time will be after dark. All this area is foot access only and maybe 10 minutes walking from end to end. In the evening you can easily find 40-50 girls around 18 years old sitting on the benches on San Rafael and Central Park. They will call out to you etc. They will only want payment in US dollars and start high asking for $80-100 USD. Tell them that's really high for the area and counter with $40 and they will prolly counter with $50 as their lowest or agree to $40. Almost anything you can imagine can be had including 3-somes for $50 each chick. You can literally decide hey I want a blonde today and go find a blonde.

I found the best way for me because I don't speak Spanish was to exchange their WhatsApp and message them and negotiate and then send them my address to meet me once we agree on price and have them walk in their own. They won't walk with you anyway, they will want to follow from a distance as it was not uncommon to see 50 or so police and military in the area watching the girls, stopping them ID'ing then and at times taking some away. That said in 6 nights they never said a word to me and I spent hours each night out shopping and sitting in the park etc.
.

Do NOT pay a girl from there streets, park, cafe, or anyplace in Havana, $40-$50. This is not the DR. These chicas will go with you for $15-$30 easily. And if they want and insist on $40, tell them "dos leche". They will comply, and you aren't overpaying to bust two nuts.

[Adinga]

The travel rules and regulations for Americans traveling to Cuba will probably not improve if we have a Republican president.

For those who want to go to Cuba with little effort. Go now because the future is uncertain especially if Trump were to get re-elected.

[DrewFromTexas]

On the SIM card I rented one from a local driver for $20 USD for the week with 16 gig data. They are sold by in etesca stores for $25 USD for tourist sims and come with limited data and only good for 30 days. If you google Cuba tourist sim you can find info on them. I walked by the etesca store one day and someone outside wanted to sell me a cubacell sim for $14 USD but I didn't need it.

Kilometer zero had Cuban food and also something called sweet chicken which was like Chinese to me. The price was about $35000 pesos for 2 Stella's, cheese balls and entree. I'll see if I can add a menu page. Also look as the' next which is pizza and hamburgers on the same corner and el'cafe right down the street for breakfast.

I went to kilometer zero 3 times and the' next two time during a week mostly because they were open late and convenient but the food was good at both.

The street exchange rate varies from 150-170 CUP per USD.

This was 3500 pesos not 35,000. Most of my meals ranged from 1500 to 3000 just mostly depended on what I drank.

[DrewFromTexas]

I've had Cuba stamps in my passport 3 times and no one cares. They stamped my passport last week and when I came back thru FLL they asked where I was coming from, the purpose of my trip and if I have any tobacco, alcohol or food. I said no and was on my way.

I meant FFL. Typing all this on my iPhone blows but I'm at work and don't want to use my laptop LOL.

[DrewFromTexas]

Thank you for your info, Drew. 20 years ago one could fly to Nassau, Bahamas and pre-arrange to get pickup a ticket at the counter on Cubana airlines thru Nash travel, a Canadian travel company. Then fly to Havana from Nassau. The tourist card was given out at the Havana airport and this was stamped by immigration at the airport. Returning entry to Nassau was more challenging because the US immigration would not see a stamp where you went on your passport, but usually did not care, but you had to go back thru US immigration in Nassau and have the potential of interrogation and fine, one guy I knew in 2002 had a Fedors on Cuba sticking out of his jacket pocket and they interrogated him and he received a letter demanding $7,500 or a court hearing, and the courts were never set up so he ignored the letter and nothing happened.

I am not sure what you are saying now, one needs a visa and a ofac reason? Is this the office of finance and accounting? I think it was hard with Trump and other Republican administrations, but now with Biden's administration it is much easier? Is it possible to fly direct from Miami now with an ofac reason? Please advise, I would love to return. Thanks.

You can fly directly from many airports in the USA to Havana. I fly southwest and they go out of FFL and Tampa. Trump didn't start this embargo so you can't blame him, it's been in place forever. Obama tried to work with Cuba and ease restrictions and it was one sided and the Cuba president wanted to take but not give them they messed with our diplomats and Trump changes some Obama changes but he didn't start all of the restrictions. If you google reasons to go to Cuba you will see a list. I'd say 99% of people use support of Cuban people as their reason. It's super easy to go.