Havana

[Pegasus99]

If you read my post carefully, you will see that I did not say I paid extra for the girls, but that the casa owner asked for it. I ignored his comments and paid just the regular CUC25. That is the reason I said he seemed greedy, and that I would try another one next time.

By the way, given that you seem to be a seasoned Cuban traveler, why don't you share your experiences with the rest of us. Simply lurking around does not help the community at large...

Cuba has already been ruined you can thank the italians for that! Pegasus 99 is not doing anything that many others haven't done in the past and are still doing in the present! I know an italian guy who pays the taxi fare of a girl to come to him in havana she lives in santiago! Go figure! On top of that he brings her $300 worth of gifts bought her a bike which she has given to her cuban novio (cousin) ha! H! Ha! Experienced cuban mongers know the whole cousin /uncle story (if she says its her cousin its her boyfriend and if she says the guy is her uncle its usually her husband) anyway back to the story the point that I am trying to make is thgat obviously this girl is using him just like tons of other guys who get used when the decide to wantonly through money around (first time mongers take note) to add insult to injury when this guy goes to use the pool she bangs the son of the casa particular owner. The joker in question normally visits Cuba every 3 months and spends at least 10 days he plays her close to $500 for the time she spends with him in total. I have been gong to Cuba since 1996 an have loged at least 35 trips oh how I miss the halcyon days! I have been lurking on this bord for quite a while and I have read alot of reports and opinions just to add my two cents Cuba is what you make it but please there is no need for anyone to pay any of these a ladies over $50 and that is for the 9s/10s $ 20. $ 30 is fine for the provider $ 5-$10 is normally good enough for the bribe. Pegasus 99 please enligthen us as to why you were paying the casa particular owner extra to bring girls there? That is a first for me anyway nothing in Cuba shocks me anymore.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

[La Isla]

Pegasus,
Don't let those guys rattle you. Your experience is what it is. Many, many have have HUGE mistakes on this board but few post about them. Kudos to you for doing so.
For the record, there are many nice casas in La Habana for 30CUC a night with your own bath, fridge, entrance and key. PM me and I'll give you more info for next time.

By the way, did you use Cyberc.... to find these girls or another site? A heads up to all would be appreciated.

[Pegasus99]

To you and Beersterry,

What would you suggest then from your own experiences? I too find it ridiculous to pay to take the girl to my room but did not seem to have a choice. Considering the options, CUC40 for the comfort of my own room seems reasonable compared with CUC25-30 for a smelly and badly furnished casa particular. I have tried to negotiate the rate with different security guards at the hotel, but they all maintain the price and have to share it with other staff in the lobby. Is it any different at other hotels (I only have experience at one hotel)?

Pegasus

Hi Pegasus - thank you for your post -

50CUC for the girl - she probably had to kick back 10 - 20 to the security guard for the "referral"

You said Minimum wage is 10/month. Guaranteed - The guard makes no more than 15/month.

So here you are paying a guy a bribe of two to three months salary ?

Are you insane ? I have heard that 5CUC bribe will do.

PLus, he got his commission from the girl for the referral. He made out quite nicely on the deal. With his commission, he made way more money than the provider. He is probably ridiculling you to his family and freinds.

You are driving up the price for the rest of us.

So now you have paid 50CUC for the girl plus 40CUC for the bribe = 90 CUC - for two hours. That's 45 CUC/hour. Cheap by western standards. Pricey by third-world standards.

As for paying 50CUC for the girl - You can probably get freelancers for 20-30 CUC.

[Pegasus99]

So I got suckered and am man enough to admit it and share my experiences so the uninitiated can decide for themselves what to do and what not to do. As far as I can see, I do not detect any real tips in any of your posts even though you trash my experiences so casually. But anyway, that is not the point. I agree that the internet girl really took me for a ride, and I hope I have learnt my lessons as that was my very first experience. But the CUC70 in the night club included my cover charge, drinks for me, my friend and for the girls that WE CHOSE to be with and spend some time with. The taxi fare was given voluntarily and also denied to some others who asked anyway. I am not in the habit of throwing money away, and don't think all my experiences were worthy of being things not to do. I have seen many pictures of girls on the Cuba posts and with all due respect, I am happy to pay the money I did for some top class action. I do not really see what is the big difference between the CUC40 you pay as a max and the CUC 50 I paid for gorgeous young model type girls.

Perhaps you can take some advise from Smokers Rule and chill out. Respect for other forum members is never a bad thing, but then that is my humble opinion.

First off, thanks for the post. Always nice to hear about first-timers experiences in Cuba.

BUT - your post should be read as a 'this is all the things you DON'T do in Cuba', so that other travellers can learn from your massive series of mistakes.

You have been suckered by just about anybody. Cuban jineteras love yumas like you who throw money around without expecting much in return. But they have no respect for you.

Paying 70 cuc just for talking to girls in a nightclub is about the craziest thing I ever heard anyone do in Havana. We are talking about a city where there is litterally half a million girls who are dying for the chance to talk to foreigners - and you're paying them to talk like in some champagne-stripclub in Europe or the US? I can't belive this...

I am sorry you went out like this for your sake. But I am close to horrified of the way you throw around money for everyone elses sake. Like Water Boy said, you are simply ruining the country for everybody else and it is because of guys like you that Cuba is often called 'a third world country with first world prices'.

Thanks again for the report. I hope everyone who reads it in the future will know that this is a guide on everything one should not do in Cuba.

[Trafalgar2]

First of all, thank you Pegasus99 for your post and all the other guys for your comments.

Pegasus, while most of the things you write may be cool in any western country, they don't make sense in Cuba. You were really overpaying and for sure all these suckers who got money from you, afterwards were laughing about your generousity / stupidity.

I'm not one of the most experienced mongers around, I just have travelled A LOT in Latin America, in the last few years especially all around Cuba. Personally I never found it difficult to pick up chicas I liked without even mentioning money (of course you ALWAYS end up paying one way or another). But, just to mention it: I am NOT afraid to go home alone if I can't find what I'm looking for and I have done so. So I strongly agree with the comments of Water Boy, Yyzguy118, Bahia Boy, Travelling Gring (I know MANY of us APPRECIATE your posts and your pics), Americano573 (good 1st post!) and Beersterry.

Just to add some of my personal experiences: The last time I was in a Havana night club alone (without a girl) I have been touched, kissed and allowed to touch some nice booty by different girls without any need to pay their taxi fare. This is RIDICULOUS! If they really go home in a taxi, paying CUC, they are the hardest hard-core-pros I've seen.

I confess, I have a good heart, that's why I paid a cerveza for a nice slim model-type mulatta who was trying so hard to convince me to be her "novio". While her "arguments" were really great (maybe a 9+ on my personal list), she was just a little too pushy. I'm old-fashioned, so it's still like that for me: I'm the hunter - she's the game, right? So, with her doing everything to make sure I would leave with her, I was cool to check out my other options without any hassle. I'm sure this helped a lot to find the more quiet and shy chica I later left with. Total cost for the really good job the mulatta was doing: 1 CUC for the beer.

The night before I had been in one of these all-inclusive-nightclubs (10 CUC cover charge, all the drinks were for free). You wouldn't believe how stupid the putas there think we yumas are: Three different chicks tried the same lousy trick on me: One came to talk to me and when after some chit-chat she realized I wasn't willing to pay her (better said any) price, she asked me for a fula (1 CUC) in order to buy a drink because she was so thirsty. I laughed in her face, but still (as I'm mister nice guy) offered to bring her a drink from the bar (you remember: all for free...). Never seen a girl disappear so fast, and she didn't even say "thank you" or "good bye". What a cheap rat!

The other night when I was leaving El Chevere with an Italian friend of mine, in the parking lot we could hear two girls negotiating with two older Italians. The girls claimed 100 CUC, the guys offered 70. Okay, I confess, I was an asshole spoiling these guys night when I started the car, pumped up the volume of the reggaeton CD, giving a smile to the chicks standing close to our car. In a second, one of them came over to ask if we could give them a ride to the Malecon. I told her, we were not willing to pay for anything, and she said fine, they just wanted a ride. So these good-looking more pro than semi-pro chicks left the Italian guys and their 70-CUC-offer behind, for a fun-ride to Vedado, where we bought a bottle of rum, some cola and had our private fiesta with music from the car stereo. Honestly, afterwards I was too drunk to even think of sex, so we just dropped the girls where they lived, promising we would pick them up the next day, which we never did. Total cost for a lot of dancing, fondling and kissing: maybe 10 CUC or so, for the drinks.

A few nights before in a nightclub in Santa Clara (where I was the only yuma) the guy at the entrance offered me his help if I needed anything (means: company). Well-educated as I am, I thanked him, but would never think of asking for anything. So like after half an hour he appeared at my table, telling me that those two nice young girls were interested, and they had sent him to ask if I was willing to let them sit down at my table (haha).

As it always makes an ugly impression to be sitting alone at a table, while everyone else is accompanied, I accepted, telling them upfront, I would just invite them to have one beer with me, nothing else. They were the hottest bitches I could imagine - for doing a porno movie - dressed up like real hookers, but I sure would not have sex with them (as I stated in another post, I need the GFE-type). But they did everything I expected, they danced, smiled, chatted and made ME appear more interesting.

Later I saw a hot girl on the dance floor, regular dressed in blue jeans, NO high-heels, but a 9 on my body index. Of course she had noticed the company at my table and she was worried. But when I convinced her they were just some jineteras and I cared for "real" girls, everything was easy. Of course the jineteras would not believe a non- or semi-pro student could be more appealing to me than them, but after some trials to convince me that I would have more fun with them, they accepted the fact. Just to add, I bought one more beer for everyone (including the chica who was with the girl of my choice and for the doorman / chulo?) and off we went.

As I'm a gentleman, I offered the other three girls to give them a ride home (of course NOT in a taxi), which they eagerly accepted. Total cost for the company of the jineteras: 5 CUC for the beers and some driving around with three hot chicks in the back of my car, while I was already being caressed by my new novia in the front. Just to mention it: I guess I would not have offered them the ride home if it was in Havana and I on my own without any backup... And of course: I warn everybody to try stupid things like this at home - or whereever - at least if you're not completely sure you can handle the situation.

And just in case: If some wit-ass wants to know where to find the report about my last trip in may, let's say I'm momentarily off the market, but I'm willing to answer any questions concerning non-pro matters (actually up-to-date only in Havana, Matanzas, Varadero and Holguin areas).

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

[Americano573]

Just to update you guys on a old Cuba scam that has resurfaced. It seems that the police know that they have the girls and the mongers running scared makng it almost impossible to just walk back to your casa with a chica as you will be stopped with her if you obvously look like a tourist and the girl a cubana. They know that to get around this mongers take taxis with the girls or let the girl follow them in separate taxis etc. However it seems that the taxi drivers and the police are now partners in crime as the moment you tell (them)taxi driver your destination he uses his cell phone to call his police buddy who then conveniently waits on the route or street on which the taxi wil pass and without a doubt you will be signalled to stop he will threathen to bring the girl to jail no doubt expecting you to offer him a propina don't be surprised if the girl is also in on the scam as well.

[Smokers Rule]

Well, good thing you're around to let people know when other posters are wrong. You have read about Cuba on your computer screen in The States, so you know the deal down there and can tell immediately when people who have travelled to the island extensively are wrong.

What's wrong with you man? I don't know whether to cry or laugh at your posts...

The post in question IS the about the closest thing I have seen on how NOT to work Cuba. And I did thank the guy. Lot to learn from that report.

I really wanted to ignore you, but it's very difficult. You're something else.

If I was you I would stick to asking questions (allthough you don't seem to need any answers) and wait on telling whats right and whats wrong about Cuba - and correcting people who know the place - until you have actually set foot in the country.

Travelling Gring: Breathe in, breathe out, move on. Chillax my friend.

[El Rey De Pollo]

Well, good thing you're around to let people know when other posters are wrong. You have read about Cuba on your computer screen in The States, so you know the deal down there and can tell immediately when people who have travelled to the island extensively are wrong.

What's wrong with you man? I don't know whether to cry or laugh at your posts...

The post in question IS the about the closest thing I have seen on how NOT to work Cuba. And I did thank the guy. Lot to learn from that report.

I really wanted to ignore you, but it's very difficult. You're something else.

If I was you I would stick to asking questions (allthough you don't seem to need any answers) and wait on telling whats right and whats wrong about Cuba - and correcting people who know the place - until you have actually set foot in the country.

I think you and Water Boy may be overreacting a bit. From what I've read, Pegasus' nightclub experience was over the top. But the rest of his report seems pretty in line with most things I have read. (e.g., hotel, casa owner, Internet girlfriends). Give the guy credit for arranging Internet hookups before he even got there (though they didn't go well). I agree he shouldn't have let them sucker him into the gifts, though.

Blanket criticisms discourage people from posting on this board. Again--I have no first hand experience in Cuba--but from what I've read, it looks like Pegasus did some things right and some things wrong. This is certainly no "guide" on "everything" one should not do in Cuba.

Just my opinion.

[Bichu]

Give the man a break.

I've been to Hav nine times since -97. I too did some of the mistakes that Pegasus did. I'm sure he'll do better the next time. We live and learn and so do we all, including seasoned mongerers. There is always a new angle to be learned, escpecially in Cuba.

[Member #4167]

In Santa Lucia, I was at a club and found a girl I liked, I got her outside and was going to take her to the beach for some action.

HEy - when (what year) were you in Playa Santa Lucia? I was there earlier this year. I didn't hit the clubs, as I was sort of off the market. By the El Rapido, there were 1-2 providers, both nasty. No other talent walking around.

[Member #4167]

For starters, I NEVER - repeat NEVER give any CUC up front to a chica - for anything - NO EXCEPTIONS.
...
When I'm mongering I make it very clear to whoever I'm with that I'm in charge, and I'll call the shots, I'm never rude but definitely in control,
...
I've learned this over the years as I tried to be a "nice guy" and got nowhere, it wasn't until I stopped being the nice guy did I start to get more action,

I agree 100%! Tell it like it is, brother!

I have been swindled by the upfront request and no longer fall for it.

I say "Take a taxi. And I'll pay for it when you get here. " Of course, then she could work out a deal with the taxista like "Charge him triple the going rate and kick me back 10 CUC. " There are many con games in Cuba. I was fooled at first thinking "hey it's a pitifully small amount. They wouldn't con me for that. " Never underestimate the intelligence of a cubano. In nearly every transaction they are looking for ways to get CUC from you. They will go to great lengths to con 5-10 CUC from you. In Cuba, you have to continually be on your guard. In every transaction, you have to continually be thinking "How are they conning me here? " This is one of the downsides to Cuba.

If you are a novice, it is hard not to fall for them the first time. But given the high number of con games, it is expensive education. Hopefully, one doesnt fall twice for the same trick.

5-10 CUC is meaningless. However, I don't like to feel like a sucker. A chump. This feeling is another downside to Cuba.

Question: what is the spanish/cuban word for sucker or chump?

[Member #4167]

I think you and Water Boy may be overreacting a bit.
From what I've read, Pegasus' nightclub experience was over the top.

I am not overreacting. When you read what the other Senior Members have posted on this topic, you'll see that my comments are supported. Pegasus report was over the top. I think perhaps he crafted his post to elicit a strong response. He did well!

This is certainly no "guide" on "everything" one should not do in Cuba.

You haven't visited Cuba, and you feel you are qualified to give an expert opinion on Cuba.

Therefore, I have given you all the advice I can. I will no longer advise you/respond to your posts.

You posted earlier that you are going to go to Cuba. When you do go, please post a trip report on how Cuba compares to the other more developed mongering destinations. Please do not take this request as sarcastic, I am always interested to hear how Cuba compares to the other more developed mongering destinations.

Good luck!

[Member #4167]

Hey Americano.

I am glad that Pegasus's "Tale of horror" flushed you out of your lurking mode and got you to make your first post! You speak the straight-up truth on Cuba. So I am glad to see your comments.

Cuba has already been ruined you can thank the italians for that! Pegasus 99 is not doing anything that many others haven't done in the past and are still doing in the present!

So true!

please there is no need for anyone to pay any of these a ladies over $50 and that is for the 9s/10s $ 20. $ 30 is fine for the provider $ 5-$10 is normally good enough for the bribe.

I'll second that! Over 50 is for 9's/10's!

nothing in Cuba shocks me anymore.

I consider myself somewhere between a Cuba Novice and a Cuba Expert. I have spent appx 2-3 months recently in Cuba.

I agree with your statement "nothing in Cuba shocks me anymore"

I believe this to be true: that the guard could have asked for 40-60 CUC and would not have accepted anything less. I don't fault Pegasus's negotiating skills, only the fact that he was foolish to pay that amount.

Unless their is a printed price list, the standard pricing for services is always "as high as the cubano thinks they can get. " In Cuba, you are charged based upon your nationality (extranjero vs cubano) first. And your perceived ability to pay second.

I bet you that even had Pegasus countered with "No, the going rate is 5-10CUC. I'll give you 10. If you won't accept that. I'm taking my money elsewhere" Their is a good chance the guard would have stuck by his guns. And insisted on 40CUC. Cubanos are getting greedy. They are getting outrageous in their demands (perhaps due to overpaying italians) and more and more are sticking by their guns.

The only solution is to find a cheaper alternative. Pay the 5-10 to an illegal Casa Particular. The greedy guard loses out on 10CUC. Which is 3 weeks salary to him.

Do the others on the board concur with me on this?

[BeersTerry]

Well, it is a first timer from the western world. Just chalk it up to a lack of aclimatization. Next time he will know better.

It was alot of money to toss around. I still can't believe the $40 to the security guard, I guess he got fucked twice that night.

[Smokers Rule]

I hope everyone who reads it in the future will know that this is a guide on everything one should not do in Cuba.

I think you and Water Boy may be overreacting a bit. From what I've read, Pegasus' nightclub experience was over the top. But the rest of his report seems pretty in line with most things I have read. (e.g., hotel, casa owner, Internet girlfriends). Give the guy credit for arranging Internet hookups before he even got there (though they didn't go well). I agree he shouldn't have let them sucker him into the gifts, though.

Blanket criticisms discourage people from posting on this board. Again--I have no first hand experience in Cuba--but from what I've read, it looks like Pegasus did some things right and some things wrong. This is certainly no "guide" on "everything" one should not do in Cuba.

Just my opinion.