Havana

[Hyrul]

If cuc is devalued because of oversupply and phasing out by gov, I would imagine girls rate have risen in cuc. Or the girls prefer getting USD!

Which one has it been according to your experience?

Based on that last paragraph from Mondo707 response, I have no doubt the only exchange in the near future will be USD to CUP and it'll be 1-50 or even 1-60!

If on top of that Trump is re-elected then It's back to very very close soviet era Cuba!

I don't know about CUC being devalued.

The prices for the girls generally remains the same no matter what currency you're paying in. It's just the equivalent via the exchange rate. As for what the girls prefer. They prefer having customers with money. CUC and USD will be the top performers for now. Until CUC is mainly phased out, I wouldn't change much. I'll still be exchanging by $$ and getting CUC.

[Hyrul]

If I happen to run out of money is there anyway I can get cash? I plan on bringing enough but I tend to get out of control sometimes and would like to know if there is anyway to get extra cash?

Ask your casa owner. If not, most Cubans will happily exchange USD for CUC. You'll have no issues finding someone. Just pay attention to the rate and be safe.

[Papito1993]

If I happen to run out of money is there anyway I can get cash? I plan on bringing enough but I tend to get out of control sometimes and would like to know if there is anyway to get extra cash?

[BrasilSoccer0]

If cuc is devalued because of oversupply and phasing out by gov, I would imagine girls rate have risen in cuc. Or the girls prefer getting USD!

Which one has it been according to your experience?

Based on that last paragraph from Mondo707 response, I have no doubt the only exchange in the near future will be USD to CUP and it'll be 1-50 or even 1-60!

If on top of that Trump is re-elected then It's back to very very close soviet era Cuba!

[Mondo707]

Mondo,

Thanks for letting us know about that exchange rate. Can you elaborate more on that please? Where were you getting that rate. What was the official state run CADECA rate. Do you even see the rate getting better, 125 or 150.

Now Cuba introduced USD only stores and large size CUP (Cuban peso). There is one conclusion here: it's going to be USD and CUP from now on, which means we Americans won't have to do a lot of exchanging.

Which leads me to the following question: I heard the rate for USD-CUP is or will be around 1-50 or 1-60! What's that exchange rate now in the street?

I never exchange on CADECA and the best I ever got 4 yrs ago was 99 cuc /100 usd. TIMES ARE CHANGING.

Hey Brasil,

Can't predict what the exchange rate will be. Now if you go to a Cadeca with USD you'll still get the official rate which is 87 CUC for 100 USD. I got my rate of a contact, prolly I could have gotten 115 or even 120 CUC for 100 USD but as you know in Cuba everyone gets a cut whenever there's a transaction so I was ok getting 110.

As far as the CUP, I usually exchange 20 CUC and get around 480 CUP and this saves me tons of money on clubs and other places where I pay with CUP like an average Cubano instead of as a tourist which is charge in CUC. Can't say what the government will do with the CUP in the future but agree with you, looks like it'll be the currency instead of the CUC.

One other thing for you mongers, when leaving the country if you brought in USD and have CUC to exchange back they'll give you some other currency instead of USD. I had $51 CUC left and when I exchanged them asked for USD but was told they had no USD so had to take Euros instead.

Mondo.

[AmorPorFavor]

I was in Havana in early Nov. We were getting 1 to 1 on the dollar from the small store next to Bodeguita del Medio. Previously (March 2019) the best I had received was. 94. This was right after they started taking US dollars at some of the stores that sell big ticket items. Near the end of the trip I ran into a fellow American who said he was getting 1.15 CUC's per dollar from his Cuban fixer.

[Chris H]

I know, I said I would not return, but for whatever reason, I feel I missed out on some things. What things? Fuck, I have no idea.

Headed back to find some things over the long upcoming weekend.

Thanks for all your reports; I'm taking notes!

I will be there next weekend also, if you want to hook up to see how to really do Cuba, send me a message.

[Mr Gogo]

I'm in the DR now but thinking about going to Cuba immediately.

[TomJackin]

I know, I said I would not return, but for whatever reason, I feel I missed out on some things. What things? Fuck, I have no idea.

Headed back to find some things over the long upcoming weekend.

Thanks for all your reports; I'm taking notes!

[BrasilSoccer0]

Mondo,

Thanks for letting us know about that exchange rate. Can you elaborate more on that please? Where were you getting that rate. What was the official state run CADECA rate. Do you even see the rate getting better, 125 or 150.

Now Cuba introduced USD only stores and large size CUP (Cuban peso). There is one conclusion here: it's going to be USD and CUP from now on, which means we Americans won't have to do a lot of exchanging.

Which leads me to the following question: I heard the rate for USD-CUP is or will be around 1-50 or 1-60! What's that exchange rate now in the street?

I never exchange on CADECA and the best I ever got 4 yrs ago was 99 cuc /100 usd. TIMES ARE CHANGING.

Hey,

Just came back from Havana a few days ago. Some things for those of you interested in visiting soon.

I went for the Jazz fest that took place a couple of weeks back. Enjoyed it very much with a huge variety of performances all over the city.

First thing for those of you visiting soon, the USD is king in la Habana right now. I got $110 CUC for $100 USD. Cubans in general are paying this premium cause some believe the CUC days are numbered and want to get rid of what they have. Second, they want USD in order to buy appliances at some outlets which take USD now.

FYI, Pico Blanco is dark, hotel St. John's is being remodeled at this time. Went by Sofia's a few times and didn't see any action.

If any of you are on the younger side and have some game, I discovered an ice cream joint next to stylist shop with hot Cubanas after 5 pm and on weekends. This place is very close to the university and is a private business or cuentapropista as they call it in Cuba.

If I find the business card for the guy that owns the place I'll post a screenshot so you can check it out and maybe get a style cut at the same time while there.

Mondo.

[Mondo707]

Hey,

Just came back from Havana a few days ago. Some things for those of you interested in visiting soon.

I went for the Jazz fest that took place a couple of weeks back. Enjoyed it very much with a huge variety of performances all over the city.

First thing for those of you visiting soon, the USD is king in la Habana right now. I got $110 CUC for $100 USD. Cubans in general are paying this premium cause some believe the CUC days are numbered and want to get rid of what they have. Second, they want USD in order to buy appliances at some outlets which take USD now.

FYI, Pico Blanco is dark, hotel St. John's is being remodeled at this time. Went by Sofia's a few times and didn't see any action.

If any of you are on the younger side and have some game, I discovered an ice cream joint next to stylist shop with hot Cubanas after 5 pm and on weekends. This place is very close to the university and is a private business or cuentapropista as they call it in Cuba.

If I find the business card for the guy that owns the place I'll post a screenshot so you can check it out and maybe get a style cut at the same time while there.

Mondo.

[Ty Down]

Interesting TY, you know the deal. I remember one time I went to the countryside outside of Havana and they cooked a pig. They cut the wrists and ankles to insert the spices for cooking. Best pork I ever had.

Good deal!! As you probably already know, cooking a pig is for special occasions. Pigs are expensive for the Cubans. I was shocked when I bought one, $150 dollars for a pig that weight about 150 pounds. Maybe that was the Gringo price LOL. But it turned out excellent, you know the deal as well. Thanks Mr Gogo.

[Mr Gogo]

I've been to most of the places in central Cuba, Santa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila and almost to Camaguey. I wouldn't recommend going alone, but rather with someone who is familiar with the territory, in my case, with a chica who lives with her family just outside of Ciego de Avila. There's not much to eat outside of Havana, unless you like rice and beans and sometimes, a piece of pork that's tougher than shoe leather.

The countryside is beautiful though, it's mostly rural agricultural, sugar cane fields and tobacco fields with long stretches of road, semi completed road projects. There is almost no traffic, other than horse drawn carts. There is so little traffic, that the farmers actually spread their rice out on the pavement to dry, something I've never seen before. I've made this trip a couple times, but not planning on returning to central Cuba, to be honest, I couldn't wait to get back to Havana.

Interesting TY, you know the deal. I remember one time I went to the countryside outside of Havana and they cooked a pig. They cut the wrists and ankles to insert the spices for cooking. Best pork I ever had.

[Ty Down]

Anyone have any experience about 1-2 hours outside of Havana? I'm always in Havana but would love to go mongering in different cities 1-2 hours outside Havana. They can be countryside, I wouldn't mind. Looking for anywhere that doesn't see tourists much and had some life to it. Would love to hear your recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

I've been to most of the places in central Cuba, Santa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila and almost to Camaguey. I wouldn't recommend going alone, but rather with someone who is familiar with the territory, in my case, with a chica who lives with her family just outside of Ciego de Avila. There's not much to eat outside of Havana, unless you like rice and beans and sometimes, a piece of pork that's tougher than shoe leather.

The countryside is beautiful though, it's mostly rural agricultural, sugar cane fields and tobacco fields with long stretches of road, semi completed road projects. There is almost no traffic, other than horse drawn carts. There is so little traffic, that the farmers actually spread their rice out on the pavement to dry, something I've never seen before. I've made this trip a couple times, but not planning on returning to central Cuba, to be honest, I couldn't wait to get back to Havana.

[Hyrul]

Anyone have any experience about 1-2 hours outside of Havana? I'm always in Havana but would love to go mongering in different cities 1-2 hours outside Havana. They can be countryside, I wouldn't mind. Looking for anywhere that doesn't see tourists much and had some life to it. Would love to hear your recommendations.

Thanks in advance.