General Info

[Kokoss1]

It has been awhile since in Cuba and seems much has changed for mongering.

Last time I was in Varedero not much so any one can help in new news either in Havana or Varedero,?

One report stated action may be had in varedero visa a lifeguards but I have never seen lifegurad in any beaches in varedero? I must have missed something here?

Help!

[Mondo707]

Thought I post a couple of websites about travel to Cuba for those who might not be familiar with all requirements.

First site is pretty informative as far as people who are not familiar with different aspects of Cuba travel.

https://www.cubaunbound.com/filling-...os-travel-form

Second site explains what Cuba requires when traveling there before and after arriving.

https://dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/inicio

Mondo.

[Edward Q]

Wondering if anyone has recently been to Camaguey or Holguin? This site needs an update. I was in Camaguey a little over a year ago and it was dire. No girls, hard to find beer, people scared of police. Disappointing as I was used to the old days, like pre-pandemic. And difficult to get to these cities, due to lack of gasoline. I was in Holguin about three years ago, just as the pandemic hit. Little to no action. Although I got into a conversation with a woman who told me she enjoyed being peed on. I was more into her friend, but her friend wasn't into me or general waterworks.

My question: Have these places rebounded? Are girls "hungry" for dollars and out in the streets? I know the economy is shit and the resources are scarce, but logic tells me that a fit and eager girl with a "come hither" smile can always find money if she wants to. Please let me know of any recent visits to Holguin or Camaguey. I'm missing Cuba, esp. CMW and those incredible women.

[Tank Not Mt]

It is my understanding that I would need to obtain a General License under one of the 12 approved categories in order to fly to Cuba from the US. Conveniently, I will already be in the Dominican Republic, and not the US before flying to Cuba, and will be going to Mexico before I return to the US.

Tldr; I have a US passport, but have exactly 0 flights between Cuba and the US for my visit.

Is there anything I should know? I'll bring USD in cash obviously, and purchase medical insurance at the airport in Cuba? Or at the airport in Santo Domingo?

Thanks in advance for any wisdom.

Get Medical Insurance at home not at the airport. Exchange usd at your Casa or anywhere you can trust not the airport or Government location. Have fun and try to learn a little Spanish.

[Ballin69]

It is my understanding that I would need to obtain a General License under one of the 12 approved categories in order to fly to Cuba from the US. Conveniently, I will already be in the Dominican Republic, and not the US before flying to Cuba, and will be going to Mexico before I return to the US.

Tldr; I have a US passport, but have exactly 0 flights between Cuba and the US for my visit.

Is there anything I should know? I'll bring USD in cash obviously, and purchase medical insurance at the airport in Cuba? Or at the airport in Santo Domingo?

Thanks in advance for any wisdom.

[Mondo707]

This is a heads up for the ones here that dig jazz & Cuban music. I attend this event yearly, except when it's cancelled cause of the Covid pandemic.

In case someone is interested and do not speak Español, you can do a quick Google translation on the article.

I'm arriving on the 18th for 2 weeks. In case someone wants to meet, shoot me a PM, so we can exchange numbers.

Del 21 al 28 de enero de 2024 llega la 39 edicióand del Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza.

Por: Thalía Fuentes Puebla.

En este artículo: Cuba, Cultura, Festival Jazz Plaza, Jazz, Música.

16 octubre 2023.

El Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza, con un prestigio consolidado en sus 38 ediciones, abre el año por todo lo alto why este 2024 no será la excepcióand. En la edicióand 39, del 21 al 28 de enero, convergeráand el jazz con la música popular cubana why sonoridades de otros países de la regióand. La Habana why Santiago de Cuba seráand las sedes principales.

La imagen del evento parte de la obra "Jazz Plaza", creada por Bobby Carcasés, presidente de honor why fundador del festival, quien siempre ha tenido inquietudes en el área de las artes plásticas. Segúand explicó en conferencia de prensa, el concepto de la obra parte de la fusióand entre el jazz, la improvisacióand why la meditacióand.

Entre LOS platos fuertes del evento destaca un espectáculo concebido por el pianista Roberto Fonseca, director artístico del festival, en el que se unirá la magia del jazz con el talento why prestigio del Ballet Nacional de Cuba, bajo la direccióand de Viengsay Valdés, concierto que celebra LOS 75 años de la compañía que fundó la Prima Ballerina Assoluta Alicia Alonso.

La 39 edicióand del Jazz Plaza —que rendirá tributo a la obra de Bola de Nieve, Miguelito Cuní why seeésar Pupy Pedroso— tendrá como sedes principales en la capital el Teatro Karl Marx, el Teatro Nacional de Cuba why sus dos salas, la Covarrubias why la Avellaneda, el Teatro América, el Martí, el Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, el Pabellóand Cuba, la Fábrica de Arte Cubano, LOS Jardines del Teatro Mella why la Casa de la Cultura de Plaza. En Santiago, la música llegará hasta el Teatro Heredia, el Iris Jazz Club, el Patio Jutía Conga de la Uneac, el Teatro Martí, el Café Teatro Macubá why la Sala why Plaza Dolores.

Tambiéand, del 22 al 27 de enero sesionará el Coloquio Leonardo Acosta In Memorian, espacio dedicado al debate sobre temas relacionados con el jazz why la industria de la música, que en esta ocasióand tendrá un momento para el intercambio teórico con estudiantes de las escuelas de arte.

El público podrá disfrutar del concierto "Música amada", el theía 21, para celebrar LOS 50 años de Joaquíand Betancourt, Premio Nacional de Música 2019, why el 15 aniversario de su Joven Jazz Band. Ese mismo theía estará en el Teatro Heredia Nachito Herrera why la Sinfónica de Santiago de Cuba, más instrumentistas de otras provincias del oriente del país.

El saxofonista Ted Nash vuelve a Cuba para ofrecer un espectáculo en el Teatro Martí junto al proyecto Cubadentro que lidera el pianista Alejandro Falcóand why la compañía danzaria Malpaso.

En el Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes estaráand Janio Abreu why el instrumentista estadounidense Víctor Goines why Mayito Rivera, por su parte, homenajeará a Miguelito Cuní en un concierto bajo la direccióand musical de Germáand Velazco.

Si algo caracteriza al Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza es salirse de ese género musical why unir por siete theías a intérpretes why ejecutantes de diferentes generaciones, latitudes why ritmos. Las aspiraciones son altas, why si, como siempre, se unen la creatividad, el talento why el arte, cada rincóand de Santiago why La Habana, del 21 al 28 de enero, se inundará de música. ¡Pa' que flujazz!

[Mondo707]

Hi guys!

Need your advice and info.

I am planning my vacation to Cuba, Holguin within a month.

I am from Canada w / o Canadian passport but with work permit.

By Cuban regulation I must have tourist card which is issued basis I possess following:

1. Insurance. Where to buy?

2. Prove that I have booked a hotel / room. Is this true?

As I understand tourist card will be given onboard plane (flight is planning to be from Montreal).

Therefore I am in doubt. Should I buy insurance and book hotel and insurance on beforehand or all will done on arrival?

Is there any guide on how to arrange formalities?

For now I am thinking to buy all inclusive resort, with travelling it is just 1400 for 2 weeks. Seems it will be cheaper then to arrange all by myself.

Thank you!

Here you go bro.

https://gocuba.ca/tips/entering-the-country/

You are welcome.

[Bogda]

Hi guys!

Need your advice and info.

I am planning my vacation to Cuba, Holguin within a month.

I am from Canada w / o Canadian passport but with work permit.

By Cuban regulation I must have tourist card which is issued basis I possess following:

1. Insurance. Where to buy?

2. Prove that I have booked a hotel / room. Is this true?

As I understand tourist card will be given onboard plane (flight is planning to be from Montreal).

Therefore I am in doubt. Should I buy insurance and book hotel and insurance on beforehand or all will done on arrival?

Is there any guide on how to arrange formalities?

For now I am thinking to buy all inclusive resort, with travelling it is just 1400 for 2 weeks. Seems it will be cheaper then to arrange all by myself.

Thank you!

[Mondo707]

Seems like things are changing for the better. This event was held this past weekend in Cayo Santa Maria, on the north coast of Santa Clara province.

You can Google Cayo Santa Maria to check this place out. It's supposed to be a resort with beautiful beaches.

I was told there was plenty of action going on with hot Cubanas and some foreigners. Wish I could have been been there, haha. Well, maybe next year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imDbN0fCsGA

Mondo.

[BossMan1031]

In my case I have a contact who knows me and I've help him out taking some supplies for him from the USA.

I'm pretty sure if you rent a private place the owner would be more than willing to exchange some for you. Make sure you know what the street rate is so you can get a fair deal.

Like I said when I was there I got 160 CUP to 1 USD, that was back in February, don't know if this is the case when you get there, therefor just Google "street rate" before you leave town.

Have a good trip and report back.

Mondo.

p.s. I'd be pretty skeptical to do this with somebody I don't know, but that's just me. Also, if you bring USD you can buy stuff at most places but you need to do the math as far as what they're willing to give you in exchange.
The official exchange rate at the airport or Cadecas is around 110 to 1 USD.
Also, I exchanged 100 USD at a time which gave me 16,000 CUP at the time. Since I had the connection to do it, otherwise if you get a "trusted" connection to do this, if I was you, I'd try to figure out my daily expenses and the # of days I was planning to be there and that way get as few transactions as possible, otherwise this task can become a hassle.
Also, before you get there try and email with the person where you'll be staying and ask about exchanging availability with 'em, pretty sure they'll be able to help you out.
One last thing, take 100 USD bills or Euros, make sure they are in really good shape, i.e. no markings or crumpled.

Sorry for the late response, but this really helps. I have been reading a lot in the Cuba threads and trying to watch the few youtube out there. The only problem I have is, I'm going down with tons of family who don't know about our lovely hobby, and I don't speak any Spanish.

[Mondo707]

This might be a dumb question but, where do you do this at. I do just ask around. The last time I was in Cuba was back in 2015 on a cruise. I'm coming down with family in a few months since we really like Cuba the last time around.

In my case I have a contact who knows me and I've help him out taking some supplies for him from the USA.

I'm pretty sure if you rent a private place the owner would be more than willing to exchange some for you. Make sure you know what the street rate is so you can get a fair deal.

Like I said when I was there I got 160 CUP to 1 USD, that was back in February, don't know if this is the case when you get there, therefor just Google "street rate" before you leave town.

Have a good trip and report back.

Mondo.

p.s. I'd be pretty skeptical to do this with somebody I don't know, but that's just me. Also, if you bring USD you can buy stuff at most places but you need to do the math as far as what they're willing to give you in exchange.
The official exchange rate at the airport or Cadecas is around 110 to 1 USD.
Also, I exchanged 100 USD at a time which gave me 16,000 CUP at the time. Since I had the connection to do it, otherwise if you get a "trusted" connection to do this, if I was you, I'd try to figure out my daily expenses and the # of days I was planning to be there and that way get as few transactions as possible, otherwise this task can become a hassle.
Also, before you get there try and email with the person where you'll be staying and ask about exchanging availability with 'em, pretty sure they'll be able to help you out.
One last thing, take 100 USD bills or Euros, make sure they are in really good shape, i.e. no markings or crumpled.

[BossMan1031]

When I was there in February I got 160 CUP per 1 USD, so you do the math. Now this exchange rate I got was on the so call black market, I. E. Street.

If you do the math for $80 USD exchanged at the official rate (around $110 CUP per 1 USD) you'd get 8800 CUP. If you do the math and get the same rate I got then $80 USD would turn into 12,800 CUP!, so that's 4,000 CUP more than the official rate.

Mondo.

P.S. Heads up, when exchanging money for CUP, try and get the highest denomination bills available, I. E. , 100,500 or 1,000 notes. If you get the lower denomination bills, 20,50 then you'll have your pockets stuffed full with bills that won't buy you anything worthwhile.

This might be a dumb question but, where do you do this at. I do just ask around. The last time I was in Cuba was back in 2015 on a cruise. I'm coming down with family in a few months since we really like Cuba the last time around.

[Mondo707]

Just read this article on Cuba. This apply mainly for beginners to Cuba. I found it pretty evenly reported. It applies to North Americans mostly but everyone else can benefit from reading it.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...f343197&ei=135

Mondo.

[Mondo707]

I'm not sure I understand the CUP motto. I read in some old posts that it was cheaper to pay 4000-5000 CUP than 80 $ USD but with the conversion it's 160-180 $. If anyone can enlighten me.

When I was there in February I got 160 CUP per 1 USD, so you do the math. Now this exchange rate I got was on the so call black market, I. E. Street.

If you do the math for $80 USD exchanged at the official rate (around $110 CUP per 1 USD) you'd get 8800 CUP. If you do the math and get the same rate I got then $80 USD would turn into 12,800 CUP!, so that's 4,000 CUP more than the official rate.

Mondo.

P.S. Heads up, when exchanging money for CUP, try and get the highest denomination bills available, I. E. , 100,500 or 1,000 notes. If you get the lower denomination bills, 20,50 then you'll have your pockets stuffed full with bills that won't buy you anything worthwhile.

[Zeos1]

I'm not sure I understand the CUP motto. I read in some old posts that it was cheaper to pay 4000-5000 CUP than 80 $ USD but with the conversion it's 160-180 $. If anyone can enlighten me.

Official rate is 24 CUP per dollar, but rate on street seems to be around 180 CUP per dollar. So 5000 CUP would be around 30 dollars if you got the 180 CUP per dollar.