General Info

[Mr Gogo]

What an awesome post. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and want to tip my hat to Mr Gogo.

Thank you Vitrea. Coming from a veteran like yourself is appreciated.

I remember mongering when girls in the DR didn't have phones and didn't even know what a negotiation was. In about 2011 all that changed as the DR came into the electronic age and with the internet changed the whole game.

Ever since, I have had a two fold game plan.

1). Go to the hot monger spots.

2). Visit off brand places not exposed.

Santiago Cuba, Pereira Colombia and Subic bay are my recent spots that I've visited that are not exposed yet. These spots are thining so I've learned to appreciate them. Cuba is not modernized so its a strange but good test. Even hotel hopping to find a bar that had the Superbowl turned into a lost cost. Not having internet for a few days and having bucket showers all go with the territory.

Its a throwback that's safe. And as I've said before, the best sex of my life has been in Cuba.

[Vitrea]

What an awesome post. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and want to tip my hat to Mr Gogo.

Cuba is being preserved perfectly for a select few. Cubans have survived hard times before and will survive this. The people are some of the most determined and hard working that I have ever seen. Also the women are very hot and passionate.

Cuba is under the radar and off limits to guys in our sport. None of my boys except Grownman have ever been to Cuba. Its a place where you can still be the first American. Safe, beautiful in an ancient way, historic, rebellious, sexy, and only 90 miles from Miami.

Talked to a guy there last night and he said the negative shit is all lies.

My view: Cuba is going to be hurting and its my duty to assist. The island has given me too much to give up on a special place like this. I have friends and girlfriends there that light up like Christmas when they see me. I've been down with Cuba since my first trip, its a unique place on this globe. So those that sit in the wings waiting on good words from the outside world will miss out or come late. I'm putting Cuba in an advance category because of what I describe above so Medellin and the DR will have to share the stage.

[Mr Gogo]

Very good points. Cuba is an enigma wrapped in a mystery. But one thing is for sure, Cuba is running on fumes now.

Lets take a look at a few things Trump has done;.

- Restricted flights to all Cuban airports except Havana.

- Directed the Treasury Department to restrict Western Union money transfers to Cuba. From $5,000 per quarter to $1,000 per quarter.

- Restricted all Cruise Ships to Cuba departing from the US.

- Travel restrictions.

- Clamp down on all shipping from Venezuela, Cuba's life line.

I'm sure there's more, but you can see the trend here..

Cuba is being preserved perfectly for a select few. Cubans have survived hard times before and will survive this. The people are some of the most determined and hard working that I have ever seen. Also the women are very hot and passionate.

Cuba is under the radar and off limits to guys in our sport. None of my boys except Grownman have ever been to Cuba. Its a place where you can still be the first American. Safe, beautiful in an ancient way, historic, rebellious, sexy, and only 90 miles from Miami.

Talked to a guy there last night and he said the negative shit is all lies.

My view: Cuba is going to be hurting and its my duty to assist. The island has given me too much to give up on a special place like this. I have friends and girlfriends there that light up like Christmas when they see me. I've been down with Cuba since my first trip, its a unique place on this globe. So those that sit in the wings waiting on good words from the outside world will miss out or come late. I'm putting Cuba in an advance category because of what I describe above so Medellin and the DR will have to share the stage.

[Ty Down]

Oh, let's not all get up and dance like the Miami exilios did when the Soviet Union fell apart or when Fidel died.

Those celebrations didn't end up as wonderful as the gusanitos thought they would.

And the POTUS doesn't have enough power to dictate much of anything to Cuba. The last 60 years have proven this beyond a doubt.



And the CUC is highly likely to go. We shall see what happens. I expect a CUP and USD based economy.

Very good points. Cuba is an enigma wrapped in a mystery. But one thing is for sure, Cuba is running on fumes now.

Lets take a look at a few things Trump has done;.

- Restricted flights to all Cuban airports except Havana.

- Directed the Treasury Department to restrict Western Union money transfers to Cuba. From $5,000 per quarter to $1,000 per quarter.

- Restricted all Cruise Ships to Cuba departing from the US.

- Travel restrictions.

- Clamp down on all shipping from Venezuela, Cuba's life line.

I'm sure there's more, but you can see the trend here.

I saw a video of Trump in Miami about a month ago, he was talking to the Cuban brigade, about how he was planning to build on those beautiful Cuban beach's when the time was right, of course, I can't find that video now.

Anyway, looks like the Cubans may be entering into another "Special Period". I hate to see that happen, have lots of friends in Cuba.

[Catire]

Yes, Big changes coming to Cuba.

Trump is shutting down the shit show.

Western Union has put severe restrictions on money transfers to Cuba. Even recharging a phone in Cuba has been restricted.

The CUC is pegged to the USD. . but I see that dissolving into thin air. Soon.

Doesn't look good for the commies in Cuba.

I wish all the good people of Cuba all the best.

Interesting times.

Oh, let's not all get up and dance like the Miami exilios did when the Soviet Union fell apart or when Fidel died.

Those celebrations didn't end up as wonderful as the gusanitos thought they would.

And the POTUS doesn't have enough power to dictate much of anything to Cuba. The last 60 years have proven this beyond a doubt.

Far more consequential to Cuba has been the fact that Venezuela has crapped out and that other Latin American countries that used to give it hard cold cash for their "doctor exchange programs" (Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador) have ended those programs.

So the regime faces a hard currency cash crunch. Without a doubt.

And the CUC is highly likely to go. We shall see what happens. I expect a CUP and USD based economy.

[Zeos1]

Yes, Big changes coming to Cuba.

Trump is shutting down the shit show.

Western Union has put severe restrictions on money transfers to Cuba. Even recharging a phone in Cuba has been restricted.

The CUC is pegged to the USD. . but I see that dissolving into thin air. Soon.

Doesn't look good for the commies in Cuba.

I wish all the good people of Cuba all the best.

Interesting times.

The CUC has always been pegged to the US dollar. That is and was totally arbitrary. If you actually exchange from the US dollar they add a penalty (I think 10% If you use see $ or Euros there is no penalty. But it is at the same exchange rate as US-CAD or US-Euro (minus 1 or 2% fee) All I am saying is that this has nothing to do with Trump and / or Obama or any change recently.

The reason no CUC at the airports is simply to collect foreign currency. They are also making it easier to let in foreign currency. May be some policies in US to go the other way. But Cuba needs hard currencies as it needs to pay for oil / diesel, etc. As benefactor Venezuela can't subsidize Cuba any more.

If they go to one currency it is more likely to be CUC than moneda nacional I think. But who knows. The moneda nacional is really old low cost paper and it is worth so little they can't afford to use modern style of bills and counterfeit protection. One peso is worth about 4 cents. And the coins below that are fractions. Bus fare at. 4 pesos is less than 2 cents (CUC or US $) so I think they have incentive to go to minimum coin size at say 5 cents. And double the revenue on all their city busses. They might have to raise the wages a bit to do that. Anyway. Using CUC of something in that range of value would help a lot.

I don't think the changes Trump is making are that significant. Because they changes Obama started did not really get going. And Trump is just going back to how it was. Anyway. It sucks for the people of Cuba. And today's people are not the ones that had their property expropriated in 1958-1961 if they left the country (and moved to Miami). But in the bigger picture. The whole US embargo on Cuban business is the best excuse ever for the failure of government in Cuba. Even without the US it could have been a fairly prosperous place had they had a reasonably mixed economic model. Especially after the Soviets dumped billions of dollars worth of infrastructure into Cuba. But it seems pretty bleak for the people of Cuba right now.

[Ty Down]

The brain dead economists in Cuba are at it.

We have been hearing for years about Cuba eventually going to a single currency.

You can no longer pay with CUC at the airport in Varadero. Upstairs after you go through security. I was told that all airports and some marinas are no longer accepting CUC. The little restaurant up there still accepts CUC (go figure).

The prices are all still posted in CUC, so when you go to pay they convert it into the currency you have in hand.

If you are owed change (which I was), they look at you blankly and expect you to walk away shorthanded. I didn't and I was owed 0. 70 CUC change. So the guy gave me back 1 CAD dollar as change! So ridiculous.

I asked around and was told that this is the first step in phasing out the CUC. More changes are coming as of Jan. 1/20.

Advice. Don't stock up on CUC as it may be worthless soon!

Yes, Big changes coming to Cuba.

Trump is shutting down the shit show.

Western Union has put severe restrictions on money transfers to Cuba. Even recharging a phone in Cuba has been restricted.

The CUC is pegged to the USD. . but I see that dissolving into thin air. Soon.

Doesn't look good for the commies in Cuba.

I wish all the good people of Cuba all the best.

Interesting times.

[Free2]

The brain dead economists in Cuba are at it.

We have been hearing for years about Cuba eventually going to a single currency.

You can no longer pay with CUC at the airport in Varadero. Upstairs after you go through security. I was told that all airports and some marinas are no longer accepting CUC. The little restaurant up there still accepts CUC (go figure).

The prices are all still posted in CUC, so when you go to pay they convert it into the currency you have in hand.

If you are owed change (which I was), they look at you blankly and expect you to walk away shorthanded. I didn't and I was owed 0. 70 CUC change. So the guy gave me back 1 CAD dollar as change! So ridiculous.

I asked around and was told that this is the first step in phasing out the CUC. More changes are coming as of Jan. 1/20.

Advice. Don't stock up on CUC as it may be worthless soon!

[HSendatsu]

There are other apps for La Habana, such as Bajanda or Sube. Sadly, I don't know wether they are good or not.

[Mondo707]

Hey,

After posting below started looking around and found the link to download the app.

Mondo.

http://dtaxi.taxiscuba.cu/

[Mondo707]

Hey,

Just got this info so I'm sharing it here for all you mongers. Hopefully, there is someone in la Habana now than can test drive this and report back if it works as advertise or not.

I'll be in town next month and will try it out then. BTW, the article below states only Villa Clara, I've seen another report stating that la Habana is also good to go on this app as of now. Surely will be welcome help for most of us who hate the "taxi hustle".

You're welcome.

Mondo.

D'Taxi, an app to interconnect destinations.

CMHW Radio.

Published the 09/12/2019,21:02.

D'Taxi, an app to interconnect destinations.

The Taxis Cuba Company has designed a new app that allows the interconnection between passengers and the taxi drivers in the country. D'Taxi is the name of the app, which will become operational in Villa Clara, as of December 23rd, 2019, as the agency executives pointed out.

Official Press Release from the branch in Villa Clara of the Taxis Cuba Company on the D'Taxi app:

The Taxis Cuba Company is making D'Taxi available to its customers, a mobile application (app), which directly connects the passengers and the taxi drivers in Cuba.

The users or customers can request from their mobile through the app, a taxi and the system will assign the closest available taxi driver to your location.

Once the user receives the taxi driver's confirmation, communication between them can be established and the system will provide the approximate time the taxi will arrive at the meeting point.

Also, after entering his origin and destination, the user will access the approximate price of the requested service. The app allows travel planning in advance and receiving the corresponding confirmation.

It stands out for its simplicity, the attractiveness of its design, as well as the ease of use. It also provides facilities for the taxi drivers in the terms of reminders of pick-up schedules, the update about being available or not, as well as checking the pending pick-ups, and the suggestions of optimal routes.

This app is part of the process of computerization of the transportation and of the Cuban society in general, a high priority claim followed by the highest government direction.

It is an authentically Cuban platform, a novel option to request the services of the Taxis Cuba Company for both the nationals and the foreign visitors.

The D'Taxi system will begin its application in the province of Villa Clara, starting on Monday, December 23rd, 2019.

It will be a pleasure to serve you.

Taxis Cuba Company, Villa Clara branch.

[TxSnake]

I too had met many beautiful women in Havana who had arrived from Holguin. So, in late 2018, I flew to Holguin to check it out.

My thoughts:

1. Holguin is simply not as interesting a city as Havana. The architecture is less impressive. There are few clubs. Not much to see. I could not find a really good restaurant.

2. I am used to independent casas in Havana. I was limited in Holguin. I thought I had one, but the landlady arranged for a guy to wait for me to return each night. I believe the police enforcement of the casas is very strict. (I had to go to a hotel at night. And settle for doing the landlady's assistant during the day).

3. The people were nice. Prices were a little cheaper than Havana..

In Santa Clara, the same strictness exists. However, Cubans are the last people to leave money on the table. I paid for the chica to have her own room and paid for some of her meals and all was good. I was told if there was a knock on my door, I would have two minutes to get her into her own room. The knock never happened.

[Mondo707]

Sounds interesting. Just curious. Can you fly to Holguin from Havana?

Hey,

As most prolly know by know travel within Cuba is problematic to say the least. For those of you than want to travel to different parts of the island I'm linking to a post related to bus travel.

Seems like this been updated to reflect options after the issues Cuba had receiving crude recently. The link is in Español but I think most everyone here can figure it out or use a translation app.

BTW, this site (Cuballama) does a bunch of stuff related to Cuba, from buying stuff and sending it to your fave chica to recharging phones in Cuba. I think they're headquartered in Canada.

You are welcome.

Mondo.

https://www.cuballama.com/blog/viaje...ntent=img_ppal

[Eclectic]

Sounds interesting. Just curious. Can you fly to Holguin from Havana?

I too had met many beautiful women in Havana who had arrived from Holguin. So, in late 2018, I flew to Holguin to check it out.

My thoughts:

1. Holguin is simply not as interesting a city as Havana. The architecture is less impressive. There are few clubs. Not much to see. I could not find a really good restaurant.

2. I am used to independent casas in Havana. I was limited in Holguin. I thought I had one, but the landlady arranged for a guy to wait for me to return each night. I believe the police enforcement of the casas is very strict. (I had to go to a hotel at night. And settle for doing the landlady's assistant during the day).

3. The people were nice. Prices were a little cheaper than Havana.

4. My Spanish is not great. But is functional. Yet, I struggled to find women. I did get one young stunner and a couple other good scores, but it was a lot of work.

5. I intended to fly from Holguin to Havana. However, I could not make reservations from the USA And when I got there I found that it was booked up for two weeks in advance. So, I ended up taking the Viazul bus instead. For 14 hours. (As an aside, the Holguin flight to Havana crashed a couple years ago. Also, I believe that flight is now suspended due either to an airplane shortage or fuel shortage.).

[Vitrea]

Sounds interesting. Just curious. Can you fly to Holguin from Havana?

Please ignore this post. Read more posts down the list. Posted too early.