General Info

[John Dough]

Do you need to show your passport at a Casa, or can you leave it in your hotel safe while on an "excursion"?

[AlLostInSpace13]

All Cuba threads are very dead these days! Economic downturn + Fidel's crackdown + fightings in Iraq... Sadly airfares are the cheapest right now, but I can't take advantage of it.

[Ngp477]

most of the persons investigated for travel to Cuba, I have read, are persons who take a private boat from Key West to Marina Hemingway. On the way back to Key West the US Coast Guard requires paperwork upon re-entry. The boat occupants then must prove they did not spend any money. Hard to do if you were there for more than a few nights. Often the boat gets searched for cigars and other souvenirs and names and addresses are taken down for a letter from the US Treasury Dept.

Us Canadians have it alot easier!

[Ngp477]

In Habana, there is a good casa particular at Avenida L and Calle 23 on the corner. This is catty corner across the street from the Hotel Colina and about 2 blocks from the Habana Libre.

It is a white 3 story apartment building on the corner. Go inside to apartment 310. Daisy Hernandez is the owner. She will accept $20 a night but likes $25. Girl friendly. Your own bedroom and the bath is shared. Breakfast is about $2.

If the one room is occupied, sometimes she will rent out her room and sleep in the living room on a couch. They need the money.

During the day you can go to the Habana Libre and swim at the pool for free. Ask for a towel, but you must give a room number and a $10 deposit because you don't have your key. The room number I always give is 1105. It works also if you want to get into the disco Turquino for free and avoid the $12-15 cover charge. Tell them you are staying in room 1105. Turquina is what latin Cuban dancing is ALL about!!! But most girls will ask for $100 there, so try Johnies (El Rio) for $40-60 range girls.


Have fun. You can usually share a taxi from the airport. A full taxi is $12 but they will ask for $15. Remind them it is $12. If 2 or 3 share a ride to the Habana Libre you can split the cab fare several ways.

Cheers!

[RickR]

The best place to stay is Havana. Nothing more to say about that. There is the life and the most beautiful girls of Cuba.

For Casas look here:

http://errue.proboards17.com/

Only register and you will find links to over 60 casas, all with adresses and contact infos.

Houses with pool you will find probably in Miramar.

Rick

[YaYa]

Well im leaving to CUBA tomorrow so I'm ask all the experienced travelers for some last minute tips and advice on what cities to visit and where to go. I would really appreciate it if someone will give me the info on a good CASA that wont be shared and ok with girls. Pool would be nice, any last minute info is more than appreciated. Thanks for all the advice, Ill be BACK!
bone535@hotmail.com

[Ngp477]

sorry, never been there. If it is the island east of isla de la juventud, it only has 4-5 hotels. no real city. alot of the girls from isla work there for 10 days, then are flown back home for 4 days, then 10 again, etc.

[Member #4366]

GreenLantern, your chances of finding available chicas on Cayo Coco are slim. I've never been there, but it is a typical 'holiday resort' place. In Cuba this means: no Cubans allowed, except for hotel staff etc. I think that it is worse than Varadero (which I did visit), as it is more isolated. My favourite is Santiago: lots of choice in both chicas and non-chica related activities. I found Nueva Gerona (a favourite of some other WSG members) rather boring, although it is a great place to get laid.

[GreenLantern]

Npaul, you seem to have the most experience in Cuba.

I am going to Cayo Coco in one week, any ideas on where to find chikas? Any idea where I can go to get info?

Thanks in advance, really enjoyed your posts.
GL

Originally posted by npaul
ciscokid:
The only place to go is Isla de la Juventud. Read the recent trip reports. Spend maybe a week there. I have heard things are good in Cienfuegos, but that was not my experience. best of luck.

[GreenLantern]

Cayo Coco, anyone has any info on chikas at Cayo coco pleeeaasse respond.

[YaYa]

I was wondering if any of you have filmed girls in CUBA. How easy is it to convince them? Just a question.

[SteveC]

interesting article from the london guardian. looks like bush & co are taking a stronger line.

us fines veteran cyclist £5,000 for taking holiday in cuba

duncan campbell in los angeles
wednesday february 26, 2003
the guardian

joan slote, who went on a cycling holiday to cuba, was fined nearly $8,000 (£5,000) for breaking the us embargo of the island. her case is one of a growing number in which the us treasury department is actively pursuing americans who have visited the island or who are suspected of encouraging others to do so.
the numbers of american visitors sought for breaking the embargo has quadrupled since the bush administration took office. the treasury department now warns that those who visit without permission may face fines of up to $55,000. the moves come despite a growing campaign in the us among farmers, entrepreneurs and politicians, many of them republicans, to end the embargo. currently, americans are banned from visiting cuba unless they have a licence to do so on religious, humanitarian, educational or journalistic grounds.

mrs slote, 74, from san diego, is a gold medal-winning cyclist at the senior olympics. she booked a cycling holiday three years ago through a toronto-based company which told her she did not require a licence if she entered cuba via canada. her holiday was a success but on her return to the us from toronto, she was asked by us customs if she had visited any countries apart from canada. she told them about cuba and said she had bought token souvenirs, each worth about $1, as presents.

months later, she received a letter from the treasury saying she had been fined $7,500 and an additional $130 for the souvenirs. as her monthly income is $1,200, she is unable to pay. the treasury demands are now increasing, adding 6% interest to every claim.

"the whole thing has been a nightmare," said mrs slote. the treasury has now indicated they may subtract the money from her social security.

it is not only people who travel to cuba who are being investigated. tom warner of the seattle/cuba friendship committee was told by the treasury that he now faced thousands of dollars in fines because his website listed details of holidays in cuba. they said he was seeking "to organise and promote" in breach of the embargo.

"they told me i had 20 days to respond or face a $20,000 fine," said mr warner yesterday. he believed he had "the dubious honour" of being the first to face a penalty just for posting such information on a website.

mr warner said he believed the treasury's action was unconstitutional. "i am concerned that this assault on the freedom of speech and expression - especially through the internet - be staunched before it chills people's free expression and their ability to respond to objectionable behaviour by the government," he said.

global exchange, a san francisco-based organisation which organises educational trips to cuba and other countries, said the harassment of american travellers to the island had increased significantly over the past year. malia everette of global exchange said that although the us allowed visits to china and vietnam, "powerful lobby groups" opposed loosening restrictions to cuba.

around 19,000 travel licences were granted in 2001 but there is no record of how many americans entered without notifying the government. the treasury is investigating 697 people for breaking the embargo in 2001, compared with 188 the previous year.

the main pressure for maintaining the embargo comes from the conservative wing of the cuban american community in florida which played a key part in the election of president bush and his brother, jeb, as the state's governor.

more than 160 countries have called, through the un, for an end to the embargo, which was launched in 1962 and intensified by president reagan in 1982.

[Ngp477]

ciscokid:
The only place to go is Isla de la Juventud. Read the recent trip reports. Spend maybe a week there. I have heard things are good in Cienfuegos, but that was not my experience. best of luck.

[ciscokid]

I'm going to Cuba for the first time in February. 2 weeks is a lot of time to spend in one place, and I think I'll probably stay in Havana for 5 days, then hit up another town before returning to Havana for 2-3 more days at the end of my trip.

Cuba veterans, where would you go if you were in my position? Top 2 or 3 cities/towns for a newcomer to Cuba?? Thanks!

[JimmyDR]

Dear friends,

Finally, some good news for a change: two Senators have introduced a bill to
end the embargo on Cuba! And more good news: You can make four
quick-and-easy POSITIVE phone calls today that will help move the U.S.
toward normalized relations with Cuba:

· Call to THANK Senators Max Baucus and Chuck Hagel for taking the lead on
Cuba policy by sponsoring “win-win” legislation that is good for American
farmers, businesses, and travelers, and good for Cuban citizens.

Senator Hagel (R-Nebraska): 202-224-4224 or 308-236-7602
Senator Baucus (D-Montana): 202-224-2651 or 406-657-6790

· Call your OWN Senators and ask them to co-sponsor the “United States-Cuba
Trade Act of 2003.” You can reach your Senators through the Capitol
Switchboard: 202-224-3121. Ask them to contact Timothy Punke (224-4677) with
Senator Baucus or Dayna Cade (224-5804) with Senator Hagel.

· Take a look at the attached “Dear Colleague” letter from Senators Hagel
and Baucus. You can also read the actual bill at www.cubacentral.com.

Thank you!

cubacentral.com

SUPPORT AMERICAN EXPORTS TO CUBA - AND HELP AMERICAN FARMERS, WORKERS, AND
COMPANIES

Dear Colleague:

Senators Baucus and Hagel will soon introduce the "United States-Cuba Trade
Act of 2003." This legislation creates a "win-win" for American farmers and
business and for Cuban citizens by:

· lifting the trade embargo on Cuba;
· removing Cuba from Jackson-Vanik treatment and providing Cuba with normal
trade relations status on a permanent basis; and
· repealing travel restrictions to Cuba.

Trading with and traveling to Cuba does not represent an endorsement of the
Castro regime. To the contrary, it helps ensure that children in Cuba will
be afforded more opportunity than their parents to have lives that are more
full, free and just by opening Cuban society to democratic ideals.

The unilateral sanctions that we have had in place since 1962 have been
ineffective in bringing about change in Cuba. Since other countries,
including Canada, Mexico, Japan, the EU, and all countries in South and
Central America currently trade with Cuba, U.S. policy puts our farmers,
workers and companies at a competitive disadvantage. By some estimates, we
are missing out on an export market of nearly $1 billion per year.

For 40 years, we have denied U.S. citizens and businesses the ability to
make inroads into Cuba - inroads that are vital if we are ever to work with
the Cuban people to bring about real and lasting reform. We should seek to
influence change from within this repressive society by developing a
relationship with the Cuban people - one that we expect over time will
encourage the peaceful transition to democracy and a market-oriented economy
in the post-Castro era. Using trade, engagement and economic incentives to
affect change are tried and true pillars of U.S. foreign policy, as we are
doing with China and Vietnam. Now is the time to do the same with our
neighbors to the south.

Please contact Timothy Punke (4.4677) with Senator Baucus or Dayna Cade
(4.5804) with Senator Hagel if you are interested in co-sponsoring this
legislation.

Max Baucus Chuck Hagel