General Info

[Disappointed]

With Castro now suffering, who thinks the Cuba we know and love will change?

[Disappointed]

Some of you guys said you joined CyberCupido to lay groundwork for a trip. Do you have experience with Amigos.com ? Suggestions as to what is better to prep for Cuba ?

Thanks

Best Prep is to learn to Salsa - Its a banker!

[BeersTerry]

Some of you guys said you joined CyberCupido to lay groundwork for a trip. Do you have experience with Amigos.com ? Suggestions as to what is better to prep for Cuba ?

Thanks

[Vedado Fun]

I've had one email bounce back to me two times.

[Organicgrowth]

Thanks Petrolero,

I agree with your comments: I guess its just my natural paranoia when I haven't made contact with my friends...

Regards, Havanaman

[Petrolero]

trouble with internet communications with friends in Havana?

When I was there in June a socio had Net access, in July it wasn't available. He had an inspection at his firm and this shut down many office activities for a few weeks. It didn't make sense to me, but very little of that system makes sense in the business environment we are accustomed.

At another location, someone tried to access a website from FL and it shut down Net usage for 2-3 weeks pending investigation.

I wouldn't worry about it, fluke crap happens all the time there.

I have been getting email from there all week from correodecuba.cu and other corporate concerns.

[Organicgrowth]

Is anyone having trouble with internet communications with friends in Havana? I knw the internet situation is not always the best in Cuba, however I have friends who use computers as part of their work and even they have not been replying this past week…. I wonder if this is juts me or others / related to some clamp down similar to the one that happened a couple of years ago…

Regards, Havanaman

[Trottle Buck]

I'll be heading for Holguin and vecinity for 2 weeks, air fare only.
Can anyone have info on casas particulares near the beaches.
tThanks

[Jonas]

I take Havanamans advise and check some anther forums and find this one.
Well worth reading
http://www.cubaamor.com/cubaforums/

And the girls coming in 6 weeks if the paper handling works as it shall.

[Routard]

Cubana flight will cost you 230$ between Caracas and Havana one way. Cuban authorities will put no stamp in your passport. Visa is arranged by travel agent, you don't even need to go to the Cuban embassy, at least for EEC citizen. Can't guarantee 100% that it's the same for US citizen.

Take care, Caracas and even Havana are not that cheap as you might expect. Also both are not the easiest cities to monger in Latin America (for different reasons however).

[Grenada 79]

Hello folks,

Just a couple questions. Quite soon I will be spending some time in Venezuela. Two weeks actually and from there i will travel to cuba, return to venezuela for a few more days. Thats about as much as I have and will plan. My only concerns are, of course, are how I will not get caught by the US during or after my travels, and that I do not run out of money before my return, the latter being the lesser of the two concerns.

I would greatly appreciate any updated information anyone could give about these matters, namely:

a) The current cost of a arline ticket from Caracas to Havana (same day, or only 1 or 2 days in advance, cash)

b) The current possibility of not having my passport stamped, and how best to go about doing so. Or better yet-

c) Obtaining a visa which could be used in place of my passport for any stamping, viewing, etc.

I plan on spending the day before at the Cuban embassy in Caracas (assuming one exists).

And of course any additional information anyone wishes to contribute is welcome as well. Quick info- I'm in my early 20's, speak eehhh---almost decent spanish, better than I understand. I usually enjoy larger cities/capitals, but usually spend a day or two traveling to another part pf the country or two. Usually devide my time between the wealthier tourist activities, finer dining, hotels, discos/bars/night clubs/etc, and on the other side of the spectrum as well. Hostels, very cheep food, as close to natives - of all eononomic backgrounds, usually more on the bottom of the scale, but I will need to see both sides of la vida. Women - priority. Will meet as many as possible, with or without P4P - whtever happens.

I thank in advance anyone interested in commenting offering advice, ideas, etc. , and will absolutely thank these people/the forum, upon my return by posting as much information and pics as I think will be helpful/enjoyable and anyone else.

P.S. 95 percent of what I know about these travels have come from this forum in the past, far in the past, while planning a trip I never was able to take.

[Spiros K]

Though it might not sound like it, I'm pro-European too! I just get confused and frustrated by the seemingly constant name changes, subgroupings, and the subtle distinctions between them: EC, EU, EEA, EEC, ECSC, EFTA. And that's only those that start with E!

Can't I be pro-European *and* fed up with that too?



And accordingto the wiki we're both wrong:

"The Schengen treaty allowed removal of internal border controls and harmonisation of external controls between its member states. This excludes the UK and Ireland, which have derogations, but includes the non-EU members Iceland and Norway. Switzerland also voted via referendum in 2005 to become part of the Schengen zone. "

Thank you for your clarification my monger friend!

[AddictedToWomen]

Though it might not sound like it, I'm pro-European too! I just get confused and frustrated by the seemingly constant name changes, subgroupings, and the subtle distinctions between them: EC, EU, EEA, EEC, ECSC, EFTA. And that's only those that start with E!

Can't I be pro-European *and* fed up with that too?



And accordingto the wiki we're both wrong:

"The Schengen treaty allowed removal of internal border controls and harmonisation of external controls between its member states. This excludes the UK and Ireland, which have derogations, but includes the non-EU members Iceland and Norway. Switzerland also voted via referendum in 2005 to become part of the Schengen zone. "

[Spiros K]

Thanks Havanaman.

A clarification on your most recent article. There is freedom of movement (no internal border controls) between the subset of the EU (or EEA, or whatever they're being called this week) countries that are signatories to the Schengan agreement -- that's most of "Old" continental Europe. It doesn't include the UK and a number of other countries.

This is not entirely correct. Despite the fact that UK is not included in Schengen agreement you can enter the country, if you are an EU citizen, very easy even with a national ID. In any case I really don't understand the motives behind sarcastic expressions such as "or EEA, or whatever they're being called this week". I'm a proud EU citizen and I believe that your comments may insult some european members. Nobody have said anything wrong about your country (UK) or Commonwealth so please let's keep politics out of this forum. FYI the only EU members that choose not to join the Schengen Agreement are UK and Ireland, so "...and a number of other countries" doesn't apply.

[AddictedToWomen]

Thanks Havanaman.

A clarification on your most recent article. There is freedom of movement (no internal border controls) between the subset of the EU (or EEA, or whatever they're being called this week) countries that are signatories to the Schengan agreement -- that's most of "Old" continental Europe. It doesn't include the UK and a number of other countries.