Havana

**CubanFun** · 04-11-18 17:52

Originally Posted by UncleVolodya [View Original Post]

Sounds great. How did you get that great rate?

Make sure you have the Blue $100 bills. And then there are plenty of guys next to Parque Central on Obrapia and Paseo de Marti. Requires a little negotiation. But once you have a guy you can come back to him whenever and skip the negotiation next time.

The guy who changed my money also showed me a place to eat around the corner that was super sketchy but quite good. Cost me something like 1 CUC for the foreigner rate. They paid half that if I remember correctly (it was a year ago that I was there).

**Invision6606** · 04-11-18 15:37

Can we take vape, vape juice or cigarettes with us to Cuba? What's else is not allowed beside guns and drugs?

**RamoneAustin** · 04-11-18 03:11

Originally Posted by EshuTheGreat8 [View Original Post]

You guys got any tips? Is private, all I need to do. I'm trying to pick someone where in walking distance to Salon Rojo.

Hmmmmm. You did say you have read past entries on this forum? If you haven't I strongly recommend that you do. Anyways use Airbnb and read their apartment / room rules to see if they specifically talk about guests having to sign in. My first apartment landlord went "through the motions" and told me I had to sign in any guests but she never checked. I recommend using either the "Map of Cuba Offline" app which had worked well for me or the MAPS. ME (you have to download the Cuba map) for navigation. Also recommend downloading Google Translate and make sure you download the Spanish Language packet so you can use it offline. IMHO if your Spanish is limited try "La Rampa" and Habana Vieja (the pedicab method) for Daytime action. Remember assume everyone is a hustler so don't let your guard down. Lock your shit if you have a "mango" (girl) in your place. Don't tell a girl you want to see her "papaya" (LOL). Based on my personal experience you do have to research / prepare to a certain degree and have to "put in some work" if you want to have some success in Cuba (or join Chris H's crew. I just LOL'd myself). You can't be a lazy monger in Cuba but that's just my 2 cents. Now go out there and makes all of us proud!

P.S: Take pictures.

**TxSnake** · 04-11-18 02:24

Originally Posted by FunLuvr [View Original Post]

Rebel Monger gave you an answer for each of your questions. I condensed most of the questions into my answer. First, you don't need the internet to use Google Translate if you type everything. You only need the internet for voice translation. I was in Havana in January for the first time as a monger. The only other time was on a cruise.

Prostitution is illegal in Cuba. Ladies can be harassed by the police if they are only walking down the street with a foreigner. I had heard that the police will not bother the foreigners. That was not the case for me. There was one section of la Rampa that two policemen followed me. All I was doing was walking around, drinking a bottle of water.

I was there five nights. I walked the Malacon four nights and I did not see any lady who appeared to be available. Most were with kids, or in a group of mostly men.

IMO, the women are not very attractive. Many are overweight. Many are black; nothing wrong with that, just not my preference. I found one small, slender lady, but I had to follow her for more than two blocks just to talk to her. You will have to exert effort to find action. There are no massage parlors, etc where you can go for guaranteed action..

The best girls in Cuba have never exchanged cash for sex in their life. However, letting a Cuban chica know that you can be "convinced" to buy that dress she wants or a low end cell phone works just as well. Cuba is off the charts to have a weeks-long sexual experience with a beautiful, clean, attentive chica. The last one I was with turned down a previous tourist who wanted to take her "clubbing". She said yes to spending the night with me with a quiet evening of watching movies and playing chess together. We watched them on a laptop that I paid $150 for. I told her that it was hers *at the end of my trip* if she and I were on good terms. She wanted that laptop come hell or high water.

**Chris H** · 04-11-18 00:23

Originally Posted by RamoneAustin [View Original Post]

I partially disagree with you sir. Everyone is getting their hustle on in the HAV but yes you're right we shouldn't be so stressed while we are there. To EshuTheGreat8 go La Habana and have fun but watch out for the hustle. For the love of God please take pictures for us.

Chris H: Seriously dude what do I have to do to join your crew?

Come on down there when we are down there. Our next appearance, is May7th thru May10th.

**Chris H** · 04-11-18 00:17

Originally Posted by Invision6606 [View Original Post]

Where did you get that exchange rate in Havana?

On streets. We got the hookup, but anyone that's not a scary cat can get the same. No worries.

**EshuTheGreat8** · 04-10-18 20:26

You guys got any tips? Is private, all I need to do. I'm trying to pick someone where in walking distance to Salon Rojo.

**RamoneAustin** · 04-10-18 16:24

Originally Posted by ChrisH [View Original Post]

Was just in HAV 2 weeks ago, and was getting 98 CUC for every $100 bill. No hassles, no problems, very easy. HAV is such a layed back, stress free city, no need to press the simple things down there.

I partially disagree with you sir. Everyone is getting their hustle on in the HAV but yes you're right we shouldn't be so stressed while we are there. To EshuTheGreat8 go La Habana and have fun but watch out for the hustle. For the love of God please take pictures for us.

Chris H: Seriously dude what do I have to do to join your crew?

**Uncle Volodya** · 04-10-18 16:19

Originally Posted by ChrisH [View Original Post]

Was just in HAV 2 weeks ago, and was getting 98 CUC for every $100 bill. No hassles, no problems, very easy. HAV is such a layed back, stress free city, no need to press the simple things down there.

Sounds great. How did you get that great rate?

**Invision6606** · 04-10-18 12:59

Originally Posted by ChrisH [View Original Post]

Was just in HAV 2 weeks ago, and was getting 98 CUC for every $100 bill. No hassles, no problems, very easy. HAV is such a layed back, stress free city, no need to press the simple things down there.

Where did you get that exchange rate in Havana?

**Chris H** · 04-10-18 11:54

Was just in HAV 2 weeks ago, and was getting 98 CUC for every $100 bill. No hassles, no problems, very easy. HAV is such a layed back, stress free city, no need to press the simple things down there.

**Mondo707** · 04-10-18 05:58

If you do go to Cuba, you would save very little by getting Canadian money. The exchange rate you will get at AAA will not be very good. I have no idea if they charge a fee to exchange the Canadian money back to US dollars if you don't spend it all. If you plan to spend more than $1000 in Cuba, then it probably would be worthwhile to get Canadian dollars.

Hey,

I tried to exchange USD to CAD on my last trip thru AAA in Socal.

Do not waste your time doing this as I will explain what takes place.

After going round and around with many offices not having a clue about the exchange, I found one who gave me solid info and was positive they'd be able to do the transaction.

Before heading to this office I checked the Forex (that's the official site for exchange rates for currencies) That day it's was 124 CAD for 100 USD.

Finally, when I got to the person I had talked to before and told her about doing the transaction, I asked if there was a commission for this and she replied that AAA does not get any commission / fees. From here I told her to figure out how many CAD I'd get for my USD.

Well you guessed it, right? No commission but instead of getting 124 CAD (that day's exchange rate) I'd be getting 112 CAD!

So, instead of giving you the market rate for the transaction, you get a 12% hit on your exchange.

Hope this helps out those of you planning to exchange USD to CAD thru AAA.

Again folks, there is no free lunch.

Mondo.

P.S. BTW, It turned out the guy I ended renting the apartment from did exchange USD to CUC in very favorable terms, so in that respect I lucked out big time.

**Mr Gogo** · 04-10-18 03:55

I tried to figure out what went wrong so I went back to read your trip report. You said it was cold so maybe that contributed to your lack of options. Also you said you went to the cafe by the sidewalk, that was probably Sofia's. That was you post up spot instead of walking around looking like a tourist. Sofia's has live music and girls are always peeking in there. Next time sit there and just chill, the girls will give you the eye walking by or have a seat inside. It's usually a couple tours by the sidewalk that speak English who can hook you up also. Finally, next time use one of the girls you don't like to tap into her network. The key to Cuba is to be tapped into the local scene through Cubans. From new clubs to girls, you got to make connections there to fully enjoy Havana.

**Fun Luvr** · 04-10-18 01:17

Originally Posted by EshuTheGreat8 [View Original Post]

Can I get a quick crash course? Recently divorce and plan on heading to Cuba for pure mongering purposes. I love the GFE potential. But, I'm going solo, speak no Spanish and will be heading out early may. I'm so nervous I thought about just going to Tijuana where I'm at least guaranteed action. ...

Rebel Monger gave you an answer for each of your questions. I condensed most of the questions into my answer. First, you don't need the internet to use Google Translate if you type everything. You only need the internet for voice translation. I was in Havana in January for the first time as a monger. The only other time was on a cruise.

Prostitution is illegal in Cuba. Ladies can be harassed by the police if they are only walking down the street with a foreigner. I had heard that the police will not bother the foreigners. That was not the case for me. There was one section of la Rampa that two policemen followed me. All I was doing was walking around, drinking a bottle of water.

I was there five nights. I walked the Malacon four nights and I did not see any lady who appeared to be available. Most were with kids, or in a group of mostly men.

IMO, the women are not very attractive. Many are overweight. Many are black; nothing wrong with that, just not my preference. I found one small, slender lady, but I had to follow her for more than two blocks just to talk to her. You will have to exert effort to find action. There are no massage parlors, etc where you can go for guaranteed action.

There are so many other countries to visit where prostitution is legal, and you don't run the risk of getting into trouble with the US government for going there. In addition to the countries Rebel Monger mentioned, there is Costa Rica. Many people there speak some English.

If you do go to Cuba, you would save very little by getting Canadian money. The exchange rate you will get at AAA will not be very good. I have no idea if they charge a fee to exchange the Canadian money back to US dollars if you don't spend it all. If you plan to spend more than $1000 in Cuba, then it probably would be worthwhile to get Canadian dollars.