Havana

[HarryDubois]

I want to go, but would like to hear from some people that have been lately. I understand the 3 day quarantine. But is decent food, cold beer available without having any hookups or great Spanish? I have 2 chicas I'm very anxious to see that will quarantine with me.

I believe that someone on this site must bite the bullet, take one for the team and make an expeditionary trip to Havana as soon as possible to discover the new world of post covid lockdown: the currency situation, black market rates, food, lodging, everything. Think of it as like being a new Columbus, sailing into the unknown in search of chica treasures. Perhaps the National Geographic Society will sponsor this intrepid explorer?

[Ty Down]

I don't know of a reputable site yet, like for Venezuela or Argentina. Yes, the market rates are more than double the official, and Cubans post in ads the rate for the day they can exchange in an old fashioned way. The official rate has no chance to hold and never had. I expect it to go up at least five fold soon, but we shall see.

Yes you are right. I'm thinking Cuba in its current political form, is doomed. The Cuban Peso is worthless. What international trading partner will accept Cuban Peso's? None. Nada. They won't, that's why there is a mad scramble in Cuba to acquire USD. It's going to get crazy in Cuba.

As a side story, and completely unrelated to what's going on now. Before my last trip to Cuba, I asked my main chica that I wanted about one hundred 3 peso CUP's notes. It's the one with Che Guevara picture on it. I had noticed that they were bringing about $15 USD here in the States. When I got to Cuba, she had about one hundred and twenty of the 3 peso notes. She just gave them to me because she knows they are worthless in Cuba. The End.

[Questner]

Yep, it says 25:1. But your point is not that. When you say market rates you mean black market rates. So tell us what is the black market rate.

I don't know of a reputable site yet, like for Venezuela or Argentina. Yes, the market rates are more than double the official, and Cubans post in ads the rate for the day they can exchange in an old fashioned way. The official rate has no chance to hold and never had. I expect it to go up at least five fold soon, but we shall see.

[Ty Down]

I want to go, but would like to hear from some people that have been lately. I understand the 3 day quarantine. But is decent food, cold beer available without having any hookups or great Spanish? I have 2 chicas I'm very anxious to see that will quarantine with me.

I would recommend that you wait until this covid shit is over. You will not be able to see your chicas, tourist cannot contact any Cubans other than the workers at the resort that you will be confined to. BTW. The workers are also confined to the resort, nobody can leave, except for your bus ride back to the airport.

*Travelers visiting Varadero are required to have COVID-19 insurance and must bring proof of their hotel reservation. All tourists are required to stay in the 'safe tourist corridor' zone. *.

More here - https://cubatravelservices.com/notic...lers-covid-19/.

This Canadian guy just got back from Cayo Coco. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsa-nN2CcLA.

[Muzungufotsy]

I want to go, but would like to hear from some people that have been lately. I understand the 3 day quarantine. But is decent food, cold beer available without having any hookups or great Spanish? I have 2 chicas I'm very anxious to see that will quarantine with me.

They won't let you have a quarantine with girls stop dreaming! A doctor comes to check on you every day.

[SmotPoker]

I want to go, but would like to hear from some people that have been lately. I understand the 3 day quarantine. But is decent food, cold beer available without having any hookups or great Spanish? I have 2 chicas I'm very anxious to see that will quarantine with me.

[Zeos1]

Don't be gullible, the market rates are much higher than 24:1 on CUP.

Yep, it says 25:1. But your point is not that. When you say market rates you mean black market rates. So tell us what is the black market rate.

[Questner]

Don't be gullible, the market rates are much higher than 24:1 on CUP.

[Ty Down]

Received this this morning from DING, I use them to recharge Cubacel.

As of January 1, 2021 all recharges to Cuba will be sent in CUP (Cuban Pesos).

Following the recent decision of the Cuban Government to withdraw the Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) currency from the national economy next year. As of January 1, 2021, all recharges will be sent to Cuba in CUP instead of CUC, as defined by the Cuban Telecommunications Operator, ETECSA.

But don't worry, we've done everything necessary to ensure your refills are received as quickly and easily as usual.

All Cuban rates and any existing balance in CUC will continue to be valid and ETECSA will convert them to CUP according to the exchange rate 1 CUC = 25 CUP.

Therefore, you can enjoy the same benefits received so far for a recharge in CUC.

For example, with a 500 CUP recharge, you can buy a 2 GB Cubacel Data Plan as you did before with a 20 CUC recharge.

We will show you the value of the recharge in CUP and its corresponding price in USD or any other international currency, according to the exchange rate on the day of purchase.

This change will be executed between 10 PM (Cuban time) on December 31 and 8 AM (Cuban time) on January 1, 2021. During this time all ETECSA systems will be interrupted and therefore no recharges can be sent To Cuba.

We kindly ask you to send your recharges to Cuba starting at 9 AM (Cuban time) on January 1, 2021.

[DarrenGap]

I see this as an opportunity to teach capitalism and demonstrate that everything has a price...

I think they already know this.

[TxSnake]

That happens with (most) any Cuban you communicate with. They befriend you in Facebook, send you a couple of inconsequential messages and then the "life is too hard here" message hits you, even from people you know (even family). It's really hard there but a cell recharge or $100 is not going to change that.

So, to answer your question: is it a scam, hassle or true request? My answer is yes to "all of the above. " By the way, when they get a recharge, they can (and will) sell them.

IMHO, no matter what others might say, and based on my experience, there's no need to communicate with the women you want to bed before you get there, and never after you leave. That always ends up with a money request or something else, and no, it won't count as a prepayment (no matter what people tell you).

Can you hunt a tiger before you get to the jungle? Of course not, right? Neither you can bed a woman before you meet her. In Cuba or any other country, hunt once you get there, that's where the fun is!

I see this as an opportunity to teach capitalism and demonstrate that everything has a price. It also keeps things transactional and not social / emotional. I have gotten good results with chicas that understand the idea of receiving in proportion to what they provide. There are ways to get an indication what kind of person you're dealing with. Similar to a slot (****?) machine, don't put in more than you're willing to lose. Sending an amount that communicates a "tip" for facilitating vacation plans has gotten me good results. I look for a female "travel buddy" with benefits. "Amigos con derechos" as the Maluma song say. I have met several chicas that don't want cash. One memorable was one that put out every day in exchange for a trip to Cienfuegos.

[Sammytheman]

Haha yeah they have a bus for that. But I didn't want to turn a 4 hour trip into a 7 hour trip. Plus, you can stop and take a piss whenever you want to LOL. So all in all, I guess $300 is not bad at all.

I've paid $100 CUCs to go from havana to holguin in 2012 with a a police officer I befriended. He stayed with us for the whole week and brought us back to Havana for another $100. I did pay for his food / clubs totalling another $200 cucs or so. Good old days.

[Chris H]

IMHO, no matter what others might say, and based on my experience, there's no need to communicate with the women you want to bed before you get there, and never after you leave. That always ends up with a money request or something else, and no, it won't count as a prepayment (no matter what people tell you).

Can you hunt a tiger before you get to the jungle? Of course not, right? Neither you can bed a woman before you meet her. In Cuba or any other country, hunt once you get there, that's where the fun is!

What a GREAT MESSAGE! ALL very true. No need for communication, until you are actually on the island, and done with it once you depart the island.

[Ty Down]

I think that $300 for a taxi ride from Havana to Ciego (round trip) is not bad at all, that's a long haul. But don't they have a bus for that? https://www.viazul.com.

Haha yeah they have a bus for that. But I didn't want to turn a 4 hour trip into a 7 hour trip. Plus, you can stop and take a piss whenever you want to LOL. So all in all, I guess $300 is not bad at all.

[Rebel Monger]

Cuban experts,

I have been messaging a few of these Chicas last week or so, they seem very sweet and the back on forth on messenger is well. Then they drop a request for a recarga citing their financial hardship. Is that some sort of scam, hassle or a true request?

Of course I declined saying I haven't met you. But I am just wondering if any others have had that experience.

That happens with (most) any Cuban you communicate with. They befriend you in Facebook, send you a couple of inconsequential messages and then the "life is too hard here" message hits you, even from people you know (even family). It's really hard there but a cell recharge or $100 is not going to change that.

So, to answer your question: is it a scam, hassle or true request? My answer is yes to "all of the above. " By the way, when they get a recharge, they can (and will) sell them.

IMHO, no matter what others might say, and based on my experience, there's no need to communicate with the women you want to bed before you get there, and never after you leave. That always ends up with a money request or something else, and no, it won't count as a prepayment (no matter what people tell you).

Can you hunt a tiger before you get to the jungle? Of course not, right? Neither you can bed a woman before you meet her. In Cuba or any other country, hunt once you get there, that's where the fun is!