Havana

[Cuba Tourist]

"they are demanding ("demanding" is the right word, because they are very inflexible when negotiating) ".

Why do you think they are so rigid about negotiating? I found this as well. Since I like to be dominant, this led to me kicking out numerous girls. This was a lose-lose-- they got zero dollars and I got zero sex. If they had been a bit more willing to negotiate, we could have both been happy.

It must have something to do with Communism?

[Chinzano]

Just came from Havana.

Positives:

1. Very affordable Airbnb. I was staying in The Old Town where you can walk by foot everywhere. For 50 $/ night me and my buddy enjoyed a sparkling clean two floor spacious apartment with two separate bedrooms and 2. 5 bathrooms. Private entrance allowed us to bring girls without any problems. Studios and 1 bedrooms can be rented as low as 20-25 $.

2. Beautiful beaches. Do yourself a favor. Spend some time in Varadero or if you can, go to Cayo coco islands.

3. Lots of music.

4. Relatively safe streets.

Negatives:

1. Lving in Havana is harsh. If you are a foreign tourist. Be prepared to be taken advantage of everywhere and pay crazy prices for everything. From a bottle of water to taxi ride. When you take into the account $110 I paid for visa delivered to my home priore to the trip (can be purchsed cheaper at the Havana airport) and the horrible 1 $ - to - 0. 86 cuc exchange rate, than a week in Havana cost me almost twice then a week in Medellin.

2. The girls, are hard to find and they are not as adventurous and passionate about sex as Colombians, and even as Dominicans. On top of that, they are demanding ("demanding" is the right word, because they are very inflexible when negotiating) around 100 cuc (read 115 $) for 2 hours and 150 for the all night. Luckily, planning my trip, I built connections with a few girls using my favorite SeekingArrangement site. Although there are very few Havana girls on that site, that helped me a lot. It practically allowed me to stay away from street strolling looking for girls. The main problem in Cuba for mongering is that prostitution is illegal. Hence the higher prices and lower quality. The country is very poor and surely there are girls who would be interested in transactional relationships, but I wouldn't suggest Cuba for newbie mongers with limited spanish.

I just wanted to visit Cuba for a while. I did it and I think I am now good. Not planning to return any time soon.

[Chris H]

Last time I was there the invasion has just begun and as always excellent times and memories.

However, Cuba is suffering now! Brazil kicked all of Cuba medical missions (biggest moneymaker After tourism) Venezuela can't help Cuba with trade and fuel because of the current trade embargo and economy depression of Venezuela. And Trump reversed most of Obama's travel policies to Cuba!

All of that I would imagine will make it a buyers market! So who's an experienced Cuba monger who is now or recently been to Cuba and can compare and contrast the mongering scene.

P.S.: Two things I miss about Cuba, cubanas and cigars! And I'm against smoking!

I miss it too. Haven't been since January, and can't wait to get back. Hoping to make it there by October for an overdue visit. I miss my chicas!

[MjTravelLove]

Hey guys. Long time, no post.

I will be back in Havana again soon. OK, it's not what it was back in the early 2000's. Not for mongering. On the bright side, things are a bit better for the people there.

I must confess that I do miss the old mongering scene. Around2000 was shooting fish in barrel.

But here we are today. And I have soe questions for the guys who have been spending time in Havana the last few months:

Any good pickup spots, apart from the obvious?

Is pico blanco open and is it any good these days? I always thought it wasn't very good.

How good or bad is the scene along la rampa, including la gruta and any other bars.

Any bars of note with a good pickup scene?

Or, what's your preferred approach? Pick up at night? Pick up daytime? Centro? Old Havana? La Rampa? Malecon?

Share your input guys, and please let's leave the politics and other talk aside for a minute.

I'll report back fellas!

Thanks!

MjT.

[TomJackin]

However, Cuba is suffering now! Brazil kicked all of Cuba medical missions (biggest moneymaker After tourism) Venezuela can't help Cuba with trade and fuel because of the current trade embargo and economy depression of Venezuela. And Trump reversed most of Obama's travel policies to Cuba!

All of that I would imagine will make it a buyers market! So who's an experienced Cuba monger who is now or recently been to Cuba and can compare and contrast the mongering scene.

I was there in May and I had a great time, but the new restrictions are killing the Cuban people. They were hanging on with having cruise ships from the US visit, and that has changed. I posted a long TR on my thoughts about my first and only visit to that wonderful county.

I haven't been back to havana since the american invasion 2 years ago.

I think you have some dates mixed up. The so called American invasion happened after Obama lifted travel restrictions in 2015. But in 2017, Trump reversed the restrictions and the so called American invasion stopped because there were confusing thoughts and Americans thought they were no longer allowed to go to Cuba. But under "Support of the Cuban) which I traveled under, there were no issues whatsoever. Thus, many still don't have an idea how to travel to Cuba legally.

[BrasilSoccer0]

Last time I was there the invasion has just begun and as always excellent times and memories.

However, Cuba is suffering now! Brazil kicked all of Cuba medical missions (biggest moneymaker After tourism) Venezuela can't help Cuba with trade and fuel because of the current trade embargo and economy depression of Venezuela. And Trump reversed most of Obama's travel policies to Cuba!

All of that I would imagine will make it a buyers market! So who's an experienced Cuba monger who is now or recently been to Cuba and can compare and contrast the mongering scene.

P.S.: Two things I miss about Cuba, cubanas and cigars! And I'm against smoking!

[Bart1]

Almost every bit of success I have had in Cuba was from a hired wingman / winggirls. One was a "tourguide" I hired in Havana for USD 70 per WEEK plus fuel that had an old beat up Chevy back in 2007. I told him that he got a $20 tip every day that he got me a chica that I liked for a good price. It was almost like ordering a pizza. He asked me if I liked tall or short, light or dark skinned, etc.

In Santa Clara, I approached honest looking young couples and made the same offer. I also had a casa owner and past-prime cleaning lady take me up on the same offer. Those were in 2017 and 2018. It seems that hiring wingmen / winggirls is a better idea than risk being a nuisance by propositioning random chicas.

The only nuisance was from the casa owner that convinced the chica that she would need her own room to avoid being at risk of getting in trouble with the police. Maybe he was right, but I didn't like being on the hook for an extra room and extra meals. Even so, the non-pro chica was worth it.

I plan on visiting Holguin next year. I wonder if the same strategy will pay off.

That worked great for you, I used a similar type system but it was the casa particulars owners son who was in university who would bring chicas home for me to interview in his parents livingroom, I haven't been back to havana since the american invasion 2 years ago.

[Questner]

Should work. Yes, the wingman needs another room.

[TxSnake]

Almost every bit of success I have had in Cuba was from a hired wingman / winggirls. One was a "tourguide" I hired in Havana for USD 70 per WEEK plus fuel that had an old beat up Chevy back in 2007. I told him that he got a $20 tip every day that he got me a chica that I liked for a good price. It was almost like ordering a pizza. He asked me if I liked tall or short, light or dark skinned, etc.

In Santa Clara, I approached honest looking young couples and made the same offer. I also had a casa owner and past-prime cleaning lady take me up on the same offer. Those were in 2017 and 2018. It seems that hiring wingmen / winggirls is a better idea than risk being a nuisance by propositioning random chicas.

The only nuisance was from the casa owner that convinced the chica that she would need her own room to avoid being at risk of getting in trouble with the police. Maybe he was right, but I didn't like being on the hook for an extra room and extra meals. Even so, the non-pro chica was worth it.

I plan on visiting Holguin next year. I wonder if the same strategy will pay off.

[Ty Down]

Just a heads up.

Multi-millionaire John McAfee is now living in Havana Cuba. His Sail Boat is docked at the Ernest Hemingway Marina.

The US Government has issued an arrest warrant against McAfee, several charges including murder and Tax evasion.

John has announced that he will be running for the President of the United States of America in 2020.

He has been posting weekly podcast from Havana, here's his latest one -.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86u_-AGiaUk&t=10s

[Ty Down]

Ty Town, I've been to LOS Amigos several times after seeing them on Anthony Bourdain, and it always hits the spot, awesome pics BTW! Except for the hairy one, LMFAO.

I don't go to the high end places, if I want steak, lobster or anything else exquisite, we have the best all here in the states.

I'm salivating just thinking about the food and cigars.

Thanks Newport, good post.

[Newport]

Ty Town, I've been to LOS Amigos several times after seeing them on Anthony Bourdain, and it always hits the spot, awesome pics BTW! Except for the hairy one, LMFAO.

Gents they have a very basic version of YELP, like a fraction of the options, but helps find food easily, install Alamesa app on you phones, I've found a couple nice restaurants through them. Some are hard to get a seat in, because the tables are made for 2+ people, I went by myself once before and next trip will probably be by myself again.

Also there are very basic breakfast spots that serve eggs and toast for 4-6 cucs you find them along the way surrounding nacional, its the type of place where you don't remember actual names, just the location.

This country requires a lot of footwork, make sure to bring your best sneakers.

If you want a simple breakfast while on the go, the huge big green high rise in viewing distance of national, has a food stand right on the bottom, they sell ham and cheese sandwich for about 10-15 cups, and they also have someone selling potato croquites as well. I also found sandwiches with mayo and ham, 1 cuc for two, was good eats late night after quite a few drinks, simple but gets the job done.

Another light snack is the hotdogs, by the popular ice cream spot along La rampa 23, again its a snack, not dinner.

On my last trip I found an Italian inspired spot, around the corner from the La Rampa Salsa spot, down the block or two from the malecon, don't remember around which side of the corner, but it was descent and affordable.

I don't go to the high end places, if I want steak, lobster or anything else exquisite, we have the best all here in the states.

I'm salivating just thinking about the food and cigars.

[Mondo707]

That seems like the name of the spot, but the building I am referring to has 5 floors, with 5 restaurants in it.

Hey Chris,

It's the same place. You say there are 5 restaurants there, I was told there were 3 so who knows? I only go to Los Nardos which is my fave and the one which I'd recommend since I haven't been to the others.

Mondo.

[Mondo707]

Hey,

Just came across this article on the Cuban press today. Thought I post it for those who are early risers and enjoy a trip to the beach.

Starting this coming Tuesday there will be train service between La Habana and Guanabo daily except on Mondays.

It mentions the train leaves early morning (for me) 8:17 am and returns at 6:05 pm, so for those who monger in La Habana and want to have a day in Playas del Este / Guanabo beaches this is an excellent and very cheap option.

BTW, the fare is 1 CUP!, which means like. 05 cents.

Mondo.

La Direcciand General de Transporte de La Habana informa que a partir de maana, sbado 20 de julio, comenzar a operar un tren de pasajeros hacia las Playas del Este de la capital.

Este servicio se estrena "como parte de LOS planes previstos para el Verano 2019 why conforme a las posibilidades actuales en este tipo de prestaciones para el merecido disfrute de nuestra poblaciand", refiere la nota oficial.

El tren tendr una salida diaria, de martes a domingo, con destino a la estaciand Guanabo, parte a las 8:17 am Del patio de carga de la Estaciand Central en La Habana Vieja why retorna a las 6:05 pm El costo del pasaje ser de un peso (1. 00 CUP).

En su itinerario, el servicio contar con las siguientes paradas obligatorias why facultativas (en este ltimo caso se realiza cuando hay viajeros para abordar o bajar del tren):

Enlace Gas (facultativa).

Arenal (obligatoria).

Apeadero Crucero de Guanabacoa (facultativo).

Apeadero Naland (facultativo).

Apeadero Cementerio de LOS Judos (facultativa).

Cambute (obligatoria).

Apeadero Cuadra (facultativa).

Apeadero Bacuranao (facultativa).

Apeadero Tarar-Barreras (facultativa).

Apeadero Las Playas (facultativa).

Apeadero Corona (facultativa).

Enlace Ramal Playas del Este (facultativa).

[Chris H]

Hey,

I think you are referring to LOS Nardos which sits as you say across the Capitol building and it's on the 3rd floor. There are 2 other restaurants in the same building.

Like you say excellent food there and their prices are quite reasonable.

Usually they have a piano playing, last time I visited they had piano and violin, as you prolly know music quality in Cuba is very good.

Enjoy.

Mondo.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...ince_Cuba.html#photos; aggregationId=101&albumid=101&filter=7&ff=407591934.

That seems like the name of the spot, but the building I am referring to has 5 floors, with 5 restaurants in it.