Havana

Hi to everybody. I'm new here.

Any notices about a very beautiful girl in Havana, named Yohanna?

Thanks for any notice

Yeah,

I know where she lives, which one? Do you know how many Yohanna I have met in the number of times I have gone to Cuba?

The question is where did you meet this girl? Where does she say is she from? If she told you the truth.

How does she look? Blonde, Mulatta, Black, Skinny, Tall, short??

How does hse look.

As an American, I can't use credit cards in Cuba. That means that I have to bring all my cash with me for 10 days. What is the best way to carry this/ store this? I hate to carry so much cash with me, but I don't know how happy I am about leaving it in the room either. What are your thoughts on this? Would it be safe in my casa particular?

Also, does it matter what currency I exchange my US $ to before I get there (Euros vs Pounds vs Canadian $, etc)? I thought a casa particular owner emailed me that Pounds gets a better exchange rate than Euros.

Thoughts and advice?

Thanks,

Dolphin

[QUOTE=Dolphin2007]As an American, I can't use credit cards in Cuba. That means that I have to bring all my cash with me for 10 days. What is the best way to carry this/ store this? I hate to carry so much cash with me, but I don't know how happy I am about leaving it in the room either. What are your thoughts on this? Would it be safe in my casa particular?

Also, does it matter what currency I exchange my US $ to before I get there (Euros vs Pounds vs Canadian $, etc)? I thought a casa particular owner emailed me that Pounds gets a better exchange rate than Euros.

Thoughts and advice?

Thanks,

Dolphin[/QUOTE]
I always bring cash with me. Take 100 dollar bills only and make sure they are in good condition or the banks won't exchange them. I exchange a small amount at the airport when I arrive and then exchange more as I need it at a bank. I only carry a very small amount of cash with me when walking around.
I keep my cash locked up in a suitcase at my casa and take a little out as I need it. I stay at the same casa all the time and have never had a problem. I trust my casa owner because I have stayed with her many times but I don't trust anyone else so I keep all my important stuff like laptop, camera gear and electronics locked in my suticases at all times. If you are planning to have vistors in your room lock up everything. Do not give anyone the opportunity to disappoint you.

[QUOTE=Vedado Fun]I always bring cash with me. Take 100 dollar bills only and make sure they are in good condition or the banks won't exchange them. I exchange a small amount at the airport when I arrive and then exchange more as I need it at a bank. I only carry a very small amount of cash with me when walking around.
I keep my cash locked up in a suitcase at my casa and take a little out as I need it. I stay at the same casa all the time and have never had a problem. I trust my casa owner because I have stayed with her many times but I don't trust anyone else so I keep all my important stuff like laptop, camera gear and electronics locked in my suticases at all times. If you are planning to have vistors in your room lock up everything. Do not give anyone the opportunity to disappoint you.[/QUOTE]


Depending when you are leaving you may get yourself a Duales card. I personally send 80% pf my spending money in Cuba via Duales. The process quite simple and it is one of the most reliable compnaies as to sending money to Cuba for a relative, friend or even yourself (in our case). Here is the link to Duales: [url]http://duales.com/eng/Content/home.asp[/url]

What VedadoFun said about having $100 dollars a day for spending money is correct. If you do not feel confortable with Duales, PM me and I will give you the name and address of a couple of Houses that are very, very trustworthy.

When are you leaving?

Thanks for the advice Cubanito.

I went to their website, and I see that Duales skims 20% off the top. So, if I send $1000, I'll only see $800. I think I rather carry the big bills.

I'm leaving the first week in March. It'll be my first time there, and everybody here has been extremely helpful!!

Cuidate,

Dolphin

----------------------------

[QUOTE=El Cubanito]Depending when you are leaving you may get yourself a Duales card. I personally send 80% pf my spending money in Cuba via Duales. The process quite simple and it is one of the most reliable compnaies as to sending money to Cuba for a relative, friend or even yourself (in our case). Here is the link to Duales: [url]http://duales.com/eng/Content/home.asp[/url]

What VedadoFun said about having $100 dollars a day for spending money is correct. If you do not feel confortable with Duales, PM me and I will give you the name and address of a couple of Houses that are very, very trustworthy.

When are you leaving?[/QUOTE]

Dolphin,
Be advise that in in Cuba since about 2002, there is a 10% tax(penalty) on the US dollar. No other currency is "taxed." Prior to converting to CUC, the $1000 will be "taxed" 10% and then exchanged on the current rate at the time. That means that the 1000 becomes 900 USD then exchanged to CUC. At last week's rate, it would give you about 803 CUC.
You will get more for the "buck" if you buy another currency prior and exchange that. It takes a little effort on your part but for me I always find it beneficial. On my last trip, (Dec 07), an original 1000 USD convert to Canadian Dollars, netted 830 CUC. While 27 CUC is not much, multiply that by 4, it becomes an additional 108 CUC!!!

Thanks Cubiche,

Now I understand why my casa owner said to exchange to Euros or Pounds before I arrive. I'll definitely do that. I have to go to the bank anyway to get the large sum of $, so I'll do the exchange then. I'll check for the best exchange rate at the time to decide which one to pick.

Thanks!

Dolphin

[QUOTE=Cubiche]Dolphin,

Be advise that in in Cuba since about 2002, there is a 10% tax (penalty) on the US dollar. No other currency is "taxed. " Prior to converting to CUC, the $1000 will be "taxed" 10% and then exchanged on the current rate at the time. That means that the 1000 becomes 900 USD then exchanged to CUC. At last week's rate, it would give you about 803 CUC.

You will get more for the "buck" if you buy another currency prior and exchange that. It takes a little effort on your part but for me I always find it beneficial. On my last trip, (Dec 07), an original 1000 USD convert to Canadian Dollars, netted 830 CUC. While 27 CUC is not much, multiply that by 4, it becomes an additional 108 CUC! [/QUOTE]

You just gotta find a place that does'nt gouge you for the exchange. The Canadian dollar is about par with the U$D.

Just back from Havana a few days ago. Still a pretty good place for girls but only if you've been there before and know where to look. There were not many easy pickings in the street. I only walked along the Malecon one night and never met anyone. Friday and Saturday nights along La Rampa are still pretty good but not like it used to be. I met a few girls in the open air bar across from Coppelia on 23rd. Other than that I enlisted the help of a Cuban buddy to do the hunting for me since I was quite busy doing other things. He served me very well. I managed to meet 6 hot girls in 8 days. A couple of them were so hot I kept them for 2 nights.
If you are a first timer to Havana you may be very disappointed.

Is La Rampa the nickname for a street? One night I was in downtown Havana and I asked 2 cab drivers where "La Rampa" was and they both gave me blank looks. I then asked a door man at a hotel and he didnt know what I was talking about eirher.

[QUOTE=Bravo]Is La Rampa the nickname for a street? One night I was in downtown Havana and I asked 2 cab drivers where "La Rampa" was and they both gave me blank looks. I then asked a door man at a hotel and he didnt know what I was talking about eirher.[/QUOTE]
La Rampa is really 23rd street from the Malecon up to "G" or Avenida de los Presidentes as far as I know. You will see signs along this area that say La Rampa. I would say this is one of the main areas for action in the Vedadao area of Havana. I always stay in this area and do most of my hunting in this area. It's worked out well for me.

Hi All,

I was reading a book that said that I should bring my own condoms, water bottle, toilet paper and some other misc supplies. Is that true that I'd have a difficult time getting condoms there? Also, are there any other things that perhaps are not typically packed for trips that I should definitely pack for Cuba?

Thanks!

Dolphin

[QUOTE=Bravo]Is La Rampa the nickname for a street? One night I was in downtown Havana and I asked 2 cab drivers where "La Rampa" was and they both gave me blank looks. I then asked a door man at a hotel and he didnt know what I was talking about eirher.[/QUOTE]

Were you asking Cubans or Tourists? hahaha
Seriously, thats like living in New York and having never heard of Broadway.

[QUOTE=Dolphin2007]Hi All,

I was reading a book that said that I should bring my own condoms, water bottle, toilet paper and some other misc supplies. Is that true that I'd have a difficult time getting condoms there? Also, are there any other things that perhaps are not typically packed for trips that I should definitely pack for Cuba?

Thanks!

Dolphin[/QUOTE]

Condoms: yes. its hard to find any over there and most are made in China (small and insecure)

Water bottle: no way. You can buy water in every store

Toilet paper: Might be a good idea, Cuban TP is quite thin, but just take 2 or 3 papers, then you'll be fine. AND VERY IMPORTANT: do not throw the TP into the toilet. there are TP baskets next to every tiolet. Cuban canalizations are from the 50 or older and do not have enough undertow. (If you do not believe me you'll have to clean your bath)
Bring your own medicaments.

Most things can be bought in stores. just look around long enough till you find it. And mostly its 3.class material.
Bring some lil perfumes, soaps etc. as gifts for the chicas.