Havana

[QUOTE=RebelMonger;2497754]Back in 1997 you could only pay with USD in the stores they had set up at the time. How do I know that? I went there at that time and used USD in the stores, as a matter of fact, I didn't exchanged any USD into CUP at all.[/QUOTE]This is correct. My first visit to Cuba in the late 90's, I used USD everywhere. I remember being shocked that this island that we (the US) were trying to isolate was actually using our currency. Almost as shocked at how there were so many hookers in your face in a place where prostitution was supposed to be illegal.

Hey,

Here is the info for the official opening of the airport in la Habana. This is an article from Cubadebate, the semi-official government media.

For those of you who are not Español fluent, do a Google translation to read the article.

In case you just want to know the opening date, it's Sunday November 15th.

Mondo.

[URL]http://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2020/11/10/aeropuerto-internacional-jose-marti-reiniciara-operaciones-el-proximo-15-de-noviembre/[/URL]#. X6 uMvVB7 mdU.

The link below is all about the sanitary protocol that travelers go thru once they arrive in Cuba.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu9y6hj3p2I&feature=emb_logo[/URL]

Aeropuerto Internacional Jos Mart reiniciar operaciones el prximo 15 de noviembre.

En este artculo: Aerolneas, Aeronutica, Aeropuerto Internacional Jos Mart, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Economa, Ministerio del Transporte (MITRANS), Salud, SARS-CoV-2, viajes, Virus.

10 noviembre 2020.

10.

Compartir.

173.

Aeropuerto Internacional Jos Mart. Foto: [URL]Aeropuertos.net[/URL].

El Instituto de Aeronutica Civil de Cuba comunica que se ha decidido reiniciar las operaciones areas comerciales, regulares why chrter en el Aeropuerto Internacional Jos Mart de La Habana, el prximo 15 de noviembre, a las 00 horas.

En tal sentido, se ha implementado el Protocolo para el Control Sanitario, dirigido al reinicio de las actividades aeronuticas, que ya se ha venido aplicando en el resto de LOS aeropuertos cubanos. El protocolo incluye entre otras medidas, la realizaciand de la prueba PCR en las distintas terminales internacionales a todos LOS viajeros que arriben al territorio nacional.

Segand lo dispuesto por las autoridades de Salud Pblica, a partir de esta fecha, se ha previsto el cobro de una tarifa sanitaria, con el objetivo de cubrir LOS costos de LOS protocolos implementados.

Cuba reitera su decisiand de garantizar la salud why la vida de sus nacionales, as como de LOS extranjeros que nos visiten, ratificndose como un destino seguro, cuyos resultados en materia de enfrentamiento a la pandemia son reconocidos a nivel internacional.

[QUOTE=Combo;2501403]This is correct. My first visit to Cuba in the late 90's, I used USD everywhere. I remember being shocked that this island that we (the US) were trying to isolate was actually using our currency. Almost as shocked at how there were so many hookers in your face in a place where prostitution was supposed to be illegal.[/QUOTE]Indeed, those were the days!

[QUOTE=Mondo707;2501428]Hey,

Here is the info for the official opening of the airport in la Habana. This is an article from Cubadebate, the semi-official government media.

For those of you who are not Espaol fluent, do a Google translation to read the article.

In case you just want to know the opening date, it's Sunday November 15th.

Mondo.

[URL]http://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2020/11/10/aeropuerto-internacional-jose-marti-reiniciara-operaciones-el-proximo-15-de-noviembre/[/URL]#. X6 uMvVB7 mdU.

The link below is all about the sanitary protocol that travelers go thru once they arrive in Cuba.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu9y6hj3p2I&feature=emb_logo[/URL]

Aeropuerto Internacional Jos Mart reiniciar operaciones el prximo 15 de noviembre.

En este artculo: Aerolneas, Aeronutica, Aeropuerto Internacional Jos Mart, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Economa, Ministerio del Transporte (MITRANS), Salud, SARS-CoV-2, viajes, Virus.

10 noviembre 2020.

10.

Compartir.

173.

Aeropuerto Internacional Jos Mart. Foto: [URL]Aeropuertos.net[/URL].

El Instituto de Aeronutica Civil de Cuba comunica que se ha decidido reiniciar las operaciones areas comerciales, regulares why chrter en el Aeropuerto Internacional Jos Mart de La Habana, el prximo 15 de noviembre, a las 00 horas.

En tal sentido, se ha implementado el Protocolo para el Control Sanitario, dirigido al reinicio de las actividades aeronuticas, que ya se ha venido aplicando en el resto de LOS aeropuertos cubanos. El protocolo incluye entre otras medidas, la realizaciand de la prueba PCR en las distintas terminales internacionales a todos LOS viajeros que arriben al territorio nacional.

Segand lo dispuesto por las autoridades de Salud Pblica, a partir de esta fecha, se ha previsto el cobro de una tarifa sanitaria, con el objetivo de cubrir LOS costos de LOS protocolos implementados.

Cuba reitera su decisiand de garantizar la salud why la vida de sus nacionales, as como de LOS extranjeros que nos visiten, ratificndose como un destino seguro, cuyos resultados en materia de enfrentamiento a la pandemia son reconocidos a nivel internacional.[/QUOTE]Like I said, this weekend!

Absolutely no flights to Cuba before 15th of November earliest.

[QUOTE=RacShack;2501306]OK but now it's Nov. 10th, not understanding what you meant, if that's what you heard then it is possible, and if I'm correct he knows a lot about Cuba, why dismiss what he said?[/QUOTE]I meant January 4th.

Western Union shutting down USA money transfers to Cuba.

November 22,2020 at 11:00 PM USA EST: The last opportunity to send money from the USA To Cuba via com, the WU mobile app, and local WU locations. *.

November 23,2020, at 6:00 PM Cuba Time: The deadline to pick up money at Western Union retail locations in Cuba. Please encourage your family members to pick up at Western Union retail agent locations in Cuba immediately.

[URL]https://www.westernunion.com/blog/a-letter-to-our-cuba-customers/?id=blog&src=social_WU_Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3l5GVKgHng_uwtzOvkYjqlefga3KgAG3DAeMOHD7N_bXGP_wAECMI-m2s[/URL]

I have read that the airport reopened on November 15.

How is that going? Are Canadians, Spaniard, Italians etc pouring in?

Is it true that travellers will have to isolated in their hotels or rental houses for 5 days until a second PCR test is done? And is it true that a doctor comes to your place to check on you every day?

According to this website.

[URL]https://www.traveloffpath.com/cuba-covid-19-entry-requirements-travelers-need-to-know/[/URL]

As of November 15 Cuba is totally back to normal except:

Take a free COVID test upon arrival.

Pay $30 for health insurance.

Quarantine in your hotel or casa particular for approximately 24 hours for test results.

Wear a mask in public.

So what is actually happening in Havana? Are loads of tourists swarming back in? Is no one arriving as yet? What about bars, clubs, nightlife?

Also, what about currency? Have US dollars replaced the CUC? Should I bring in dollars in cash and shop with that? Or are only US dollar credit cards accepted?

WHAT ABOUT GIRLS! Due to the financial crisis, are the police going to allow unlimited prostitution like in the Special Period of the late 1990's or is it still discouraged as was the case a year ago?

[QUOTE=HarryDubois;2505240]According to this website.

[URL]https://www.traveloffpath.com/cuba-covid-19-entry-requirements-travelers-need-to-know/[/URL]

As of November 15 Cuba is totally back to normal except:

Take a free COVID test upon arrival.

Pay $30 for health insurance.

Quarantine in your hotel or casa particular for approximately 24 hours for test results.

Wear a mask in public.

So what is actually happening in Havana? Are loads of tourists swarming back in? Is no one arriving as yet? What about bars, clubs, nightlife?

Also, what about currency? Have US dollars replaced the CUC? Should I bring in dollars in cash and shop with that? Or are only US dollar credit cards accepted?

WHAT ABOUT GIRLS! Due to the financial crisis, are the police going to allow unlimited prostitution like in the Special Period of the late 1990's or is it still discouraged as was the case a year ago?[/QUOTE]I would be very careful about entering Cuba. Be sure to bring some food, and gasolina. As much as I would love to be there right now, the wind is blowing in the wrong direction. Western Union is no longer a life line. I hope the Cuban people can wake up.

[QUOTE=TyDown;2505620]I would be very careful about entering Cuba. Be sure to bring some food, and gasolina. As much as I would love to be there right now, the wind is blowing in the wrong direction. Western Union is no longer a life line. I hope the Cuban people can wake up.[/QUOTE]However I thought that if you are bringing dollars you could buy anything.

[QUOTE=HarryDubois;2505668]However I thought that if you are bringing dollars you could buy anything.[/QUOTE]Yes, USD is accepted just about everywhere in Cuba now. The problem is, Cuba is having shortages of just about everything, food, beer, gasoline, diesel, soap, you name it. I was in Cuba March of this year, just before the lockdowns, and it was hard to find descent food and drink even then. Cuba relies heavily on Venezuela for their imports, and of course Venezuela is being blockaded by the US. My favorite chica keeps me posted on the situation, and she's saying it's still bad in Cuba, extreme shortages out in the provinces.

Havana was basically dead because there was a very limited supply of fuel. Many of the chicas had went back home out in the provinces. To be honest, I couldn't wait to get the hell out of there last time I was in Cuba. Every other time I've been to Cuba, I wanted to stay longer, but not the last trip.

Hope this helps.

[QUOTE=TyDown;2505620]Be sure to bring some food, and gasolina.[/QUOTE]Bringing some food might be easy, but how in the hell can I bring gasolina?

Asking for a friend.

[QUOTE=TomJackin;2505902]Bringing some food might be easy, but how in the hell can I bring gasolina?

Asking for a friend.[/QUOTE]Hahaha, 3 oz. Travel bottles in a zip lock baggie.