Havana

Seems a number of people going there in Jan. I will be there from 8th to 15th.

I could not figure out how to send you private message to exchange phone number tough.

[QUOTE=ChrisH;2768686]Seems like you have a decent plan ready to be executed. When in January will you be there. I will also be there for 4 days that month. It will be my 17th time to Havana, so I will be happy to show you the true ropes and how it really goes down in Havana. I have been to most the cited you mentioned you been to, and I can tell you, Havana is definitely near the top, if not THE top. So, if we are there at the same time, let's link, we will have a blast, and you won't need no short time hotel, the case we stay at has plenty of rooms, for some fun![/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DanielDuran;2769918]Seems a number of people going there in Jan. I will be there from 8th to 15th.

I could not figure out how to send you private message to exchange phone number tough.[/QUOTE]Cool, I arrive on the 12th, depart on the 15th, let's definitely hook up for some real Cuban Fun!

[QUOTE=DrewFromTexas;2768609]I just returned from Havana and can provide a good update with recent info.

First and foremost the girls are plentiful in San Rafael, Central Park and to an extent Obispo. You can find some at all hours in these areas but your best hunting time will be after dark. All this area is foot access only and maybe 10 minutes walking from end to end. In the evening you can easily find 40-50 girls around 18 years old sitting on the benches on San Rafael and Central Park. They will call out to you etc. They will only want payment in US dollars and start high asking for $80-100 USD. Tell them that's really high for the area and counter with $40 and they will prolly counter with $50 as their lowest or agree to $40. Almost anything you can imagine can be had including 3-somes for $50 each chick. You can literally decide hey I want a blonde today and go find a blonde.

I found the best way for me because I don't speak Spanish was to exchange their WhatsApp and message them and negotiate and then send them my address to meet me once we agree on price and have them walk in their own. They won't walk with you anyway, they will want to follow from a distance as it was not uncommon to see 50 or so police and military in the area watching the girls, stopping them ID'ing then and at times taking some away. That said in 6 nights they never said a word to me and I spent hours each night out shopping and sitting in the park etc.

I highly recommend you get a Cuban SIM card for your phone so you have data and WhatsApp. Also the exchange rate varies but sim for 160 pesos per dollar. You will really only be able to use pesos in restaurants but it's cheaper for you to do this. That said every restaurant I went to presented bills with pesos, US dollars and euro prices listed on them so you can pay in any of those no issues just expect to get change in pesos and not a great exchange rate.

For a great meal go to kilometer Zero it's very close to the hunting grounds and has great food and people watching.

I have only used an Airbnb where I have the place to myself. It's going to complicate things if you don't have a place within a few blocks of the hunting grounds. There are tons of Airbnb's around Central Park. When looking at Airbnb look at the house rules. Some say no guests. If it was unclear I would message the host and ask hey if I meet a girl while out dancing or something is there any issue with me bringing her back for a couple hours and several will say no problem.

It's an easy trip from the USA. You really just need a passport, a visa and a ofac reason which most say support of Cuban people.

I'm sure I'm leaving things out, any questions let me know.[/QUOTE]I really would love to communicate with you but can't but you can find me on USASG LOL.

[QUOTE=DrewFromTexas;2768926]You can fly directly from many airports in the USA to Havana. I fly southwest and they go out of FFL and Tampa. Trump didn't start this embargo so you can't blame him, it's been in place forever. Obama tried to work with Cuba and ease restrictions and it was one sided and the Cuba president wanted to take but not give them they messed with our diplomats and Trump changes some Obama changes but he didn't start all of the restrictions. If you google reasons to go to Cuba you will see a list. I'd say 99% of people use support of Cuban people as their reason. It's super easy to go.[/QUOTE]Do you need to show proof of lodging reservation? If no, is it easy to find a place after you get there? Thanks.

[QUOTE=ChuchoLoco;2772133]Do you need to show proof of lodging reservation? If no, is it easy to find a place after you get there? Thanks.[/QUOTE]Not necessarily easy to do after you get there. Do you speak fluent Spanish? Do you know what part of the city or where you are going? Do you have some leads on places?

I would have something booked, hopefully not prepaid, And then play it by ear when I got there.

[QUOTE=Zeos1;2772231]Not necessarily easy to do after you get there. Do you speak fluent Spanish? Do you know what part of the city or where you are going? Do you have some leads on places?

I would have something booked, hopefully not prepaid, And then play it by ear when I got there.[/QUOTE]I'm about at the intermediate level with Spanish and while not fluent, I can get by pretty well but not sure about other two. Will do more research but like old parts of cities usually as long as fairly modern accommodations. I think that your suggestion of booking but not prepaying seems perfect. Thanks! Kind of torn where to go next. Cuba has been on my mind for many many years so it's at the top of the list. Or I may get lazy and head back to Medellin or Granada where I know my ways around. Thanks again.

Does anyone know if there is a way for a foreigner to buy internet for a month in Cuba? How bad is the connection? I hear that it's pretty bad but I wonder if there is a way to improve it? Who should I grease and how much? LOL If anybody have been in Suriname how does it compare to the connection there?

[QUOTE=Nrlmus;2772274]Does anyone know if there is a way for a foreigner to buy internet for a month in Cuba? How bad is the connection? I hear that it's pretty bad but I wonder if there is a way to improve it? Who should I grease and how much? LOL If anybody have been in Suriname how does it compare to the connection there?[/QUOTE]You need to buy a prepaid ETECSA card (the State owed telecommunications company). Cards are sold at hotels (usually just to their guests), at the Etecsa locations, or through street vendors (who will charge a premium). It is $1 per hour. You can access the internet from most hotels, many parks and a few of the casa particulars. The connection is not real fast, but it is adequate. If there are a lot of people trying to connect in the same hotel lobby or at the same park, it will be much slower. I do not believe there are any ways of improving the process.

[QUOTE=Eclectic;2772570]You need to buy a prepaid ETECSA card (the State owed telecommunications company). Cards are sold at hotels (usually just to their guests), at the Etecsa locations, or through street vendors (who will charge a premium). It is $1 per hour. You can access the internet from most hotels, many parks and a few of the casa particulars. The connection is not real fast, but it is adequate. If there are a lot of people trying to connect in the same hotel lobby or at the same park, it will be much slower. I do not believe there are any ways of improving the process.[/QUOTE]Thank you. That's more or less what I wanted to know. Not real fast but adequate. That just might do. I spent some time in Suriname and Guyana and internet there also wasn't the best but I made do. The problem is that I need a continuous access at night Mon-Thur, and especially from 9 am-9:30 am Thu-Fri mornings.

$1/ hour=$24/ day=$168/ week=$672/ month. This is pretty brutal. I wonder if there is a way to buy a weekly or a monthly internet service.

This will be my second trip to Cuba, my first post-pandemic trip. It seems like there have been some changes, particularly with the current unrest. That said, I lost contact with my driver and moneyman (currency trader). I have to start all over with my contacts. If there are any people here that can help me with some information and contacts, I would appreciate it. Also, I would not mind if we hangout somewhere while in Havana.

[QUOTE=Nrlmus;2772601]Thank you. That's more or less what I wanted to know. Not real fast but adequate. That just might do. I spent some time in Suriname and Guyana and internet there also wasn't the best but I made do. The problem is that I need a continuous access at night Mon-Thur, and especially from 9 am-9:30 am Thu-Fri mornings.

$1/ hour=$24/ day=$168/ week=$672/ month. This is pretty brutal. I wonder if there is a way to buy a weekly or a monthly internet service.[/QUOTE]Internet depends on having the infrastructure to handle it. Telecommunications stuff. Cable, switching equipment, etc. Cuba has very limited stuff in this regard. And it is all pretty tightly controlled by the state, in addition to being extensively monitored. So your options for getting internet service are limited. I doubt very much that there are any options close to what you are looking for. The internet backbone simply is very limited there, and this limits any sort of technology to low speeds and very limited bandwidth.

[QUOTE=Slayer94;2774748]This will be my second trip to Cuba, my first post-pandemic trip. It seems like there have been some changes, particularly with the current unrest. That said, I lost contact with my driver and moneyman (currency trader). I have to start all over with my contacts. If there are any people here that can help me with some information and contacts, I would appreciate it. Also, I would not mind if we hangout somewhere while in Havana.[/QUOTE]Hey,

I'm almost in the same boat as you, nonetheless I have my hopes up regarding a contact I had pre covid. Anyway, I'm going mainly for the Havana Jazz fest which starts on the 22nd for the whole week.

In case you want to meet up I'm arriving late on the 18th so It would have to be on the 19th at the earliest for me. Let me know if that works for you.

I'm planning on getting a sim card at the airport so can't give you a local number till I get one, in case you have one shoot me a PM.

Mondo.

Just curious if anyone was out in Havana for New Year's. How was it? Any big celebrations at all? Just looking to live vicariously through anyone else until I can get back out there this summer.

[QUOTE=EMode;2775859]Just curious if anyone was out in Havana for New Year's. How was it? Any big celebrations at all? Just looking to live vicariously through anyone else until I can get back out there this summer.[/QUOTE]Just talked to someone that had been in Cuba a couple of weeks ago. Cuba has possibly never been in worse shape according to what locals were saying. Basics are in very short supply. Very limited gasoline and diesel fuel, electricity is often off, etc. I doubt there is much celebrating. Everything is breaking down.

[QUOTE=Zeos1;2775970]Just talked to someone that had been in Cuba a couple of weeks ago. Cuba has possibly never been in worse shape according to what locals were saying. Basics are in very short supply. Very limited gasoline and diesel fuel, electricity is often off, etc. I doubt there is much celebrating. Everything is breaking down.[/QUOTE]I bought nonrefundable tickets months ago. I'll be getting there on the 17th, It's going to be my first time in Cuba so I hope there is some fun to be had.