Havana

[QUOTE=KingSanto;3016871]Nice report; I'm looking forward to reading more about your trip. Yeah Habana Vieja isn't my cup of tea either. I understand the appeal because it's easy to grab one off the street but other than that, there isn't much to write home about other than some good restaurants.

Nice job on the 389 exchange rate, I assume you used Telegram. Can't go wrong there.

As for additional places to eat in your area, check out Habana Blues or El Biky. Great food at both of those spots and they should be pretty close to you.

KingSanto.[/QUOTE]Thanks I am glad you liked it, a lot of it is based on the tips you gave.

Yes: I used the telegram group, a guy came to my hotel and we did the exchange at the lobby sofas.

Once my alcohol induced gastritis dissipates, I will try more restaurant options.

Gents.

On my past trips in Havana, I enjoyed using the bicycle taxis to get around at times. Always fun to stop and chat with some cute street girls and pick up numbers if the bicycle taxi guy is cool with it.

Obviously negotiating the price of the trip ahead of time is critical. Any other advice you guys have? Will these guys accept dollars? Do they charge more for two people versus just one? Rates you are used to?

I also noticed on my past trips that the older guys doing the bicycle taxi job were a lot easier to work with then the younger dudes.

I'll never forget the one time a younger bike taxi guy was upset for a short ride when I gave him the equivalent of $2 and he said I should pay more than a car taxi because it's harder work. #cubanlogic.

Taco.

[QUOTE=Tacoma101;3017001]Gents.

On my past trips in Havana, I enjoyed using the bicycle taxis to get around at times. Always fun to stop and chat with some cute street girls and pick up numbers if the bicycle taxi guy is cool with it.

Obviously negotiating the price of the trip ahead of time is critical. Any other advice you guys have? Will these guys accept dollars? Do they charge more for two people versus just one? Rates you are used to?

I also noticed on my past trips that the older guys doing the bicycle taxi job were a lot easier to work with then the younger dudes.

I'll never forget the one time a younger bike taxi guy was upset for a short ride when I gave him the equivalent of $2 and he said I should pay more than a car taxi because it's harder work. #cubanlogic.

Taco.[/QUOTE]You will overpay if you pay in dollars, it is always more convenient to use pesos as pocket money. In any case bring a lot of $1 bills.

[QUOTE=Kstanb;3016902]Thanks I am glad you liked it, a lot of it is based on the tips you gave.

Yes: I used the telegram group, a guy came to my hotel and we did the exchange at the lobby sofas.

Once my alcohol induced gastritis dissipates, I will try more restaurant options.[/QUOTE]Ha ha, yeah I get the gastritis thing about 5 days into my trip, and I drink 3-4 Cristals per day max.

BTW, what is the name of the money exchange group?

[QUOTE=Tacoma101;3017001]Gents.

On my past trips in Havana, I enjoyed using the bicycle taxis to get around at times. Always fun to stop and chat with some cute street girls and pick up numbers if the bicycle taxi guy is cool with it.

Obviously negotiating the price of the trip ahead of time is critical. Any other advice you guys have? Will these guys accept dollars? Do they charge more for two people versus just one? Rates you are used to?

I also noticed on my past trips that the older guys doing the bicycle taxi job were a lot easier to work with then the younger dudes.[/QUOTE]I'm about fitness, so I walk everywhere. The only time I use a bici is if I want to move a girl around to somewhere close and the weather is nice. But last year I had some bicitaxista take me a few blocks, and we'd agreed in advance to $10, but when we got there he said I should pay him $40, and he was serious. I laughed and told him to fuck off. I had a good one though back in August 2023 and I gave him a cold beer as a tip. Haven't seen him since.

La Nave really is the best solution to getting around, so long as you can communicate with the driver over the phone.

I posted the link to it on March 6th. Post #8030. I would post it again but my account got dinged for it last time. Apparently posting helpful links is frown upon in this establishment!

Just a joke mods, don't ban me lol

KingSanto

[QUOTE=Jiniterinator;3017022]

BTW, what is the name of the money exchange group?

[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Jiniterinator;3017022]Ha ha, yeah I get the gastritis thing about 5 days into my trip, and I drink 3-4 Cristals per day max.

BTW, what is the name of the money exchange group?

I'm about fitness, so I walk everywhere. The only time I use a bici is if I want to move a girl around to somewhere close and the weather is nice. But last year I had some bicitaxista take me a few blocks, and we'd agreed in advance to $10, but when we got there he said I should pay him $40, and he was serious. I laughed and told him to fuck off. I had a good one though back in August 2023 and I gave him a cold beer as a tip. Haven't seen him since.

La Nave really is the best solution to getting around, so long as you can communicate with the driver over the phone.[/QUOTE]Look for CambiosUsdCa "Compra why Venta de USD".

I used La Nave for long trips and I used the yellow "Cocotaxi" (a motorbike with a small passenger compartment) for laziness. From hotel nacional to La Havana vieja, it costs around 1500 pesos at La Nave, but I also paid 2000 pesos for a cocotaxi from Nacional to Bleco bar, to avoid a sweaty walk. I also paid a few trips to Coppelia (not even 6 blocks) at that same expensive rate because I was not in the mood for walking in the hot and humid streets of Havana.

Other than the heavy use of old ladas, there is really nothing to complain about La Nave; it is really good. But something that makes me laugh every time I use it: the GPS they have (Russian maybe?) is all over the place inaccurate, you sometimes see the taxis going directly over parks or buildings.

Night:

I met Badoo contact Jennifer, she came in time at 6. 30 pm with her friend. Jennifer: white, brunette, thin and tall (around 5'8) the friend: light dark skin, voluptuous but not fat, 5'11, big booty, big tits, big lips. This is probably the best fuck of the trip (so far). I asked them to wear nylons (I am into that -- the room was cold / had AC so no issue). BBJ skills were ok, but a bit too short, we moved on to sex, a few positions with each girl, the thin one was really tight and I really enjoyed doggy with her. Both were good kissers, and they kissed each other, they didn't play with each other in any other way, though. I was still hurt from drinking a full bottle of wine the night before and I couldn't come during sex, I had to get some hand assistance.

My negotiation skills failed, I started too high because they looked super hot on the video they sent me. I definitively overpay at USD $40 each; I should had started at 10 K pesos. But I won't complain, as this was a nice session, the best of this trip. Then a few gifts, a thank you and they left. I didn't had any non-sexual connection with them, they had nothing interesting to say; the same can be said to all the girls I have met at this trip.

I was dead and still hangover, so went back to my hotel to sleep.

Day:

Woke up, went to the Havana vieja for tourism, but regrettably July 27th is a big holiday in Cuba and everything was closed, I missed a couple of museums I wanted to visit. So came back to my hotel and back to the pool. There is a gorgeous Badoo girl I am trying to invite to a date, but I think she just noticed my very short term intentions and ghosted me.

I will wait until the last minute to see if she is back, I don't have any other date planned, but I will definitively do something as this is my last night, maybe Fabrica de Arte Cubano + some meat market if I don't find anybody there.

Quick tip on LM for your future trips (and anyone else that decides to hit up LM). Take advantage of their specials on Instagram. Make a reservation with one of the numbers for a VIP table. Show up before 11:30 PM. They'll let you choose whether you want upstairs or downstairs. I always sit downstairs at that table closest to the stage.

Not sure which Vodka you got but I'm assuming it's the one with the Red Label on their flyers. That special is normally 13,000 pesos instead of 30,000. I know it's a vacation so for a lot of people it really doesn't matter but if you guys can't tell by now, I like to keep my prices down LOL.

Now don't get me wrong, between the special, the cover, an appetizer, the extra red bulls, an occasional tequila shot and tips to Security and waitress, my total for the night normally comes out to like 30,000 anyway, but more value for the money if you get what I mean.

Also, how did you like Velito's performance? I love that guy, his music is fire. I hope he keeps that Friday residency going for a while. My slim brown thang is tired of him. "Aren't you tired of Velito? There are other artists", "Fuck the other artists, Fridays are for Velito!

KingSanto.

[QUOTE=Kstanb;3016901]Night:
Then La Nave to LM bar; I arrived at 11.40 pm, then paid 30,000 pesos for bottle service (to get a table), and started drinking my vodka with red bull. The place was not packed, and I didn't see a lot of "single women", but still the night was very enjoyable, the Cubans are neither the world champions in electricity production nor in food self-sufficiency, but they know how to party. There were a few tourists, but the place, the music was for Cubans. I saw gorgeous women but not very accessible, during the show (the hottest time) there was this beautiful blonde with a gorgeous brunette, both partying in the VIP area (upstairs), these 2 probably the girlfriends of some Cuban personality or someone rich. I am surprised to see so many people partying and spending big $ (for a Cuban), maybe the grandsons and granddaughters of the Revolution leaders spending GAESA's money? Anyway, I drank the entire vodka bottle and left around 5. 30 am.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=KingSanto;3017163]Quick tip on LM for your future trips (and anyone else that decides to hit up LM). Take advantage of their specials on Instagram. Make a reservation with one of the numbers for a VIP table. Show up before 11:30 PM. They'll let you choose whether you want upstairs or downstairs. I always sit downstairs at that table closest to the stage.

Not sure which Vodka you got but I'm assuming it's the one with the Red Label on their flyers. That special is normally 13,000 pesos instead of 30,000. I know it's a vacation so for a lot of people it really doesn't matter but if you guys can't tell by now, I like to keep my prices down LOL.

Now don't get me wrong, between the special, the cover, an appetizer, the extra red bulls, an occasional tequila shot and tips to Security and waitress, my total for the night normally comes out to like 30,000 anyway, but more value for the money if you get what I mean.

Also, how did you like Velito's performance? I love that guy, his music is fire. I hope he keeps that Friday residency going for a while. My slim brown thang is tired of him. "Aren't you tired of Velito? There are other artists", "Fuck the other artists, Fridays are for Velito!

KingSanto.[/QUOTE]The show was awesome, and this is coming from someone that doesn't like reggaeton; I don't know the names of the people that played, but I guess I can imagine who he was, if he was the big show.

There was this young white brunette that was also great.

They charged me 30,000 for: a bottle of Stolichnaya vodka (25,000) + 3? Red bulls + 10% service charge.

The bar girls also got a lot of shots with me (2 or 3 rounds, this is not included in the 30,000.

I don't know if they just charged me the foreigner tax or if the vodka I chose was considered premium vs Johnny Walker's red label. But I can tell you with 100% certainty that I would had passed out with scotch. I am somehow more used to / I am more tolerant to vodka and I was able to handle the full bottle.

Not a big deal to spend that kind of money once in a while, think about the cost of "LE Parisien" or "Tropicana" and I definitely had more fun than going to those kinds of places. I was not planning to pick up any chick there anyway, as it is not wise to mix girls and heavy alcohol. I would had liked to get a number or two though.

Night:

Complete change of plans, the hot Badoo girl totally ghosted me and I was not feeling that "La Fabrica de Arte Cubano. Cuban art factory" I am not into very artsy shit and the place closes early on Sundays. I ended up going to Havana Blues restaurant at Vedado for dinner (as was recommended): The bartender: We don't have lobster, shrimp, pork chops or beef. Aaaarrgg I wanted lobster, but to be fair, their fish in bechamel sauce was good. Then I rested a bit at my casa, then afterwards I went to Iluxion at Vedado, the place was kind of too young crowd for me, I just stayed there for one beer. Since the night was still young (1. 30 am), I decided to go to that "wretched hive of scum and villainy" called V&S bar. I know I said I was not going to. Anyway, another La Nave and I arrived and I again saw 1 or 2 good looking girls, maybe another 2 fuckable. I could had taken one girl home, but I was not really feeling too horny and by now, the end of the trip, I don't have enough pesos to do the full deal, while I am starting to think about not expending more dollars.

Thus I left "La Fabrica de las Putas Cubanas", walked to the Deauville hotel to pick another La Nave; the 1st time I made the big mistake of calling La Nave directly at the door of V&S and then the mob of beggars, jineteros, hustlers, started pestering me with: cigarros?, chicas?, taxi?, give me money. During a long and stressful wait. Asking La Nave from Deauville I only had one hustler + one girl coming from malecon saying hola quiere compania?

Day:

Tomorrow I will leave back home, so not planning on doing anything, I need to give back the casa particular, I still have around 12 K pesos and I need to buy some souvenirs. I plan to keep maybe around 4 K pesos for potential future trips, I know inflation will eat it, but with flights coming at night (which is always the case for Canada), it helps to have some pocket money for that 1st night.

The End.

[QUOTE=KingSanto;3017163]Quick tip on LM for your future trips (and anyone else that decides to hit up LM). Take advantage of their specials on Instagram. Make a reservation with one of the numbers for a VIP table. Show up before 11:30 PM. They'll let you choose whether you want upstairs or downstairs. I always sit downstairs at that table closest to the stage.

Not sure which Vodka you got but I'm assuming it's the one with the Red Label on their flyers. That special is normally 13,000 pesos instead of 30,000. I know it's a vacation so for a lot of people it really doesn't matter but if you guys can't tell by now, I like to keep my prices down LOL.

Now don't get me wrong, between the special, the cover, an appetizer, the extra red bulls, an occasional tequila shot and tips to Security and waitress, my total for the night normally comes out to like 30,000 anyway, but more value for the money if you get what I mean.

Also, how did you like Velito's performance? I love that guy, his music is fire. I hope he keeps that Friday residency going for a while. My slim brown thang is tired of him. "Aren't you tired of Velito? There are other artists", "Fuck the other artists, Fridays are for Velito!

KingSanto.[/QUOTE]Hey KS,

Thanks for all your tips. I can see now your M. O. As far as going the VIP route. Surely makes sense.

I was not aware much as far as Velito. Checked out some of his videos and it seems to me like is called REPARTO (short for repartero) which I was told is all the rage for the younger folks nowadays. The music / beat is very catchy.

I'm more of a Timba / Salsa cubana type.

I came to find out about reparto while checking out another reparto guy (Wampy) he did a cut with Van Van and like I said before, it's really catchy. I'll post a link below.

Saludos.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJrcpWiqXws[/URL]

[QUOTE=Mondo707;3017182]

I came to find out about reparto while checking out another reparto guy (Wampy) he did a cut with Van Van and like I said before, it's really catchy. I'll post a link below.

Saludos.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJrcpWiqXws[/URL][/QUOTE]Cool track there! Nice beat and flow. Gracias.

Yeah, Velito does a great job. He was the main event so I'm sure you'd recognize him. For the purpose of this post I'll just refer to him as "the guy who was doing all the hip thrusting. He probably had a glass of wine in his hand for half the show too" LOL.

As for the Vodka, I was thinking of the Smirnoff vodka that they do for 13,000. Maybe Stolichnaya is more; I've never bought it so I couldn't tell you. As for gringo pricing, I'm not sure on that either because I've never gotten a non-special bottle. The RedBull charged and 10% service charge are correct though. What I will say is that they don't add random bullshit to your check. It's always been correct in my experience which is part of why I keep going back.

Full bottle of Vodka is crazy work; you sound like a fun guy lol. I normally get the Johnny Walker black and can only finish about 60% of the bottle on my own.

KingSanto.

[QUOTE=Kstanb;3017175]The show was awesome, and this is coming from someone that doesn't like reggaeton; I don't know the names of the people that played, but I guess I can imagine who he was, if he was the big show.

They charged me 30,000 for: a bottle of Stolichnaya vodka (25,000) + 3? Red bulls + 10% service charge.

I don't know if they just charged me the foreigner tax or if the vodka I chose was considered premium vs Johnny Walker's red label. But I can tell you with 100% certainty that I would had passed out with scotch. I am somehow more used to / I am more tolerant to vodka and I was able to handle the full bottle.
[/QUOTE]

Yeah the girls on Badoo can be super flaky when it comes to straight up mongering. You get a lot of girls initially but when it comes to the meetup for straight-up P4P it drops off big time. I don't know if I'm going to keep using it; I'm leaning towards just hunting them down in person now. My Spanish is pretty much fluent and it'll help me gather more Intel anyway.

Fuck Fabrica De Arte. I went once on my first trip and never went back. Don't get me wrong it's dirt cheap (super, duper cheap), but that's about it. Everything else was lame and it seemed to have more tourists than Cubanas willing to go home with you. Maybe a place to start the night with a Cristal and a cigar. Nothing more.

Sorry to hear Habana Blues was out of everything, that kind of stuff aggrivates me too; but whatever they DO have they cook it well.

Yeah I try to keep some pesos to go back home with just so that when I return I'm not so dependent on the money exchange guy to get anything done.

Tell me about Iluxion. Its on my list of places to visit. I know that you said it was a younger crowd (I'm young myself so that doesn't bother me) but how was the atmosphere? Electric or forgettable? Would you recommend it to a friend? Thanks in advance.

KingSanto.

[QUOTE=Kstanb;3017180]Night:

Complete change of plans, the hot Badoo girl totally ghosted me and I was not feeling that "La Fabrica de Arte Cubano. Cuban art factory" I am not into very artsy shit and the place closes early on Sundays. I ended up going to Havana Blues restaurant at Vedado for dinner (as was recommended): The bartender: We don't have lobster, shrimp, pork chops or beef. Aaaarrgg I wanted lobster, but to be fair, their fish in bechamel sauce was good. Then I rested a bit at my casa, then afterwards I went to Iluxion at Vedado, the place was kind of too young crowd for me, I just stayed there for one beer.

I plan to keep maybe around 4 K pesos for potential future trips, I know inflation will eat it, but with flights coming at night (which is always the case for Canada), it helps to have some pocket money for that 1st night.
[/QUOTE]

No problem and thanks for sharing that Wampi song - I saved it - he's pretty good. Velito's music is indeed Reparto. I'm not surprised that you haven't heard of him. He's been out a few years but the heavy momentum started about 4 months ago. Very catchy music.

Reparto is definitely for the younger crowd, no doubt about it. Reparto to them is what rap is to the USA or what Dembow is to the DR or Reggaeton to PR, etc.

I don't listen to Timba/Salsa too much while partying but I do enjoy it quite a bit for relaxing or smoking a cigar with some rum. If you enjoy Timba though, I suggest checking out "Silencio (Remix)" by Velito and Alexander Abreu. It's a nice Reparto/Timba mix. Incredible to see live too.

KingSanto.

[QUOTE=Mondo707;3017182]Hey KS,

Thanks for all your tips. I can see now your M. O. As far as going the VIP route. Surely makes sense.

I was not aware much as far as Velito. Checked out some of his videos and it seems to me like is called REPARTO (short for repartero) which I was told is all the rage for the younger folks nowadays. The music / beat is very catchy.

I'm more of a Timba / Salsa cubana type.

I came to find out about reparto while checking out another reparto guy (Wampy) he did a cut with Van Van and like I said before, it's really catchy. I'll post a link below.

Saludos.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJrcpWiqXws[/URL][/QUOTE]