Havana

Thank you Jeweller and Bethold. I actually haven't made my reservations yet, so if you think that Old Havana would not be as good of a place at night as perhaps Vedado or somewhere else, perhaps I should switch. I was looking for a place with a lively night scene, so I figured that Old Havana would be best. But, I'm flexible.

Too bad about chicas not being able to hang out for stuff like dancing and dinner, etc due to the policia. I'll be going there alone, so I thought it might be fun to have some company a bit. But, I'll manage, I'm sure. Also, I'll be sure to check for age and ID with anyone who I might befriend for the evening. I was thinking of bringing a laptop computer (I have a conference in Veradaro), but I think I'm too nervous about it getting stolen to bring it. The worry won't be worth the advantage of having it with me. Also, do you carry all your cash with you? Or would a casa particular be fine to leave it?

Thanks a ton!

[QUOTE=Berthold]Jeweller, thanks for the information. During daytime i have never had any security problems in havana, however at night this is different. I would not recommed walking alone. If you want to get from a to b at night it is always better to use a taxi. For you own safety i would also recommend not to get too drunk.
In general i would also say try to avoid people who approach you especially in the center. I have a cuban friend and he once told me that the people who approach you are la basura de nuestra sociedad ( the trash of our society)
havana for me is still a very good monger destination if you avoid the center or tourist areas of havana in general. I prefer the suburbs of havana like la vibora, marianao, la lisa, cerro...[/QUOTE]

If staying in that area, one of the things to be careful of, are the dark streets just off the malecon. The malecon itself is o.k.....except the snatch and run opportunities at night.

[QUOTE=Dolphin2007]Thank you Jeweller and Bethold. I actually haven't made my reservations yet, so if you think that Old Havana would not be as good of a place at night as perhaps Vedado or somewhere else, perhaps I should switch. I was looking for a place with a lively night scene, so I figured that Old Havana would be best. But, I'm flexible.

Too bad about chicas not being able to hang out for stuff like dancing and dinner, etc due to the policia. I'll be going there alone, so I thought it might be fun to have some company a bit. But, I'll manage, I'm sure. Also, I'll be sure to check for age and ID with anyone who I might befriend for the evening. I was thinking of bringing a laptop computer (I have a conference in Veradaro), but I think I'm too nervous about it getting stolen to bring it. The worry won't be worth the advantage of having it with me. Also, do you carry all your cash with you? Or would a casa particular be fine to leave it?

Thanks a ton![/QUOTE]I always bring my laptop with me and have never had any problems. I always keep it locked up in a suitcase when I'm not using it.

I also leave my extra cash locked up in a suitcase at my casa. You can leave a small amount like $30 or $40 in a pants pocket or shirt pocket in your closet at your casa. If you bring a girl back to your casa just pay her with this money so it's not necessary to open up a suitcase to get more money.

When I go out I only ever take a small amount of cash with me like $15 or $20. I don't drink so I'm always very aware of what's going on around me. Just follow my previous advice and you will be ok. Don't flash around a lot of money anywhere and don't go giving away money or other gifts in the street for no reason. Don't walk around Havana carrying a backpack or an expensive camera. There are lots of street robberies there every day.

I've been to Havana many times and I've come to the conclusion that it's very difficult to become friends with most people there. Everyone there is after your money and they have many ways of getting it from you. The people I trust the most are the casa owners that I stay with. I almost always stay at one of two places so they know me well and they treat me well. I also treat them well and give them small gifts whenever I can.

I think what Berthold says is mostly correct but I'm very used to staying in the Vedado area of Havana and it's very convient and close to the places that I need to visit. If I could go to Havana and spend a month or so I would love to meet someone like Berthold and get to know the areas he's mentioned. I have been to Cerro and Marianao but only for quick visits.

I would recommend staying in Vedado instead of Old Havana mainly because I think Vedado is a lot safer and a lot more interesting at night. You can always walk from Vedado to Old Havana along the Malecon. It will take you aprox 45 mins or more but it's a nice walk. At night it's fairly safe to walk along the Malecon because there's always lots of Police there but like Berthold says it's better to take a taxi to get from A to B.

[size=-2][b][u]EDITOR'S NOTE[/u]:[/b] [blue]I certainly hope that the author or somebody else will post a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please [url=http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/announcement-reportsofdistinction.php?]Click Here[/url] for more information.[/blue][/size]

[QUOTE=Berthold]
Some advices if you want to hook up with a regular girl

1. You should be able to speak some spanish

2. The agegap should not be to big

3. Show some interest in the girls, take her out, buy clothes, perfume and the sex will be for free.

Good hunting,

Hasta luego, mucho suerte[/QUOTE]Hey - I speak a passable spanish

When you say "Age gap not too big" what do you mean?

I Suppose 20 years is too much?

[QUOTE=Beersterry]The guy that is quoting you car prices might be ripping you off. Check out this site for price comparisons. nashtravel<dot>com
When you rent a car, it comes with a full tank, you are charged for this gas, check your bill. When the car comes back, make sure that it is empty.

I've read lots of complaints about their service, but the information posted is good.[/QUOTE]Hey BeersTerry,

You have heard alot of complaints about NAsh Travel. Can you recommend a better travel agency?

In Cuba, they try to trick you out of your of your money.

In Brazil, they take it a gunpoint.

In Colombia, they just kill you.

I was there a little more than ten years ago. But things have changed a little so my opinions / observations are not as valuable as those of the true Cubaphiles. Hence I don't want to be nominated into any "report of distinction. "

I'm trying to go back there this week. I almost had the ticket booked. But everything is a friggin hassle. I'd like to go to Cienfuegos for the diving and because so many people have told me "stay in the provinces. " However there is no direct flight into Cienfuegos. Unless you go thru Canada. SunAir. To me Cuba is like crack cocaine. A great high, but at what price? Everything is a pain in the ass. Sure, I can book thru Havantur, but then I have to stay in a government hotel and can't bring in chicas.

I have figured out how to get to Havana thru Cancun, no problem. I am not sure how to get to Cienfuegos. There are no puddle jumpers to Cienfuegos (airport code is CFG)

I could rent a car. But would rather have a driver. If you get into a major accident in Cuba, they KEEP you there until the claims have been paid. Also. Would rather not get stressed out driving in a strange land.

The cash situation: I have to bring all cash. I don't have a non-US credit card. I heard that the ATMS & Credit Cards suck in Cuba and they sock it to you. If I Get robbed (Very unlikely). I am pretty much screwed. No ticky no shirty. I would have to hitchhike back to Jose Marti airport. I know the drill with hitchhikers in Cuba. I hope none of you mongerers trys to pick me up and make me "pay" for my ride. But at that point, what choice would I have. I'd be a broke-ass, and would have to resort to jineterismo! (shudder)

I don't trust duales. It seems unreasonable to me that they would have a network of ATMS throughout Cuba. Anyone have any experience with them?

Can I buy euro-demoniated Travellers Cheques? Perhaps get in Cancun or the Bahamas (non-US banque)?

Can anyone recommend a good travel agency. BeersTeery said NAsh Travel has alot of complaints.

By the way somebody in this forum was paying Bertha 1.50CUC for washing a single pair of pants. ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FRIGGIN MIND? I got all my clothes washed ironed and mended in Cuba for $2.

[QUOTE=Water Boy]Hey - I speak a passable spanish

When you say "Age gap not too big" what do you mean?

I Suppose 20 years is too much?[/QUOTE]

You know when you want to hook up with a regular girl you have to do stuff with her like taking her out for dinner, dancing...and currently this seems to be difficult due to the police hassle en el centro, habana vieja, vedado..
During my last time in havana i could see that alot of ("couples" older guys/ young cuban girls) were stopped by the police when they were entering, leaving restaurants, nightclubs or simply walking around together and the girls had to show their id and were questioned straight away.
What i meant with the age gap is that, if it is too big it is more obvious for the police. Me i am young 25 and i did not experience this kind of troubles which i mentioned above.

[QUOTE=Water Boy]In Cuba, they try to trick you out of your of your money.

In Brazil, they take it a gunpoint.

In Colombia, they just kill you.[/QUOTE]

When you are in havana in the center and you can see cops with a black uniform with dogs and headsets somebody got more than tricked.

When was the last time in Havana, Cuba??? Never??

El Cubanito

I don't use Nash Travel, I just use their site for information as they post info on car rates, flights etc.. The only time you need to worry about availabilty is August when all the Europeans are there.

Other than that, it should not be a problem to get a car.
In Havana, there are about 6 car rental agencies all within walking distance of the Malecon at Infanta. (including agencies in Hotel National, one across the street beside the Salon Rojo, one in Habana Libre and I think 4 within 1-2 blocks of Infanta.

I was there a little more than ten years ago. But things have changed a little so my opinions / observations are not current as those of the true Cubaphiles herein (Including: BeersTerry, Cubiche, El Cubanito, (Jeweller. An up and comer) and many more folks. Hence I don't want to be nominated into any "report of distinction. "

Cuba is like crack cocaine. A great high but at a steep price.

Let me tell you of my experiences with this crack cocaine (Cerca the mid 90's)

I went to Havana. I originally didn't go there for mongering. On the plane, I asked a Cuban-American "what are the bargains in Cuba? Leather? Silver? )

He answered: "pussy is on sale. "

I got a driver with a car. $25/d. He was an electrical engineer who made more money that way (such is the way of Cuba). He was honest and reliable. OK, well maybe not so honest, more about that later.

The Hotel/Casa Particular "Discovery"

I checked into a hotel, then learned about the No Chica rule. Actually, at my first hotel, the guard let the girl into the hotel. I told the guard I was going to buy her dinner in the hotel restaurant (which I did). This was a pure P4P. She was OK. Wasn't that attractive looking. Kinda skanky but young. I wasnt allowed to bring back chicas after that.

Finally, I realised I needed a Casa PArticular, so I checked out and wheeled my suitcase along the streets of Havana. Looking for a Casa PArticular.

A very helpful fella offered to find me a Casa PArticular. He found one in which the the bed was literally made of straw. And it smelled.

I guess the horses won't be eating hay tonite.

Everyone not employed by the tourist industry is on the take in Cuba. The person who helps you says "you wait here, I'll go talk to the landlady. She won't talk to you (que mierda! ). " HE makes a deal with the casera "charge this yuma $25 and give me $5. "

I feel a little cheated, but such is the forma de la vida en Cuba. I would rather pay the rack rate and pay the jintero $5 for his consultation fee. Same money spent. I just feel less cheated.

Everything is black market in Cuba. Everything you do is illegal in Cuba.

Even after I left my suitcase behind, I was still ocassionally pestered by the jinterOs. I did get ripped off trying to buy some Cuban cigars. These were una mierda, they weren't even good as CHEAP CIGARS. But, you'll find that in any 3rd world country.

By the way I didn't see a single cat or dog on the streets of Havana. I don't think they eat them, it's just that food is in short supply. Maybe the animals die from the poisonous diesel fumes from the "buses"

After a few mishaps and several prospective Casas PArticulars later (no chicas allowed) I rented an entire apartment with kitchen, two bedrooms, et al for $25/nite. A really nice place. This was somewhere downtown. The only problem was that the landlady pretty much stipulated that I could only bring over one girl for the entire time I was there. I could only have one girlfreind.

My modus.operandi is that I prefer to find a girlfreind. I like doing things the hard way, I guess I like the illusion that this is not a P4P.

I went out to bars and niteclubs. I like them white, and thin. I was not a bad looking guy at the time. I am uglier and fatter now, 10+ yrs after. Believe it or not, it wasn't easy picking up cute girls. My spanish was pretty bad. Maybe I was too picky. However, I can get a fat skank in my own country.

One day I came back to the Casa one day and the landlady was in my casa, cooking herself a meal. This was after all HER KITCHEN. I wanted to tell her "Get the heck out, I want to bang my girlfreind. " but, she was in the middle of cooking some elaborate meal. Not cooking the meal for me. It was for her. MY girlfreind sat their and chatted with her while I fumed! Cock-blocked!

Still. I kept going back.

This driver took me all over the city. Whenever I saw a cute chica (and really it; s not flush with hotties like in Europe or the USA) I asked the driver to chat her up. (I had minimal spanish) I NEVER got a girl this way. The driver even admitted that he regretted the fact that his cubanas were being banged by Yumas. My driver was COCK-BLOCKING me. I'd point out a girl, ask him to stop, and he'd say "I know her, she's not a jintera. " He was lying. I could have gotten to know her with the written letter of introduction from my freind, the dead president "Andrew Jackson"

I went walking along the malecon. I found that not every chica is a puta. Pickins wasnt that easy. There is still competition in this city. There are italians who have plenty of money. Some of these girls have rich novias en italia. Perhaps back then, mongering was in full swing and the competition was fierce. By the way Marina Hemingway was in full swing. But I wasn't about to pay $50 per screw. I am not really into formal P4P. I like a true GFE.

I met "L". She was tall, thin and beautiful. In her early 20's. Her body, though thin, was a little bit trashed from childbirth. Her face a bit weathered. They can't afford suntan lotion there. She was equivalent in looks to a 30 yr old in the western world. Very little muscle tone. But. Very little fat. Still she was beautiful.

I fell in love with her. She gave me one of the best GFE I have had. She said she loved me. Then the scams started. "I need $90 for rent. "

I wish she had said "Listen pal, I just gave you 4 days of the best sex of your life, my charge for this is $90. " A bargain!. I would have gladly paid it. Pero, en Cuba la manera de la vida es la engana.

And I still want to go back!

I have read on this forum that it is not as good there as in the days of old. Police crackdown. Jiniteras running scared. A special prison being built just for jiniteras. Who is spreading these rumors. Do we have a US govt mole on this board?

From what I've read on this forum, the jinterOs are allowed to bother you, but not the jinteras.

The Casa PArticular situation has deteriorated. (It wasn't that good 10+ years ago) They have reduced the # of available Casa PArticulars by 50%. And if you get there. Your reservation may not be honored. Your Casa PArticular could have been rented to a fellow mongerer.

And I still want to go back!

Are there any "Cubaholics Anonymous" Meetings?

[size=-2][b][u]EDITOR'S NOTE[/u]:[/b] [blue]I certainly hope that the author or somebody else will post a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please [url=http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/announcement-reportsofdistinction.php?]Click Here[/url] for more information.[/blue][/size]

[QUOTE=Beersterry]I don't use Nash Travel.[/QUOTE]Thanks

Can you recommend a better travel agency? Or better yet, several ?

I went to Havana last July and hung out with a girl for most of my stay of two weeks. No problems whatsoever with going anywhere although I kind of have a latin appearance and am in my late 30s (although I probably look younger). I actually got stopped and got asked for my carnet which I thought was funny. I don't think the cops are looking for chicas with foreigners but if the dude looks 70-80 years old then they may make an exception.