going to Havana Cuba

[Rudyman]

Thinking about visiting Havana from Cancun. Can anyone give any insight on their experience if they have done it please.

[BruceWedding]

My lawyer told me there is a boat you can go on. I'm still trying to get information myself, if anyone knows.

[Rudyman]

Bruce you can fly there no problem from Cancunfor about $350 rt

[T.J.]

$277.14 USD includes taxes
April 5-9
One flight per day, each way
Cubana de Aviación

Hey Rudy,
I can get it for you for $300. You can save $50 per person. Interested?

[Rudyman]

TJ,

Appreciate the offer but not in Cancun now but want to plan something next time I come back. If you have been there can you tell me a little about your experience?

[V]

Rudyman, I know people who've been there.

Those I know who've done it report hardships with substandard conditions of hotel rooms, very "Soviet style" service, limited food choices and below standard quality of food, and high prices for what you get.

Little opportunity to earn much money and relative poverty is said to make the local people a bit aggressive in charging foreigners for just about everything.

It could be a somewhat better experience, if one could speak Spanish, and escape to smaller cities- where they are not so accustomed to dealing with (read "fleecing") foreigners- and doing private home stays. I know some Dutch girls who did that, and they reported a better experience, though they preferred the time they spent at Isla Mujeres (still exotic enough for them!).

Some found the broken down conditions of historic Havana to be distressing to see, as it suggests a former glory which has been lost.

Nevertheless, to see things as they are, in their present state of development, is some kind of experience that could be worthwhile for reasons other than creature comforts.

[It's really a shame, in my opinion, that Castro did not seriously try to apply the principles he was espousing, in leading the revolution, to his time in power. He is said to be a billionaire- perhaps not a model of capitalism, but an extraordinarily poor model of a socialist.]
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[Rudyman]

Thank you so much V for your thoughts. You could be so very right. Anyone else been there that may have had a pleasant experience?

[Windknot]

I have been there twice, albeit a long time ago. Both times were for marlin tournaments (we won one of them!) and we were in Barlovento, but made frequent trips to Havana and were treated to a night in Veradero as well.

Havana is slowly crumbling. Hemingway's La Floridita bar is still thriving, as is the house he used to live in, and his old boat, Pilar. But the old hotels that housed the famous and infamous of the 50's are in sad need of repair. You can still see burlesque shows in the hotels, but they are way toned down from the heyday.

The people are very friendly but do not ask anything political, as they are very paranoid of "Big Brother," and who else might be listening.

Do some research on this, but I am thinking it would be better to bring Pesos with you, instead of American dollars. When in Cuba, you have to do business in their currency, which is virtually worthless, anywhere in the world, except Cuba. Cuba's (non) relations with the U.S. may mean that the exchange rate for the USD is much worse than from other countries, especially Mexico. There is a black market for US currency, but I was not there long enough to learn the ins and outs of it and I would advise against using this, as the penalties could be severe.

[rawkus]

Rudyman: Have friends whom have been there lately. Obviously the state of things are quite run down, but they had an amazing time, traveling around for 2 months. Never had any issues whatsoever.

Ps. Go there before McDonald's and similar crap start to pop up.

[V]

...they had an amazing time, traveling around for 2 months.

You said nothing about what they did, or how they did it, Rawkus. Rudyman would probably like the details.

For example, did they use home stays for lodging, in what kind of places did they eat, how did they move about, do they speak some Spanish, were they part of a tour (doesn't sound like it to me, if they were "traveling around"). You get the idea....

[rawkus]

V: My bad.

They traveled around pretty much the entire island. They stayed in hostels and home stays.

The traveling parts where done by bus and hitch-hiking.

Food was VERY basic, and mostly consisted of rice, beans and fish/chicken.

One of the 4 speaks a little bit of Spanish, so that helps, just as speaking Spanish when traveling in Mexico.

They mostly went to see the revolutionary stuff, landmarks (revolution), buy cigars and to snorkel, fish, hike and take photos of the local wildlife(mainly reptiles).

They are all bound to return in 2013 to "re-do" it all again.

The entire was done like a freestyle-thing: No bookings, nada.

[Rudyman]

Thanks Windknot, V & Ram,

Appreciate your input. My wife and I want to go and get the feel of "Old Havana" staying at a better hotel, fine dining and of course the night club extravaganza floor show. Still very uncertain but still very much intrigues me.

Anyone else with more knowledge or experience in Havana?

[tere]

Not that I've been to Cuba, since I live in the USA but almost every Canadian friend and family member of mine goes. You should ask about Cuba in the Free For All section here...lots of Temptation-Canadians post there and might be able to help.

[CancunNurse]

Absolutely GO! Great place! No more boat...can fly with Click (Aeromexico). Been there 5 times...a memorable experience each time. PM me for more info...wonderful people, wonderful music, wonderful food!

[T.J.]

www.cubana.cu is an airline that flies between Cancun and Habana/Havana, airport code HAV.

I don't believe that Aeromexico has flights to or from Habana.

Click was part of Mexicana (Grupo Mexicana) which ceased operating a couple of years ago, due mainly to owing a few hundred million pesos in federal taxes, and no doubt other economic issues.

I don't know of any other semi major airline that travels from Cancun to Habana.

[V]

PM me for more info...wonderful people, wonderful music, wonderful food!

Would take no longer to post the information here, and perhaps there is more than one person who would be interested.

[valgunn]

I've been to Cuba a dozen times over the last two years. My brother-in-law and sister were diplomats serving the US Intersection in Havana until last September. It is a wonderful place to visit, the from the people to the history of the place. My last visit, I actually went for a medical operation that would have cost me ten times as much in the states. The doctors were amazing, while the facilities were average.

Havana Vieja (Old City) is my personal favorite, such amazing architecture, like walking through the French Quarter, only ten times as large and far less drunks.

The Capitolio is a replica of the US Capital building and is well worth a visit (though it is closed for remodeling as of a month ago.)

Take a cigar tour of the Partagas factory (another place currently being remodeled) which is extremely interesting, as well as, the Havana Club Rum museum.

I've also caught several operas and ballets at the grand theatre which were very good.

Take a tour of the mansions in Miramar, Flores and Siboney where the majority of the country's foreign embassies are located. Especially nice is the bicycle tour, where you spend the day winding through the hills and tree-lined avenues--it's like riding though Beverly Hills in 1950's.

The only decent beaches are out at Playas del Este, which is a 20 minute ride out of the city, but it's close to the Hemingway house. The beaches are okay, but not near as nice as though further away on the island.

Be aware that the people of Cuba, though proud, are very poor and you will encounter many beggars and those working various scams. There is petty crime and prostitution, but really it is one of the safest places to visit in the world.

The worst part about Cuba honestly is the food. Outside of the paladars, all restaurants are state-run. Which means despite the name and cuisine, they're all getting ingredients from the same place. The food is low-quality and very bland. You will have much better luck from the paladars--which offer much better fare.

The country is full of people who are baseball fanatics. Catching an Industriales game is amazing (like a cross between Brazilian soccer and college baseball). I always bring a dozen or so baseballs to give away to kids playing in the street (often times with a rock and a stick).

Hope this helps!

[V]

Thanks, Val, for filling in some information gaps on Cuba. On your many visits, have you ever stayed in hotels or resorts, there, and do you have some good reviews to offer?
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Oye, Steve, I'm not trying to promote travel to Cuba, as I think it would be better placed in the "exotic" category owing to the inconveniences and discomforts sometimes reported (Val mentioned the food, for example). There are also legal issues relating to U.S. persons; but, it does offer a convenient destination for those living in Cancun who do not have the legal issues.

Two stories come to mind. U.S. Immigration asks those seeking to enter the country, "In which countries have you traveled." I saw an article speaking of a U.S. person who, upon being asked, said, "Cuba". He was immediately arrested, and charged. (Confess a crime and you leave the authorities no alternative but to act.)

This then reminds me of a personal experience, more amusing than informative. Entering the U.S., you must complete a customs form. I was bringing in a carpet with a declared value of $500. This was slightly above the limit for duty free and would have produced a modest tax, but required a lot of paperwork. Upon seeing my form, the U.S. customs agent exclaimed, "Why did you have to go and do that?" He then took his pen, crossed out my declaration of $500, wrote "$400", and said, "Now, get out of here!"

I suspect in the first illustration, in which the traveler declared he'd been to Cuba, the U.S. Immigration agents may have likewise been thinking, "Now why did you have to go and do that?"
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[valgunn]

Originally Posted by V

Thanks, Val, for filling in some information gaps on Cuba. On your many visits, have you ever stayed in hotels or resorts, there, and do you have some good reviews to offer?

Usually I stayed at my family's place, but have spent some nights in a hotel. Loved Hotel Los Frailes in Habana Vieja. A very cool place to stay. Apart from Frailes, I recommend casa particulares rather than any of the resorts (none of the large hotels in Havana are great--Parque Central is probably the best of the lot). You will have IMO a much more enjoyable time renting a room out in a house, there are some very nice ones and will be much cheaper than a hotel. Casa Dania and Casa de Ana are two I can recommend. For an all-inclusive the Iberostar and Paradisus in Varadero are probably tops on the island, but you are far from Havana--you'd just go to the resort and do day trips from there.

For paladars (the only decent restaurants) I like La Fontana, Decameron, and San Cristobal in vedado is also good.

[Rudyman]

Great info Val, now we are getting somewhere with hands on info. Muchas Gracias!

[valgunn]

Originally Posted by Rudyman

Great info Val, now we are getting somewhere with hands on info. Muchas Gracias!

Glad I could help