Hi all,
Am still not sure where to head for my holidays, end of August. Cuba is one option but would not want to be stuck in the "dollar zones"... any tips on how to get to meet real Cuban people while there? And maybe escape the tourists routes laid down by the regime? Thanks a million!
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Trip tu Cuba end of August
Jul 6, 2007 @ 22:56
The text you are quoting:
Hi all,
Am still not sure where to head for my holidays, end of August. Cuba is one option but would not want to be stuck in the "dollar zones"... any tips on how to get to meet real Cuban people while there? And maybe escape the tourists routes laid down by the regime? Thanks a million!
annieeJul 6, 2007 @ 22:56
Am still not sure where to head for my holidays, end of August. Cuba is one option but would not want to be stuck in the "dollar zones"... any tips on how to get to meet real Cuban people while there? And maybe escape the tourists routes laid down by the regime? Thanks a million!
annieeJul 6, 2007 @ 22:56
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Re: Trip tu Cuba end of August
Post 1
Jul 8, 2007 @ 20:20
I found that people who had visited cuba around 7-8 years ago found it a great place to travel... I did not find it an enjoyable trip at all... generally unsafe for females, unfriendly people, extraordinarily expensive for what you get and not really satisfying. I tend to travel to places off the beaten track so it was not that I am against 'roughing it' at all. But I would not return to the country - i have never felt so negative about a country before!
Anyhow, everyone has their own mind and needs to explore, however, I felt obliged to share my feelings with you in case it made any difference. If you would like details, email me and I can share specific things to avoid - but I totally understand if you would prefer not to!!
Last comment would be to look for the most updated travel guide - our rough guide from 2005 was totally incorrect and out of date already as it had changed so much since the ruling that the USD is illegal as currency there. Now you must pay 11 - 20% exchange rates from USD to Pesos depending on whether you have the cash (20%) or using a card (11%). To put it in context, 3 star hotels in Havana could cost you as much as 130 Pesos a night, Santiago around 80 Pesos... Casa's are cheaper but the quality is very variable.
Tash
PS - Dont take any nice clothing with you that has 'labels' on it - my London sports shirt got stolen by the maids in the hotel - you can easily avoid this by taking non-trophy clothing!
Anyhow, everyone has their own mind and needs to explore, however, I felt obliged to share my feelings with you in case it made any difference. If you would like details, email me and I can share specific things to avoid - but I totally understand if you would prefer not to!!
Last comment would be to look for the most updated travel guide - our rough guide from 2005 was totally incorrect and out of date already as it had changed so much since the ruling that the USD is illegal as currency there. Now you must pay 11 - 20% exchange rates from USD to Pesos depending on whether you have the cash (20%) or using a card (11%). To put it in context, 3 star hotels in Havana could cost you as much as 130 Pesos a night, Santiago around 80 Pesos... Casa's are cheaper but the quality is very variable.
Tash
PS - Dont take any nice clothing with you that has 'labels' on it - my London sports shirt got stolen by the maids in the hotel - you can easily avoid this by taking non-trophy clothing!
The text you are quoting:
I found that people who had visited cuba around 7-8 years ago found it a great place to travel... I did not find it an enjoyable trip at all... generally unsafe for females, unfriendly people, extraordinarily expensive for what you get and not really satisfying. I tend to travel to places off the beaten track so it was not that I am against 'roughing it' at all. But I would not return to the country - i have never felt so negative about a country before!
Anyhow, everyone has their own mind and needs to explore, however, I felt obliged to share my feelings with you in case it made any difference. If you would like details, email me and I can share specific things to avoid - but I totally understand if you would prefer not to!!
Last comment would be to look for the most updated travel guide - our rough guide from 2005 was totally incorrect and out of date already as it had changed so much since the ruling that the USD is illegal as currency there. Now you must pay 11 - 20% exchange rates from USD to Pesos depending on whether you have the cash (20%) or using a card (11%). To put it in context, 3 star hotels in Havana could cost you as much as 130 Pesos a night, Santiago around 80 Pesos... Casa's are cheaper but the quality is very variable.
Tash
PS - Dont take any nice clothing with you that has 'labels' on it - my London sports shirt got stolen by the maids in the hotel - you can easily avoid this by taking non-trophy clothing!
tash, Jul 8, 2007 @ 20:20
Anyhow, everyone has their own mind and needs to explore, however, I felt obliged to share my feelings with you in case it made any difference. If you would like details, email me and I can share specific things to avoid - but I totally understand if you would prefer not to!!
Last comment would be to look for the most updated travel guide - our rough guide from 2005 was totally incorrect and out of date already as it had changed so much since the ruling that the USD is illegal as currency there. Now you must pay 11 - 20% exchange rates from USD to Pesos depending on whether you have the cash (20%) or using a card (11%). To put it in context, 3 star hotels in Havana could cost you as much as 130 Pesos a night, Santiago around 80 Pesos... Casa's are cheaper but the quality is very variable.
Tash
PS - Dont take any nice clothing with you that has 'labels' on it - my London sports shirt got stolen by the maids in the hotel - you can easily avoid this by taking non-trophy clothing!
tash, Jul 8, 2007 @ 20:20
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Re: Trip tu Cuba end of August
Post 2
Jul 9, 2007 @ 15:29
i, on the other hand, had a great time in cuba. :) was there for just over 3 weeks in 2005 and loved it. was with a friend the first week in havana and varadero, after that i traversed the country on my own. did a few dives, a couple of hikes, danced with random crowds on the street, drank the best rum, had the cheapest ice cream in my life. :)
in big cities, stay in hotels. don't bother taking the train or the local buses, they're not worth it. even the tourist bus Viazul goes to some pretty off-the-beaten-track locations. as soon as you get off the bus, throngs of locals will come up to you offering room and board (casa particular). ask for details of the room and meal(s), and where exactly the house is. but staying with families is great, you can find yourself drinking with 'pops' on the front steps of the house talking about life in cuba while sitting in complete darkness during one of the rotational blackouts.
email me if you want to know more!
in big cities, stay in hotels. don't bother taking the train or the local buses, they're not worth it. even the tourist bus Viazul goes to some pretty off-the-beaten-track locations. as soon as you get off the bus, throngs of locals will come up to you offering room and board (casa particular). ask for details of the room and meal(s), and where exactly the house is. but staying with families is great, you can find yourself drinking with 'pops' on the front steps of the house talking about life in cuba while sitting in complete darkness during one of the rotational blackouts.
email me if you want to know more!
The text you are quoting:
i, on the other hand, had a great time in cuba. :) was there for just over 3 weeks in 2005 and loved it. was with a friend the first week in havana and varadero, after that i traversed the country on my own. did a few dives, a couple of hikes, danced with random crowds on the street, drank the best rum, had the cheapest ice cream in my life. :)
in big cities, stay in hotels. don't bother taking the train or the local buses, they're not worth it. even the tourist bus Viazul goes to some pretty off-the-beaten-track locations. as soon as you get off the bus, throngs of locals will come up to you offering room and board (casa particular). ask for details of the room and meal(s), and where exactly the house is. but staying with families is great, you can find yourself drinking with 'pops' on the front steps of the house talking about life in cuba while sitting in complete darkness during one of the rotational blackouts.
email me if you want to know more!
snowrice, Jul 9, 2007 @ 15:29
in big cities, stay in hotels. don't bother taking the train or the local buses, they're not worth it. even the tourist bus Viazul goes to some pretty off-the-beaten-track locations. as soon as you get off the bus, throngs of locals will come up to you offering room and board (casa particular). ask for details of the room and meal(s), and where exactly the house is. but staying with families is great, you can find yourself drinking with 'pops' on the front steps of the house talking about life in cuba while sitting in complete darkness during one of the rotational blackouts.
email me if you want to know more!
snowrice, Jul 9, 2007 @ 15:29
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