Cuba

[slakjaw]

If I understand it correctly, if I go to Mexico, or Canada, I can get a flight to Cuba. How does this work? What do I need to know? I was told to have them stamp a separate sheet of paper rather than your passport. I want to take another vacation soon and Cuba is appealing to me. Do I need to be fluent in Spanish before I go? I am decent with the language but I stumble and have to get people to speak slowly.

Anyone here done it? What’s the skinny?

[Scott R]

It's been seven years since I was there, IBM sent me as they did often out of the way places. We flew to the Dominican Republic first, then Havana. I encountered a few American tourists when I was there, a lot of them came in via third party countries as the called it.

The trick is though you need a tax stamp/letter to spend any money there. Not a problem for me since IBM always takes care of all of this. But the American tourists had to be cautious where they spent money, and how. They would get me to buy them meals and then give me cash at the hotel.

I seem to recall they could only spend $75/day on "accommodation" related items, nothing that you could bring back in a suitcase. It's probably changed since then however. They were VERY nice to tourists there, there was no doubt about that. even tough I was on my usual business they treated me very well.

[hcariss]

I went a couple of years ago for a couple of months, it was fun. IIRC we changed planes in Cancun. There were 3 of us, no Spanish speakers amongst us and we kind of backpacked about. Havana is OK, we had fun but there is a kind of 'Guide' racket that goes on. Just be aware of whats going on meals etc & 'introductions'. We met some ladies one night and ended up getting comparatively fleeced for a meal for them an us which cost $180, then we went to the local club. After a bit to much rum friend went back with one of the girls and when he got back to the pension the owner demanded that he rent another room which was a 'double' ... anyhow everyone is kind of in on it ... food was ok, what you get in the tourist restaurants is very different to the workers canteens.

Outside Havana is really cool, we lived with a family for a while in Banes, took trains and buses to get around, Camaguey, Manzanillas, Santiago was great, although be aware in the town square. We kept getting hassled by three gringos ostensibly from Canada, the vibe was just scary, they were constantly asking us to help crew their yacht and they kept showing up where we were, Trinidad and back to Havana.
We avoided Vardero lots of hookers and too many tourists.
Have fun.

[imcarthur]

Bear in mind that your US Credit Cards & debit cards will not work in Cuba so it will have to be a cash vacation. You can exchange cash at the airport for tourist pesos - different value than the pesos the population uses. Do not buy cigars from anybody other than an official store or factory because they will be fakes!

We have been twice & it is refreshing to see - as opposed to the other Caribbean islands. Very poor but no beggars. Very run down but it still functions. Virtually no crime. On our last trip we rented a Vitara jeep & drove to 3 different locations. We really enjoyed it.

See It's Not Easy (to give away a suitcase filled with drugs) for my trip report from 2006. Lots of pictures too,

There are regular flights to most major Cuban cities from Toronto & Montreal. Air Transat - a cheap junket carrier - really sucks btw.


Ian

[Scott R]

I had trouble with the "cadeca" at the airport, mainly they either couldn't do math, or were doing it "incorrectly." The cadeca in my hotel however was no problem, and much easier to deal with. Had I known this I would have paid USD for a cab then exchanged at the hotel or in the plaza.

I was able to take cash out of ATM's on Amex, however my IBM Amex was issued out of my business center in the UK. Things may have changed in recent years but beyond the hotel no one really took cards there.