Cuba

[Baz]

Sizzle.....

[Captain Ahab Jr]

I went to Havana with my wife in the early 90's, one of my all time favourite countries.

We hired a driver with a 1949 Buick to show us around for the day, only cost $25 back then and a lobster meal for 2 was about $10

If I had the time and money I would do a self drive tour around the rest of the island

Agree 100% with the comment go before US toursim spoils it

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Baz

Hey Bob - same thing with Tahiti. Way over commercialized now. I wish I had gone there in the 60's!!!

Baz - A friend just got back from Tahiti....He commented on how it was spoiled compared to visit in the early '80's.....

[varmint]

just so i understand,

you're in a hurry to get to cuba before too many people like you ruin cuba?

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by Captain Ahab Jr

If I had the time and money I would do a self drive tour around the rest of the island

It was dirt cheap in 2006 but it probably still isn't expensive. The vast majority of tourists just hit the all-inclusives. We rented a Vitara & toured around Holguin & Mayari provinces for several days in the SE. If I was going again, I would stay at some Case Particulars, which are small B&Bs that have sprung up all over the country in the last decade.

Here is a different sort of holiday picture. That is me with Carmen Rosa Artiles Sánchez, the Presidente Asamblea Municipal of the Poder Popular of Mayari. Beside me in the chair is a 20kg suitcase filled with drugs & medical supplies that we spent an amazing day trying to give away.



Ian

[Baz]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Baz - A friend just got back from Tahiti....He commented on how it was spoiled compared to visit in the early '80's.....

There ya go....

Originally Posted by varmint

just so i understand,

you're in a hurry to get to cuba before too many people like you ruin cuba?

If you just visit......you don't do as much "damage" to a destination. It's those who stay, multiple, and commercialize that do the damage.

Originally Posted by imcarthur

---snip---Beside me in the chair is a 20kg suitcase filled with drugs & medical supplies that we spent an amazing day trying to give away.---snip---[/img]

Ian

Good for you and well done, Ian.

[HardDrive]

I've been twice.

Dancing the night away with a beautiful girl, drinking 12 year old rum with a Cohiba in hand....holy hell good times. Its almost a shame things are opening up. Everything is going to get buried in western money.

[LakeCleElum]

So, did some research on visiting a few yrs ago when it was not legal for US residents:

I was in Progresso (Merdia) Mexico in a huge house on the Gulf for 2 weeks....I found:

I could go to a travel agent in Merdia, and book a flight/hotel/meal package on my credit card to be charged to a Mexican Company......I fly from Merdia, Cuba does not stamp my passport. I take a fistfull of Pescos, so nothing on my credit/debit cards........Trip is reportedly under the radar?

I did not do it, but was really tempted........

[Ferraripete]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

So, did some research on visiting a few yrs ago when it was not legal for US residents:

I was in Progresso (Merdia) Mexico in a huge house on the Gulf for 2 weeks....I found:

I could go to a travel agent in Merdia, and book a flight/hotel/meal package on my credit card to be charged to a Mexican Company......I fly from Merdia, Cuba does not stamp my passport. I take a fistfull of Pescos, so nothing on my credit/debit cards........Trip is reportedly under the radar?

I did not do it, but was really tempted........

of course. they don't stamp your actual passport either. the insert a loose page and stamp that. good times!!

[GWN7]

A better idea than renting a car is rent a driver with a car. Under Cuban law if your involved in a driving accident you are required stay until the police finish their investigation. You don't want a weekend visit turn into a month long stay.