you're going on my birthday so smoke a birthday cigar for me...

Street cigars ( banana leaves with brand name bands ):D

For years a guy called Marty had a site with Cuban cigar prices at official outlets. I can't find it anymore, but here are some up-to-date prices. Looks like they haven't changed much since my last visit in 2006.

YUL Cigars

Some good basic info on travel to Cuba

Cuba: What I should know before I go

Here is the Gaia map online:

CubaMappa

Ian

A friend of mine was there in June and she mentioned that you do have to bring whatever you think enough cash is for the duration of your visit with you when you arrive. If you run out of cash to convert to CUCs, you're sort of SOL.

My wife to be and I went in the mid-90's, had a long weekend in Havana and stayed at this place Welcome - Hotel Nacional de Cuba

We were driven around in a 1955 Buick and the driver had to pump the brakes when he wanted to stop. Enjoyed a candle lit meal on the balcony of a locals home and dined of fresh lobster. Listened to the old guys argue about baseball and play chess. In the evening as the sun went down we drank rum and coke on the sea front with all the other young couples.

I've been to a few countries but Cuba is one of the few I would love to go back to, if I had the money and time I'd ship my 4x4 over and travel around the whole island for 4-6 weeks.

If you are not going for long just stick to Havana and soak up the charm before the its spoiled by over tourism

Thanks everyone for all the great advice. Its always appreciated.

3-4 star American hotels are all booked up and the prices are outrageous, so we were lucky enough to book a Casa online. I'm sure it will be a 1-star, and the reviews state that the owner regularly overbooks the property, then walks people down the street to other Casas, LOL. Should be interesting!

Bring me back a couple of Partigas churchills..

Richard the article I am sending you about Cuba says that toilet paper is hard to find!:eek:

It's already started, and they haven't even arrived, eh?

I always carry a roll with me! You never know...

I talked to a guy from Cuba.. He said it is still very communistic

i would be a bit embarrassed, as a US citizen, being in Cuba.
50 some years of a bull**** embargo. starving people, for what reason, exactly? machismo? ego?
entertainment?

Same here...I wouldn't expect an "open arms" welcome...and would understand why.

1). Castro the first is kaput. Russia hasn't been around since the Kennedys. You can spread USD around the world to undermine foreign influences, and help maintain your own assets.

2). Another way of looking at it is to help poor people directly.
Instead of through some NY corporate 'charity'.

3). Another way of looking at it is for health care.
Those poor Cubans enjoy much better medical treatment than us high-falutin hoihty-toighty Americans.

4). Another way is to 'make things right' if you're a bleeding heart.


The Shame Complex is still strong within our culture, and forced upon us all.
Daily. Subtlety.
Even on the young and innocent.

The Cuban people love America, Americans and are the warmest and are most welcoming.
We were constantly engaged in conversations with Cubans.
They have no resentment at all against America regarding the embargo , and just look at us at a nation controlled by stubborn politicians.
They also have no illusions about the state of their nation, but they are very proud to be Cuban.

You should forget about the hotels….expensive, mediocre and mostly booked.
Try Air B&B.
We rented a private modern 1 bedroom apartment, around he corner from Parc Central for 48.00 per night.
Clean, modern and the owner was pleased to make reservations and make sure we were happy.
The food is a bit strange.
There is virtually no breakfast, and not a single coffee stand for that famous cuban coffee.
Lunch was a choice of Cuban sandwiches, chicken sandwiches and really bad pizza about 1-1.50.
We ate lots of Cuban sandwiches.
Dinners were much better, as there are dozens and dozens of privately owned restaurants that will feed you well.
Average dinner was about 12-15.00 per person..with a drink or two.
Have fun.

Envious - have always wanted to go there. A few friends have been on "educational" trips. Wanted to see it before it opened up to the Holiday Inn/TGIMcFunsters era.

It's got a long way to go before it loses it's character.
Remember that the Cubans did not invite us…we invited ourselves.

In the end, it was one of the best and least expensive vacations ever.