ubiquito Posted January 24, 2013 Posted January 24, 2013 My wife and I have just booked 2 flights from Cancun to Havana in April and I am beyond excited! I have, of course, picked up a guide book and have been scouring the internet for tips/suggestions but I figure that this might be the best venue for good advice! The only firm decisions that we have made at this point are to stay in casas particulares and for me to smoke my fair share of cigars. For those of you who have made the trip - is there anything that we absolutely should not miss? I am also interested in posing a question or two via PM to any other members from the U.S. who have gone if you could drop me a line! Just a couple months away!
stargazer14 Posted January 24, 2013 Posted January 24, 2013 Look no further: The Ultimate Cuba Thread Also, introduce yourself in the Newbie section and join the fun.
ubiquito Posted January 24, 2013 Author Posted January 24, 2013 Thanks! How did I miss this thread - it is awesome.
Troels Posted January 24, 2013 Posted January 24, 2013 Renting a car was a great thing for us - few cars om the road, and slow traffic made it comfortable to go by our self. All the "in between" experiences was great, as getting to see little villages, buying bananas in the roadside, having to steer clear of grassing cows on the "highway" etc
ubiquito Posted January 24, 2013 Author Posted January 24, 2013 Good to see you, Ryan! Thanks for the PM. Troels - thanks for the tip on renting a car. Anyone else with experience with this vs. other means of transportation?
AlohaStyle Posted January 24, 2013 Posted January 24, 2013 I normally like to rent cars while on trips to have the freedom of moving around like Troels said above. But to me as an American in Cuba and hearing about some of the issues you can have while renting a car in Cuba, it definitely wasn't worth the hassle and risk. To me, it made much more sense to take taxis in Havana, have a driver for the day if you want to get around multiple places or take a day trip somewhere, or simply take the bus to different cities. There are multiple stories here on FOH from Nino and Rob alone, that detail problems when renting a car. Could you imagine getting into an accident while there... being there illegally? Roads and driving conditions there can be total crap. I was shocked at how many horse drawn buggies were on the freeway, in the dark, with no lights etc. Not to mention the big ass potholes. We almost went in the ditch with a good local driver after trying to miss a pothole, I should say more like a crater. LOL If I wasn't an American citizen, it would be different and I would probably rent a car at least once. But it isn't worth the risk to an American IMO.
jazzbass Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 In Havana.... Walk, and do lots of walking. Watch your step though, because there are dogs, many abandoned dogs that live on the streets. After every meal I would take any meat or bone scraps, wrap them up in a napkin and feed those poor little souls. It is a gesture that is appreciated, believe me. Take things to Cuba that you plan on giving away. Forget tooth brushes, everyone does that and I think they've seen enough toothbrushes for now. Women appreciate getting tampons, make-up etc. Painkillers like Advil Gel caps are a nice thing to hand out. Everyone, and I mean everyone will want to sell you cigars and their "story" can be quite believable but BEWARE, what they'll sell you is a horrible facsimile of what Cuba truly is capable of producing. You'll be ripped off 100% of the time. Take a coco taxi and your camera and go to the "Colon" cemetery. It is very beautiful and unique. For cigars, and this is where it gets good, go to a hotel called " Hotel Conde de Villanueva". It is a beautiful old building with a fantastic cigar shop on the second floor. Custom made Cuban cigars are also available there and should be sampled. It is my favourite cigar shop in Havana. Lots of character and great AUTHENTIC cigars. Try to buy cigars that are NOT the main brands. You might just end up getting a box with a bit of age and the taste will be perfect. Congratulations on your decision to see Cuba before the floodgates open and Pizza Hut, KFC and the like appear on their streets. Heaven help the poor Cuban souls who will finally get a taste for junk food. Obesity and health issues will change everything.
ubiquito Posted January 25, 2013 Author Posted January 25, 2013 Great advice! I think that we will plan on getting around on foot, via taxi, etc. I definitely plan on seeking out the customs and treasure hunting for some good finds. Now to getting home with a few....
Hubba Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 Last time in cuba beside the meds and standard stuff i brought about a dozen official baseballs....some really cool moments giving those to kids and Dads.
jazzbass Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 Posted Today, 05:16 PM Last time in cuba beside the meds and standard stuff i brought about a dozen official baseballs....some really cool moments giving those to kids and Dads. Wow, Hubba, never thought of that.. That is an INCREDIBLE thing to do. Never thought of it but it makes so much sense to take official baseballs to such a baseball crazed country. Great tip !!! Quote MultiQuote
stogieluver Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 Most of the people on the street that seemed to be in the worst shape would rub their forearms, their way of asking if we had soap. I don't know if they actually used it for personal use or sold it, but that seemed to be the thing most requested. Take some small hotel size bars of soap and hand those out. Also, I have the business card a cab driver who took us all around Havana one day. He spoke very good English and was super nice. Set us up with some very good paladars. Email me and I'll give you his name and number if you're interested.
ubiquito Posted January 25, 2013 Author Posted January 25, 2013 Thanks stogieluver! I would love to get his info from you. I will email you. What is the best way to go about setting up casas? Cubacasa that Nino mentioned seems like a good way to set some places up in advance. I am especially excited about this part of the trip, getting to stay with locals. On the topic of customs, what can I expect to pay for Mons, La China, Reinaldo there?
AlohaStyle Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 Regarding Casa's, there are a few popular "booking" sites however I preferred to try and contact the Casa's directly as I believe you get more of a firm reservation going direct, than through a booking agent. I've read numerous people show up to their Casa only to learn they don't have a room. Keep in mind this can be common even if you book direct, but my thought was I was more guaranteed a room if I booked direct. I looked at the various Casa sites and then went through TripAdvisor. I could get direct emails from TripAdvisor reviews, or simply googling the Casa's name along with email address. I then used Google translate and emailed them directly asking for a room. They would get back to me in spanish and I would simply use Google translate again. Hell, I even picked up the phone one time (even though I don't know spanish) and called a Casa to confirm a room. It was an interesting conversation but it worked out! Regarding customs, they are cheap. Expect $4-8 for most normal sizes and maybe $8-$10 for any big dogs or hard to roll cigars. But most I remember were in the $4.25 - $6.50 range.
CanuckSARTech Posted January 26, 2013 Posted January 26, 2013 In Havana... ...Take a coco taxi and your camera and go to the "Colon" cemetery. It is very beautiful and unique. Agreed completely. The "Necropolis / Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón" (Christopher Columbus Cemetary). It's in the Vedado neighbourhood of Havana, I think. Definitely a must see, and something that I personally think can be missed out by many first-time visitors. The monument to the firefighters is amazing. It's also unique to see all the art deco stylings there, while also finding out the history of the mausoleums, and how multiple generations of the same families use the same vaults and such. Such a unique way at looking at honouring your long-passed ancestors. Google map it - it's amazing to see how it contrasts with the rest of the city layout that has formed up around it in the past 100-some-odd years. Very cool.
CanuckSARTech Posted January 26, 2013 Posted January 26, 2013 Look no further: The Ultimate Cuba Thread Yup.
PoohBore Posted January 26, 2013 Posted January 26, 2013 This has been copied from BOTL https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=203308179923171908023.0004a1d639630fc331fa6&msa=0&ll=23.083522,-82.404327&spn=0.308254,0.428467 Shows restaurants lcdh, custom rollers etc in havana. My favourite custom rolls are yolanda at the melia habana and enrique mons. Have a great trip Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk 2
ubiquito Posted January 27, 2013 Author Posted January 27, 2013 Awesome map! We will definitely plan on spending some time at the CC Cemetary. Contacting the casas direct seems like the best way to go. Does anyone have any thoughts/opinions regarding customs from the different rollers? I plan on visiting the main ones and buying singles to sample and decide what to load up on at the end of the trip.
AussieCanuck Posted January 27, 2013 Posted January 27, 2013 Just got back from Cuba yesterday........had a great time. This was my second time and wont be my last. The cigar store in the Hotel Conde de Villanueva is a must visit. The custom made cigars there are fantastic and the shop itself is incomparable to any other (great old world vibe, very smokey, huge selection).
dpodiluk Posted January 27, 2013 Posted January 27, 2013 That map is pretty cool. Just need one for Varadaro now
Smokntaz Posted January 27, 2013 Posted January 27, 2013 Just went down for the first time a couple months ago. Loved it and can't wait to go back. Two days will be a rush to see it 'All' but have a great time and safe travels.
stargazer14 Posted January 27, 2013 Posted January 27, 2013 Top 10 Cuba travel experiences - Lonely Planet
fred170 Posted January 28, 2013 Posted January 28, 2013 You can walk all throighout Habana Vieja and see some nice sites..Havana Club Museum, Old Churches, and make your way west to HAbana to the Capitolio. There are Havanatur buses that will take you to some nice sights, but remember you are on their clock and have to leave when they say so. If you havent booked any lodging, casa particulares are a great deal. If not a hotel near Parque Central (Inglaterra Hotel etc)will facilitate you to points of interests in case you chose to walk around. Enjoy and dont forget to visit the Partagas shop behind the Capitolio.... Cheers
AussieCanuck Posted January 30, 2013 Posted January 30, 2013 Agree with the above comment re the Partagas Factory. Just don't visit the 'shop' behind the Partagas factory. The cigars on offer will be cheaper but for a good reason !
ubiquito Posted January 30, 2013 Author Posted January 30, 2013 Just went down for the first time a couple months ago. Loved it and can't wait to go back. Two days will be a rush to see it 'All' but have a great time and safe travels. We are fortunately going to be there for a total of 2 weeks!
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