Problems In Paradise

[kuma]

Just finished reading the latest CA story on Cuba  (pre-Trump travel rules) and it does not paint a very positive

picture about prices.  One excrept states and I'm paraphashing; hotel prices that should be going for 79.00 dollars

are now commanding prices of $400.00 and above.  Travel w/taxi up 10 - 30 percent, food up, but cigars

prices have not changed.  Yes I think the people of that country should make a decent wage as long as they (workers) receive

the benefits.  If it goes to the gov./military and not back to the people then this is wrong.  Anyway not bashing the country / people

because I would love to go there some day but just as of last week it looks like it will be harder to do that if you are

US cit.  If I can't go to Cuba I can always go to the next most cigar friendly place in the world, Spain where next

to Cuba they have the most amount of cigars per country in the world.  What a shame for US cit.'s.......

 

[jerrybrowne]

10 minutes ago, kuma said:

Just finished reading the latest CA story on Cuba  (pre-Trump travel rules) and it does not paint a very positive

picture about prices.  One excrept states and I'm paraphashing; hotel prices that should be going for 79.00 dollars

are now commanding prices of $400.00 and above.  Travel w/taxi up 10 - 30 percent, food up, but cigars

prices have not changed.  Yes I think the people of that country should make a decent wage as long as they (workers) receive

the benefits.  If it goes to the gov./military and not back to the people then this is wrong.  Anyway not bashing the country / people

because I would love to go there some day but just as of last week it looks like it will be harder to do that if you are

US cit.  If I can't go to Cuba I can always go to the next most cigar friendly place in the world, Spain where next

to Cuba they have the most amount of cigars per country in the world.  What a shame for US cit.'s.......

 

True, although good deals can still be had if you look around.  For example, I stayed at Hotel Nacional for $100 USD a night just a few weeks ago.  Not a modern hotel by any means, but a historic hotel that is comfortable and clean.  There are a million threads here on casas paticulares that are even cheaper, and airbnb is a convenient way to book.  Food was expensive, but I'm sure the more adventurous can eat where the locals eat and pay much less than tourists.  The biggest PITA was constantly negotiating with taxis - lots of price gouging.

Cuba is still a great place to visit.  Too bad Trump has made this more difficult for many of us.

[kuma]

Yes just my luck.  I wish Trump / Castro can iron out the differences between the two.  From what I gather

Trump is putting Castro in a no-win situation.. Damn if does, damn if he does not!  I don't think the Cuban gov.

will let go of the power they have even if it means no normal relations with the states.  A real shame for all.

 

[El Presidente]

You can get a great house for 150 CUC a day.....that will beat most hotels in the world....and split the second room with friends. Both double bedrooms will be ensuited. You will have a garden. You will be 6-10 minutes from  Old Havana. Breakfast will cost you an additional 10CUC. They will stock your fridge with beer/rum and do your washing (5 CUC a load). 

.....that is value. 

[kuma]

Thanks Rob you would have never known this from the limited CA story.  The part of the story where hotel

prices are going through the roof deal with first time business travelers who may not have the time to find

such great deals.  I guess a little home work goes a long way in this area.

[Duxnutz]

37 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

You can get a great house for 150 CUC a day.....that will beat most hotels in the world....and split the second room with friends. Both double bedrooms will be ensuited. You will have a garden. You will be 6-10 minutes from  Old Havana. Breakfast will cost you an additional 10CUC. They will stock your fridge with beer/rum and do your washing (5 CUC a load). 

.....that is value. 

Definitely need to do this next trip. Is FOH Cuba 2018 still on the cards?

[El Presidente]

34 minutes ago, kuma said:

Thanks Rob you would have never known this from the limited CA story.  The part of the story where hotel

prices are going through the roof deal with first time business travelers who may not have the time to find

such great deals.  I guess a little home work goes a long way in this area.

Hotels appear to be the domain of first timers (Americans/Europeans). 

You would need a hole in the head to stay in one. 

There is great value out there and plenty of it. You don't have to be a supersluthe either.  It takes only www.havaning.com or airbnb.

[El Presidente]

5 minutes ago, Duxnutz said:

Definitely need to do this next trip. Is FOH Cuba 2018 still on the cards?

See how I feel in January 

[zlc410]

Just got back Friday.  Stayed in an Airbnb and paid 159$ for three nights.  It wasn't luxurious but it was walking distance to Nacional and Habana Libre and I never felt unsafe and it was really clean.  I ate a couple of restaurants where my bill was 25$ for just me  with one drink and no appetizer, but I also ate in a paladar the last night that three of us drank the entire time, had three appetizers (including a lobster cocktail which was huge) and three meals for less than $70. You can definitely eat cheap if you are willing to venture out.  I chose to sit and smoke custom rolls all day instead of eating.

[polarbear]

24 minutes ago, kuma said:

Thanks Rob you would have never known this from the limited CA story.  The part of the story where hotel

prices are going through the roof deal with first time business travelers who may not have the time to find

such great deals.  I guess a little home work goes a long way in this area.

From what I've gathered from reading CA over the last couple of years is that their journalists tend to gravitate to the higher end side of life when reporting on most things.
I mean, each issue has a write up on some ultra expensive watch, car, tailor and cigar accessory so I doubt its staff are bargain hunting when they go to Cuba on the company account and as they their audience tends to be the upper class cigar smokers its rare they make any mention of lower cost alternatives other than one line saying "cheaper rates can be had if you're prepared to hunt for them"

[Nino]

I gave up hotels in HAV many moons ago - before they went to like 660 CUC a night at the Melia Habana last February or 750 a night at the Saratoga same month ...

You have to be nuts ( or on expense account ) to spend that coin for a Cuban hotel

This Casa below is admittedly expensive at btw. 180 and 250 a night for 2 people, but it's a very high-end Casa that I found through big man Toby - our man in Havana :-).

I rent a Casa as low as 50-60 CUC a day with terrace and garden, a/c, laundry service etc in Miramar or Nvo. Vedado, just takes some homework as someone mentioned further up.

http://lareservavedado.com/

[Ethernut]

16 hours ago, El Presidente said:

See how I feel in January 

Gawd I hope ya feel "good" in January. :-) So want to meet the lads again in Havana!

[canadianbeaver]

I must be the only Cuban cigar addict who has absolutely no interest in going to Cuba.

Our travels include meeting FOH members almost every time too.

*Phew*

True confession.

CB

 

[Bartolomeo]

23 hours ago, jerrybrowne said:

True, although good deals can still be had if you look around.  For example, I stayed at Hotel Nacional for $100 USD a night just a few weeks ago.  Not a modern hotel by any means, but a historic hotel that is comfortable and clean.  There are a million threads here on casas paticulares that are even cheaper, and airbnb is a convenient way to book.  Food was expensive, but I'm sure the more adventurous can eat where the locals eat and pay much less than tourists.  The biggest PITA was constantly negotiating with taxis - lots of price gouging.

Cuba is still a great place to visit.  Too bad Trump has made this more difficult for many of us.

How did you get Nacional for $100 a night? Do tell

TIA!

[jerrybrowne]

1 minute ago, Bartolomeo said:

How did you get Nacional for $100 a night? Do tell

TIA!

I used Trivago.  The room itself was booked by Cancelon which has a very interesting business model.  They take cancelled, non-refundable reservations and make them available to others at discounted rates.  You can get great deals if you can travel last minute since the value of the cancelled reservations starts going down the closer it gets to the reservation date.  Some bad press about these guys, but it worked great for me.

[Bartolomeo]

11 minutes ago, jerrybrowne said:

I used Trivago.  The room itself was booked by Cancelon which has a very interesting business model.  They take cancelled, non-refundable reservations and make them available to others at discounted rates.  You can get great deals if you can travel last minute since the value of the cancelled reservations starts going down the closer it gets to the reservation date.  Some bad press about these guys, but it worked great for me.

Thanks!