Smoking laws in Havana

[Chas.Alpha]

8 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

Is that the way it works?  Does the Cuban government supply international corporations, like Iberostar, with workers?  Workers who's salaries the government is paying?  

I am asking because I really have no clue how things like this work in Cuba.  It makes no sense to me, but a lot of things in Cuba (and here too for that matter) dont make a lot of sense to me.

All salaries are paid by the Cuban government. Doctors, Musicians, Hotel staff, Casa owners. All government salaries...

[StogieSteve23]

9 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

Is that the way it works?  Does the Cuban government supply international corporations, like Iberostar, with workers?  Workers who's salaries the government is paying?  

I am asking because I really have no clue how things like this work in Cuba.  It makes no sense to me, but a lot of things in Cuba (and here too for that matter) dont make a lot of sense to me.

That's what I've been told by other Americans and Cuban friends (who have become like brothers now) on the island.  I'm going to be completely honest and say I don't know 100% for sure, but I know that more money goes directly to the Cuban people in casa particulares and paladars (for those people owning/working them) than from hotels or government run restaurants.  I'm not positive whether or not the private hotels in Cuba, if their employees are employed by the gov't or whatever private company owns the hotel (if not a Cuban owned hotel). 

What I do know is that Cuba's literacy rate is extremely high and the Cuban people are extremely smart in general.  Countless people I've talked to even our friends there, would rather be a taxi driver, tour guide or something in the travel/tourism industry rather than a doctor, teacher, or chemical engineer.  The only reasoning for this is the money.  When they barely get paid enough a month to feed their families in the latter occupations and can live a more than "comfortable" (by Cuban standards) life being the former, you know somethings gotta give. In that sense, I'd rather knowingly be giving more money to the citizens than the government. Again, the one exception is on the cigars.  

To be honest, a lot of it doesn't make sense over there (or here as well lol) to me but that's part of the allure of Cuba.  The unknown.  It's just very sad what has happened over there to the people of that country and how essentially powerless they are.  

I don't know if I really answered the question, but I'm also not sure I have the proper answer. 

 

39 minutes ago, Chas.Alpha said:

All salaries are paid by the Cuban government. Doctors, Musicians, Hotel staff, Casa owners. All government salaries...

Thank you for clarifying this.  Exactly what I thought but was not positive. 

[Nino]

21 hours ago, StogieSteve23 said:

As Americans, we're supposed to be staying in Casas regardless. This is per our US travel guidelines to Cuba. I have never stayed in a hotel for this reason.

We also have developed many great relationships with people down there and end up bringing extra suitcases of clothes, school supplies, toys, vitamins, etc.. So its not like all we're there for is to take take take (as most Americans are thought of always doing). If you're American and want to do it the right way, a casa particular is that way. It satisfies our governments requirements and puts money into the pockets of the Cuban people. 

I stayed in hotels the first 6 trips to Cuba, never again - always a Casa Particular last 15 years.

For many reasons - the main reason is being with Cubans and having Cubans profit from my money vs giving it to the Cuban military who runs all tourist/hotel companies.

21 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

Sure, the hotel chain was on the receiving end of my money, but they are paying the front desk people, the bellhops, the cleaning people, the restaurant workers, and other Cuban people that I am probably leaving out.

No Elliott, the hotel chains are not paying salaries to their staff as they do not employ their staff.

There is a state company that provides all labour for hotels and to which the hotel chain pays high salaries to and that company pays the low salaries of the hotel staff pocketing ca. 80% of the difference ... read below

19 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

Is that the way it works?  Does the Cuban government supply international corporations, like Iberostar, with workers?  Workers who's salaries the government is paying?  

I am asking because I really have no clue how things like this work in Cuba.  It makes no sense to me, but a lot of things in Cuba (and here too for that matter) dont make a lot of sense to me.

Yes  Elliott - the company was called Cubalse, might have change its name by now and it is the only state run company authorized to provide staff to hotels, embassies and/or I'national joint ventures.

Now let's take Iberostar as an example - Spanish company, partners with Gaviota, Cuban military tourist company, 49% Iberostar, 51% Gaviota, takes over the Parque Central ( or like next door Kempinski Hotel Manzana or the many Melia hotels all over Cuba).

Now you need staff - so you go to Cubalse and they will provide it.

Room-maids for 600CUC a month, waiters for 700€ a month, front-desk staff for 1200€ a month etc.

That same staff will get paid between 35 and 60 CUC a month in Pesos plus some 15 to 25 CUC in CUC and that's it - the large part of 80% of the money goes to the Cuban military via Cubalse.

Just like 75% of the salaries paid to Cuban doctors sent abroad go to the Cuban gvmt via a dedicated medical staff export company ...

Iberostar can provide a Spanish/foreign co-manager and some other managers like F&B etc.

Doesn't make sense to anybody, you are right, but that might be the "allure" of Cuban socialism in creating a workers paradise ... sarcasm off.

 

10 hours ago, StogieSteve23 said:

I'm going to be completely honest and say I don't know 100% for sure, but I know that more money goes directly to the Cuban people in casa particulares and paladars (for those people owning/working them) than from hotels or government run restaurants.  I'm not positive whether or not the private hotels in Cuba, if their employees are employed by the gov't or whatever private company owns the hotel (if not a Cuban owned hotel). 

Countless people I've talked to even our friends there, would rather be a taxi driver, tour guide or something in the travel/tourism industry rather than a doctor, teacher, or chemical engineer.  The only reasoning for this is the money.  When they barely get paid enough a month to feed their families in the latter occupations and can live a more than "comfortable" (by Cuban standards) life being the former, you know somethings gotta give. In that sense, I'd rather knowingly be giving more money to the citizens than the government. Again, the one exception is on the cigars.  

 

Yes, more money goes to regular Cuban people when you stay in Casas and use Paladares.

No, there are NO privately owned hotels in Cuba. All have a 51% military/gvmt majority stake.

Yes, so many Cubans want to work in the CUC economy that steep bribes are paid to get a job in a hotel or in anything associated with tourism and access to either CUC or goods that can be "diverted" to the back door and converted into money...

Back to topic - smoking in Havana :

I only go to the Hotel Nacional de Cuba when I meet friends and they only know that hotel or when I pick up an ashtray. Best time would be early morning for the terrace - a morning cigar with a cafe con leche.
Other than that it is just a tourist magnet, crowded, expensive and slow service, endless lines of day-tripper tourists marching in & through the terrace observing us, those funny old fashioned cigar smokers, like we are animals in a Zoo.

And I personally boycot the Parque Central Hotel for its apartheid practices against Cubans in general and my friend Hector Luis and his wife in particular.

http://flyingcigar.de/startseite/cigars-with-hector-luis-in-havana-and-hotel-apartheid/

 

[StogieSteve23]

19 minutes ago, nino said:

I stayed in hotels the first 6 trips to Cuba, never again - always a Casa Particular last 15 years.
 

 

Hey Nino, these were all great points and thank you for the clarification on everything.  Paladars and Casa Particulares are certainly and have always been the way to go in my opinion.  Lots of times better food at paladars and better accommodations/service at casas IMO, never mind all the negatives as we've mentioned to not dining/staying at these places. 

[Nino]

3 hours ago, StogieSteve23 said:

Hey Nino, these were all great points and thank you for the clarification on everything.  Paladars and Casa Particulares are certainly and have always been the way to go in my opinion.  Lots of times better food at paladars and better accommodations/service at casas IMO, never mind all the negatives as we've mentioned to not dining/staying at these places. 

My pleasure @StogieSteve23 - just my 2 cents input.

While I agree that new visitors might be better off in a hotel if travelling alone or unsure of how Cuba works first time there, all my friends I've taken to Cuba have shared a Casa Particular, loved it and never looked back or were ever tempted by Hotels - the opposite.

And while it is now no-smoking inside, most Casas have patios, terraces, gardens or a place where one can smoke. No problem at all.

It is Hotels that restrict smoking in Cuba - not Casas, as Hotels cater to tourists that are in their majority non-smokers.
Try to smoke in a resort hotel in Cuba ... even in Havana most smoking in Hotels is history.

[Smokecigareveryday]

43 minutes ago, nino said:

My pleasure @StogieSteve23 - just my 2 cents input.

While I agree that new visitors might be better off in a hotel if travelling alone or unsure of how Cuba works first time there, all my friends I've taken to Cuba have shared a Casa Particular, loved it and never looked back or were ever tempted by Hotels - the opposite.

And while it is now no-smoking inside, most Casas have patios, terraces, gardens or a place where one can smoke. No problem at all.

It is Hotels that restrict smoking in Cuba - not Casas, as Hotels cater to tourists that are in their majority non-smokers.
Try to smoke in a resort hotel in Cuba ... even in Havana most smoking in Hotels is history.

Great point.  The reason why I am going to Havana is to smoke cigars and enjoy the surroundings. 

[RijkdeGooier]

Here’s my experience re smoking last March 2020. 
 

1. Casas inside generally no, outside si

2. Restaurants, paladares - depends, just ask

3. Hotels inside no (except lounges), outside si

However, one might have a different exp on one’s trip.