Simple Beetle Question

[El Presidente]

10 minutes ago, SCgarman said:

. FWIW, any ambition I may have ever had to visit Cuba is gone. What's the point?

Fantastic people with a fantastic culture. History. Remarkably safe. Unique. 

I have never been to a Cuban "resort". I am not a "resort" person but if I was then I would be heading to somewhere in Mexico or Thailand/Vietnam. Cuba doesn't suit cookie cutter tourists. "es complicado". 

The magic of Cuba comes from experiencing the good the bad and the ugly of Cuba...often in the same hour. Paraphrasing my mate macho "shit gets weird here quick".  Weird yes but unsafe no.  With the right state of mind, Cuba allows you to go deep into the layers of the onion. It takes many trips to understand. There is a richness to Cuba travel done right. 

[Corylax18]

1 hour ago, SCgarman said:

I would imagine food buffet restaurants are likely a non-sanitary germ laden smorgasbord fit to catch something bad. Most buffet restaurants here in US at least offer the typical clear plastic disposable gloves for handling multiple food utensils for those of us germophobes. FWIW, any ambition I may have ever had to visit Cuba is gone. What's the point? No more cheap cigars, over priced government run hotels. I'd rather go to the Bahamas, Barbados or the like. I have no desire to "rough it" for some sort of bucket list accomplishment. 

I cant say it any better than Rob did above. I haven't gone to and wouldn't recommend the all inclusives for an U.S. based tourist. But I still do recommend a cigar pilgrimage. You don't really start to see the real Cuba until your second or third trip, its a fascinating (but heavily flawed) country. You've just gotta 'roll with it'.   

[El Presidente]

1 hour ago, El Presidente said:

Cuba doesn't suit cookie cutter tourists. "es complicado". 

 

That comment wasn't meant as a slight to anyone. 

When I take Aussies to Cuba for the first time I interview/grill them over a cigar and a drink to see if they have the right personality/mindset for Cuba travel. We tend to go off the beaten path, spend time in odd places, have dinner with the family's of old friends, have dinner with people we met that afternoon, go up paths/roads/tracks we never new existed, engage. 

What I don't need is misogynist, racist, egotistical, ignorant, selfish bastards hanging out with the rest of us for 10 days.  I have only had to kick three guys out of the group in the years I have travelled to Cuba. All three had their travel requests stamped "dick head, never again".  Travel, particularly to disadvantaged countries,  brings out the best and worst in people. 

 

[vladdraq]

next time don't kick them Pres, put some beetle eggs i their luggage.

[Puros Y Vino]

Cigar pricing aside, Cuba, Havana especially is worth the effort.  Very safe. Fantastic culture.  Great people.  Still a haven for cigar smoking.  You can light up for breakfast at your hotel. At lunch or dinner in many restaurants.  A visit to a tobacco farm is required. Though, the last hurricane did a serious number on Pinar Del Rio.  I've been to Havana about 5 times and an AI resort with my wife in Varadero once.  The AI's are sub par in comparison to Mexico.  Service and people were excellent. Foodwise, nothing exciting. In contrast, I've had stellar meals in Havana.  On my first trip I packed for an expected gastronomic catastrophe.  Multiple boxes of granola bars, digestive cookies, Pepto Bismol bottles, Antacid tablets, etc etc.   Was pleasantly surprised at how good the restaurants were.  Things are still rough down there for the locals, so keep an eye/ear out if things normalize.  Then book a 5 day trip.  It's worth it.

[Fuzz AI]

8 hours ago, El Presidente said:

That comment wasn't meant as a slight to anyone. 

When I take Aussies to Cuba for the first time I interview/grill them over a cigar and a drink to see if they have the right personality/mindset for Cuba travel.

When Rob brings out the lie detector and attaches the electrodes to more "delicate" parts of your body, my advice is to answer honestly.