Thinking about visiting Havana from Cancun. Can anyone give any insight on their experience if they have done it please.
My lawyer told me there is a boat you can go on. I'm still trying to get information myself, if anyone knows.
$277.14 USD includes taxes April 5-9 One flight per day, each way Cubana de Aviación Hey Rudy, I can get it for you for $300. You can save $50 per person. Interested?
TJ, Appreciate the offer but not in Cancun now but want to plan something next time I come back. If you have been there can you tell me a little about your experience?
Rudyman, I know people who've been there. Those I know who've done it report hardships with substandard conditions of hotel rooms, very "Soviet style" service, limited food choices and below standard quality of food, and high prices for what you get. Little opportunity to earn much money and relative poverty is said to make the local people a bit aggressive in charging foreigners for just about everything. It could be a somewhat better experience, if one could speak Spanish, and escape to smaller cities- where they are not so accustomed to dealing with (read "fleecing") foreigners- and doing private home stays. I know some Dutch girls who did that, and they reported a better experience, though they preferred the time they spent at Isla Mujeres (still exotic enough for them!). Some found the broken down conditions of historic Havana to be distressing to see, as it suggests a former glory which has been lost. Nevertheless, to see things as they are, in their present state of development, is some kind of experience that could be worthwhile for reasons other than creature comforts. [It's really a shame, in my opinion, that Castro did not seriously try to apply the principles he was espousing, in leading the revolution, to his time in power. He is said to be a billionaire- perhaps not a model of capitalism, but an extraordinarily poor model of a socialist.] _____________________
Thank you so much V for your thoughts. You could be so very right. Anyone else been there that may have had a pleasant experience?
I have been there twice, albeit a long time ago. Both times were for marlin tournaments (we won one of them!) and we were in Barlovento, but made frequent trips to Havana and were treated to a night in Veradero as well. Havana is slowly crumbling. Hemingway's La Floridita bar is still thriving, as is the house he used to live in, and his old boat, Pilar. But the old hotels that housed the famous and infamous of the 50's are in sad need of repair. You can still see burlesque shows in the hotels, but they are way toned down from the heyday. The people are very friendly but do not ask anything political, as they are very paranoid of "Big Brother," and who else might be listening. Do some research on this, but I am thinking it would be better to bring Pesos with you, instead of American dollars. When in Cuba, you have to do business in their currency, which is virtually worthless, anywhere in the world, except Cuba. Cuba's (non) relations with the U.S. may mean that the exchange rate for the USD is much worse than from other countries, especially Mexico. There is a black market for US currency, but I was not there long enough to learn the ins and outs of it and I would advise against using this, as the penalties could be severe.
Rudyman: Have friends whom have been there lately. Obviously the state of things are quite run down, but they had an amazing time, traveling around for 2 months. Never had any issues whatsoever. Ps. Go there before McDonald's and similar crap start to pop up.
You said nothing about what they did, or how they did it, Rawkus. Rudyman would probably like the details. For example, did they use home stays for lodging, in what kind of places did they eat, how did they move about, do they speak some Spanish, were they part of a tour (doesn't sound like it to me, if they were "traveling around"). You get the idea....
