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| Go shopping in Cuba with recommendations, reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and locals. Map |
 | Cuba Shopping | Tips 1 - 10 of 47 |  |
Two shopping items in one picture.
Cigars you better buy in official stores - Cd's you will find in many shops but the price for both is rather the same than in Europe.
The choice and variaty for music is of course more extended.
Next to those two items - have a look on the Plazza des Armes in Old Habana.
Here you find old books, postcards and many stuff of the golden years
Cash - american dollars Leave a Comment Theme: Music
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Popular Buys include Cuban Cigars, rum, liqueors, arts and crafts. T-shirts and records and cassettes of Cuban music. Hotels and airports have duty-free shops. Art objects (including artifacts and paintings) purchased in Cuba must be accompanied by an export permit. Cigars not accompanied by an official receipt may be seized. Cuban authorities may search your luggage prior to departure at the airport. Purchases may be seized without compensation. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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The shops are so particular
- Bodega's, payable in return of tickets
- Official government markets payable in Cuban pesos,
and the American dollar markets where you can find a pallet and various choice or basics.
Fresh food and fruit
US dollars Leave a Comment Theme: Food and Drink
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On Saturday's there is a local art market not far from the cathedral in Old Havana. Unfortunately, I dont remember the exact name of the area it is in, but I am sure you can ask and anyone can tell you where it is. If you dont speak Spanish, just say "Donde esta el mercado de arte?" and Im sure someone can assist you.
On my last day, being an art lover and not having bought anything, I happened upon this woman and her husband's work. This is a collage made from heavy paint, pieces of fabric and paper, all formulated to create what I think is a depiction of a Medieval crusader. It now graces the entrance to my loft in Manhattan.
There are a lot of homemade arts and crafts at the mercado, artwork, posters, and very commercial items. If you are looking for more serious artworks, you have to keep your eyes wide open, or you'll end up with the same cigar or Che rendition as everyone else.
All prices are negotiable. I spent $300 US for this painting. Leave a Comment Theme: ArtDirections: In Old Havana, right outside of the cathedral square.
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Respeta mi Tambo
The "son", undoubtably the most recognized and traditional sound of Cuba
Strong Afro-Cuba / Afro-French and Spanish influence and patterns goes back to the early 20ths of the 20th century
Los Naranjos is a group founded in the early 20ths in Cienfuegos - central Cuba ( see my pages) Leave a Comment Theme: Music
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When you leave Cuba, you may carry with you up to 23 cigars without having an official purchase receipt. If you carry more than 23 cigars you need to show the purchase receipt, official certificate (big receipt with a few colourful copies attached for the store, the state and you), and the case with the holografic seal, otherwise the cigars will be taken by the customs office at the airport.
Make sure you buy your cigars only at authorized stores and not on the black market. They will tell you that somebody of the family works in the factory and although the cigars might look nice and are packed properly, often the quality is poor. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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Who wouldn't want to savour a cigar in Cuba. Just be aware that there are a lot of FAKES out there and it is very very easy to be fooled.
TIP: Always, always, always buy from a reputable dealer. The last thing you want to do is to purchase cigars off the street, we met a few people who were fooled very easily into that.
Some key things to look for to determine the authenticity of the cigar:
TIP: The warranty seal which features a host of information that makes it difficult to be counterfeited.
TIP: The acutal seal on the cigar itself.
The dimenions, length/thickness of the cigar.
TIP: The Habanos logo in the top right hand corner of the boxes. "Habanos" is the name of the Cuban company that exports cigars.
TIP: At the bottom of the box look for the factory date and stamp.
TIP: Inside the box there will be a piece of paper that is of a cellophane like quality. It is of a particular size/shape and will contain very specific text.
I did my homework before venturing to Cuba as I was bombarded witih a lot of sellers on the street to purchase their 'authentic' cigars.
Your hotel is safe bet and the prices are basically the same for hotels in Havana and Varadero (we priced both in our hotel in Vardero and Havana).
Customs in Canada at the time (year 2000) only allowed a maximum of 50 cigars per person.
I am not a smoker but when in Cuba do as the Cubans do! I fancied the MonteCristo #5 brand.
TIP: Here is a URL to visit to find out more about fake cuban cigars:
http://www.cigarnexus.com/counsel/counterfeit/
How to determine cigar authenticity
Final TIP: Never never buy a cigar off the street!
Cigars
Havana Club Rum
Local Art & Craft Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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I found guayabera shirts of high quality at the same or lower prices at the airport store than I found at even the most inexpensive shops in Havana. To find a good deal at an airport store is so unusual that I am a little nervous about placing this tip, because times change and it may not be true when you visit. If you arrive and depart through the Havana airport you could check the prices at the airport upon arrival so you won't be trapped by a change in store philosophy or management.
Guayabera shirts Leave a Comment Theme: Men's Clothes
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I visited 3 street markets in Havana and they were much like traditional markets that have been converted to tourist craft markets as seen throughout the Carribean and Latin America. They did not include the large traditional local market activitity often seen still associated with these markets outside of Cuba, but there was still the expectation of extensive bargaining.
The markets offer the typical Carribean arts and crafts with lots of oil paintings. Although I am not a stamp collector I bought some for friends because of the amazing collections of revolutionary stamps available. Looking through the old and used stuff for sale may result in discovery of other special purchases.
The asking prices are not as wild as in the Dominica Republic, but the resisitance to bringing the price down to a competitive level seemed greater. The government does not set the prices but with the licenses and fees charged to the marketers it does probably cause the prices to be a bit higher than in some other countries with free capitalism. It can be very difficult to determine the maket price for a unique item found for sale. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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Until recently farmers were not allowed to sell their goods in the open market. You will now start to see farmer's markets where you can walk around stalls and pick up a few items. I am sure that for a few dollars you can buy the whole stall.
The idea of general stores or department stores has only develped since the introduction of the US dollar, and the tourist resorts. This is a growing concept, and the government's clever way of recovering all the dollar bills that tourists are giving to the locals. You will probably not find much that you want in those stores, except for emergency replacements.
Outside of Havana, it was always hard to find art and souvenir markets, designed for the tourists, but now you will find pretty good ones in Trinidad de Cuba, Guardalavaca and Santiago. Of course, most of the resorts will arrange for displays within the hotels too.
Extremely good Wood carvings, oil paintings, watercolours, t shirts, basket work, lace and macrame, and cheap but interesting jewellery. I particularly like the jewellery made of antique peso coins.
Keep your eyes open for post cards by Mimmo Fabrizi, an Italian photographer who has made a career out of photographing Cuba. Also watch for his books at the airport. They are wonderful souvenirs.
Not much. Leave a Comment Theme: Local Craft
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