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Varadero Varadero
5 Reviews One night I stopped one of the "old taxis" said I wanted to go to Cardenas, 10 kms away. The Lady driver looked at me and said "OK". I got in and she turned around and started to drive me back towards...
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Varadero Beach - I call this a tourist trap because, why on earth go to this touristical non-cultural place when you are in this exotic Island. Well, we did it, and I must say that it didn't give me anything THAT special... I had my best lobster in my lifetime here in Varadero, but that is antoher story :-) (see restaurants)
I thought that I had to mention the beach buddy's that are trying to sell 'REAL CUBANOS'. They give you special price and if you start a conversation with them, you will never be left alone. For someone that can be good, but we didn't like to be harazed all the time. And when we learned that the cigars was not what it said on the box, WE GOT MAD...
This is famous sailor's graveyard, hidden somewhere east of Havana. Its quite symbolic in having their graves in the mudded water, 'from soul to sea' so to speak. Well, I am just kidding, its was just some wooden pole's :-)))
If you are considering bringing ron, cigars, souvenirs or cervezas back home make sure you buy them before you get to the airport. The so-called 'duty free' stores in Cuba are a joke because there is no duty in the first place. Also, the prices are a lot higher than in the regular stores in town.
When being bombarded with requests to buy cigars gets a bit annoying and gorgeous jinetera's become too tempting and threaten to knock a hole in your wallet, I found a good idea was to hook up with a few Cubans who were curious or friendly rather than after something. Cigar sellers and prostitutes tend to give you space when you are with other Cubans and you can still have a good time and sample the nightlife.
While sitting in cafes and bars, watch out for those on-the-spot artists sketching you while you relax. The exchange is their drawing,cartoon.sketch for $1.00 US. This can become very expensive eventually - especially for an Aussie where the dollar is half that of an American one! Also, hustleres (not many though) wanting milk from supermarkets. Obviously good for trading. But apart from that, no traps to boast about as in Cuba I always felt safe and happy.
This is the Partagas Cigar Factory. Of course because Cuba is off limits to the U.S., Cuban Cigars are an especially highly prized commodity at home. A box of the Cheaper Partagas that you buy for $29.00 (U.S.) in Havana, you could probably sell for $200.00(U.S.) or more back in the states. So of course I made sure I had my fill of them before I left. Anyway, the factory is an interesting contrast in Cuban politics and economics, here the workers are paid by the number of Cigars they produce, meaning it is an incentive based line of work. Obviously this is done as the Cuban Govt' knows the value of their product on the world market. I believe they are paid a relatively good wage for Cubans. I don't know the scale right off the top of my head, but it sounds like it's liveable to ad degree. In the factory you can see all the steps to making a good Cuba Cigar from the drying of the leaves,...
Of course, you should be really careful about buying cigars... a lot of them are made of banana peel... wich doesn't taste good , and of course worth nothing. It's a lot safer to buy them in real cigars shop. Of course it's gonna be more expensive but still 10 times cheaper than in our country. I met some Canadian-Cubans who were buying a box Cigars (Cohibas, Monte Cristo and Romeo e Julieta ONLY) at low cost... around $4-$6 US each cigars... and selling them back in Canadian Golf Clubs for something like $20-$30 US each!!!! It may pay your trip by it's own. They told me that the easiest one to sell back in Canada are the Monte Cristo #6.
The real pain in the butt is the constant bothering by locals, almost all of whom are after your money. They will approach you on the premise of wanting to talk (almost invariably starting with 'where are you from?'), but eventually they’ll try to sell you cigars or rum, change money, find you a casa particular, or just give you a sob story about how rough life is in Cuba and then ask for a peso or a dollar. Some just blatantly come up and ask for money. Mothers say they need milk for their children, children say it’s their birthday, men say they need cooking oil or soap for their families. And the biggest problem is that they don’t understand what 'no' means, and continue to cling. Yes, there are nice, wonderful people in Cuba. You just won’t meet them on the street. Make friends with the family in your casa particular. Talk to the neighbors. Strike up a conversation with your seatmate...
If you go to Cuba when you are thirsty drink always bottled water. Avoid drink from a curly, kinky or tap please. Remember that if you drink in a pub a drink with ice. Probably this 'iced water' is NOT bottled! Of this way maybe you can avoid go to the W.C every half and hour! ;-DOne of the well-know natural spring water is Ciego Montero in Cuba.
Villa Las Brujas Cuba
2 Reviews and 51 Opinions I could have chosen Okay but some problems, but I still think it falls too short to express how...
NH Parque Central Havana
8 Reviews and 1269 Opinions This is a jewel of a hotel, located just a block or two away from Old Havana, and the shops of Calle...
Iberostar Varadero Varadero
5 Reviews and 1871 Opinions great food gained 5 lbs on the french sauces whatch out for the car rental guy Frank , he takes the...
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Q: We're hoping to do Eastern Cuba in December, we've already done the west. I'm trying to book flights, ideally from Manchester. I...
A: flights domestically it is, aerocaribbean do it, as you are in Manchester check the Cuban tourist office http://www.travel2cuba.co.uk/ hope it helps cheers
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