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Cuba?

snowjoe — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:21:26 -0800

Cuba - What shouldn't I miss? I am taking a three week trip to Cuba with a spur of the moment itinerary. I will most likely be using Viazul (bus) for travel between cities. Have you been to Cuba and would be willing to recommend something you experienced there? I will stay in "Casa Particulares" when possible and hotels otherwise. I am traveling solo. All suggestions are welcome. I am starting and ending in Havana.

Havana

PercussivePaul — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:57:32 -0800

We're going to Havana! Help us enjoy the city on the cheap and close to the ground. We will be there from Tuesday to Saturday of next week. The primary purpose of this trip is to escape the Olympic Games and go somewhere warm, but with cool local culture. Hence: Havana. We're staying in a casa particular a few blocks west of the Capitolio.

What we like:
Music and art - especially local music, pretty architecture and beautiful places, unique experiences, public spaces where residents hang out, good food/ cheap food, fun and adventure, and so on.

What we don't like:
Expensive places, tourist shows, tourist attractions.

I realize the boundary can be a little muddy. I think the difference is authenticity. Sometimes an attraction draws people because it's amazing, and sometimes it's just designed to draw people and take their money. You can usually tell the difference. Along those lines we would totally go see jazz or dance or opera if it's a legit quality performance, even if that's a popular thing for tourists to do. Does that make sense? The problem I'm having is that whatever guides and websites I find rattle off a ton of stuff, but I can't tell from what I read if I will actually enjoy the stuff, or if it's just one of those famous places a lot of tourists go to that might be a letdown in reality.

I hear Havana is renowned for music in particular. What are some things we could check out?

Also--one of my friends told me to get tourist pesos at the airport, but then get "local" pesos at a local bank, and try to buy food etc with them, because it's way cheaper. I was under the impression this was frowned upon or even illegal. Can anyone speak to this?

Why hello, Castro.

otolith — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 08:13:07 -0800

A friend of mine has a sibling who is studying in Cuba. How can said friend get to Havana from NYC for a visit? Or should one not post such intentions on a public site? Anyhow, suggestions appreciated either way.

More info: my friend is a US citizen living in New York City. Sometime in November, they would like to spend about a week in Cuba. What are the best routes to make the trip? Fly to Canada first? Or the Caribbean? Are there any ways to book such a trip from the US, or do you simply have to do it in stages, getting a flight to Havana once you've arrived in a more Cuba-friendly nation?

Cost is somewhat of an issue, so any information about relative expenses for different ways to go would be much appreciated.

We've read some recommendations about how to handle the return into the States, but any additional tips would be also appreciated.

If I'm asking a question too sensitive to be answered publicly, you can e-mail me at maybecuba at yahoo dot cawm.

Many thanks in advance. My friend would really love to be able to visit their sib in such an unusual (for USians) country.

American Bringing Cuban Goods into the U.S.

cookie googleman — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 06:58:33 -0800

I'm an American traveling to Cuba legally (under a general license). What are the restrictions on what I can/cannot bring back into the U.S.?

Can you help me find a sound recordist in Cuba?

gravelshoes — Mon, 26 Jan 2004 05:06:47 -0800

Help required regarding trip to Havana, Cuba (more inside...) I'm planning on going to Havana, Guanabacoa to be more specific, in the spring to film part of a documentary film. The trouble is I can't afford to fly a sound recordist out with me and I'm wondering if anyone has any contacts in Havana who might be able to put me in touch with someone who like to help out with the filming. I have no money so couldn't afford to pay anyone - enthusiasm might be more useful than experience and full training will be given on the job. Also, can anyone recommend a particularly good casa particular in Havana, or better still, Guanabacoa?