Post: #26

Access to the Internet is tightly controlled. I didn't see any Internet cafes or wifi areas. All the hotels have Internet $3 to $5 for a half hour - super slow at times - only good for checking e-mails . Some hotels require a passport before giving you Internet card so always carry a PHOTOCOPY of your passport with you

Post: #27

Mango444 gave a great trip report. If you can get into the MN economy your trip will be a lot cheaper. I generally convert 20 to 30 CUC into MN - try to get in 10 MN bills - great for tipping , washroom , having correct change , and getting connected to the non tourist way of life . You can also have some fun with the chicas when they ask for money for cab fare etc... Give them some MN instead !

Post: #28

Havana Trip Report (part II) - Playas del Este & Guanabo
Good Evening Gents,
Here is some more intel on the eastern beaches in HAV. As mentioned, in my previous posts, I prefer to use the Playas del Este as my base. I find the proximity of the beach very relaxing and one can always go into HAV or the town of Guanabo to get some more excitement. Both the Tropicoco and Atlantico offer reasonable rates for AI and you will meets lots of "like minded" fellow travellers to share intel and wing with. If you do a flight only, DO NOT rock up to the front desk for a hotel reservation - you will pay an inflated rate. Instead, hit the tourist desk inside the resort - next to the car rental desk (they are both closed Sundays). The rate will be 25% - 50% cheaper than the front desk (??? ..."es cuba"...)

Playa del Este
The beach scene is decent all year long but really picks up in March/April. There are alot of girls game to hook up - whether that is back at the hotel or in a casa particular. The cops have increased their presence dramatically and really give the girls a hard time if they get too close to the hotel. This was the case this past Dec, but I was also there in April, when the beach scene was heaving, and it seemed then an little more free and easy for the chicas. In any event, you will have to pay the doorman $20CUC to get the chica up to your room. Worth is as there is alot of quality a peak beach season. Just 200m down the road from the Tropicoco there is a restaurant near the round about where alot of girls are cruising (when the cops aren't looking.)
Further down the road there are other places to eat/sleep but I can't comment on what goes down there. Hopefully one of the members can comment on the Terraces (private apartments near Atlantico) for the goings on there.

To/From HAV
Both hotels mentioned previously have free shuttles 2x day but I could never get my act together so I always took the tourist bus into town ($5 - roundtrip). The last back into the beaches is 5 pm or 6pm - just ask the porter on the bus. Taxis into town are $20CUC (try for $15) - never had a problem getting back to beaches late at night from HAV - most taxis grateful for the fare. There is also a local bus to HAV for next to nothing but it looks packed and hot in there but could be good for interaction with the locals.

Guanabo
This is a dinky little town ($5 CUC cap ride), 10km from the playas. The village has less stress than HAV, has a bank where you can change money and some stores/bars. The town folk are pretty laid back and less money hungry than their counterparts in HAV. There are two discos there full of pros and semi-pros with some regular cubans. If you plan to pull, I would recommend renting a casa particular. I went to "disco guanabar" and had a riot. Please read my previous posts about buying chicas drinks ON YOUR OWN TERMS. By all means be generous if you want to but don't fuel their scams. In any event less hassle all around in this quaint town.

Eating in Guanabo
An Italian guy was raving about this pizza place called "El Picolo" - a real compliment indeed. I went there twice - great food, wine, service, venue and price! I also ate at "Chicken Little" nearby, excellent in the same way - try to shore the waitress there -pretty sweet!

"Check Point Chica"
Yes you can bring a girl back to the Tropicoco, pass through the police check point (paying a $5CUC bribe to the cops) and $20 to the doorman at the hotel. The chicas will not want to to this but they will do it if that is the only way to get paid that evening. I don't think a regualr cab will help you so a lada cab or other should do. The check point will look pretty intimidating and they will haul all the Cubanos out of the car and check their ID, harass the chica(s) etc...should take 15 min. The cops won't talk/bother the tourista - if they do, speak only English -this is no time to practice your Spanish. The bribe will be paid by the driver (funded by you) - DO NOT seek interaction with the police.

A Private Driver
As per my previous post, I winged with two Quebecers my last night in camp. They had a driver (named Alexey) who acted as taxi, friend and facilitator. He talked us through the check point and also drove me to the airport at 5am after a night of partying. We paid normal to below normal per trip rates, his admission into the bar but NO DRINKS. He actually bought me a couple of beers. Alexey drove me from Guanabo to the HAV airport - I negotiated $30CUC for what was an hour drive. He carried my luggage to the Air Canada desk (an talked his way past security to get to the departures area.) I was really impressed with this guy , he never asked for anything, can make things happen for his guests, and is good fun. I actually paid him
$40CUC and a pack of gum for his efforts. I will give his number out via a PM to interested members who have contirbuted to this website. Treat him well and your fun factor will be tenfold.

p.s. Alexey tried to hook me up with this attractive white girl at the disco - turned out to be one of his girlfriends! What a friend!

Post: #29

Anyone been to HAV lately? Need to hear your story .....

Post: #30

About the casa particular accommodation, is it reasonably safe to hide your credit cards and some cash money inside your locked luggage, while you are at the beach or out drinking? I mean, have you ever heard of casa owners stealing from their foreign hosts.. probably not??

Also, do you think you can negotiate interesting prices with these Playa del Este fancy hotels, by just showing up and asking, or do you have to buy the all-included packages beforehand, on the internet, from Canada or Europe?

And, are the cops zeroing in right away if you chat these local chicks up on the beach? Surely they can't be everywhere, see everything...? and in any case, what could they do, ask for the chicks' IDs is all?

Post: #31

Hey GS - thanks for the questions and PM - hope we can wing in HAV next weekend.
Your questions:
1. Your hidden cash should be safe in a casa particular - they don't want any problems with police as their rental business is pretty lucrative .
2. You can show up at the playa de este hotels without a reservation. Don't go to the front desk but to the tourist desk beside the car rental desk (at the tropicoco) - rate is cheaper but prices are firm
3. No probs to chat up Chicas on the beach - in the water... But once they are on the boardwalk or near the road they police give them a hard time for fraternizing with foreigners

Post: #32

HAV - November 2014 Trip Report
First off Happy Fn New Year to my fellow Rooshers!
I was in Havana for 10 days in late Nov, namely to attend the Baila en Cuba festival.
Got a decent flight from Toronto to Varadero ($500-Westjet). Note that it is best to do a package deal which can run from $700 -$1000 (two/three star.) see http://www.tripcentral.ca
1. Cost from VAR to HAV
I had my contact (see previous trip report) pick me up in Veradero - I sent him an e-mail and offered him 50CUC for his troubles. He took me up on it surprisingly. Usually the going rate is 90CUC. I paid him 60CUC in the end but didn't hear from him again to go out etc....

2. Casa in Habana Centro
I had a private casa set up for my first three days in camp. It has a private entrance and is independent. Decent enough with a fridge and kitchen. I can forward to the my contact via PM for contributors to the roosh community. It was one block from Casa de la Musica (Galliano) - I can't stress enough to have good logistics in this town - otherwise you will have to throw money to get the chicas transported..
3. Roosh member meet-up
I organised a meet up with GS (name withheld) for 12:30am at Hotel Deauville on the day of my arrival. He was a no show. It rained buckets that day so it is possible he was had logistics issues. The streets literally flood there in a big downpour. Also affects everyone's mood. I waited for 10 min - chating with the putas and doorrman and went in.
4. Disco - at hotel Deauville
I love this small little place. It has excellent music and video going on the big screen. The putas here are less major league than their peers at Casa or salon rojo, but pros non the less. I recongnized a few faces from my previous trip. Also chated with on of the girls i banged from a previous trip - my how she has gotten a bit curvier from when she was 19 and of course has graduated to full puta staus. The scene in the disco was pretty subdued (thurs night) probably on account of the rain.
5. the pull
Started chatting up two "regular girls" - they are generally a tad older and dressed in jeans etc as opposed to the pros who are in bright coloured dresses and in their early 20s. Danced a bit and bought a couple rounds of Cristal beer. I suggested we bounce to the Casa de la musica(Galliano)up the street. A few more rounds and the third wheel split to chat with older german guy. I told my mulata that I was here on busines and my firm deals with Cuban Ministry of tourism and I can't have any problems back at the casa. We walked back to mine (she was 25 metres behind as she could get in trouble for consorting with a foreigner) - listed to some music, danced, had a few beers and did the horizontal mambo. She stayed over for the night and we did it again in the morning. Gave her 40CUC (she didn't ask) to "help her family". Saw her again the next evening - we were supposed to catch a concert....had a quickie before having drinks then she said it would be best if we met up later that evening at Hotel Deaville as she didn't want to run afoul of the police. I gave her 20CUC for some beer money. We met up later but was pretty casual and fun dancing and we went on our own way. All in all a regular girl from Camguay looking for some fun, funds and adventure.
6. Casa de la musica (Miramar)
Was spent from my liason with the mulata....too bad as the quality of the girls in this place is out of the world. there must have been a 10:1 ratio . way better than the casa (galliano). I was speaking with some hardened HAV guys - they said they have never seen anything like it.
7. Baila en Cuba
For salsa dancers this is a must - especially if you dance Casino (cuban) style. Was part of a package deal and stayed a hotel melia - package included 5 hrs of dance lessons along with skilled dance partner, concerts every night from the top bands, and after party in the hotel lobby. This was a expensive package but worth the experience. Met alot of folks who where there for their 3rd, 4th, 5th year. This is also a great way to meet cubans from the dance scene without all the tourist bullshit. The festival is late november every year.
8. Melia Havana Hotel
one of the best hotels in HAV. The food was decent. The rooms, beds etc excellent. Of course the elevators and stairs are guarded 24/7 by a guard and video. Didn't try to bring a chica up but heard they can be bought to turn the other way.
9. Playa and Miramar neighbourhoods
Definately more upscale than the rest of HAV. Hooked up with one of the dancers and she had no concerns about being out with me in public. Less hasstle from touts as well in this area.
Not much else on this trip as the salsa festival was really the main event. Off to DR next month and I lookforward to observing the differences.

Post: #33

(01-01-2015 04:35 PM)El_gato Wrote:  HAV - November 2014 Trip Report
First off Happy Fn New Year to my fellow Rooshers!
I was in Havana for 10 days in late Nov, namely to attend the Baila en Cuba festival.
Got a decent flight from Toronto to Varadero ($500-Westjet). Note that it is best to do a package deal which can run from $700 -$1000 (two/three star.) see http://www.tripcentral.ca
1. Cost from VAR to HAV
I had my contact (see previous trip report) pick me up in Veradero - I sent him an e-mail and offered him 50CUC for his troubles. He took me up on it surprisingly. Usually the going rate is 90CUC. I paid him 60CUC in the end but didn't hear from him again to go out etc....

2. Casa in Habana Centro
I had a private casa set up for my first three days in camp. It has a private entrance and is independent. Decent enough with a fridge and kitchen. I can forward to the my contact via PM for contributors to the roosh community. It was one block from Casa de la Musica (Galliano) - I can't stress enough to have good logistics in this town - otherwise you will have to throw money to get the chicas transported..
3. Roosh member meet-up
I organised a meet up with GS (name withheld) for 12:30am at Hotel Deauville on the day of my arrival. He was a no show. It rained buckets that day so it is possible he was had logistics issues. The streets literally flood there in a big downpour. Also affects everyone's mood. I waited for 10 min - chating with the putas and doorrman and went in.
4. Disco - at hotel Deauville
I love this small little place. It has excellent music and video going on the big screen. The putas here are less major league than their peers at Casa or salon rojo, but pros non the less. I recongnized a few faces from my previous trip. Also chated with on of the girls i banged from a previous trip - my how she has gotten a bit curvier from when she was 19 and of course has graduated to full puta staus. The scene in the disco was pretty subdued (thurs night) probably on account of the rain.
5. the pull
Started chatting up two "regular girls" - they are generally a tad older and dressed in jeans etc as opposed to the pros who are in bright coloured dresses and in their early 20s. Danced a bit and bought a couple rounds of Cristal beer. I suggested we bounce to the Casa de la musica(Galliano)up the street. A few more rounds and the third wheel split to chat with older german guy. I told my mulata that I was here on busines and my firm deals with Cuban Ministry of tourism and I can't have any problems back at the casa. We walked back to mine (she was 25 metres behind as she could get in trouble for consorting with a foreigner) - listed to some music, danced, had a few beers and did the horizontal mambo. She stayed over for the night and we did it again in the morning. Gave her 40CUC (she didn't ask) to "help her family". Saw her again the next evening - we were supposed to catch a concert....had a quickie before having drinks then she said it would be best if we met up later that evening at Hotel Deaville as she didn't want to run afoul of the police. I gave her 20CUC for some beer money. We met up later but was pretty casual and fun dancing and we went on our own way. All in all a regular girl from Camguay looking for some fun, funds and adventure.
6. Casa de la musica (Miramar)
Was spent from my liason with the mulata....too bad as the quality of the girls in this place is out of the world. there must have been a 10:1 ratio . way better than the casa (galliano). I was speaking with some hardened HAV guys - they said they have never seen anything like it.
7. Baila en Cuba
For salsa dancers this is a must - especially if you dance Casino (cuban) style. Was part of a package deal and stayed a hotel melia - package included 5 hrs of dance lessons along with skilled dance partner, concerts every night from the top bands, and after party in the hotel lobby. This was a expensive package but worth the experience. Met alot of folks who where there for their 3rd, 4th, 5th year. This is also a great way to meet cubans from the dance scene without all the tourist bullshit. The festival is late november every year.
8. Melia Havana Hotel
one of the best hotels in HAV. The food was decent. The rooms, beds etc excellent. Of course the elevators and stairs are guarded 24/7 by a guard and video. Didn't try to bring a chica up but heard they can be bought to turn the other way.
9. Playa and Miramar neighbourhoods
Definately more upscale than the rest of HAV. Hooked up with one of the dancers and she had no concerns about being out with me in public. Less hasstle from touts as well in this area.
Not much else on this trip as the salsa festival was really the main event. Off to DR next month and I lookforward to observing the differences.

Great report EG! Always nice to read a detailed report from other Cuba enthusiasts such as yourself!

I will be doing a 4 day trip in Feb or March to Havana to get some diving in and try to sneak off to the mountains in Trinidad to relax in the waterfalls for a day! Looking fwd to it

Post: #34

Just got my letter from the US Dept. of Treasury to do business in Cuba. I think I will be going there in December or January to try and explore some telecom opportunities....and game. Thanks to previous posters for their info. The travel letter was super easy to get:

FAQ:
http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/...qs_new.pdf

Application Form:
https://licensing.ofac.treas.gov/Apply/I...ction.aspx

You can fly on an American Airlines "charter" flight from Miami or Tampa but you have to arrange the travel via one of two or three travel companies. I am using:

http://www.abc-charters.com/

Officially, vacation travel is still forbidden and you should keep a business log of your activities, meetings, etc.

-G

Post: #35

The bureaucracy is absolutely incredible over there. For someone used to capitalism to have to deal with the slow motion / nepotism there is incredibly frustrating. I have been to Havana 6 times in the last two years as I have a good friend who lives en habana del este.

I have learned to accept to wait for waiters to bring checks , deal with slow service etc. It's definitely a change of pace. But setting up a business in this country and dealing with local staff will be a very tough pill to swallow. Everything is just slow motion and the locals have a no big deal approach to almost everything.

My Spanish is fluent and i know most Cuban slang after many visits. As mentioned in many posts before many females are pros / semi pros / jineteras whatever you want to call them

I only have met one woman who is a good family girl that did not ask for money. Every other woman would want usually 10 to 20 dollars as taxi money or grocery money after being together. Many girls I met at the club wanted 30 to 40cuc immediately. After the second night out I decided to hang out with the nice girl I met and have totally avoided the bar scene since my first visit.

Overall, if you do not speak Spanish it will be extremely difficult to find a normal girl as barely any women I met spoke English.

Even then with Spanish and being a good looking guy you will will still have a hard time meeting a nice girl who is not at least part time selling herself.

I have thrown the towel in on cuba and will now check out the phillipines as my next trip.

Post: #36

Thats pretty on point. Frankly, a lot of people come back and say it cool and beautiful. I thought it was sad and depressing. Anyone interested in the evils of communism I encourage you to take a peak.

Anyways anyone notice there were more jackes dudes there then maybe anywhere else in Latin America?

Post: #37

(09-18-2015 08:43 PM)godzilla Wrote:  Anyways anyone notice there were more jackes dudes there then maybe anywhere else in Latin America?

I think Cubans, along with maybe Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, just have more of a genetic disposition to be bigger and stronger than other Latin Americans. In places like Colombia and Mexico, especially Colombia, most guys are either really small and weak or really fat.

Post: #38

I was gonna throw DR, I see them in better shape in the us then all of LA, though never been...though with PR so many fat fucks in Philadelphia, Lancaster, I have a different perception.

Post: #39

(09-18-2015 10:40 PM)godzilla Wrote:  I was gonna throw DR, I see them in better shape in the us then all of LA, though never been...though with PR so many fat fucks in Philadelphia, Lancaster, I have a different perception.

Obesity is a problem in Puerto Rico and I think they're shorter overall than both Cubans and Dominicans, but there are more strong people there than in many Latin American places.

Post: #40

(09-18-2015 09:16 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 08:43 PM)godzilla Wrote:  Anyways anyone notice there were more jackes dudes there then maybe anywhere else in Latin America?

I think Cubans, along with maybe Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, just have more of a genetic disposition to be bigger and stronger than other Latin Americans. In places like Colombia and Mexico, especially Colombia, most guys are either really small and weak or really fat.

Colombian guys really small? Interesting. I always thought Mexicans were the shortest in Latin America. Never thought Colombians were that short.

Can you say the same thing about the women in both countries? Both equally short?

Post: #41

(09-18-2015 11:11 PM)EL CHAPO Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 09:16 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 08:43 PM)godzilla Wrote:  Anyways anyone notice there were more jackes dudes there then maybe anywhere else in Latin America?

I think Cubans, along with maybe Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, just have more of a genetic disposition to be bigger and stronger than other Latin Americans. In places like Colombia and Mexico, especially Colombia, most guys are either really small and weak or really fat.

Colombian guys really small? Interesting. I always thought Mexicans were the shortest in Latin America. Never thought Colombians were that short.

Can you say the same thing about the women in both countries? Both equally short?

Overall, they are about the same. Northern Mexican women, particularly in Chihuahua are often tall. There are also a lot of tall women in Medellin. Overall, both the guys and women from those two countries are pretty short.

99% of my notches are from some Latin American country and the tallest girl I have ever been with was about 5'9" or 5'10." Other forum members have also been through this particular girl. I got her SNL in a club, but she was talking about internet dating years before anyone was even doing it. Most of the time, I'm in the 5'0" to 5'2" range.

Post: #42

Not sure he talking about height. Height wise, Perú Bolivia mexico ...mexico in the north is not short. Not súper tall but plenty at 6 foot.

*post that shit at the same time

Post: #43

Agreed. Lots of guys in shape in cuba. I went to a couple of gyms there and that in itself was an interesting experience. The embargo has resulted in some gyms creating an interesting hodgepodge of equipment.

Comparing Cuba to my first trip to Medellin in 2006 one will definitely notice how most Colombian guys are small or out of shape.

I was considered a hulk when I went there in 2006 at about 230 pounds which at my local gym is just a typical big guy.

Post: #44

Its like prison, most of these guys cant leave the country and dont even work, so they work out.

Post: #45

(11-14-2014 09:18 PM)Going strong Wrote:  About the casa particular accommodation, is it reasonably safe to hide your credit cards and some cash money inside your locked luggage, while you are at the beach or out drinking? I mean, have you ever heard of casa owners stealing from their foreign hosts.. probably not??

Also, do you think you can negotiate interesting prices with these Playa del Este fancy hotels, by just showing up and asking, or do you have to buy the all-included packages beforehand, on the internet, from Canada or Europe?

And, are the cops zeroing in right away if you chat these local chicks up on the beach? Surely they can't be everywhere, see everything...? and in any case, what could they do, ask for the chicks' IDs is all?

I have a few buddies who went there about two weeks ago. And they told me they rented a place with 3 bedrooms for $160 a night and they had their place broken into. Cell phones and some cash stolen. Cops told them they were lucky because if they had been inside they COULD have maybe been killed. They think it wasnt any girls they hooked up with but more likely the owner who told other about them being there.