Should I go to Cuba?
Aug 3, 2006, 8:47 pm
#1
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Should I go to Cuba?
I am going to Mexico in March 2007 and am thinking of adding a side trip to Cuba. Is it worth my time going for 4 days? I would only have an extra 4 days to add on to my trip. What sort of costs am I looking at to stay in a good 4 star hotel? Also what is the night life like and is Cuba a safe place?
Last edited by hobarthoney; Aug 3, 2006 at 9:48 pm
Aug 6, 2006, 10:38 pm
#2
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I'd definitely go. With four days in Havana you can have a great time. There's lots to see and do, nice restaurants, nice beaches and friendly people. Expect to pay about 80 - 150 euros for an international standard hotel. The Melia chain has a couple of nice properties in Havana.
Cuba is a very safe country but there is a small amount of crime, mostly pickpocketing and small theft. Nightlife in Havana is pretty good, as you'd expect there are some excellent clubs with live Cuban music.
If you do go, then make sure you don't take US dollars or a credit card issued by a US bank. They are not accepted anywhere by anybody. I always take Euros and never have a problem. I guess that they will take Australian dollars but you should check before you go.
Cuba is a very safe country but there is a small amount of crime, mostly pickpocketing and small theft. Nightlife in Havana is pretty good, as you'd expect there are some excellent clubs with live Cuban music.
If you do go, then make sure you don't take US dollars or a credit card issued by a US bank. They are not accepted anywhere by anybody. I always take Euros and never have a problem. I guess that they will take Australian dollars but you should check before you go.
Aug 10, 2006, 11:59 pm
#6
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Originally Posted by oiRRio
Definitely go, 4 days is a perfect amount of time for Havana as it's not too big. Doug has summed it up nicely even if I'm wary of a (Flying) Blue from Brum. 
Doug
Aug 11, 2006, 6:39 am
#7
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Originally Posted by Doug_1970
I'm wary as well. But not as wary as I am of a Villa fan in Ireland. I thought that you'd swap places with the Baggies at the end of this season, but now that you have O'neil I don't think that's going to happen.
Doug
Doug
Best of luck for the current season, hope you come up as we we want one local derby but I hope Small Heath get relegated again. 
Aug 12, 2006, 5:22 pm
#8
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Having been to Cuba I would also suggest you go ( before Castro dies and its flooded with US tourists )
I however would add the advice to do take US cash since if you are careful, you might be able to exchange them at a more favourable rate.
Favorite dishes Chicken Baracoa and the papaya yoghurt.
mikE
)I however would add the advice to do take US cash since if you are careful, you might be able to exchange them at a more favourable rate.
Favorite dishes Chicken Baracoa and the papaya yoghurt.
mikE
Aug 14, 2006, 2:03 pm
#9
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Were you hassled customing back into the US? Looks like I have suceeded in convincing my better half to hop to Havana from our upcoming trip to Nassau, and we're wondering how to prepare for coming back into the States. This ranges from not worrying about it, to considering whether to practice our 5th amendment statement, or get a lawyer on retainer!
cheers,
big V
cheers,
big V
Aug 15, 2006, 12:14 am
#10
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Originally Posted by MIKESILV
Having been to Cuba I would also suggest you go ( before Castro dies and its flooded with US tourists )
I however would add the advice to do take US cash since if you are careful, you might be able to exchange them at a more favourable rate.
mikE
)I however would add the advice to do take US cash since if you are careful, you might be able to exchange them at a more favourable rate.
mikE
Doug
Aug 16, 2006, 6:19 am
#11
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Originally Posted by Doug_1970
Don't bother doing this, as I said in my previous post US dollars are useless in Cuba and have been for about 2 years. I'm not sure when MIKESILV went but believe me, absolutely no-one will accept dollars. Taxi drivers, market traders, bellboys, barmen, black market money changers. No-one.
Doug
Doug
Considering the amount of US dollars sent back to the island by relatives I wonder what the reason might be? ( unless they had a rash of counterfeit notes )
As to the other question if I was hassled by the US authorities, well no, but them they didnt know I went ( and I forgot to tell them
)I do belive they have been checking up more under the current Administration
and I think they will even try to haul vistors into court if your trip is not demed "legitimate"
Flew via Jamaica.
mike
Last edited by MIKESILV; Aug 16, 2006 at 6:24 am
Aug 16, 2006, 10:44 am
#12
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Originally Posted by MIKESILV
Interesting, I went over 10 years ago and it certainly was not the case then.
Considering the amount of US dollars sent back to the island by relatives I wonder what the reason might be? ( unless they had a rash of counterfeit notes )
mike
Considering the amount of US dollars sent back to the island by relatives I wonder what the reason might be? ( unless they had a rash of counterfeit notes )
mike
Doug
Feb 3, 2007, 8:53 am
#13
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Just Google "Cuba peso convertible"!
In 1994 Castro & Co. invented the Convertible Peso = US$1, later US$1.08. Then around 2003--4 a major Swiss bank was fined US$100 million by the US authorities for sending US cash to or accepting from Cuba--perhaps charged with misuse of US currency??! So now when exchanging US dollars in Cuba, there is a penalty tax of 10%, which can be avoided by bringing Euros, British pounds, Cdn. $, etc.
But AUD$ probably are unfamiliar to them & probably hard to re-exchange, so one can expect a poor exchange rate.
In 1994 Castro & Co. invented the Convertible Peso = US$1, later US$1.08. Then around 2003--4 a major Swiss bank was fined US$100 million by the US authorities for sending US cash to or accepting from Cuba--perhaps charged with misuse of US currency??! So now when exchanging US dollars in Cuba, there is a penalty tax of 10%, which can be avoided by bringing Euros, British pounds, Cdn. $, etc.
But AUD$ probably are unfamiliar to them & probably hard to re-exchange, so one can expect a poor exchange rate.
Last edited by Brendan; Feb 3, 2007 at 9:08 am
Apr 21, 2007, 10:07 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2000
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found a few good hotels Raquel national and florida
avoid the Placio ofarrill at all costs
it is a dump\
went to a show at the national and there were a lot of people from hollywood so I dont think its that hard to get in and out
avoid the Placio ofarrill at all costs
it is a dump\
went to a show at the national and there were a lot of people from hollywood so I dont think its that hard to get in and out
Jan 3, 2011, 9:09 pm
#15
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Vacation in Cuba
Definately go visit Cuba. There are no American tourists there. USD can be exchanged at the airport, the exchange rate is poor though (10% premium, not in your favour) Exchange your money into Canadian dollars outside Cuba and you avoid this. The beaches are beautiful with nice white sand. Food is cheap, drinks are cheap. Lots of all inclusive resorts in some areas.