Thorn Tree travel forum
Messages: 65,069 - Threads: 6,921
01-May-2007 10:51
Andreas_at_LP
last reply
28-May-2009 16:29
Andreas_at_LP
0 replies
1,661 views
Please Read: Politics
Understandably, politics may come up when people talk Cuba. We accept that and believe it's both naive and unhelpful to pretend it's not a part of travel and Cuban experience.
However, if you wish to start topics on Cuban or U.S. politics then you have come to the wrong place, as this is primarily a forum for travellers and locals to exchange advice and connect.
If you'd like to post travel related news items please post a couple of brief paragraphs with a link to the complete article.
While you're welcome to disagree with each other, please do so in a civil manner. If you have something to say first hit the preview button, review what you're about to post, then consider if it's appropriate for the forum. Stalking and baiting of other posters will not be looked kindly upon so if that is going to be your only contribution to a topic then please don't bother.
If you have a ...
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This branch covers: Cuba
The contents of this FAQ thread are being kept simple in order to avoid confusion and provide basic information about Cuba and links to information sources. Use the subject lines of each post below to find what you're looking for.
Here are some simple tips about looking for information:
1. Research before asking a question. It will help you get better, more detailed and useful answers from the community if you've already done some homework. It's also polite. The community is here to help, but we're not your personal search engine. Invest some preliminary time and we'll help you fill in the gaps.
2. Explore Lonely Planet's Destinations online, which has a wealth of key info and tips.
3. Have a good look around the Thorn Tree before asking your question - quite often your question (or one very sim...
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10-Feb-2010 12:44
pelodorado
last reply
10-Feb-2010 16:56
pelodorado
0 replies
33 views
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6180PP20100209
I wonder how much of the $10,000,000 spent by anti-Embargo-removal PACs came directly from the Castro's budget? I think we all should become crystal clear that the Castro Regime does not want the travel embargo removed. The advantage of having a scapegoat as big as the US to blame for all your travails is a lie that no one, with so much power dependent upon that illusion, would surrender easily. Too many Americans = too much truth. It's as easy as that.
If 850,000 Americans (and I personally think that's an extremely conservative number) were added to the tourists visiting Cuba every year, the government would lose their ability to deceive their citizens about the real causes of the poverty they have endured for five decades and the massive failures of their system to serve their people. The truth shall set you free, but C...
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10-Feb-2010 07:04
cubanito407
last reply
10-Feb-2010 09:39
ttjpdo
1 replies
48 views
After been to Habana a few times, now when I go there, I prefer the quiet and peacefulness of a Casa Particular in Cojimar. Although it is located by the coast six miles east of downtown Habana few people have heard of the fishing town of Cojimar.
Who has been to Cojimar? Only people like Ernest Hemingway, Spencer Tracy and Jimmy Buffett. It was there that Hemingway kept his boat Pilar, his captain Gregorio Fuentes lived, and EH wrote the fishing classic “The Old Man and the Sea”. Jimmy Buffett visited with Gregorio who died recently at 104 years.
At the end of the main street “Calle Real”, right across the street from the ocean and the corner of the bakery, is a very nice Casa Particular run by Alexander Castro and his wife. It has two bedrooms and the cost is $30 CUC per night/room. It has air conditioning, and they serve a pretty good breakfast ($5 CUC) and dinner ($8-$12 CUC ...
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I will be staying there this month but nervous about seeing the same guys in front of the hotel trying to make make money from tourists. The last time while walking in paseo del prado after getting a pastry I was approached by a guy who said he was the brother of Omar Linares, I said I just saw him at the stadium practicing so started talking with him, after saying he looked shorter than his tall brother.
This guy then says lets have a drink in the nearest bar a dark area with no tourists in and I obliged and he orders mojitos I told him I only wanted water so he orders a mojito for himself and I am charged 7cuc. I was shocked and said that price was high he says it was normal.
The bartender was in on scam and takes picture of us and while questioning the tout about Omar Linares he tells me he is having dinner with his brother that night his sister in law is a doctor and they...
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found a dirt cheap flight to varadero so decided to fly there instead of to havana.. and then make my way to havana by bus. i plan to stay in casas where possible.
i wanted to spend my last few days (of a 2 week trip to cuba) within close proximity of a beach so since i am flying out of varadero, i may as well spend time there. good idea or bad? or is it best to just fly in and out of there, and try to find a nice, quiet beach elsewhere nearby (are there any)?
also, are there good and inexpensive accommodations other than on resorts in varadero? for example, is it possible to stay in casas there too? i have also heard that upon arrival in cuba, customs wants to see you have a hotel booked at least for the first night - is this true or can i book a casa for the first night and tell them this? if i can only stay in a hotel, does anyone have recommendations for a decent budget on...
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this may have been answered but I am a little daft when it comes to cell phone technology...
i am traveling from the US and want a phone i can use so that family can contact ME in emergencies...i may also want to make some local calls...in any event the phone i use in the US wont work anywhere but the US...i think i need an unlocked GSM phone, and then buy a SIM card in havana?? where would i buy SIM card and how much is the cost to set the whole thing up, make/receive calls, etc??
Also any alternatives because unlocked GSM phones are very expensive...$200 and up....
i only have a week to sort this out
thanks
Cheryl
09-Feb-2010 03:24
BeardoUK
last reply
10-Feb-2010 12:23
pelodorado
8 replies
157 views
I noticed this on Havana Journal:
No OFAC release of civil penalties citing Cuba sanctions violations since August
Published: Fri February 05, 2010
By: Publisher
An OFAC “release of civil penalties” was just posted today and there was only one violation and that was for violating an Iranian transaction sanctions program.
The last OFAC civil penalties with a Cuban sanctions violation was back in August against an Australian bank.
So, all is quiet lately from the Obama Administration’s OFAC.
Perhaps OFAC is doing what it should be doing and looking for terrorist money rather than reviewing and fining people for traveling to Cuba and buying Cuban cigars over the Internet.
http://havanajournal.com/politics/entry/no-ofac-release-of-civil-penalties-citing-cuba-sanctions-violations-since-a/
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08-Feb-2010 14:21
justmehere
last reply
09-Feb-2010 06:30
pelodorado
12 replies
272 views
I have been reading the forum as we will be traveling to Cuba for the first time in a few weeks and don't really have much of a plan together except to fly in to Havana from Cancun. It seems that it will be easy enough to find a place to stay once on the ground and there are certainly plenty of things to do and see that in a week, we will not do and see everything we want. However, as I read the many posts out there, one question comes up for me since I am a very fair skinned, blonde American female who will be traveling with my very dark skinned, Mexican male friend. I am wondering if we should expect any momentary hassles just because of our looks. I am sure that a quick showing of our passports will resolve any issues but want to be prepared to deal with them if they should be anticipated. Any thoughts or advice on this topic or anything else related to a first time trip to Cu... more »
08-Feb-2010 13:40
rikuch
last reply
09-Feb-2010 23:20
cubapordentro
3 replies
86 views
Please help me - i need to complet my cuban itinerary soon, and need to know, which places are ideal for snorkeling there. I have heard about these:
Hey all,
I am going to Cuba in June / July and I am looking at going to Manzanillo, Guantanamo and Baracoa.
Can anyone tell me what the salsa / nightlife is like in these cities?
I am a mad keen salsera and want to find more traditional campesino style Cuban salsa after some disappointing experiences in La Havana on my last trip. I also went to Trinidad and found some great dancers there and am looking for something similar.
Can anyone suggest some smaller towns / cities where they have found some amazing dancing with friendly locals? I am a solo female traveller.
08-Feb-2010 04:21
marpacifico
last reply
08-Feb-2010 04:21
marpacifico
0 replies
57 views
Hiya,
Would anybody who is going to Cuba from London soon be happy to transport a small pack for my loved one?
He lives in Havana.
The package is an old mobile, and some stuff to draw (pencils, paint...), probably not more than 1kg... I would cost a real fortune to send it, so I thought travellers could help...
I'd rather you'd contact me directly on my e-mail : verolong@yahoo.com.
Cheers!
08-Feb-2010 03:57
holamivida
last reply
10-Feb-2010 14:27
vballf
18 replies
333 views
We recently returned from a 3 week cycling trip in Oriente. I posted a few questions before we left, some were answered, some not, so I thought I'd write a report. It was our fifth time with bikes in Cuba and in many ways the most challenging – not so much the riding itself, but the uncertainty of what lay ahead in terms of road conditions and accommodation. We had a wonderful time with lots of adventures – having 3 wks to do almost 800k of riding meant that we could spend 2 – 3 nights in many places and enjoy exploring cities, going to a baseball game in Holguin, doing day trips, visiting old friends in Santiago, hiking in the Sierra Maestra, as well as drinking rum and dancing.
Arrival and Departure – We flew Canjet with our bikes in bags and one set of panniers each. We prefer bagging the bikes as the bags can just be rolled up and carried on the bikes for the ride from the ...
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08-Feb-2010 00:24
mudsummer11
last reply
10-Feb-2010 11:06
chefhagan
21 replies
349 views
I want to go to Cuba in the next year and am curious as the best way to go. I have heard many different countries to leave from but just want to know what is easiest and cheapest. Thanks so much and sorry if this question is posted alot!!
07-Feb-2010 12:51
dobrosh
last reply
09-Feb-2010 10:29
pelodorado
16 replies
224 views
Can anyone tell me the current CUC exchange rate for the euro? I was going to load up my Caribbean debit card but just realized i am getting screwed, in that I am paying $1.38 USD for every CUC which is much higher than what I would pay with straight cash. This is because the money according to the company must be "laundered" into Mex pesos first.
07-Feb-2010 10:25
chefhagan
last reply
08-Feb-2010 10:32
pelodorado
5 replies
121 views
Do all the cell phone numbers have the same access number regardless of where they are purchased? Does a cell bought in Santiago begin with the same #s as one bought in Havana for example? How is time purchased? By month, minute or amount?
07-Feb-2010 04:12
ylan0282
last reply
07-Feb-2010 12:09
johnabbotsford
5 replies
164 views
Dear friends
I booked a 7-day stay in Aparthotel Montehabana in Havana instead of Varadero all inclusive resort so my wife and I can see more of Havana
*maybe a big mistake??
However we also want to do day tour (not overnight tour) to Trindad and Cienfuego or Vinales or many other sites. I could not find a list of available tour and contact info of tour company with tour price in CUC
Please advise
This is my first trip to Cuba and it is our honeymoon
Any assistance will be appreciated
Yao
Vancouver canada
Posted By: VenessaP -- 28-Jan-2010 15:01
Posted By: VenessaP -- 09-Dec-2009 17:01
Epic colonial architecture, libidinous young salsa dancers, Che Guevara murals, white-powder sandy beaches, swaying fields of sugar cane - the images of Cuba are as transfixing as they are timeless. more »
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