1

Unless it's a casa particular with which I've enjoyed a long relationship I never pay up-front. What if it turns out to be a dive, the owners psychos, etc..... you have to be able to say "thanks but no thanks" and leave to find another place.

Cheers,
Terry

2

Casa particular has for some unknown reason become popular among many. I do prefer hotel. But if you insist on private lodging, there is something you should know.

Casa particulars for foreigners and cuc are authorized and have a logo, a blue anchor, stuck on their wall, and have a certain standard. The owner is obliged to see your passport, do formal registration and issue receipt. If you decide that the room and price is OK, it is OK to pay in advance. If you intend to stay two weeks, you may negotiate for a few days at the time. I doubt that there are owners who will double charge you. If you change your mind and want to leave early I doubt they will return any of the advance payment.

My idea in Cuba is that casa owners as well as taxi drivers are keen to keep their words, they charge what is agreed, and keep a promise for picking up later, as long as the client seems to within reason.

3

I have paid for a few days at a time for a casa, but it's always been afterwards. I agree with your last paragraph enram.

4

M and T— if anyone asks you to pay in advance just walk away. Money is king in Cuba and if the owner has your money in his pocket he is King and don’t count on getting a refund if you don’t like the room. I wouldn’t pay per day as suggested because once he has your money for that day he could ask you to leave before your week is up if he has a regular client wanting the room. You have more control if you pay when you leave. Try this website for a casa in Vinales or you could post a message for a referral to a casa in Vinales.

http://www.cubacasas.net/cities/vinales/

5

I tend to agree with E # 2 and PEB # 3 although all is about how you book- and through which sources your private house IMO. It is not an easy matter. Allow me to present to you the Cuban side of this story.

I see with sorrow all over the Internet how the same travelers eager to pay in advanced a hotel (as it is mandatory by their regulations); or to pay foreign travel agents (or agencies) in advanced when booking a package in a beachfront resort knowing that if they do not like the hotel the only thing they would do is to complain afterwards; but instead they hesitate when dealing with a different type of accommodation like a private licensed house.

Why such discrimination against private business in Cuba?!

Please think about the following:

How many times we have heard in this Forum about travelers who were booked in a private house that ended up in a different one? Then you can hear the loud voices of condemnation and how unfair such thing was. Such thing happened to me once in my business-lifetime-experience six years ago and still such traveler is all over the Internet trying to get even with a discriminatory vendetta for such monstrous mistake?

Who have made house owners to be the way they have being all these past years? Who made them the way some of them are? Precisely those who say go there, take a look and leave the place empty with no business and find you another place caring nothing about this private people business and the taxes to be paid; and with the bitter flavor that foreigners care nothing about Cubans!

I wonder who can book Lido hotel which is as bad as it can be shows up and then decide to go to Caribbean hotel. Unless you wasted the money you paid in advanced.

So Monkey –the original poster- at least if you do not want to pay in advanced then do not feel betrayed if when you show up in your “reserved” casa you are told: “Sorry, our water pump broke and we booked you in the Casa around the corner”…

May be the way to go it is fine-tuned your bookings, search, read, get info from your booking entity and then take a one way fixed decision and prepay if you have to and if you trust such booking entity.

6

BTW now that I have re-read the original post I will like to say the following:

If they are a reputable Casa and they did not ask money upfront pre-trip it is because they can’t get prepaid pre-trip (re: something very common to many Casas and a handful of websites out there) they are taking their chances as you may not like the place on check-in and there is nothing that will mandate you to stay. They would have rejected a number of reservations to keep yours to end up empty.

I think I can guess why they want all the money for the seven nights. Allow me to keep sharing with you the Cuban side of the story:

IN their perspective your reservation is very unusual. Few travelers book a week in Viñales. IT is risky to make this booking and then “allow” you to be in town meeting people and you could end up “falling in love” or “meeting a fren” or “developing this incredible relationship” with this local that is ready to rent you her/his casa for half of what you would pay at the reputable Casa. End of the story you leave them in the middle of the week without business because you want to save some bucks or to take your wallet to this “new incredible fren” you have “luckily” found.
House owners are mandated to inform Tax Man within a 24 hours period the registration of clients. They need to leave clear how many nights so this is controlled by the Tax Man at the end of the year within their income tax.

If I were you –and if I were them- I would make you pre-pay pre-trip for the first three nights. If they can’t get such deposit I would make you pay in cash in CUC the first three nights; and I will leave clear to you that yes, you have THREE NIGHTS solidly confirmed. Then the rest four nights would be pending and it would be a two way scenario: you can let them down last minute; or they could.

BTW now that I have re-read the original post I will like to say the following:
If they are a reputable Casa and they did not ask money upfront pre-trip it is because they can’t get prepaid pre-trip (re: something very common to many Casas and a handful of websites out there) they are taking their chances as you may not like the place on check-in and there is nothing that will mandate you to stay. They would have rejected a number of reservations to keep yours to end up empty.
I think I can guess why they want all the money for the seven nights. Allow me to keep sharing with you the Cuban side of the story:
IN their perspective your reservation is very unusual. Few travelers book a week in Viñales. IT is risky to make this booking and then “allow” you to be in town meeting people and you could end up “falling in love” or “meeting a fren” or “developing this incredible relationship” with this local that is ready to rent you her/his casa for half of what you would pay at the reputable Casa. End of the story you leave them in the middle of the week without business because you want to save some bucks or to take your wallet to this “new incredible fren” you have “luckily” found.
House owners are mandated to inform Tax Man within a 24 hours period the registration of clients. They need to leave clear how many nights so this is controlled by the Tax Man at the end of the year within their income tax.
If I were you –and if I were them- I would make you pre-pay pre-trip for the first three nights. If they can’t get such deposit I would make you pay in cash in CUC the first three nights; and I will leave clear to you that yes, you have THREE NIGHTS solidly confirmed. Then the rest four nights would be pending and it would be a two way scenario: you can let them down last minute; or they could.

Most of the houses in Vinales offer same standardized services. There are up to 500 of them at present. A bed, private bathroom, nice people, good food you would have for sure…

7

Thanks for your replies.

I'd booked through BBinncuba.com, and found a casa that's well reviewed through Tripadvisor.
I understand better the Cuban perspective...if the bookings aren't honoured, they lose out. I have every intention of honouring the booking unless its horrible and or something unforeseen comes up. Nevertheless the fine print mentioned paying upon arrival, which left me hesitant. And yes, if it was a resort or hotel (which I never do) ppl pay upfront without hesitation.

What if I pay half upfront and the other half when as I leave....does that sound fair all around?

I know a week in Vinales is long, but I really need to get off the grid and re-charge somewhere, and it seems to be a decent base
(P.S., is Viazul the only bus between Habana y Vinales?)

8

I'd like to add to my post above with a personal experience - on a couple of my trips to Cuba I have asked Jorge to book me a casa in Havana and to have someone pick me up at the airport. I think it was my last trip that I was about at least twelve hours, maybe even more, late. (details are fuzzy). The driver had waited many hours for me, after finding out the flight was late - he said he had come back to the airport to check I think. He also waited in line with me at the cadeca to change money, which with all the delayed flights was exceptionally long. And yes, my casa was waiting for me! I was so grateful! Great service, none of which was prepaid.

OP, have a great trip!

Edited by: patriciaeastbay

9

That's one of the reasons why I dislike prearranged airport pick-ups, Patricia. With such a crappy telecommunications infrastructure it's impossible to easily confirm flight times or communicate between the passenger and transport. It can end up being an enormous waste of time/money/effort for all parties.

I'm much more relaxed simply walking outside and stepping into a taxi. I'm instantly on my way and 25 CUC later I'm quickly and efficiently dropped off anywhere in the usual "downtown" core. No fuss. No worries.

Cheers,
Terry

10

Terry, different strokes for different folks and you have been to Havana so many times you could do it blindfolded and you can probably tell the driver which route to take to get to your casa faster so you can unpack, take a shower and get to your favorite bar before last call. Sometimes I like to have my partner meet me at the airport with my name on a place card and she carries my luggage to the car.

Patricia, it’s nice to read an endorsement by another poster who has personally used poster Jorgeguide services in Cuba. I have read many similar endorsements by posters on TripAdvisor. Whenever I travel to a new destination on business I always use a local guide to pick me up at the airport and drive me to my hotel.

11

Jorge -- thanks for illustrating both side of the story from the perspective of the owner and the guest. There are risks in every business and for the owner he could end up with an empty room if the tourist doesn’t show up or he moves out the following day and for the tourist he could end up sleeping on the street if all the casas in town are occupied during high season like Xmas. What can you do? Así es la vida en Cuba.

12

I would have loved to keep participating; but from now on it may be taken as advertising my business so I prefer to skip doing so. You never know when a detractor will jump in and accuse me of breaking the rules of the Forum. IT is hard to provide information for prospective travelers from my position. It is also hard to provide information about how things work in here without being on the edge of breaking the regulations.

13

Terry, I certainly understand being relaxed about it and it is easy enough to get your own taxi outside any airport/bus station. (someday I will relate the story of my very first solo taxi ride in Cuba) I've done it that way also. In the experience I related it may have been a waste of time for Jorge's driver (who I hope I tipped well enough to make it all better), but it certainly didn't waste any of my time and as exhausted as I was, I felt well taken care of.

OP, I don't know if Viazul is the only bus between Havana and Vinales - someone more knowledgble will answer I think. But since you are going for a week in Vinales, you might want to take a detour and hang out for a day in Las Terrazas. The Viazul between Havana and Vinales stops there going both ways - and it is a cool place to check out.

14

Rickie @ #10... having your girlfriend pick you up and having a prearranged transfer is two entirely separate issues with nothing whatsoever in common. If your girlfriend doesn't pick you up there's something wrong... having a prearranged driver is another matter entirely.

I'm trying to remember an airport anywhere I've been that's as laid back and nonthreatening as Havana. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say there's no easier airport (servicing a city of 2+ million people) for a first time visitor to navigate anywhere else in Mexico or Central/South America - and for that matter in any developing country anywhere on the planet that sees a lot of tourists.

It's the perfect situation for a new visitor to do the very simplest of all tasks when arriving in a new country: Get a taxi and go to an address. (Honestly... if you can't handle that then you shouldn't leave the 'burbs in your home town.)

Yes, Havana Airport - and getting a taxi downtown - really is that easy...

Different strokes.

Cheers,
Terry