VidaNaPraia
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Posts posted by VidaNaPraia
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Most of the airlines and their agencies seem to be providing tourist cards only for their passengers. (Don't know about cruise lines.) American Airlines is using the agency Cuba Travel Services. http://www.cubatravelservices.com/ Try them. U$80 by email/mail. They may agree to deal with other than AA passengers. info@cubavisaservices.com
Just make sure that wherever you buy, you get a PINK tourist card (for those leaving directly from the US), NOT a GREEN one.
You can also try the Cuban Consulate in Washington, DC, but they want photos and some other documentation, and are not easy to talk to for information. U$70
I don't know the details for each cruise line, but when it was described here, the one cruise line in question was using the "People to People" OFAC reason, but requiring passengers to choose "group" (cruise line excursions) or individual (DIY). Both are the same category according to OFAC.
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There are lots of witch tours in Salem and they are very popular. If you like that kind of thing then that's the kind of thing you'll like.
Exactly.
IMO they are all pretty tacky.
For "witch stuff", try Rebecca Nurse House in nearby Danvers.
"The Rebecca Nurse Homestead sits on 25+ acres of an original 300 acres occupied by Rebecca Nurse and her family from 1678-1798. The property holds the traditional saltbox home lived in by the Nurse family. This is the only home of a person executed during the trials open to the public."
The best "attraction" in Salem IMO is the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM).
Second: House of Seven Gables.
Third: General architecture in town.
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http://www.sailboston.com/events/
Public Boarding of Ships
Saturday, June 17 | 4:00 – 10:00 PM
Sunday, June 18 – Wednesday, June 21 | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Boston Fish Pier, World Trade Center, Fan Pier and Charlestown Navy Yard
Ships participating: http://www.sailboston.com/participating-ships/
http://www.sailboston.com/map/
The Silver line goes over by the piers.
The Sail Boston Circulator provides shuttle connection service to/from the Seaport District, North Station and Charlestown June 17 – 21, 2017. Easily navigate from the Seaport District to Charlestown with one simple ticket.
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Yes, in October 2016, Obama lifted the previous limit of U$100 on rum and cigars for personal use.
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So do they get to keep cash tips? Not sure I completely understand how this economy works.of course they do
Most Cubans who are not in business for themselves (business for themselves= those who run casas particulares/BnBs or restaurants, a very recent phenomenon), usually have a job (in any field from doctors to steel workers to clerks) that is paid by the government. They all get paid the same small monthly salary, and also get a basic food basket for free, and subsidized utilities and rent.
If Cubans are employed in the tourism sector, many employers are international companies (hotels/resorts) or some are privately owned by Cubans (some restaurants, but some are gov't run; some classic cars/taxis, but some are gov't owned and leased).
Just like anywhere else, waiters and chambermaids, etc. are given tips by visitors and can keep them.
In previous times (particularly in the 1990s just after the Soviets stopped helping prop up the Cuban economy), certain items were in very short supply, so foreign visitors began tipping with dollar store junk, which at that time had value in Cuba. Now that is not the case.
Hope that helps you understand the economy in Cuba a bit better.
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But they are asking about mailing FROM Cuba
Yeah, I got that.
The point of the "btw" was to illustrate that even mail is not simple due to the embargo. The high prices are due to the fact that only the more expensive class of mail is allowed.
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There IS mail service between the two countries.
btw, the smallest package (a photo calendar, for example) FROM the US to Cuba starts at about U$40.
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How about a cenote? Snorkeling or diving or swimming. Cenote Azul maybe..
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Havana port
in Cuba
Is this a bus for tourists or the locals?It was stated in the post you quote that the bus costs 10 CUC (to hoho for the day).
Locals make an official salary of about 30 CUC per month.
Is this a bus for tourists or the locals?
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HOHO thread (link to route maps on one post):
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2475331
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You can take that bus or arrange a classic car tour around the city.
The other thing you'll probably want to do is walk around the Havana Vieja neighborhood. If you have mobility issues, hire a bicycle-taxi to peddle you around the neighborhood.
You might also consider Hemingway's house and/or Fusterlandia and/or Callejon de Hamel by taxi.
It's hot and humid. Stop for drinks. Many good hotel bars, some with views. Stop for ice cream at Coppelia.
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People who've tried report they take from weeks to months to arrive. Some never arrive.
I think I saw postcards for sale at some of the shops on Obispo.
Don't know where the nearest post office is to the port, because I personally wouldn't bother wasting my time. (I've encountered this problem in other countries as well.) YMMV
I would ask my casa particular host; maybe one of your crew members would know, or even someone on the street outside the port (which is on the edge of the Havana Vieja neighborhood that has all sorts of services)
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Back to the original question....
Poster tommui987 just reminded me of a place in the Playa neighborhood, a club that has a private beach. 20CUC pp/day
Club Havana
5ta Avenida e/188-192
Reparto Flores, Playa, Havana
tel. 537 204 5700
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VidaNaPraia: Part of my ill-spent youth was spent at the Biltmore YC.
Do you have any experience/comments about it?
Thanks,
Tom
You really have an interesting history in Havana, Tom. I'd love to hear more.
The club has been pointed out to me. In Playa.
I think you can use the pool, beach, gym for 20 CUC/day.
And I think you can walk in and eat at the restaurant.
Haven't been there yet, but I'm looking for a nice place to treat my friends to on the next trip. (If you-know-who doesn't screw it up for me). It sounds like a nice possibility.
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. Never had a Cuban one, but I sure like the Partagas stogies available stateside.
The Partagas store in Havana carries most/all Cuban brands----Romeo y Julieta, Cohiba, Montecristo, etc., in addition to the Partagas brand.
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What about walking tour with the local guide for a day to explore old Havana? Would you recommend?
If you're a tour person, take a tour. Half a day in Vieja.
If not, read a guidebook first if you like, and wander around on your own.
Either would be fine.
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What would you say are a few of the "Must sees"?
What would avoid?
Thanks
There are no must-sees. It's not Paris with the Eiffel Tower, or NYC with the Statue of Liberty, or London with the Tower. Take a look at a guidebook like Real Havana to see what might appeal to you. Or just wander around the old town on foot and then take a classic car ride along the Malecon and into some of the further neighborhoods.
The "must", IMHO, is to meet and talk with as many Cubans as possible. The other feature IMO is as much live music, alongside the locals, as you can fit in.
I would avoid taking any kind of tour with a large group of fellow tourists.
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Some seventy (!) years ago, I lived in Havana for about two years going to an American school (freshman, sophomore high) which I don't recall taught the history of the country and I don't remember even going to Catedral de San Cristobal so this trip will be really one of education and hopefully, talking to Cubanos and listening and learning!
Wow! That's quite the opening to a longer story I'd love to hear.
Take it easy in the heat/humidity of Havana. It exhausts me (who has a couple of decades less on the books).
Use those bici-taxis in Vieja !
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Enjoy, tommui987.
Maybe you can give me a restaurant recommendation for my next trip, for one in that alley that's worth the drive/walk over, when you get back.
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There's a big Chinese gate. If you drive through the city, through Centro, you're bound to see it.
There's a little alley of restaurants with a small gate at the entrance.
That's it, I think.
Trip Advisor has some reviews.
This is the alley, with a photo of the little gate. http://www.visitcuba.com/2012/10/havanas-chinatown-barrio-chino-de-la-habana/
And you can Google for photos of the big gate.
Here's another recent article for reference:
http://www.jenlinliu.com/home/2017/2/1/a-little-story-about-immigration-in-cuba
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Just for example:
In March, I bought cigars for a friend at the Partagas store, varieties he had requested.
I bought some Cohiba Robusto and Cohiba Siglo II. Those two varieties came in 3 packs and I added 2 singles of Monte Cristo #3. Total was a bit more than $100 for the 8.
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I will be traveling to Havana, Cienfuegos, and Santiago de Cuba on a cruise next year and thought it might be cheaper to buy my rum and cigars in Cienfuegos. Any good ideas on where to do this?
You may find that brand name rum and cigars of the same quality are sold at about the same price throughout the country. It's a government business, for profit.
Cubans themselves smoke cheap cigars and usually consume the cheaper brands of rum.
You may be offered cigars of unknown provenance, with or without (fake) brand labels, for cheaper prices on the street. The government allows farmers to keep 10% of the crop to roll and sell. Some of them are good, according to the cigar loving friend I buy for. Just realize you are not going to get top brand name high end cigars for 5 CUC or less.
If you're starting out in Havana, wander over to the Partargas store behind the Capitolio to get an idea of prices for cigars you are interested in trying.
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Or just get a good guidebook, read, and decide for yourself what interests you.
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So just walk over to one of the places the cars congregate and talk to some drivers.
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What are you hoping to be shown on a private tour? A taxi to sights you wish to see might do just as well as a car/driver, unless you are thinking of a classic car tour. Combine that with some strolling around in Havana Vieja.
If you want a classic car tour for a couple of hours, it is likely to be cheaper to book a car you choose when there.
How can I get a visa?
in Cuba
Posted
Or maybe they are more like the Road Scholar cruise, which is a group tour by ship, under the RS group visa, not transportation with available excursions like most of the cruises with each passenger having a tourist card.