We're thinking of going to Cuba, any advice?

[Whisp]

Just in the planning stages, maybe will do this in Dec or in the spring.
I know you 'merkans can't legally go but maybe you have some foreigner relatives that have and can relate their stories. :)

I haven't got any travel books on it yet, or anything like that so I am a total green on this and thot someone might want to jump in and give me some dialogue on it.

The only people I know that go to Cuba regularly are some inlaws that I don't speak to anymore. They do the gated community snobby expensive resort thing - that's not what we're after, that's not travelling, that's being a tourist.

We want to explore the land and people and music as much as possible and are not wusses at roughing it if we have to.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

1. I hope one of the below is true:

1) You don't live in the USA; or
2) There's no way to make a connection from your DU username and your real identity.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. Some people from my church have gone (legally)

Here's what they say:

1. The people are fantastic, friendly and hospitable with what little they have

2. The scenery is gorgeous

3. The food is monotonous but okay

I hope to go in the next group.

[Whisp]

5. if the food is anything like Belize - lots of rice and beans!

which is okay with us.
cuisine ws certainly not a talking point in Belize - but that doesn't counter at all what a great time we had.
food was not on our minds while we were exploring and oooooooing and aaaaaaah-ing.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. Yup, rice and beans and either pork or chicken

That's how they described the typical meal.

[Taverner]

3. Ask them not to stamp your passport so you don't get dinged coming back

Also carry CASH. Lots of cash. You can't use credit cards from the US at all, so if you're stuck without money...

Otherwise ENJOY - it's awesome there. I did my honeymoon there!

[Whisp]

4. o, wow thanks for the tip on cash. and I'm a commie pinko canadian so i'm okay

with the passport thing.

where did you stay, can I ask.
any other details would be great.

we've been to Belize quite a few years ago (memorable, wonderful trip), but othr than that not very well traveled at all.

[Taverner]

7. Well this was in 98 - so who knows what's going on

Not sure if the Hotel we stayed at is even still there. DON'T Stay at the Hotel New York. At least back then, it was a decrepit hotel built around the turn of the century with pneumatic elevators and everything still in tact. However, it hasn't been kept up since the 50's, and it shows. It was only $10 a night (we were short on cash) but you had to leave the lights on when you slept to keep the roaches and bedbugs off of you.


Cuba is a trip! If anything to see all the billboards with propaganda on them!

I would get your hotel booked and paid for before you go with an agent - leaves you with more cash while there.

[Whisp]

8. thanks. your hotel story reminds me of one of mine.

was in new york in the mid 80s (forgot about that till now lol) and we didn't have a reservtion.. so we were wondering around at night like that old movie couple that jack lemmon was in - the out of towners I think.

we end up at The Taft - can't remember where exactly but in Manhattan. Old old building and we did the exact same thing to stave off the roaches! funny that your hotel was called the new york and made me think of that. but the best/worst memory of that place was the bathroom - the toilet paper was on a coat hook up the wall, juuuuuuust out of reach when you were seated. the paint on the hook must have been 9 layers deep. anyway thot that was funny, like the roll was up there to keep it safe from the roaches? lol.

[npk]

9. The travel channel

They did a piece about Cuba. It is more "Americanized" now than back in the 80's. Whatever that means. The beaches are also amazing. I would go there just for the beaches. I love beaches.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

10. My dad and my sister have gone legally (My dad has gone twice).

On educational grounds (before they tightened travel restrictions a couple of years ago.)

They said it was very beautiful and for the most part the people were friendly. They did say it was like going back in time to the 1950s--a lot of the cars and technology beckons back to that time.

I do hope that democratic reform continues to take place in Cuba, and it sounds like Raul Castro is less of a hardass on things than brother Fidel. But a couple of things I don't want to see--I don't want to see the Cubans move away from what has been described as a strong universal health care system.

And if Cuba does become fully democratic and open to US tourists, I don't want to see it become some ugly tourist trap like Cancun. I've heard the culture and scenery are bar-none incredible there. The thought of t-shirt shops, themed bars and resort hotels literring up the country just seems like a damn shame to me.