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Mario2017-05-19T02:23:26+00:00

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  • Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211

    Thank you for this review Laura. I will forward it to Amado and Jose. I am very happy that you had a wonderful trip and that we could help make it special.

    Mario

    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211

    Hi, there is an article with some info here: http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=98086

    There is no Havana airport bus. In order to take public transportation you have to get out of the airport area and then find a bus stop along Boyeros street. The bus stops are not well marked. Sometimes there is a bus shelter along the side of the road, other times it’s just a line painted on a tree or pole.

    If you are not experienced on how things are in Cuba, I would not suggest taking the bus to get from the airport to Havana. There is no schedule to the bus anyway. They pass every 30 to 40 minutes, but sometimes they don’t pass if the bus breaks down. I don’t know what time service ends. It probably goes almost all night.

    Honestly, I suggest you just take a taxi to get to Havana. It will cost more (20 to 25cuc) but you can try to find somebody at the airport to share the ride with. Between 2 people, it will cost only about 10cuc per person to take a taxi, which is pretty cheap.

    I hope this helps a bit.

    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211
    in reply to: cell phone #25071

    Hi, yes. 

    Please check this link and click on the Internet and Phones section. You will find a lot of info.

    https://bestcubaguide.com/cuba-and-havana-questions-and-basic-answers-checklist/

    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211

    Hi, sorry for the late reply. I was in Cuba and the internet connection was rather bad.

    I have not taken the cruise and the cruise ship dock is only accessible to paying customers, so I do not know exactly what the inside looks like.

    But, I do know that I have booked several taxi tours for people with impaired mobility. These individuals must have gotten off the ship somehow. Plus, all the cargo and baggage must get on and off the ship using elevators. I am 99% certain that there must be some elevator for passenger use. Wheelchair use in Cuba is common and Cuba has one of the oldest populations in earth, so a lot of the new infrastructure takes into account mobility.

    I’m pretty sure it will not be a major issue to get the wheelchair and person off the ship.

    take care,

    Mario

    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211

    Hi, sorry for the late reply. I was in Cuba and the internet connection was rather bad.

    For jewelry, 99% of the stuff which is sold in stores in Cuba is made of common metals. They sell many “gold color” jewelry, but it has no gold in it. These items sell for like 1$ to 2$. Most Cubans wear these kinds of things. They look pretty, but have no value.

    Some upscale stores sell gold plated jewelry. The prices are high and the actual value of the jewelry is very low.

    As far as I know, there is almost no real 14k or 18k gold being sold in Cuba. If there is some for sale, it will probably be very expensive – far more than the value of the gold.

    Most of the Cubans with actual gold have long since sold it and taken the money to buy other things, or taken the money out of Cuba. Any gold you find for sale in Cuba is probably imported from the USA and as such would be priced at a considerable markup.

    Enjoy your trip!

    Mario

     

     

    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211

    Hi Jhon, sorry for the late reply. I was in Cuba and the internet connection was not so good.

    To answer your question, no, we do not accept any payments through this website. We provide the booking and can give you a confirmation letter for the booking, but you would pay for your stay when you arrive at the casa, and you would pay the landlord directly, in cash.

    thanks,

    Mario

    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211

    Hi Nicholas,

    I did a quick search through our emails and I see that you are already in contact with Claudia regarding the casa booking. Both casas that she told you were available are great casas. Sky Views is a cool place because you are on the 18th floor and the view is amazing. Alejandro and Sandra is a beautiful and spacious place but on the ground level. It really depends on what kind of an atmosphere you prefer. Both are very solid choices.

    I also noticed that you asked how the trip would be different if you booked a week later. If you arrive on the 20th or 21st, Cuba will be busier. You are booking way ahead of time so most places are still vacant for those days, but around Christmas, Havana and Cuba in general will be packed with tourists. December is the highest travel month of the year and Christmas is crazy for tourism in Cuba. Just keep that in mind. Restaurant and taxi prices are all highest at Christmas. And due to the amount of tourists, reservations for taxis and restaurants are harder to get. Personally, I try to avoid Cuba at Christmas. It is fun to see the city full of people, but the tourist infrastructure in Cuba is weak and when it gets overloaded it becomes a mess. That’s my opinion. Try to go a week before Christmas. If you have to go at Christmas, then let’s try to plan as much as we can ahead of time, but know that due to the Christmas chaos in Cuba, plans will likely have some last minute changes.

    Overall, I think your schedule is very normal and should not be stressful or tight. 4 to 5 nights in Havana and 2 nights in Trinidad is the basic trip that most people do and in my opinion is the best. In my opinion, Santa Clara is not a very inspiring city, so going there just for the last bit to catch your flight gives you just enough time to see the town quickly maybe and then head to the airport. Definitely the most popular and best places are Havana and Trinidad, and you will be spending good time there. You might even consider spending an extra night in Trinidad so you can explore more of the surrounding area. If you are into nature, then this would be interesting. You can take a horse ride around the valleys and mountains and also there is the Topes de Collantes mountain range where you can go for a day excursion and see the mountains, rivers and swim in natural lagoons. If nature is not so important, then definitely hit Havana and then take 2 nights in Trinidad to explore the old town and the surrounding areas (sugar mill valley and the tobacco farms).

    I hope this helps and just write me if you need more info about specific things.

    Mario

     

    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211

    Hi, the best thing about Cuba is that your money goes a long way. Not as far as it used to but still much further than in almost any other country.

    My best advice is take it very casual. Cuba is not the kind of place where you have to plan your trip way ahead of time or in detail. If you do plan, there is a good chance that the nice plans you make will come undone on the first days anyway, so don’t plan much. Book a place to stay while in Havana. Maybe book a place in Trinidad too, but as far as making detailed plans of things to see and all that, keep it casual. Make a list of 20 things and be happy if you see 10 in detail. Don’t rush around. In Cuba if you are on a tight schedule it will be hell.

    I have a list of rental apartments in Havana. All the rental properties are good. We can help you book any place you like: https://bestcubaguide.com/casas-particulares-in-el-vedado-havana-cuba/

    Here is a list of properties in Trinidad: https://bestcubaguide.com/casas-particulares-in-trinidad-cuba/

    Here is a pretty good guide to Trinidad. It has many things to see and do: https://bestcubaguide.com/trinidad-cuba-free-online-guidebook/

    Here is an article on how to get from Havana to Trinidad. If you are not on a tight budget, I would choose the taxi option as it is fastest and most comfortable. The bust take long and you end up wasting a day. https://bestcubaguide.com/going-from-havana-to-trinidad-a-great-adventure-excursion/

    Here are some guides to the neighborhoods in Havana. You can check them all out: https://bestcubaguide.com/free-havana-neighborhood-guides/

    For Havana, the most fun things to do are walking around the city and meeting locals. Once you arrive in the city, just walk everywhere, explore. Eat at restaurants and drink at bars or cafes. Some are good. Some will be bad; it’s all part of the experience. In Old Havana there are a dozen museums per block. You don’t need a guide or a plan. Just wander around and check out the ones that interest you. There will be a thousand other tourists around so you will never feel alone. If you run out of idea, I posted some fun things here: https://bestcubaguide.com/top-10-best-things-to-do-in-havana/

    Old Havana is only about 1km square and you can see it all in a day. But spend more time and walk around and you will have more fun.

    For Trinidad, the main town is tiny too. You just walk around and you can see everything in a day. The beach is close (Playa Ancon) You can take a taxi there for about 15$. Spend the day and enjoy the calm area. Taxis are cheap in Cuba and your really should use them. Tourism is the main economy of the island and taxis are the best way for locals to make money. Trinidad has many nice sights to see around the town. Any taxi driver will take you around to 3 or 4 place for like 20$. You organize this when you arrive in Trinidad, not before.  Just get there and ask any driver to take you on a tour and negotiate the price and go. It’s very easy and there are a thousand desperate drivers hanging around all over town.

    As for getting to Cuba from New York, JetBlue has daily flights. It’s super easy. Just book a flight like any other flight. Check on Google Flights for your dates and just book. https://www.google.com/flights/

    The regulations to get to Cuba from the USA will apply to you but do not worry about them. You will need a tourist visa which your air carrier will provide (you buy it at the airport before your flight) and then you will be asked to fill out a form stating why you are going to Cuba. Just check off the category “support of the Cuban people” and you are all set to go. You don’t need to keep track of your trip or do anything else. The USA government does not care and the Cuban government only wants your tourist dollars. Just enjoy your trip!

    If you have more questions, just ask me,

    thanks,

    Mario

     

    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211
    in reply to: Groceries #24558

    Hi Zach. This is a great question and one that I receive a lot. I did a write-up to discuss this exact topic. You can find the complete article here: https://bestcubaguide.com/some-frequently-asked-questions-about-visiting-havana-and-cuba/

    And below I will copy the info and add a bit extra for you. Basically, doing your grocieris in Havana and Cuba in general will be cheap, but very time consuming and possible frustrating. I have a lot of experience living in Havana and even I sometimes go for a week without eggs because there are just none to be found in any stores. Sometimes you get lucky and have eggs all month. Other times there are none or you have to pay an inflated black market rate for them. Crazy, but that’s Cuba.

    Even in Havana, household supplies are not that easy to find. There are some supermarkets where you can get some things, but they mostly sell packaged good. I would suggest that you bring you own dish soap, as the Cuban one is usually sold as a powder, and not a liquid. You might not find it very good.

    Supermarkets will not sell paper towels.
     
    Toilet paper is available sometimes. Maybe one day yes and one day no. You might have to go shopping to a few stores before you find it. There will be some at the casa particular when you arrive, but likely only 1 roll.
     
    There will be a new bar of soap in the casa particular too. But I suggest you simply bring a couple of extra bars of soap with you from the USA, so you don’t have to waste time searching for soap in Havana.
     
    The supermarkets will have coffee, but it will be expensive. But it will be good Cuban coffee. Most Cubans will buy cheaper coffee at small local markets or as part of their rations at the Bodega. While you cannot go to the Bodegas (only Cubans can shop at the Bodega), you would find cheap coffee at local markets. But I will say honestly, even locals rarely buy and make their own coffee at home. It is cheaper to simply go to a local paladar cafe (street vendor) and buy it for about 1 to 2 pesos for an espresso (less than 10cents USD.)
     
    There is a popular supermarket under the Focsa building, near the corner of L and 17th street. It has a lot of stuff that you can find in regular American style supermarkets.
     
    The supermarket will have butter, usually. And cheese. And an assortment of packaged goods. There are not many good supermarkets in Havana. The ones in the touristy areas are better than ones in the distant parts of the city.
     
    Milk – The supermarkets will only have dry milk powder and it is expensive. In Cuba there are no stores which sell liquid milk. At the Bodega, locals can get cheaper dried milk, but as a foreigner this option is not open to you.
     
    Fruit, you can only get at an outdoor market (a large one at the corner of 17th and B) or maybe from a street vendor who sells it off a cart.
     
    Bread – You can buy it a Panaderia bakery. You might have to ask your casa landlord for the exact location of the closest bakery to your casa. You can buy small breads for 1 peso each (5 cents USD) But if you go at supper time, they might not sell it to you, as they have to reserve enough for local Cubans. But usually there is no problem. Bring your own bag to carry the bread. You can sometimes also get bread at the supermarket, but it will cost about 5 times as much, and will be less fresh. There are hundreds of panaderias all over Havana.
     
    Eggs – The egg situation is complex. You can sometimes buy the eggs at small Venta Libre stores located beside the Bodegas. You can buy as many as you want. Usually they cost about 1.1 pesos each (5 cents USD). But these stores only have eggs sometimes. Maybe 2 times per week, max. And there is a good chance that locals will buy all the eggs before you arrive. Your chance of buying fresh eggs will not be high, and will depend a lot on luck and determination. Again, I would suggest that you simply buy omelettes (tortillas) from local street food vendors. An omelette sandwich will cost about 5 to 6 pesos, which is only marginally more expensive than buying the bread and the egg yourself.
     
    There are no “one stop shops” on Cuba. Fresh food is from the markets, bread is from the panadarias, eggs are are Vente Libre/Bodega type stores. Ground coffee you can sometimes get cheaply on street corners (it’s bad coffee, but cheap). Bottled water you can get at the supermarkets and at little convenience stores. You will see these places all over Havana.
     
    Generally speaking, you won’t have trouble finding stores to get these kinds of things. A bit of walking and you will see the stores. But you might have to hit 5 or 6 places before you get everything you want. I know that when I am looking for chicken, I have a couple of stores near my Havana house that sell it. And some days I can get it all, no problem. Other days, there is just none, anywhere… so no chicken those days.
     
    I hope this helps.
    Have fun in Cuba.
    Mario
    • This reply was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by Mario.
    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211
    in reply to: sunwig.ca #24373

    Hi, we are not affiliated with sunwing.ca  but they are one of the largest tour operators for Cuba and have good prices. Their prices are in Canadian dollars, so 0.75 USD equals to 1 Canadian dollar. So, if you see a price of 1000 Canadian, it would be only 750 USD.

    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211

    The best way to get from Havana to the hotel in varadero is with a taxi. For a private yellow air conditioned taxi, the cost is 95cuc (95usd). The distance is 180km and takes about 2 hours. I can organize this easily.

    The caves are about 25km from the hotel in varadero. It’s not a long trip. It should take about 30 to 45 minutes. We cannot organize a specific taxi for you, for this trip. There will be taxis at the door of the hotel and you can ask a driver to take you to the caves. It would cost about 30$ to 40$ for the trip. Maybe you negotiate with one of the drivers and offer 50$ for him to bring you to the cave and then wait while you explore and then drive you back. It would be a fair price. You would negotiate directly with a driver at the hotel.

    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211

    Thank you Kevin. I am very sorry about the problems and I can promise you that we are working hard to make sure that these things do not happen. A few always manage to slip by and it always upsets me that mistakes happen. There are a lot of people who work in the process and a weak link can cause a chain reaction pretty fast. I’m sorry that in your case everything did not go as planned. Next time you are in Cuba send me a message and if I am there too I would love to meet you for a drink and chat and to show you the team and our operations. Take care and good luck with everything. Mario

    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211

    Hi, it’s impossible to know what the the USA government will do concerning Cuba. It is always possible that there will be a change, however I think it is unlikely.

    In my opinion, the photography workshops are a waste of time and money. The local guides are paid a few bucks and the companies that organize these tours take in thousands. Your money is wasted and none of it stay in Cuba. If you want to take photos o Havana, just go to Havana and stay in a local casa and take as many photos as you want.

    You do not have to meet any criteria to go to Havana. You simply check off and sign a paper once you are at the airline (check off the category “in support of the cuban people”) and you go to Cuba.Nobody will check what you are doing and nobody will ask any questions. Anybody who tell you different is either lying or is trying to sell you a tour package for thousands of dollars.

    Those are the facts. Really. Just book your flight and go to Havana. Take all the photos you want. Don’t worry about anything. There is no special visa or expensive tour package to get. Just go!

    Have fun,

    Mario

    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211

    Ok, perfect. My assistant will be in touch with you, or has already written you back.

    Mario
    Keymaster
    Post count: 211

    Hi Steve,

    At the resorts there are usually only a handful of taxis hanging around the entrance of the resort (they are not allowed to enter the resort grounds usually). These taxis usually charge high fares to go to Havana (because there are not many taxis there, so limited competition).

    Are you planning to go into the town of Varadero? If you go into town you can usually negotiate a deal with the drivers directly and save a few bucks. Maybe get the trip for like 80 cuc. Or you might be able to snag a shared ride for like 30cuc per person.

    If you don’t plan on negotiating with drivers off the resort, you might want to book your taxi ahead of time. Then you are sure to have a ride. And if you are able to get a better deal in Varadero, you can always cancel your booking (please 1 day in advance). My assistant Claudia or Isabel can give you their cell phone numbers in case you have to cancel.

    Have a great trip!

    Mario

     

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