[Mario]

in reply to: Taxi To Trinidad #18662

Hi, the best way to get from the Havana airport to Trinidad is by taxi. Also, I think this is the only way. The last bus from Havana to Trinidad is at like 2pm. So you will miss that. Really, your only way is to take a taxi. It would cost about $160. You can book the taxi here: https://bestcubaguide.com/havana-taxi-tours-cuba-excursions/

or just tell me and I can take care of it.

It’s not cheap. The taxi back from Trinidad to Havana would cost about the same. Although in Trinidad you can find deals if you ask around. You would get better deals if you leave in the morning. For example, you can negotiate with drivers in Trinidad and probably get a taxi leaving Trinidad headed to Havana for about $120 cuc if you leave at 8am in the morning. This gives the driver enough time to get to Havana, find passengers and then do the return trip back to Trinidad. Leaving later makes it impossible to find travelers for a return trip in a single day, so the drivers charge more.

Also, the Viazul bus (www.viazul.com) will take you from Trinidad to Havana for 25$ per person. It’s much cheaper, but the bus only leaves 2 times per day. You must book your ticket in advance online because this route almost always is full.

If you have more questions, just tell me.

take care,

Mario

[Mario]

in reply to: Beaches near Havana #18595

Hi, here is my advice:

Most of the drivers actually speak some English. They will deny it. They will play dumb. But they have been watching american television since they were in diapers and they have been dealing with English speakers for years, so they can speak enough to get by. The issue is that if they can pretend to speak only Spanish, they can more easily trick you into paying a bit more. Don’t fall for it.

I would not ask for cafeteria Trebol. The drivers have likely seen it in passing, but generally nobody would ask for that specific location. It could throw them off. Just say Playa Santa Maria. (If pressed you can say Hotel Atlantico, but generally when you start dropping hotel names they think about driving you right to the door with valet service and then charging you more.) And then, while you are on the road, you can look out the window and see the signs to Santa Maria, and then Hotel Atlantico. and you will probably see the Trebol cafeteria too. Just ask the driver to stop (Parate aqui!) And he will pull to the side and let you out. You just cross the highway and walk down the hill (it’s super easy and everybody does it).

Always agree on the price first. Either 50 Moneda Nacional or 2 cuc (same thing). Try to have exact change (more or less) to pay the driver at the end of the ride. You don’t need exact change, but if you hand him a 20cuc bill he might have trouble making change.

The drivers typically do not drive you all the way down to the beach area or hotel unless you pay them a bit more. It’s a 2 minute ride but that’s typically how it is. If you have lots of bags or just don’t want to walk, you can offer the driver like 1 or 2 cuc more and he will drive you down. But it’s not usually done.

The taxis are always there. You might have to wait 20 minutes for one to fill up with enough people to do the trip, but usually, if you are going at a normal time they leave every 10 or 15 minutes. Weekends it is more busy. At night it is less busy. There is another depot too at the corner of Zanja and Aguila (https://www.google.ca/maps/place/%C3%81guila,+La+Habana,+Cuba/@23.1332025,-82.3630086,299m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x88cd79b964209d1d:0x874e25c7949c922e!8m2!3d23.1337171!4d-82.3618737). In Parque El Curita you can see cars parked all around the park (look on the google maps link.) Those cars are taxis going to various locations around Havana. Many are going to the eastern beaches. The prices are the same.

In these depots, the taxis are there for tourists and locals. Being a tourist is not a problem at all. Just be aware that sometimes the drivers will try to charge tourists more. You might ask how much it is and the driver or taxi organizer will look at you flatly and say 5cuc per person, or 20cuc… He is a professional and he needs cash. But ultimately, the real price is 2cuc (50mn) per person. And actually many locals can negotiate the price even a bit lower, but the price for 90% of people is 2cuc. If anybody tries to play around with the price, just say 2cuc per person. You might have to repeat it 2 or 3 times, but they will never turn that price down. They will just tell you to get into a car and wait until it is filled.  (The cars get hot, so I personally would just stand beside the car and wait). A few minutes later you will be on the road. You pay the drivers once you arrive. And that’s it.

Getting back to Havana… just hang around at the little park area beside the beach, in front of the hotels. You will see the old car taxis passing by every few minutes. Many will already be full with passengers but you will eventually find one that you can fit in. It usually doesn’t take more than 15 minutes to find a ride. Just tell the driver 2cuc each to Havana.. and he will take you and drop you off usually in front of the capitolio building. If he asks you, just say Capitolio. If you want the driver to take you all the way to your casa, if you have a casa in Vedado for example, just offer him and extra 2 or 3cuc and he should do it. (It’s usually most convenient this way).

If you are returning to Havana late at night it will be more difficult to find a taxi. Either try to find a communal taxi (they are still around but harder to catch. They also sometimes ask for more money if it is late at night.. this is normal. You can pay up to 5cuc per person..) There are also yellow taxis which will be around but those will charge about 20cuc to make the trip (not per person, just per car load). Or else there is the bus option..There is a city bus (#400) that can take you from Havana to Guanabo for only one peso. I don’t know exactly where you would catch the bus. Beside the highway, near El Trebol there is a stop. Almost any bus going along that highway will be going to Havana. So if a bus stops, just tell the driver “Havana” and if he lets you enter, then you know you will be getting to the city.

It will be a fun trip. As far as I know Guanabo is still not great. Santa Maria will be a far better beach. Have a great trip!

Mario

[Mario]

in reply to: Recommend casa particular with family #17953

Hi, yes, I can take care of this. But how many beds do you need? 3 or 4? Just tell me.

Also, please write me at rizzi@videotron.ca so that we can do this privately and so that I can respond to the email directly to you.

Thanks,

Mario

[Mario]

in reply to: Havana in January #17893

The forum is a bit slow these days….

But I can give you some advice.

If you are going alone, I would suggest that you just use the Viazul bus to get to Vinales. It’s cheap and it will work fine. The first bus leaves Havana at 8:45am and gets to Vinales 4 hours later. It’s a long ride. But it only costs 12cuc. The problem is that the last return bus to Havana leaves Vinales at 2pm.. so if you are doing a day trip, you cannot really use the bus to return, as it would only leave you about an hour to see Vinales.

You can get a taxi for the return trip. There are many taxis in Vinales that are located along the main road, and there will be a guy at the main tourist office in front of the plaza who can organize the taxi for you. It should cost about 20cuc to get to Havana. But it will be more difficult to get a taxi at night.

My best advice is not to take a day trip to Vinales. It is too short if you spend just 1 day… You have to at least spend 1 night. If you took the Viazul and left Havana at 2pm you would arrive in Vinales by 5pm. You could walk around and get to know the place. Then, the next morning, you could go for a walk in the valley and see some stuff. You could maybe even get a horse tour (ask your landlord to organize it) and then you could head back to havana by 2pm. You would still be in Vinales less than 24 hours, but you could actually see much more.

The horse tours will be best organized by your landlord in Vinales. If it does not work out, just go for a long walk in the valley. You will see a lot. There is a trail. There are other tours, like seeing caves, but those are expensive and you would have to pre-book. You could also go hiking up a mogote (hills around the valley). You can do this yourself or with a guide if you want.

Check Viazul.com for bus schedules. I strongly suggest that you book the ticket online ahead of time.

Have fun!

Mario

 

 

[Mario]

in reply to: Travel To Cotorro #17864

Hi, yes, there are communal taxis that go to Cotorro. I have had good luck at finding these taxis in Old Havana. My preferred place is at Parque El Curita. It’s on Simon Bolivar Street (aka Reina) between Galiano and Aguila. (Here is the map). The park has parking space for cars inside the park, and most of the cars are taxis that will be collecting clients to take outside the city. The cars generally go to Habana del Este and Guanabacoa. The cars going to Guanabacoa will usually pass through Cotorro. They usually drop you off on the highway and then you walk to your destination. Tell the driver where you need to go and he will drop you off as close as possible. The cost should be less than 2cuc (50mn) for the ride. If they want you to pay more, it is a scam. Negotiate or walk away… It might take 30 minutes to fill the car with other passengers… But once it is full, the price is about 2cuc each or less, depending on where exactly you want to go. Good luck!

[Mario]

in reply to: Recommend casa particular with family #17786

Hi Pawel, I will send this info to my assistant in Havana and she will contact the landlords to arrange everything. Can you please send me your contact info…. Please write me a note to rizzi@videotron.ca and just tell me your email address so we can do this more privately.

thanks,

Mario

[Mario]

in reply to: Recommend casa particular with family #17730

Hi, there are many good beach towns near Havana.

Guanabo is about 30 minutes driving from Havana and is a beachside community. It’s not bad. There are lots of bars and restaurants and many casas to rent. I have listed 2 of my favorite casas here: https://bestcubaguide.com/casas-particulares-in-guanabo-cuba/ . Both casas are fantastic.

If you want to get further away from Havana, you can go to Trinidad. It is about 4 hours driving from Havana. It is a beautiful town and very popular. There is a lot to do in the town and many places to explore. It is rich in history. There is also a beach (Playa Ancon) just near the town. Here are some casas in Trinidad https://bestcubaguide.com/casas-particulares-in-trinidad-cuba/ Most of the casas are in the town. The beach is about 10 minutes away by taxi.

If you want a more secluded experience, then consider going to Playa Larga. It is on the south side of Cuba. It is 3 hours from Havana. The houses there are directly on the beach. There are some stores and restaurants in the town, but not many. It is more secluded, but it is very nice. Here is a beautiful house that I have stayed in many times in Playa Larga: http://imgur.com/gallery/ad8RL

I hope this helps. If you need help to book the any houses, just tell me.

Mario

• This reply was modified 8 years ago by Mario.

[Mario]

in reply to: Tipping casa owner? #17703

Hi, it is not customary to tip the casa owner. They earn a very good living, probably among the best in Cuba and there is no reason or obligation to give extra.

I sometimes bring a bit of spare clothing to Cuba. Some t-shirts or kids clothes and trinkets that I have no use for. I give it out to people I know. If I dont manage to give it all, I just leave it in the casa. This is a usual occurance with many tourists. Other than that, I dont leave monetary tips.

Take care,

Mario

[Mario]

in reply to: booking at a casa #17417

Hi, Canadians need a visa to enter Cuba. The visa is just a slip of paper that you write your name on. Your airline will give this paper out on the plane. You just fill it in and hold it with you. You will need it when you pass customs at the airport to enter Cuba. The customs guy when you enter will take half of the paper (it cuts down the middle). Your landlord will also take it for a few hours in order to register you in the casa. When you exit Cuba, the customs guy will take the other half.

It’s super simple. Dont worry about anything. Have a great trip.

Mario

[Mario]

in reply to: Help with 9 nights itinerary #17243

Hi, I’m sorry. We checked everywhere. We contacted everybody that we know. We could not find any availability in Havana, or even in the Havana area. The city is really full. You should try airbnb or any other website that you can find online. I am sorry we cannot help you with this. It’s just that everything is full.

[Mario]

in reply to: Recommend casa particular with family #17152

Hi, that’s a good question.

I usually travel with my daughter, who is 5 years old. She has a great time watching the chickens running around in the yards all over Havana and saying hello to all the cats playing in the streets and the dogs which are walked at the parks. I am sure your daughter will have a great time in Havana.

I know that in the following casa, the owner has a dog and a young boy. I am not sure if the dog and boy will be there during the day. The casa is rented independently. But the owner is very outgoing and commonly invites guests to go out for drink or coffee or dancing with him. https://bestcubaguide.com/portfolio-items/casa-particular-gustavo-2-bedroom-apartment/

 

At this next casa, it is owned by my good friend Enrique. It is a beautiful place. But it is only 1 bedroom. I can ask him if there is another bed, but Dont think so. He has an 8 year old boy and there is another young boy who lives in the bottom apartment. The kids are always playing outside and it is a fun building. https://bestcubaguide.com/portfolio-items/casa-enrique-independent-apartment/

 

This next casa is located right beside casa Enrique. And it has a yard and I believe the owner has a dog as well. The owner has no kids, but as mentioned there are lots of kids on this street. This is probably my best recommendation for you.

Casa Particular Villa Margarita – 2 bedrooms apartment in Vedado

 

I know you might be thinking of having an experience where you are all living in the same space and you can have meals at the table together with the Cuban hosts and the kids interact and learn and it’s like one big family. Unfortunately, I dont know of anymore casas like that. Perhaps that used to take place but these days in cuba, casas are usually more structured, and are more or less just apartment or room rentals where guests are given privacy. You can interact with the hosts, but it’s not like one big family. In small towns and the countryside you can still find this, but in the city or Havana it is rare and I am not sure of a casa that is like that any more.

Sorry, but I hope this info stills helps you,

Mario

[Mario]

in reply to: Help with 9 nights itinerary #17140

Hi,

Cienfuegos can be arranged as a day trip. You simply ask any taxi driver in Trinidad to take you there. I think the price is about 40cuc for a standard, modern taxi. You can use a communal taxi and it will be cheaper. The communal taxis can be found near the Viazul bus stop in Trinidad. But there will be lots of taxis everywhere. Just ask the price and negotiate until you are happy.

But if you only have 2 nights in Trinidad, I don’t think you will want to spend much time in Cienfuegos. Anyway, you can decide when you get there.

For New Years Eve there are no public celebrations. There will be private parties and some restaurants will offer 20cuc or 30cuc meals which included drinks and dancing etc, until midnight, but mostly there are just family gatherings. Some nightclubs will have small shows and events. But there is nothing major.

Honestly, Cuba does not celebrate the major holidays at all. Maybe your casa landlord will invite your family to their little family party. Or you can simply relax on the Malecon and enjoy some rum and beer. That’s the way it is in Havana. There will be other people just relaxing outside. Lots of young people just chatting along the waterfront. Playing some music and maybe dancing a bit. It’s fun. It’s simple. It’s Cuba.

As for the kids getting into Tropicana –  It’s a nightclub and cabaret. Kids are not permitted. The legal drinking age in Cuba is 16. As one of your kids is 15, it is possible that the doorman will not notice and might let him/her inside. But there is a good chance that the doorman will not allow the 13 year old inside. There is a dress code too. Perhaps if the kids look mature and are dressed up and look older than 16 there will be no issue. But in all my experience, the door man has stopped all children from entering the Tropicana.

Last year there was a family from Italy. They tried to bring in a little boy. The door man would not allow it. They argued… They tried to offer him money. But he would not allow the kid in. Because it is a nightclub and cabaret, and the door man would lose his job if he allowed the kid inside, since it is illegal to allow a minor into a drinking establishment. Maybe you have different luck, but that is the rule, and it seems to be applied.

I hope this info helps,

take care,

Mario

[Mario]

in reply to: Questions about Havana #17124

Hi, I can help you with everything, no problem. What are your dates? Also, are you planning to stay in Havana the whole time?

With only 5 days it might be hard to take a trip to other towns and cities. My advice would be to stay in Havana. If you want, you can do a night in Vinales, but one night is really not enough to see much and it will add expense. It depends on your budget.

I have some ideas for itineraries posted here: https://bestcubaguide.com/forums/topic/14-day-itinerary/

 

Here is a good trip plan for 5 days:

Day 1 – Land in Havana and settle in at your Casa Particular. I list dozens of great casas on my website. You just choose one that you like and I can make the reservation for you. They are spacious, clean and cheap. Walk around the city on this first day and get to know where things are. Maybe go to a restaurant or go directly to a market to get food. It depends on your style. You will also have to exchange money.

Day 2 – Check out little shops and explore Old Havana, check out some museums, eat local foods. There is an art fair on one of the docks in the Havana harbor, just beside old Havana. In the evening you can go to a dance or music show at the Casa de la Musica/ It will also be nice to walk along the Malecon at night.

Day 3 – You can go to the beach. Guanabo beach (which is close to Havana) can be fun, or go to Playa Santa Maria which is even better. It is cheap to get to these beaches (under 2cuc per person by communal taxi). You can have fun on the beach and in the ocean, eat great food, dance and enjoy the nightlife. It’s a place to relax and enjoy yourself. Forget all your worries.

Day 4 – Back to Havana you can explore the Centro neighborhood, especially near the Plaza de la Revolucion. Here you will find some urban gardens. Here are some photos of the gardens (Click here). You won’t be able to do much near the gardens. You cannot walk through them. You can buy some of the local food because there is a market beside the garden.

Day 5 – You can explore the areas around the city of Havana. Maybe take a ferry ride to the town of Regla. I have a video here showing you how it is a bit. There is also the FAC club/art exhibition hall which is in Vedado. You can get more info here : https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g147271-d6979715-Reviews-Fabrica_de_Arte_Cubano-Havana_Ciudad_de_la_Habana_Province_Cuba.html

I hope this info helps. If you tell me your dates I can help you more or just contact one of the casas and arrange a booking, and we can get started.

take care,

Mario

[Mario]

in reply to: Help with 9 nights itinerary #17095

Hi, the itinerary is good. The only things that I dont think you will be able to do are the stops in Cienfuegos and Santa Clara. From Trinidad to Havana, the bus might not pass by Santa Clara. You would have to take a taxi and it will be a waste of time and money. You can do it in theory, but there is not much in Santa Clara.

Cienfuegos is OK, but on the way to Trinidad the bus will only stop in Cienfuegos for 10 minutes. You won’t even have time to get off the bus. If you take a taxi, the driver can stop for longer but you have to pay him. And the more time you spend in Cienfuegos the less time you have in Trinidad. Under certain circumstances (depending what time it is) drivers will not stop in Cienfuegos, since they will want to get to Trinidad as early as possible in order to find new passengers and then return to Havana all in the same day.

I say skip both towns.

Now, very important. You are traveling during the highest season. And this year tourism will be the highest in cuba that it has ever been in history. Last year in vinales (check it on google) tourists had to sleep on park benches in vinales during the holiday because there were no rooms left in town. My advice is definitely make all your accommodation arrangements ahead of time. And even if you have all your arrangements, know that in cuba things can quickly go wrong and you might have to make last minute changes to keep up with the situations. Honestly, I think if you do not already have reservations for your trip, it might be already too late. So start looking.

Transportation will be hard too. The major bus routes are serviced by like 4 buses per day. 80 people per bus. Basically they can move about 320 people per day from Havana to Trinidad. And there will be probably 3000 people wanting to take that bus… Go on Viazul.com and try to prebook your seat. As I said, even if you have a prebooking things can go wrong and it can get changed but at least it gives you a chance. Taxis are harder to book in advance during the holidays. And prices shoot up a lot. If all other options fail, you will have to ask your landlord to try to organize a taxi ride for you. It might be expensive, but at least it gets you to where you want to go.

Sorry for the sombre outlook. Start working on finding casas and maybe you get lucky and the trip works out as you would like. I hope it does.

Good luck,

Mario

[Mario]

in reply to: taxis #16999

Hi, hiring a driver for the entire trip has been done before, but it can be expensive. Generally the best approach is to use different drivers as you need them.

If you are staying mostly in the city then you can find drivers everywhere. Along the main roads there are dozens of taxis that pass ever minute and a short trip across the city would only cost about 10cuc.

Trips outside the city are more expensive but for about 100 to 150 cuc you can get to most places on the western side of the island. Going far east is a bit more expensive.

Hiring a personal driver who will be with you all day would likely cost about 100cuc for days that you stay within the city and about 150 to 200cuc for days you leave the city. If you are going to really do a lot of driving, then it is an OK value. But let’s say you decided to go from Havana on a 24 hour drive across the country… The driver would probably want extra money anyway.

I get asked this question often. 99% of the time it is far better to just use different taxis as you need then. The only time that I remember a person using the full time driver for multiple days was because the guy had large camera equipment and was going to be taking photos all over Cuba over the course of a week. So he wanted to have one driver with him always to get him around and keep the cameras in the taxi.

If you have more questions, just ask.

Mario

[Author]

Posts