Goring Gull
New member
Anyone been? If so where would you reccomend i Go, places to see etc. The weather has spurred me on to sort out a holiday and this is the option that looks preferable at the mo.
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Cuba
- Thread starter Goring Gull
- Start date
Italiaseagull
New member
I went last November. Stayed in Varadero which caters for western tourists. Nice hotels, plenty of rum, fine cigars, excellent beaches and fantastic weather. Cost about £800 for a week all inclusive, but there are cheaper options available.
Havana is a must see, the real Cuba, I'd definately go back. My advice see it before Castro dies and the yanks take it over!
Havana is a must see, the real Cuba, I'd definately go back. My advice see it before Castro dies and the yanks take it over!
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London Calling
New member
Your choice is to go to:
1.a tourist place that is Varadero or, to
2. Lig out with the Cubans,
If its 2 I can drop you loads of places to go to
Either way, if you go from Nov to Feb you can pick up some great deals.
I flew to Cuba at the beginning of DEc. for just under £400 and for 3 weeks
LC1
1.a tourist place that is Varadero or, to
2. Lig out with the Cubans,
If its 2 I can drop you loads of places to go to
Either way, if you go from Nov to Feb you can pick up some great deals.
I flew to Cuba at the beginning of DEc. for just under £400 and for 3 weeks
LC1
jonnyboylennon
New member
Im reliably informed that the young local girls in the disco's are particularly fond of western blokeys.......
Italiaseagull
New member
The local women are fit as! And your for the very reasonable price of a new dress, about $5 US.
jeremy beadles hand
New member
I went december 2001. it is a top place! i went to varadero. if you buy cigars dont buy them from the cigar shops buy them from someone who works in your hotel who gets them stolen from varadero port, it will work out $50 rather than $375 for 25 cohiba esplenidos. also do the catamaran trip where u c aligators snakes and snorkel in clear waters with fish all colours. also if u go to havana only go 4 1 day as its not worth 2 days.
where r u staying?
where r u staying?
London Calling
New member
If you do go for 1 and 2, you will notice that you have just become the best looking bloke on the planet, unless your mate is with you, then you may be number 2, or if you're girlfriend is with you then you could be 1 or 2 but rarely ignored.
The only warning about cigars is if you buy them from the shop they are legit,
from elsewhere and you can get them really easily, you could be conned, but even these are better than the crap you can buy in the US.
Obviously if you are going can I put my order for cigars in now!!
They also have two currencies the US dollar and the Peso (I think). Anywhere really touristy will only take dollars but when you find a bar or a house/cafe that takes Peso's , you have just become a millionaire.
I wouldn't worry too much about politics or being too closely monitored. I and my friends had a great time, mixed in with loads of cubans ( a million at one point), we went to street parties, illegal raves, hair saloons with live bands, free gigs, carnivals etc
And drank some rum, moon shine and smoked cigars
LC1
The only warning about cigars is if you buy them from the shop they are legit,
from elsewhere and you can get them really easily, you could be conned, but even these are better than the crap you can buy in the US.
Obviously if you are going can I put my order for cigars in now!!
They also have two currencies the US dollar and the Peso (I think). Anywhere really touristy will only take dollars but when you find a bar or a house/cafe that takes Peso's , you have just become a millionaire.
I wouldn't worry too much about politics or being too closely monitored. I and my friends had a great time, mixed in with loads of cubans ( a million at one point), we went to street parties, illegal raves, hair saloons with live bands, free gigs, carnivals etc
And drank some rum, moon shine and smoked cigars
LC1
Italiaseagull
New member
Salsa dancing in the streets, and drinking till the sun rises! 
The Bay of Pigs is worth a visit, as is Cayo Largo, where Al Capone used to have a beach hut.
Warning though if you like fastfood the nearest and only Mcdonalds on the Island is at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, about 12hrs drive from Varadero.
The Bay of Pigs is worth a visit, as is Cayo Largo, where Al Capone used to have a beach hut.
Warning though if you like fastfood the nearest and only Mcdonalds on the Island is at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, about 12hrs drive from Varadero.
Le Premier Cru
Member
I went a couple of years ago.
Booked flights and first night's accommodation as a package (Cost about the same as 2 weeks in the Med). The first night, and more if I'd've wanted, was in one of the 'all expenses included' resorts, like Varadero. But I didn't want.
I struck out from the group and went and hung out in Havana for four days. The place is amazing. Clash of cultures. Three different currencies.
I'd try to do the countryside if going back, but don't listen to JB'sH about Havana. It was precisely because there's so much that you can't pack it into four days, let alone one, that took me there.
When I eventually got back to the resort to link with the Group for the flight home, some of them were looking so bored it was untrue. They said that they could have been anywhere on earth. The only clue that they were in the Caribbean at all was the rum. Resort food was desperately plain too, I remember.
And, like Italia says, get in there before Fidel goes and the whole place changes. The Dollars will flood in and the place will be homogenised within two years. Book now to avoid disappointment.
Enjoy, my friend...
Booked flights and first night's accommodation as a package (Cost about the same as 2 weeks in the Med). The first night, and more if I'd've wanted, was in one of the 'all expenses included' resorts, like Varadero. But I didn't want.
I struck out from the group and went and hung out in Havana for four days. The place is amazing. Clash of cultures. Three different currencies.
I'd try to do the countryside if going back, but don't listen to JB'sH about Havana. It was precisely because there's so much that you can't pack it into four days, let alone one, that took me there.
When I eventually got back to the resort to link with the Group for the flight home, some of them were looking so bored it was untrue. They said that they could have been anywhere on earth. The only clue that they were in the Caribbean at all was the rum. Resort food was desperately plain too, I remember.
And, like Italia says, get in there before Fidel goes and the whole place changes. The Dollars will flood in and the place will be homogenised within two years. Book now to avoid disappointment.
Enjoy, my friend...
Lord Bracknell
On fire
London Calling
New member
Lord Bracknell said:
GREAT STUFF REMEMBER GORING GULL YOU WILL BE AN AMBASSADOR!!!
OH, YEAR WE ALSO GOT SOME GREAT PICS OF THE SHIRT IN FRONT OF 1950 CARS, CHE POSTERS, AND ALSO CUBANS WEARING THE SHIRT.
THERE WAS ONE POSH PLACE IN SANTIAGO WHICH WOULDN'T LET MY FRIEND IN, BECAUSE HE HAD SHORTS BUT MY ALBION AWAY STRIP (MILAN) WAS PERFECTLY OK.
LC1
Italiaseagull
New member
Revolution Square
- Aug 7, 2003
- 8,414
Cuban music is in a class of its own. Anyone who has seen the film "Buena Vista Social Club" or heard the cd of the same name will know what I am talking about. Seek out cd's by Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzales, Compay Segundo, Eliades Ochoa, Omara Portuondo and Roberto Fonseca in the World Music Section of good record shops. This is afro cuban music that has developed a sound of its own over the last sixty years without western influence. Priceless!
Brighton Breezy
New member
Just read the 'sex in cuba' sounds like its bene witten by my dad.
London Calling
New member
Italiaseagull said:Revolution Square
WE WERE THERE WITH THE SHIRTS
LC1
looney
Banned
- Jul 7, 2003
- 15,652
Make sure you dont fall ffoul of the law of "dangerousness".
You could also visit one of the 246 political prisoners listed by human rights watch.
http://www.hrw.org/wr2k2/americas5.html
Oh and there is a history of tourists being murdered by the secret service..
http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/joachim/
But the exstreme poverty tends to boost crime in the carribean anyway.
Amnesty International have plenty of info.
http://www.amnesty.org/results/is/eng
You could also visit one of the 246 political prisoners listed by human rights watch.
http://www.hrw.org/wr2k2/americas5.html
Oh and there is a history of tourists being murdered by the secret service..
http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/joachim/
But the exstreme poverty tends to boost crime in the carribean anyway.
Amnesty International have plenty of info.
http://www.amnesty.org/results/is/eng
fatbadger
New member
Somebody has already mentioned them, but just to make it quite, quite clear - it's gotta be Cohiba! Don't waste your time with any other cigar. 
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attila
1997 Club
Robina and I are planning to go soon - really looking forward to it! I wouldn't be too pessimistic about Cuba post Castro either.
For punks out there new Rancid album 'Indestructible' absolutely superb by the way! Touring UK in Sept.
For punks out there new Rancid album 'Indestructible' absolutely superb by the way! Touring UK in Sept.