Going to Varadero, Cuba for the New Year, any tips or advice?

[wilde]

I am heading to an all inclusive resort in Varadero, Cuba and will be spending the beginning of 2013 there. I am going with a couple of buddies and probably won't be doing any pooning. Any tips on what to bring (to give away to the locals), best currency to bring (I've been told to bring Canadian $$$), excursions to join and some general advice will be appreciated.

 

[george.caruthers]

Yes. Bring your own food.

 

[uncleg]

There's two types of money to use.https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=...TlexfX_bawTJfostkYmYw&bvm=bv.1355325884,d.cGE


Bring jeans and personal hygiene products. Soaps, toothpaste, cologne, perfume and the like.

 

[badbadboy]

Buy some baseballs.

Hard to come by for them and much appreciated I am told. See if you can get a deal from a local sports distributor if you buy a dozen.

 

[Island Dude]

Yes, definitely Havana!!!! Very easy to find poontang there and cheap. Try negotiating an all nighter, lots of fun to be had.

 

[Aleister Crowley]

Veradero is like a seperate state and not like real Cuba , but its okay , the best food in the country and thats not saying much. The golf course is fun and pretty good.
great beachs of course , but Real Cuba starts in Havana , and if you have some time get over to Cien Fuego or Trinida ....some of the towns main transport are horse drawn buses.....people are awesome and freindly , not much crime as there is a cop on every corner , hard to take a girl back to your room as she is scared of being arrested and will be if caught and will go away for a yr or more. If u stay in Havana you stay in private homes and when u get the feel for the place , action is everywhere.
Just dont make sacastic remarks about the "one" with the beard..... Take anything from toothpaste to cheap electronics....they are starving for anything from walmart or london drugs. give the cop on the corner some nail polish for his girl freind and no problem getting a girl in your room.

 

[wilde]

Thanks for the tips guys...

What is the tipping etiquette when you are staying at an all inclusive resort?

 

[bcneil]

Thanks for the tips guys...

What is the tipping etiquette when you are staying at an all inclusive resort?

I would say screw bringing gifts. The baseball idea is interesting. But otherwise its not really effective.
Generally the best thing to do is tip with CUC, same as a Canadian dollar.

Don't go crazy tipping either. If you are sitting at the bar, tip 1 cuc when you order your first drink, and maybe leave another in the bartenders bowl. You don't need to go crazy tipping. Most Cubans make about a dollar a day, and the resort workers do as well, with a handful of $1 tips each day, they actually do very well compared to most Cubans.

Gifts aren't always the best thing to bring as they can be too much. One of the waitresses I made friends with told me a guest gave her a bottle perfume that cost over $100 Canadian. Thats like 4-5 months of salary for the average Joe there. She told me she sold it for $20 to another tourist. Same $100 donated to a school, or youth sports team would go much further.

 

[Boneman]

What goo said! So true. Varadero is OK if you just want to lie on the beach but to experience the real Cuba you gotta go to Havana. Plus Cienfuegos and Trinidad. Real people, real architecture. Amazing experience. I've been three times. Number four coming up in January!

Question for anyone who has pooned in Havana......I'll be at a hotel. I know that it is not doable to bring a girl back to the hotel but what is the scoop re going back to a place she may have? Typical $$? Just may be partaking this time! Any advice appreciated.

I've pooned in Havana a couple of times but on both occasions I've stayed in someone's home. Hotels are off limits for the locals. Or at least they were when I was last there about 5 years ago. You might want to consider a private rental, because you will meet some locals, the accomadations are often better than the best hotels in Havana, they will cook you meals at a reasonable price (there are a few good restaurants in Havana that are privately run but they come and go), and if there are any issues with the girl they will help you out. For example, one place I stayed was with a doctor and his wife. When I brought one girl back, the wife took her ID card before we went to my room. When I asked her why, she explained that sometimes girls aren't so honest, so her holding the ID card was my insurance. It didn't happen every time, but I suspect she had some local knowledge about the girl.

The easiest way to meet them in Havana is to rent a car. PM me if you want more info

 

[Boneman]

I am heading to an all inclusive resort in Varadero, Cuba and will be spending the beginning of 2013 there. I am going with a couple of buddies and probably won't be doing any pooning. Any tips on what to bring (to give away to the locals), best currency to bring (I've been told to bring Canadian $$$), excursions to join and some general advice will be appreciated.

There is "supermarket" in (tourist) Varadero where you will likely end up for supplies and booze. There may be more now but there was only one the last time I was in Varadero. Check your bill very closely before you pay. They tried to rip me off more than once. No knock on the Cuban people in general. They are wonderful. I've been invited to their homes for dinner. I've spent a fair bit of time in Cuba and that was the only place anyone tried to cheat me

 

[Kimber]

Stay away from loud obnoxious Russians!! They think they own the place!!

 

[wilde]

Thanks to everybody who posted. I am packed and ready to go. Happy New Year!!!

 

[InTheBum]

Yes, definitely Havana!!!! Very easy to find poontang there and cheap. Try negotiating an all nighter, lots of fun to be had.

What do the women look like? I am not into the dark skin types.... any J LO look-a-likes?

 

[uncleg]

Have a goodtime wilde !!! Don't do anything I wouldn't LOL

.........and don't do any of the women he's already done.......................

 

[wilde]

.........and don't do any of the women he's already done.......................

I wouldn't either...

 

[rocky_11]

I was in Veradero in April stayed at the blau all inclusive everything was great including the food maybe I am easy to please but apparently things have changed big time in the last couple of years I will be repeating for sure....

 

[rocky_11]

I did see several hot looking women some are darker than others which matters not to me I was with my family so wasn't sampling...

 

[FloridaGuy]

Ha ha see you in Varadero on New Year's Eve!! I wonder if we will be at the same resort.

From my research, the worthwhile expeditions are the catamaran trip and the jeep tour. We will also spend 1-2 nights in Old Havana near the Malecon, but we will take a local bus rather than do the organized tour that will take you to markets and whiz you through the tourist sites too quickly. Gifts - pens, some over the counter meds. We will leave them for the chambermaids. Exchange your Canadian $$ into CUC at the Departure part of the airport, as it is supposedly the best rate there. Credit cards are hard to use and there is a premium charged for using them, and Interac is not not recommended there. Bring CAD.

Enjoy!

 

[wilde]

Ha ha see you in Varadero on New Year's Eve!! I wonder if we will be at the same resort.

From my research, the worthwhile expeditions are the catamaran trip and the jeep tour. We will also spend 1-2 nights in Old Havana near the Malecon, but we will take a local bus rather than do the organized tour that will take you to markets and whiz you through the tourist sites too quickly. Gifts - pens, some over the counter meds. We will leave them for the chambermaids. Exchange your Canadian $$ into CUC at the Departure part of the airport, as it is supposedly the best rate there. Credit cards are hard to use and there is a premium charged for using them, and Interac is not not recommended there. Bring CAD.

Enjoy!

Awesome! May be we should have a secret Perb handshake to identify each other:nod:.

 

[Larry Storch]

Awesome! May be we should have a secret Perb handshake to identify each other:nod:.

Just grab one of these before your flight.

Have fun!