I did a courier trip with BA a few years back from London to Buenos Aires, and it was fully legit - but they've all but disappeared in Europe. I spoke recently to the fellow who runs the UK office of the Air Couriers Association (not an official body) and he said that he's shutting it down from this summer. Only one airline still does it, and they fly only to Thailand (I think).
Oh and get yourself some peso normales (not peso convertibles) by changing dollars on the street. It was 25 to the dollar on the street when I was there. Just ask at any non-government bar/bus stop/mechanic, when there's no-one in a uniform around. Save any 3 peso coins as they have Che on and are really good souvenirs. And pay in pesos whenever you can - it's always cheaper. But don't change more than 2 or 3 dollars at a time, in case you don't spend them. You won't be able to change them back.
Feel free to drop me a line with any more questions - or if you want to see my photos :-) Best I ever took, I tells ya.
I spent two weeks in Cuba almost exactly a year ago. Great place, amazing people too. You'll find it near impossible not to be fleeced if you don't speak any Spanish (and pretty hard not to be even if you do) - most people who speak English are those who've learnt it to work with tourists.
I didn't go to Varadero I'm afraid, so don't know about that. We went to Santiago de Cuba and Trinidad too - both stunning, but too far from Varadero.
Getting from Varadero should be straightforward enough. There are two types of buses that run throughout Cuba, the dirt-cheap ones that are falling apart and stop at every roof they pass; and the more direct, fast and comfortable coaches with air con that cost in dollars but still not that much (eg. $60 for the whole length of the island). The fast ones sometimes leave from a different bus station, so look out for that. Cubans use both and I'm pretty sure both types go to Varadero.
For me, Havana is a great place to walk around, especially down by the Malecón, watching the waves crash over the wall. Also entertaining is trying to take photos of the US unofficial embassy - and the man running out of his booth to stop you, "because they are watching". Take a look at the names on the pillars in the square in front: included are those few Americans considered by the Revolution as still being worthy of respect.
Great, cheap things to do with locals:
- Go to the state-subsidised Coppelia ice-cream parlour (you have to pay in pesos) where a dollar gets you 22 scoops (I recommend ordering fewer). Not bad ice cream too.
- Go to the cemetary. No really. Really peaceful and some amazing stories there. If you speak spanish, talk to the bored security guards. They showed me the tomb shaped like a domino piece, the one surrounded by women who wanted to get pregnant, the pyramid tomb built for the professor of the school of architecture...
- V touristy but a great thing to do: go drink mojitos at night in the garden bar at hotel nacional. And then leave the tourists and hang out with the kids dancing to Cuban and American hip hop at the big outdoor parties just down the hill to one side (not in the hotel grounds, natch)
- take photos. They'll be the best you ever take, promise.
- eat from street vendors. A cheese sandwich is a cheese sandwich and the only time my friend and I got food poisoning was when we went to a dollar restaurant instead of a peso one.
- try to get a ride in a cadillac. But they'll probably throw you out as they aren't licensed cabs.
- if you do take a cab, try to take one of the government ones. I can't remmeber what the visual difference is, but it's worth finding out - the price is a tenth of a private hire cab.
- if you hook up with some locals, they may suggest going with you to a place that's really touristy, saying they like it. In fact it's because you'll be paying their cover charge and they'll collect their cut later.
- eating in Paladares can be fun, if you find a good one it's excellent. But it's a risk and a tricky one without speaking any Spanish.
Oh and Havana is amazing but really crappy and grey in the rain. Sad but true. But you'll have a great time.
I did a courier trip with BA a few years back from London to Buenos Aires, and it was fully legit - but they've all but disappeared in Europe. I spoke recently to the fellow who runs the UK office of the Air Couriers Association (not an official body) and he said that he's shutting it down from this summer. Only one airline still does it, and they fly only to Thailand (I think).
posted by prandial 19 years ago
In "Curious, George: Cuba tourist traps"
Oh and get yourself some peso normales (not peso convertibles) by changing dollars on the street. It was 25 to the dollar on the street when I was there. Just ask at any non-government bar/bus stop/mechanic, when there's no-one in a uniform around. Save any 3 peso coins as they have Che on and are really good souvenirs. And pay in pesos whenever you can - it's always cheaper. But don't change more than 2 or 3 dollars at a time, in case you don't spend them. You won't be able to change them back. Feel free to drop me a line with any more questions - or if you want to see my photos :-) Best I ever took, I tells ya.
posted by prandial 19 years ago
I spent two weeks in Cuba almost exactly a year ago. Great place, amazing people too. You'll find it near impossible not to be fleeced if you don't speak any Spanish (and pretty hard not to be even if you do) - most people who speak English are those who've learnt it to work with tourists. I didn't go to Varadero I'm afraid, so don't know about that. We went to Santiago de Cuba and Trinidad too - both stunning, but too far from Varadero. Getting from Varadero should be straightforward enough. There are two types of buses that run throughout Cuba, the dirt-cheap ones that are falling apart and stop at every roof they pass; and the more direct, fast and comfortable coaches with air con that cost in dollars but still not that much (eg. $60 for the whole length of the island). The fast ones sometimes leave from a different bus station, so look out for that. Cubans use both and I'm pretty sure both types go to Varadero. For me, Havana is a great place to walk around, especially down by the Malecón, watching the waves crash over the wall. Also entertaining is trying to take photos of the US unofficial embassy - and the man running out of his booth to stop you, "because they are watching". Take a look at the names on the pillars in the square in front: included are those few Americans considered by the Revolution as still being worthy of respect. Great, cheap things to do with locals: - Go to the state-subsidised Coppelia ice-cream parlour (you have to pay in pesos) where a dollar gets you 22 scoops (I recommend ordering fewer). Not bad ice cream too. - Go to the cemetary. No really. Really peaceful and some amazing stories there. If you speak spanish, talk to the bored security guards. They showed me the tomb shaped like a domino piece, the one surrounded by women who wanted to get pregnant, the pyramid tomb built for the professor of the school of architecture... - V touristy but a great thing to do: go drink mojitos at night in the garden bar at hotel nacional. And then leave the tourists and hang out with the kids dancing to Cuban and American hip hop at the big outdoor parties just down the hill to one side (not in the hotel grounds, natch) - take photos. They'll be the best you ever take, promise. - eat from street vendors. A cheese sandwich is a cheese sandwich and the only time my friend and I got food poisoning was when we went to a dollar restaurant instead of a peso one. - try to get a ride in a cadillac. But they'll probably throw you out as they aren't licensed cabs. - if you do take a cab, try to take one of the government ones. I can't remmeber what the visual difference is, but it's worth finding out - the price is a tenth of a private hire cab. - if you hook up with some locals, they may suggest going with you to a place that's really touristy, saying they like it. In fact it's because you'll be paying their cover charge and they'll collect their cut later. - eating in Paladares can be fun, if you find a good one it's excellent. But it's a risk and a tricky one without speaking any Spanish. Oh and Havana is amazing but really crappy and grey in the rain. Sad but true. But you'll have a great time.
posted by prandial 19 years ago
(limited to the most recent 20 comments)