Travelling to Cuba

[Bad-Yeti]

Hey all,

Welp. in April 2012 i'm getting married and my lovely wife to be has decided that we shall get married on the roof of the Saratoga in Havana, we'll be there for 4 days followed by 10 days or so at a beach front place for her to tan and chill.

While she tans herself I intend to drink cocktails and smoke cigars, I have read posts from Simon Bolivar about his tip there which was awesome, however I need some help please:

I have 4 days in Havana:

What should I do?

Where should I go to see cigars being made?

Where is the best place to buy Cigars?

What is the limit per person I heard $200.00 I also heard 50 cigars?

Anything else please let me know.

Oh yes, most of all, the night before my wedding i'll be in Havana on my own (Wife to be, Sister and Wife TB's child will be together) what would you be doing there with a whole evening to yourself?

Thanks

[Simon Bolivar]

Hi Bad-Yeti, Many congrat's on your forthcoming marriage! I would modestly suggest you check out my reports on my Cuba holiday last Feb under the travel section. No $200 limit, you can spend as much as your wife lets you. 50 stix each allowed when you return.
ATB SB

[Cigar-aficionado]

A guy on his own asking what he should do with an evening free in Havana You will love Havana, it is the friendliest city in the world and the cigars and rum are the best

[TJCoro]

A Balanced Affair!

Great idea, muchacho - combining a wedding in Cuba with fine puros. Doesn't get much better!


Perro, el Perro


Mmmmm! I plan to marry young stevietheboy in Cuba someday!Laie_7.gif

[Stevieboy]

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Mmmmm! I plan to marry young stevietheboy in Cuba someday![ATTACH=CONFIG]7088[/ATTACH]

Really. Madre de dios!! Finally she says yes!! Ay ay ay



Tapatalked

[cj121]

Do make sure you pop by the Hotel Nacional. They have a decent selection of cigars downstairs and are very reasonably priced IME. The views out back are great whilst you sip mojitos and burn one or two off

[PoohBore]

I like the shop in the Mille havana hotel. Good coffee too. Don't forget it's 50 cigars per person. So swmbo could bring back 50 for herself..where are you staying for the beach part of the holiday ? The exchange rate is heading the right way too - best of luck for april

[Fat1]

I have only had a couple of nights in Havana (during my one and only trip to Cuba) and most of that was spent in a mojito enduced haze so I cant help with specifics, but I would recommend that you spend as much time as possible simply wandering from bar to bar, place to place taking in the sights and sounds. The missus and I decided to sample as many mojitos as possible because each bar makes them slightly differently. Most of the habanos stores were cheap prices (compared to what you pay elsewhere) although the range is inconsistent.

I would like to congratulate you on your decision to get married there. It is avibrant, beautiful and friendly city, with real charm and character that stays with you for a long time after you leave.

Just try to ignore the endless begging, I felt like I had a neon sign on my back saying 'Tourist with cash!!'

Enjoy mate and congrats in advance.

[snooky]

Was that night on your own before the big day, theres this place downtown wooha! Tho great to chill out at the Nacional for a couple of hours and youll love the Partagas factory while its still there. The beaches are great. All the best.

[Bad-Yeti]

Thanks for all the info.

Yes the night on my own is the night before, so hopefully i'll get abducted and wake up in some strange cell (just to make it all memorable)

I take it that you shouldn't have ice in drinks etc?

I've heard of all these stories about person x coming up to you and saying his brother has genuine Cubans as he works for factory Y, they are all to be avoided right?

Are there any small cottage manufacturers that make anything worth buying?

Oh god it's full of Tarantulas

Did I hear right it's worth taking toothbrushes as tips? Or did I get that very wrong?

[Cigar-aficionado]

Ice in drinks is fine, ignore all the street vendors and but from the shops or demo rollers at places like the Conde de Villanueva, where they have a brilliant shop. Never seen a tarantula in 5 trips so far and I always take spare stuff to give away, soaps, baseball caps, biros etc

[TJCoro]

A Nice Gesture!

Did I hear right it's worth taking toothbrushes as tips? Or did I get that very wrong?

I know someone who recently went on a humanitarian trip to Cuba and was advised to take plenty of "tooth brushes" to pass out to the rastaman2.gifindigenous. Apparently they are in short supply and greatly appreciated. Imagine that!


don TJ Coro

[PoohBore]

Ice is ok and ignoring the street hustler is spot on. I've never been hassled over money - perhaps being a fat ugly bloke does help sometimes!

We're taking gearbox bearings when we go out in October for the barman at the hotel as they cant get them !

[Eddie]

Pick pocketing is rife so be aware of that. Everyone is lovely and it seems a friendly country. Watch out for the prawns at the national. I "lost" a day in Havana with my head down the bog due to them!