quote:

Originally posted by Jayx1 Take Euros, NOT US dollars. Fidel has slapped a huge surcharge on US dollars as a way of pissing off americans. So if you are going to need to exchange money, use euros. Also make sure you have a canadian credit card. Anything american even if issued in canada will not work ie)capital one, citibank etc

eh what?!

we changed CA$, the rate was around 1$=75-78 Cuban cents, no charges..yes and they don't even accept US $

also don't bother with credit cards..well I dunno about rest of Cuba, but where we were it was hard to catch a taxi sometimes, let alone find a credit card machine

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Just surrender yourself to the rhythm,
With your hands up in the sky,
Feel the energy deep inside your system
And leave this world behind...

quote:

Originally posted by malek just came back from varadero about 2 hours ago. i'll write more after some sleep. *hint* stay away from packages flying with cubana *hint*

Cubana was good! were were right on time flying both ways

___________________
Just surrender yourself to the rhythm,
With your hands up in the sky,
Feel the energy deep inside your system
And leave this world behind...

quote:

Originally posted by FunkyGroove eh what?! we changed CA$, the rate was around 1$=75-78 Cuban cents, no charges..yes and they don't even accept US $ also don't bother with credit cards..well I dunno about rest of Cuba, but where we were it was hard to catch a taxi sometimes, let alone find a credit card machine

thats true....they don't even accept USD anymore. so leave it at home.
tip the people at the hotels nice and they'll treat you like kings and queens. (you decide which one you are)

also varadero is the place to be. right along that hotel strip is considered the "party" area. well the young people are there.
and i think havana club is the best club there. you have to go there.

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i really hope to go back one day but this time to Varadero and all the wild partying

i think Dominican Rep. is on the cards for next time though

___________________
Just surrender yourself to the rhythm,
With your hands up in the sky,
Feel the energy deep inside your system
And leave this world behind...

Bring only Canadian dollars with you, in 20$ cuts only.

Don't buy anything with a credit card unless its absolutely necessary, you will be charged in USD first, then a 10% surcharge will apply because its USD... even though its a Canadian credit card. American Express aren't accepted. Don't believe the seller telling you he will charge you in Canadian dollars, because its a trick. He will convert the value to Canadian dollars, then charge you that amount which ultimately be in US dollars. (ex 100USD = 110C$ ---> 110USD).

Everyone there tries to fuck you, to screw you someway, somehow. When you change your money, don't leave before asking for the receipt and counting on the spot in front of the teller. 3 times i changed money, and three times the amount was incorrect (with 3 different persons and locations) and I saw it being done to two other persons. If they can make only one peso off you, that'll make their day (a doctor makes 35 pesos a month).

Don't buy cigars from anyone on the street, because you'll end up with banana tree leafs rolled in a thin tobacco leaf. Your best bet is to buy from the airport before leaving because all the prices are well clearly indicated. At a govt. store in the town I got screwed when buying cigars, the lady told me a price 2 pesos higher per cigar, the price wasn't indicated anywhere, 8 times 2 pesos = 16 pesos in her pocket... she got rich the bitch And if you plan on buying a brand, don't listen to what she'll try to sell you, some subpar crap that is probably fake and or not govt. aproved (money straight to her pocket).

Havana club rhum is insanly expensive because of all the publicity it got, you can get rhum which is as good called CANEY.

DON'T settle with anything less than 4 stars and more, we were at the BLAU varadero which is rated #3 in Cuba on www.tripadvisor.com and the food was just alright... I cannot imagine how people eat at the other resorts. At Blau the good thing is that no one was asking explictly for tips, most places aren't like that...

Also, I hope you're planning in going with a bunch of people, cause these resorts are boring boring boring in couple or alone.

Eat swim eat swim eat stupid show sleep

that is the routine over there...

yes i rambled alot, hope some helps a bit.

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thanks for the tips malek!

and yeah i'm defin heading to varadero from the looks of it.

I went to Club Superbreezes in Varadero. The only thing you have to watch out for is scamming. They accept Canadian dollars at the resort, for a flat exchange rate. They never once tried to screw me. Have a couple days for the beach. The day trips we did were, Havanna (included the Tropicana show), a three city tour (Santa Clara, Trinidad, Sienfuegos), and a catamerand (sp) trip. The other days were just spent relaxing on the beach and going into Varadero. Awesome trip.

quote:

Originally posted by malek Havana club rhum is insanly expensive because of all the publicity it got, you can get rhum which is as good called CANEY.

5 pessos is expensive?

___________________
Just surrender yourself to the rhythm,
With your hands up in the sky,
Feel the energy deep inside your system
And leave this world behind...

quote:

Originally posted by FunkyGroove 5 pessos is expensive?

no, more like 12 for 700ml. Caney was 8 pesos.

both aged 7 years.

12 pesos = 15 C$, do you see a bargain in that?

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quote:

Originally posted by malek no, more like 12 for 700ml. Caney was 8 pesos. both aged 7 years. 12 pesos = 15 C$, do you see a bargain in that?

unless i'm mad, but we paid 5 pesos for 1L Havana Club

___________________
Just surrender yourself to the rhythm,
With your hands up in the sky,
Feel the energy deep inside your system
And leave this world behind...

quote:

Originally posted by FunkyGroove unless i'm mad, but we paid 5 pesos for 1L Havana Club

when ?

did you buy it off the street? probably a fake

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sun screen and drink your ass off and take lots of digital images.

:P

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More than Meets the Eye!