I've been really impressed by the speed at which things have been progressing between the US and Cuba on the travel front, ever since sanctions between the two countries started to be lifted early last year. A couple of weeks ago, commercial flights between the US and Cuba became bookable, as they launch in September.…
Continue reading: The First US-Branded Hotel In Cuba Is Now Open
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absolutely not. you could get this experience anywhere in the caribbean.
staying in casa particulares is far cheaper, and will give you a much better sense of cuban culture
Fidel must be laughing his Communist ass off looking at the pricing of the greedy capitalists from the Empire.
No Cuba travel until Fidel is DEAD and rotting in HELL with Marx, Lenin, Stalin, Beria, Tio Hugo, et al...
/rant
"additional costs to be settled with a non-US credit card"
So, how does an American go about getting a non-US card? Some googling around seemed to indicate getting a Canadian card would be difficult. I've never contemplated this need at all, so I'm sure I'm missing something, but can anyone shed some light for me?
@ Jason -- Practically speaking it's best just to bring enough cash for the entire trip (which sucks, but...).
Typical Obama foreign policy boondoggle. We open up travel to Cuba, bringing them tons of investment and travel expense hard currency, which they desperately need, in exchange for essentially nothing from their side. Then they give us a slap in the face by forbidding the use of a US credit card. 😉
Added to that they require that all hotel reservations be non-refundable, even just for changes of dates.
Ditto what GringoLoco wrote! My friends just came back & they said that the OUTRIGHT LIES that are being told when you tour the Revolution Museum, particularly the "Pedro Pan Exodus" lies, were so outlandish that my friend had to bite her tongue and remember that she has no rights there…it was particularly heartbreaking for her because her dad was one of the Pedro Pan (Peter Pan) children that was put on a flight to freedom by his parents. Google Pedro Pan/Cuban exodus & you'll see for yourself. The Castro Brothers won't give up power, not even for Obama…he was played!
I've stayed at both of the soon-to-be SPG properties in Havana very recently but before any renovations. Americans are going to need to keep their expectations modest.
I stayed in Inglaterra in 2012. While it may be in the most ideal location in all of Havana, I have to assume they'll be gutting the entire property and nothing will remain.
FWIW my friend paid CUC 45 for a single and I paid CUC 60 for a double on a corner with a view of the square.
Cuba has a lot of supply for accommodation -- as private home stays. They are already in airbnb I believe, good value for money and the money also goes to the people, not the government.
I have been to Cuba a number of times and there isn't a hotel that would be worth $400+ a night on the island.
There is about a dozen old, restored spanish palace hotels in Havana Vieja. Book now before they become chain hotels.