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So the story comes to a close. We arrived back into Brussels at 10:00 & we went through the Red Channel for the first time, to declare the extra 9 country unlabelled cigars. Got lucky with the Customs Officer, he told me these unlabelled cigars attract aduty of 75cts per stick but he waved me through. Think they were after bigger fish & didn't want to waste time filling out paperwork for such a small amount, when they was a whole plane load coming through from Cuba, some of whom were probably carrying more & going through the Green channel. We could see quite a few getting stopped.
The car we had booked to collect us didn't turn up so the company said we should just get a taxi & bill them, we'd paid them E50, the taxi cost them E140!
When we got home my priority was to sort the cigars out & get them into my humis.
2011 March Cuba 328.jpg
Are cigars cheap in Cuba? As cheap is subjective here's some prices paid for Cigars:
Exchange rate March 2011: 1CUC = .67p
Cigar prices paid:
Esplendosis 17.30cuc = 11.30#
Party Con Series D No3 125cuc = 84#
Party Series D Especial 94cuc = 63#
LGC Inmensos 96cuc = 64#
Conde del Villanueva Customs avge 10cuc ea = 6.70 (absolute bargin IMO)
Trini Robusto T 10.90cuc = 7.30#
Trini Petit Robusto 11cuc 7.40#
H.Up Sir Winston 11.30cuc = 7.50#
Other minor stix around 2cuc
Conculsions:
I went to Cuba with quite low expectations. I had heard quite differing opinions from a wide selection of people, even from cigar lovers. I met a German at a herf in Hamburg, who said he'd never go back because the Cuban 5* hotels aren't up to international 5* standards, mainly he admitted because of the embargo, Cuba hasn't the rescources to do so. That was a couple fo yrs ago, I would say the top hotels are at least 4* & unless you are looking for a Butler service or boutique type place, you shouldn't be disappointed in the newer, or refurbed hotels. The older, more charming hotels in Havana, are more than adequate & if you are going there to spend the days exploring, the hotel is really just a base & now somewhere to spend the whole day.
So my overal impression was 100% positive, even so I was a bit surprised when my wife said she'd like to go back, neither of us expected to return again before we came, it was supposed to be a one off trip so many other places to visit.
Of course we did get sick but that can happen on any holiday, any where. Take reasonable precautions, especially outside the major hotels, drink your rum neat to avoid the ice & don't eat from road side vendors. If Immodium doesn't halt things in 48hrs see a doctor & get it dealt with - might be something parasitic.
We stayed at:
Havana: Hostel del Tejadillo Ranked 11/72 by Tripadvisor. Centrally located in Old Havana, noisy front rooms but good service & food. 3mins from the Cathederal.
Vinales: Casamarilyn@correodecuba.cu
Most highly recomended. Had 5/15 on tripadvisor but this is a little unfair & if you add up their 5* ratings they should be 2nd, 1st has been running for 6yrs.
Marilyn will do everything she can to ensure you see the sites you want to see, see even knows the guide at Robaina Farm 2011 March Cuba 101.jpg(tour cost 50cuc in their '46 Chevy). Just a reminder, remember to take your passports & Tourist Visas when visiting a Casa, they need to been seen & recorded by the owners or they risk losing their licence. The owners have to pay 300cuc per month tax to rent out a max of 2 rooms (Marilyn has only one), whether they fill their rooms or not. So if you make a booking please confirm by phone once you arrive in Cuba & let them know asap if you cannot get there if something goes wrong later so they can take others in. Read others reviews of this casa & you'll see so highly people think of it.2011 March Cuba 087.jpg2011 March Cuba 115.jpg
Varadero: Iberostar Laguna Azul 7/57 tripadvisor. We had a couple of choices with Thomas Cook & this was one of them, think we plumbed for this one as it had just been refurbished & had a cigar room. Wife loved it. If you actually want an all inclusive, you shouldn't be disappointed with this one or any other in the top 10. NB Havana is 3hrs away so can be done in a day but much better to spend a few days there.
Places to Visit:
Havana:
Partagas Factory. This is probably the first stop for most cigar lovers. You will met hustlers around the factory & Capital Building area. If you are like me & only wanted the real thing, you can fob them off by saying ' Sorry we don't smoke' or 'Sorry I already have our allowance.' Look like you mean it & keep walking. They soon go the message & went on to the next potential sucker. I never felt threatened or harrased by them. We did have a baby milk/diaper situation, young man wanted us to buy diapers for his baby, wife was going to do it, even though I had explained this scam to her previously. You buy the product, then they return the goods to the shop & split the cost with the owner.
I nipped into the Party shop but we were on a horse carriage tour at the time so I expected to pop back. Didn't make it in the end. Never heard a bad thing about the tour though, will certianly visit next time around.
Hostel Conde Villanueva: 12/72 You can stay here & be woken by the peacock every morning or just visit like we did to find the cigar shop. Possibly the best in Havana, if you can wangle an invite into the VIP room, which has a very intresting carpet & boxes of Custom rolled smokes. Worth taking a punt on a few.
Hotel Nacional: Great place to visit, espcially ht eCasa del Hanabo. If you are going to eat there, go to the 5* resturant. Dress Code, White tux & black tie is no longer enforced but please, sorts & flips flops Canadian style, you might as well go to the beach bar & save some money. Dress up abit & it will feel more special, the staff apprecaited it & we certianly didn't feel over dressed.CUBA PAT 038.jpg
Cigar Musem: This was a waste of 5cuc IMHO. My wife spotted the sign a suggested we went in. Hate to argue with her so in we went, what a rip off. It's like going to see the Elgin Marbles in Greece, only to find a photos & a sign saying 'Now in British Museum' or in this case it could have said 'Mitch's place' as I have seen more interesting stuff in his little cave than they had on display there. Still if it's raining...
Cathederal & other churches: You either like looking around churches or you don't but I found them all interesting. The Catherdal was actually very low key inside, especially for a catholic church, which are usually rahter ornate. Some if the other churches we saw were of this ornate OTT type but the cathederal is simple & touching. It's in a great square with a good resturant, nice place to stop for lunch.2011 March Cuba 007.jpg
El Morro: Admission is free take bus or taxi through the tunnel & have a great harbour view.
Resturants: Albus Mundos: Center of old Havana, another haunt of Hemmingway, Roof Top Resturant, can be breezy. The boom you her at 2100 is the Cannon being fired, which used to signal the gates were about to shut.
Flea Market: By the harbour, large building stuff with souvenirs, rabbits, gizzits & art work of interesting & often dubious taste.
Vinales: Any cigar lover would appreciate a tour of this area in the Pinar del Rio region. It's 3 hrs out of Havana but plently of places to stay & see, inc Robaina, Monterrey farms & La Corona Cigar Factory, Club Havana Factory if you are into rum.
Other cities: We hoped to get to Santa Clara but it proved too far away for a day trip. Santiago is accessable by a 17hr night train, which is said to be a real grueller but they how many tourists make it down that far?
Internal flights are best avoided, poor safety record, one reason being the govenment limits the amount of fuel to internal flights as Miami is a similar distance to long internal flights & I assume they don't want people nipping over to buy N.C.'s
Car Hire: My advice, don't bother. You can hire Classic cars with a driver or share a taxi with another couple & travel cheaply without worrying about breaking local laws, hassle with the cops or actually dealing with having an accident. The roads are supposed to be in a poor state but you wouldn't reconsise that coming from the UK these days, you would just notice the low trafic density, which at least makes it easer to serve around the holes. NB your dirver probably isn't drunk, his violent swerving is to save his suspension & axles.
OK think of any other questions that I might be able to answer (remember this was my first trip & we only skimmed the surface) be happy to try & answer them. If these tales have inspired you to finally make that trip of a life time, don't forget to add a few updated notes on your own.
The car we had booked to collect us didn't turn up so the company said we should just get a taxi & bill them, we'd paid them E50, the taxi cost them E140!
When we got home my priority was to sort the cigars out & get them into my humis.
2011 March Cuba 328.jpg
Are cigars cheap in Cuba? As cheap is subjective here's some prices paid for Cigars:
Exchange rate March 2011: 1CUC = .67p
Cigar prices paid:
Esplendosis 17.30cuc = 11.30#
Party Con Series D No3 125cuc = 84#
Party Series D Especial 94cuc = 63#
LGC Inmensos 96cuc = 64#
Conde del Villanueva Customs avge 10cuc ea = 6.70 (absolute bargin IMO)
Trini Robusto T 10.90cuc = 7.30#
Trini Petit Robusto 11cuc 7.40#
H.Up Sir Winston 11.30cuc = 7.50#
Other minor stix around 2cuc
Conculsions:
I went to Cuba with quite low expectations. I had heard quite differing opinions from a wide selection of people, even from cigar lovers. I met a German at a herf in Hamburg, who said he'd never go back because the Cuban 5* hotels aren't up to international 5* standards, mainly he admitted because of the embargo, Cuba hasn't the rescources to do so. That was a couple fo yrs ago, I would say the top hotels are at least 4* & unless you are looking for a Butler service or boutique type place, you shouldn't be disappointed in the newer, or refurbed hotels. The older, more charming hotels in Havana, are more than adequate & if you are going there to spend the days exploring, the hotel is really just a base & now somewhere to spend the whole day.
So my overal impression was 100% positive, even so I was a bit surprised when my wife said she'd like to go back, neither of us expected to return again before we came, it was supposed to be a one off trip so many other places to visit.
Of course we did get sick but that can happen on any holiday, any where. Take reasonable precautions, especially outside the major hotels, drink your rum neat to avoid the ice & don't eat from road side vendors. If Immodium doesn't halt things in 48hrs see a doctor & get it dealt with - might be something parasitic.
We stayed at:
Havana: Hostel del Tejadillo Ranked 11/72 by Tripadvisor. Centrally located in Old Havana, noisy front rooms but good service & food. 3mins from the Cathederal.
Vinales: Casamarilyn@correodecuba.cu
Most highly recomended. Had 5/15 on tripadvisor but this is a little unfair & if you add up their 5* ratings they should be 2nd, 1st has been running for 6yrs.
Marilyn will do everything she can to ensure you see the sites you want to see, see even knows the guide at Robaina Farm 2011 March Cuba 101.jpg(tour cost 50cuc in their '46 Chevy). Just a reminder, remember to take your passports & Tourist Visas when visiting a Casa, they need to been seen & recorded by the owners or they risk losing their licence. The owners have to pay 300cuc per month tax to rent out a max of 2 rooms (Marilyn has only one), whether they fill their rooms or not. So if you make a booking please confirm by phone once you arrive in Cuba & let them know asap if you cannot get there if something goes wrong later so they can take others in. Read others reviews of this casa & you'll see so highly people think of it.2011 March Cuba 087.jpg2011 March Cuba 115.jpg
Varadero: Iberostar Laguna Azul 7/57 tripadvisor. We had a couple of choices with Thomas Cook & this was one of them, think we plumbed for this one as it had just been refurbished & had a cigar room. Wife loved it. If you actually want an all inclusive, you shouldn't be disappointed with this one or any other in the top 10. NB Havana is 3hrs away so can be done in a day but much better to spend a few days there.
Places to Visit:
Havana:
Partagas Factory. This is probably the first stop for most cigar lovers. You will met hustlers around the factory & Capital Building area. If you are like me & only wanted the real thing, you can fob them off by saying ' Sorry we don't smoke' or 'Sorry I already have our allowance.' Look like you mean it & keep walking. They soon go the message & went on to the next potential sucker. I never felt threatened or harrased by them. We did have a baby milk/diaper situation, young man wanted us to buy diapers for his baby, wife was going to do it, even though I had explained this scam to her previously. You buy the product, then they return the goods to the shop & split the cost with the owner.
I nipped into the Party shop but we were on a horse carriage tour at the time so I expected to pop back. Didn't make it in the end. Never heard a bad thing about the tour though, will certianly visit next time around.
Hostel Conde Villanueva: 12/72 You can stay here & be woken by the peacock every morning or just visit like we did to find the cigar shop. Possibly the best in Havana, if you can wangle an invite into the VIP room, which has a very intresting carpet & boxes of Custom rolled smokes. Worth taking a punt on a few.
Hotel Nacional: Great place to visit, espcially ht eCasa del Hanabo. If you are going to eat there, go to the 5* resturant. Dress Code, White tux & black tie is no longer enforced but please, sorts & flips flops Canadian style, you might as well go to the beach bar & save some money. Dress up abit & it will feel more special, the staff apprecaited it & we certianly didn't feel over dressed.CUBA PAT 038.jpg
Cigar Musem: This was a waste of 5cuc IMHO. My wife spotted the sign a suggested we went in. Hate to argue with her so in we went, what a rip off. It's like going to see the Elgin Marbles in Greece, only to find a photos & a sign saying 'Now in British Museum' or in this case it could have said 'Mitch's place' as I have seen more interesting stuff in his little cave than they had on display there. Still if it's raining...
Cathederal & other churches: You either like looking around churches or you don't but I found them all interesting. The Catherdal was actually very low key inside, especially for a catholic church, which are usually rahter ornate. Some if the other churches we saw were of this ornate OTT type but the cathederal is simple & touching. It's in a great square with a good resturant, nice place to stop for lunch.2011 March Cuba 007.jpg
El Morro: Admission is free take bus or taxi through the tunnel & have a great harbour view.
Resturants: Albus Mundos: Center of old Havana, another haunt of Hemmingway, Roof Top Resturant, can be breezy. The boom you her at 2100 is the Cannon being fired, which used to signal the gates were about to shut.
Flea Market: By the harbour, large building stuff with souvenirs, rabbits, gizzits & art work of interesting & often dubious taste.
Vinales: Any cigar lover would appreciate a tour of this area in the Pinar del Rio region. It's 3 hrs out of Havana but plently of places to stay & see, inc Robaina, Monterrey farms & La Corona Cigar Factory, Club Havana Factory if you are into rum.
Other cities: We hoped to get to Santa Clara but it proved too far away for a day trip. Santiago is accessable by a 17hr night train, which is said to be a real grueller but they how many tourists make it down that far?
Internal flights are best avoided, poor safety record, one reason being the govenment limits the amount of fuel to internal flights as Miami is a similar distance to long internal flights & I assume they don't want people nipping over to buy N.C.'s
Car Hire: My advice, don't bother. You can hire Classic cars with a driver or share a taxi with another couple & travel cheaply without worrying about breaking local laws, hassle with the cops or actually dealing with having an accident. The roads are supposed to be in a poor state but you wouldn't reconsise that coming from the UK these days, you would just notice the low trafic density, which at least makes it easer to serve around the holes. NB your dirver probably isn't drunk, his violent swerving is to save his suspension & axles.
OK think of any other questions that I might be able to answer (remember this was my first trip & we only skimmed the surface) be happy to try & answer them. If these tales have inspired you to finally make that trip of a life time, don't forget to add a few updated notes on your own.
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