What are /r/cuba's favorite Products & Services?

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What is this "democracy" of which you speak? Do you really want to see Cuba adopt the ridiculous system of government that they have in the USA, with two identical-but-one's-slightly-less-insane political parties who hand over control to another set of 1%-ers every four or eight years? Where passing legislation under the bombardment of lobbyists, multinationals, the addition of stupid "riders" to bills that pervert the legislative process, ad nauseum?

Perhaps take some time to really understand Cuba's system of elections. All political parties - the Communist Party included - is banned from fielding candidates. Each neighbourhood elects representatives to serve at the municipal, provincial and state levels. Lots of other mechanisms for ensuring diversity of candidates... for those who want to build a better Cuba. Those who just want to tear things down, watch 'em burn, they'll never earn the respect of their neighbours to be able to run as candidates... but being opposed to the system will guarantee they have a western media camera in their face to broadcast their dissatisfaction with the evil communists who won't let 'em make a buck. A very good book on the subject is Peter Roman's People Power: Cuba's Experience with Representative Government

Este tipo no puede gastarse $8 anuales en un domain real?

wordpress.com es la cosa mas chea que puedes tener.

Por lo menos mete un domain rico: abajoladictadura.com , dame algo. JAJAJA

As someone already mentioned, VPN isn't a must in Cuba, but I know what you're talking about... I'm always bringing a VPN with me, it doesn't matter where I'm travelling. I used NordVPN in Cuba if you might ask, connections were stable and all my bank accounts and personal info wasn't stolen, so yeah... I guess I can recommend it. Have a great trip!

I routinely bring two laptops, an iPad, two cell phones, two hard drives, a handful of flash drives and other memory cards all in the same carry-on bag and have never had any issues.

As /u/Kananaskis_Country, technically you are allowed two laptops without paying duty, but it's always a possibility that that won't be the case upon arrival. However, I would be inclined to disagree with him about checking it. In my experience, it's worth it to carry on anything that you would mind being lost.

As a side note, there's a decent Android app that has the Aduana regulations laid out quite easily that can be a great reference for trip planning. It's also great to have on your phone to use as a reference if Aduana gives you any issues. Normas Aduaneras de Cuba. Keep in mind it's not official nor updated too regularly, but it's good as a general guide.

I stayed here with my friend in a room with a double bed, a twin bed, a fan, a private shower/toilet for 25 CUC (about 25 euros)/night. Amazing breakfast served for an additional 4 CUC/day. (Link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g147271-d3188583-Reviews-Alex_Casa_Habana-Havana_Cuba.html)

Casa Particulars are the way to go, but you should email them ahead of time (or call them via Skype), as demand is soaring, due to U.S. folks visiting, and others wanting to come before the embargo falls. You can look on TripAdvisor for good ones and then find the email address via Google.

Hotels in Cuba are really expensive -- and most rooms will be dated and not particularly nice.

Go with a Casa!

I would book beforehand. It's so cheap per day. Also, if you are American like me, once you get there you have no access to your bank accounts or credit cards, so paying for your stays before you go is a great stress relief.

Airbnb was great for me. For Trinidad and Vinales, I really enjoyed my stays at the two places below:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13306939

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13314321?wl_source=list&wl_id=147930058&role=wishlist_public

Here's weather data for Havana, July 2016. You can pick 'next month' and see the results too.

If you're not from a hot/humid country you're going to hate it. I was born and raised there and I wouldn't dare to come back in Jul/Aug. It's just fucking hell. Never again. For context Scandinavian weather is fine to me now.

I doubt this has anything to do with the embargo, that feature hasn't ever been easily available for Google Maps, you needed to download using a workaround using your cache. That said, does this not work for Cuba?

In any case, simply use maps.me instead.

Como no pones un link de invitación aquí, creo que no te hago daño abundando un poco en el tema VPN:

Mucha gente en Cuba utiliza Psiphon, que vamos a decir que tiene su popularidad porque fue uno de los primeros que vino a resolver ese problema. Pero Psiphon es una herramienta del imperio para subvertir... No, serio, te obliga a ver publicidad y su cuenta gratis tiene un tope de velocidad de 2 megabits que ni siquiera es estable.

ProtonVPN es una buena alternativa, permite cuenta gratis que no tiene límites de velocidad ni de tráfico. Si tienes acceso a internet 'directo' puedes usar la app, si tienes acceso a internet mediante un proxy, puedes usar la app OpenVPN Connect que permite configurar proxy y conectarte igual a los servidores gratis de Proton usando los archivos de configuración (.ovpn) que ese servicio provee en tu perfil de usuario una vez te registras.

El proceso no es tan sencillo de montar la 1ra vez como lo es en Psiphon, pero una vez configurado es tocar un interruptor para conectarte y ya. Vale la pena aprender un poquito por el beneficio de una mejor calidad de conexión.

Si algún otro forista trastea los temas VPN y puede aportar detalles sobre otros servicios (gratis preferentemente), bienvenido sea.

Ditto about being cautious no matter where you are. You might want to install a VPN client on your phone or device before you go (Private Internet Access is inexpensive and reliable - ).

That said, perhaps you should be more concerned about being able to use the internet at all. We were there two weeks ago and were unable to get online at all during our week's stay. Every time we passed an ETESCA kiosk they were out of cards and none were available in any of the hotels we checked at. And despite our expectations to the contrary, no one approached us with offers to buy access cards at an inflated rate - it seemed like anyone who did have an access card preferred to use it themselves. Admittedly we didn't make getting online a priority; maybe had we visited ETESCA outlets earlier in the day or done so more systematically we would have had better luck. But after a few days we realized that getting online wasn't such a priority after all and not having internet for a week actually ended up being one of the highlights of our trip.

> While I am checking to see if my trip could count as a "support for the cuban people" class of visa, has anyone ever actually had issues with these requirements?

No. Millions of Americans have traveled there under P2P. Nobody checks anything. As others have noted, you're already covered by the cruise ship. You can go do whatever excursion you'd like. Just make sure you talk to folks about Cuba.

Check out AirBnB's "experiences." I highly recommend Claudia's walking tour of Habana Vieja. But there are a ton of things to do.

Airbnb is a good resource for this. They have specific "experiences" and I've had decent luck with them. Here's a link to a search for dance experiences in Havana.

Havana: History and Architecture of a Romantic City

Cuba: The Pursuit of Freedom

> but in Cuba you have to wait in line for many products.

That does not excuse social distancing. In Mumbai, Shanghai, Bangkok, Hanoi, etc, they still maintain social distancing. Here's an example in New Delhi.

If you intend on staying on the resort for the entirety of your stay, I probably wouldn’t bother with a getting a SIM, unless you require internet access at all times. You can hotspot from your device, but do not expect it to be fast or reliable despite 4G LTE being available (lots of network congestion, something Cuba hasn’t quite got right yet). Conduct your conference calls from your room and you should be fine. It is also worth noting that some services may be blocked and that you should purchase a VPN subscription (ProtonVPN is great), however, I wouldn’t use in conjunction for conference calls due to the additional increased latency which will affect call quality.

Be prepared to _disconnect_ - I mean properly disconnect. Using the Internet in any capacity is still a pain, even at a top-end hotel- it is, by law, metered down to the second, and it's always a slow POS, and barely working at best. Also, you NEED a VPN. I got NordVPN and it worked great- it was like $60 for a whole year. Make sure you install it on all of your devices before you go, because you can't access the App Store in Cuba (as I learned when I realized that I forgot to set it up on my iPad).

With the VPN, I was able to get iMessage, Netflix, Gmail, Spotify, and a bunch of other previously-unavailable sites/apps to work, however slowly.

There are several applications for that. In those apps you connect to Internet through a server in country you choose. That server encrypts your connection and hides your actual location. You can try NordVPN, TunnelBear or Windscribe.

You won’t find any unbiased accounting of Cuban History in Cuba unfortunately. Not even pre-1959 history is unbiased as the current gov has created a narrative of those events leading up to 1959. The very best book on Cuban history in my opinion comes from the famed European historian Hugh Thomas in his book” Cuba: The Pursuit of Freedom”. It’s dense and big, but the author writes well and it flows. It’s starts off with early early Cuban history and then chronologically works its way towards present day. Get the latest edition for the more recentish history. You’ll get the full full context if you read everything, but you can read from the Spanish-American war till present and gain a lot of context and understanding of how the Cuban nation came to be, what it’s been through and how we got to this point.

I live in Cuba and am extremely versed in the topic. If you’re using data 1.1.1.1 is the best one and works with everything without any hassle. I also have a paid ExpressVPN with Lightweight TCP, as well as Psyphon for data.

I suggest 1.1.1.1 for data and Psyphon for wifi

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/15499171

We stayed at this place (Her listing for both rooms, this is just a single) and it looks like she offers a weekly discount, too! The only downside is that they don't give you a key to the front door, so you have to ring in when you come back, but we didn't find that it hindered us in any way while we were there.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/15930993?adults=1&children=0&infants=0&s=ezKlaXLt

For Santa Clara, I highly recommend Jose and Ines at this place. Let Jose cook for you, he's a fantastic Chef!

I read it here: http://wikitravel.org/en/Cuba

I also heard it from the #1 rated tour group on TripAdvisor in Cuba when I asked them point blank.

So, I don't know what to believe.

edit: word for clarity

Yes, and no. Airbnb charge you fees (around 15%). We paid the same listed price, without paying the airbnb fees.

This is where we stayed. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/15634241

Honestly the place doesn't look tip top as some other airbnb places, but the hosts are awesome. It came recommended from someone else.

When you book on airbnb, make sure you give enough time so your host have a chance to see the reservation. Internet there is really hard to get connected, they have to go to a square and pay $1.5 an hour to connect.

I don't know how many people have vacation houses in Cuba. I think most of the people on airbnb are cubans who run casa particulares. You need to have a special permit to host people at your house, and I highly doubt a foreigner can get one. I am not even sure foreigners can own real estate in Cuba. I asked that to many people there and got mixed answers. I guess I can google it too...

I have a vpn, I use 1.1.1.1 for data, I use Psyphon for wifi and I have ExpressVPN on my phone and laptop because I work online. And no, that’s not how zoom works, you can have 24 hour call with less than 4 people, the 40 min only apply to 4 or more people.

Also, on Reddit I can reply to you and OP will see it all the same, so I replied to you.

Why would Cubans not know about something like zoom, do you think people don’t consume media, don’t watch YouTube, don’t have internet culture? They don’t have to use it to know what it is, and they do use it. In my university they use the web version to speak to professors around the world.

STFU, don’t talk out of your ass, I’m in Holguín, would you like a picture of todays newspaper and the backdrop of the city to prove I’m here, LOL.

https://www.google.com/flights?client=safari&rls=en&source=flun&lite=0&uitype=cuAA&tfs=CAEQAhoeEgoyMDE5LTA2LTEwagcIARIDU1RMcgcIARIDSEFWGh4SCjIwMTktMDYtMTdqBwgBEgNIQVZyBwgBEgNTVEw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiNls_t6Y7iAhV1KH0KHctYA5...

First of all, thank you very much for your detailed answers!

Based on the feedback I received, I created a second post with an anonymous survey. The questions remain the same, may I fill out the survey with your answers?

This is the survey if you want to complete it yourself.

again thanks!

I'll be looking for you! (husband and wife with small ILC's)

Chance of something coming in next week too, though its too early to tell:

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/triple-tropical-threat-looms-in-the-atlantic-caribbean/70002485

As I mentioned the Cuban SIM won't give you data.

You don't need to be online anyway for navigation. Simply download Maps.Me in advance and you're good to go.

For the usual "information" about Cuba that has to all be researched in advance anyway. You can't depend on your smartphone while you're there.

Have fun.

There is a 10% penalty from usd to cuc.

Here are the prices from the "Cadeca" in Havana Vieja (Old Havanva). http://imgur.com/a/vIFod

It was my favorite place to exchange money, because there is a bar across the street where we bought 2 dollar beer and drank while waiting. So, do your math before drinking and exchanging. :)

Also, on the location subject, make sure to download a offline map. I used google maps and it was not the greatest. I even downloaded the offline contents but it was disapointing. The european friends were using http://maps.me/ and Galileo Offline Maps.

A spanish offline dictonary app would have been great. But the wifey spoke spanish well enough.

The author says it all

<em>Jon Lee Anderson</em>, a staff writer, began contributing to The New Yorker in 1998. He is the author of several books, including “<em>Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life</em>.”

I know I may get shunned for saying this but strawberries are a close option. I have bought some random things on Amazon though and I’m pretty sure you can find guava paste on there. Found it. Idk if Walmart is in the UK but they also can ship it internationally.

https://www.amazon.com/Goya-Guava-Paste-21-Ounce/dp/B00060N4U2

If you're willing to read a little more and possibly check out your local library I'd recommend books like

A history of the Cuban Revolution https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1405187735/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_mY0NFbD1VNHS5

Don't stick to one source of course. But this one was a helpful read with a good focus on primary sources to provide some perspective on America's role in the revolution.

I am going in Feb and am planning to use AirBnB with a VPN. As an American, I really don't want to carry around all that cash to pay for casas. I will be using ExpressVPN and I believe it will work in Cuba, but I will report back.

Calificarlo como propaganda es mi opinión personal, opinión que no suelo impartir sobre ningún otro usuario. Cuando menciono ProtonVPN como alternativa lo hago bajo criterios técnicos tangibles: mayor velocidad y calidad de conexión. Psiphon pierde por ahí limpio y claro, sin importar quién lo haya hecho ni con qué intenciones.

Aunque ciertamente no me molesta que como carambola yo le quite posibles usuarios a sitios con los que estoy en desacuerdo.

Here you have three ways to install a vpn. First: buy some apps from someone who sells a bundle of downloaded apps Second: enter in and create a manual vpn from there Third: Donwload from the web a third party AppStore apps like Ignition, app cake, etc and then download a Vpn I recommend you to enter in , it is the easy way

You can buy Bustelo on Amazon

Cafe Bustelo Espresso Coffee, 6 Ounce Bricks (Pack of 12) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R92UXYK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GcQuDbCPFGWKY

Also, a Solar/Crank/Rechargeable Emergency radio/flashlight is a great idea

The reality is though that with indigenous DNA it isn't a matter of what you percentage is it just matters that you have the blood flowing through you no matter what the percentage is. Just read the book Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West it talks all about how even in Pre-Contact times it was the blood line that determined who was and wasn't native. There were even people who belonged to 3 tribes due to blood line.

Cafe Cubita Coffee. 8.8 oz vacuum pack, includes a beautiful burlap bag. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KO90PW0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_z1O7xb5H42DSQ

Well, this one might not be actually made in Cuba apparently.

Why are you disheartened? I recommend reading some of the books about the Cuban political process like Peter Roman's book to get a more in depth analysis and judge for yourself.

My aunt was a Cuban political prisoner that was arrested, this is the book she wrote, http://www.amazon.com/Diary-Survivor-Nineteen-Womens-Prison/dp/0312130503 She spent 19 years of her life and Amnesty International helped her get out of Cuba. My entire family was arrested for speaking out against the government.

http://www.amazon.com/Cuban-Revelations-Behind-Scenes-Contemporary/dp/0813061814/ref=la_B001KE90QK_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1441137690&amp;sr=1-1

or

http://www.amazon.com/Cuba-Everyone-Needs-Second-Edition/dp/0199896704/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&amp;refRID=1CV4EMCH627TC6M4WQ7X&amp;dpSrc=sims&amp;dpST=_AC_UL320_SR212%2C320_

Hello, "An American Tourist in Fidel's Cuba" is a helpful guide for Americans interested in traveling to Cuba. In his book, Mark Goldman brings us into the Cuban world, introducing us to the outside markets, vintage cars from the 1950s, Cuban families enjoying their time together, young girls wearing colorful and elaborate dresses while sitting on the grounds and having pigeons perch on them, and the old haunts of one of America's most treasured writers, Ernest Hemingway.

Follow this link to get a digital copy of the book at http://www.amazon.com/American-Tourist-Fidels-Cuba-ebook/dp/B00DDGPYM2

Glad to help! One of my big passions is Cuban music. A good book I recommend is http://www.amazon.co.uk/Waking-Up-Cuba-Stephen-Foehr/dp/1860743463 A guy travels across the island and gives you an insight into the places and the music. Really easy to read! EDIT: OP, do you speak Spanish? I recommend the classic La música en Cuba by Alejo 'Legendary Cuban author' Carpentier. You have to have a very advanced level to read it in Spanish but I'm sure it exists in English.

This is what Cuban's use:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imo.android.imoim&amp;hl=en

To be frank though your new "frens" aren't going to waste valuable WiFi time on you unless (in their eyes) you're rich so they know there will be pay-back when you return. Same deal with calling them on their cellphones, why waste their minutes on you unless you load them up with something like this:

https://www.ding.com/

If you're calling a landline then you have lots of options, Google is your friend.

> Also, for the WiFi, there is wifi available in hotels and it costs 4 to 10cuc per hour to use.

No need to pay those high prices, simply use the 2 CUC/hour cards. They work everywhere.

> Local Cubans can buy access cards for 2cuc per hour. Foreigners cannot officially buy these cards, as you need an account with etecsa.

Anyone can buy the cards, nationality is immaterial, there's no need for an account with ETECSA.

>But there is a black market for the cards and you can usually get them near the WiFi zones for 3 to 4cuc.

It's not really a black market, you're simply buying the card from someone who stood in the bloody long line-up instead of you. It doesn't have to sound so ominous, haha. Street price for a 2 CUC card is always 3 CUC.

>You can maybe Skype sometimes, but generally it is too slow for video calls.

Skype is illegal so outside of the business/tourist hotels it's blocked (almost) everywhere in Cuba. Cubans use IMO. With a semi-decent connection it (usually) works okay. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imo.android.imoim&amp;hl=en