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Post by mudd on May 6, 2016 10:21:59 GMT -5
drove through pobldo , zona rosa yesterday, counted at least 15 hostels and about 40 plus backpackers walking around. since Cuba is now open to free travel, wondering if cuba will be the next destination for hostels and backpackers,
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Post by elexpatriado on May 6, 2016 11:02:35 GMT -5
Cuba always had way more tourists than Colombia (at least it sure seemed that way on the little Island). Especially Varadero, where Cubans weren´t even allowed to stay.
So all you saw.apart from hotel staff, and occasional "sanctioned" vendors , were Tourists from Canada , Europe, Mexico.
Even lots of Backpackers, who staid at the "Casa Particulares".. or Cuban Bed and Breakfasts.
Funny thing about the Casa Particulares..there are two types..one where you can take a girl for "elicit" affair (theoretically they are not to be seen with foreigners unless they are officially married)...and the more "Normal" type. Sometimes the two cross-over, money talks.
Also, initially anyway, only Communist Party members could own them..same with the little private restaurants. I remember staying in one and the owner was saying how he was with Castro when they stormed Santa Clara, and he was a long term card holding communist party member. Yet he and his wife were both small time capitalists, with the Casa Particulare and his wife being a beautician for all the foreign women tourists. How ironic..
Of course now its a completely different situation. With all the Yanks coming in, there are absolutely no hotel rooms available, you have to book a year in advance to get one. And everything over-crowded. Does not sound like a nice place to go.
They need to build many more hotel rooms. The issue is, you have to set up some type of arrangement with the Cuban government. Europeans and Canadians have built resorts there for decades, and seem to be doing okay, so I am sure US companies can do the same.
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Post by wildstubby on May 6, 2016 20:51:19 GMT -5
You don't have to worry about this Yank going there!
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Post by billyb on May 6, 2016 22:40:26 GMT -5
I don't get it, what is there to see or do in Cuba? The old town is decrepit, well so is the rest of country, but that is the only mildly interesting place. No real culture or history, at least it seems that waycto me. 65 years of American dominationvand about 55 years of communism will do that to you. Do they really have a vivrant cusine. Maybe mongers can find cheap hookers there. I could be wrong, but I can think of a thousand places I would rather visit.
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Post by makopp5 on May 7, 2016 6:18:22 GMT -5
biilyb you forgot the Sanders supporters. No, but if you do not have hostels and infrastructure you will not go as backpacker there. Only if you are interested in old cars and communism.
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Post by búfalo on May 7, 2016 8:05:55 GMT -5
It'll be flooded. It's close by to the US, warm, beach, very different from other LA places and has been a no-no place to go for a lot of years. Within a short while that place is fokked!
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Post by búfalo on May 7, 2016 8:06:14 GMT -5
If you can get in a great investment.
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Post by elexpatriado on May 7, 2016 9:05:12 GMT -5
It'll be flooded. It's close by to the US, warm, beach, very different from other LA places and has been a no-no place to go for a lot of years. Within a short while that place is fokked! Right. Its true Havana is a run down version of Cartagena, but the beaches are nicer than any in Colombia, it´s much safer to travel in ,and like you say its accessible. My sisters flew there from Western Canada and staid in an al inclusive resort 5 star resort for $500 bucks for a week (bu they used air points). BUt that was before the flood gates were opened. Now is a completely different story, It will be screwed for quite a while. Tourist visits have gone up 37% i the last year. Also you used to be able to stay in the Casa Particulares the same price as a hostel in Colombia, for private room. But I imagine that´s all changed as well. Anyway its good for the Cuban people www.businessinsider.com/r-cuba-scrambles-to-keep-pace-with-us-fueled-tourism-boom-2016-5
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Post by billyb on May 7, 2016 10:15:21 GMT -5
biilyb you forgot the Sanders supporters. No, but if you do not have hostels and infrastructure you will not go as backpacker there. Only if you are interested in old cars and communism. Yeah, Sanders had his honey moon there, no?
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Post by búfalo on May 7, 2016 12:01:28 GMT -5
We got married there 12 years ago. Rented moped, found a padre, then met him on the beach the next day with his beachbum friend as a witness.
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