It's a myth. I just got back from Cuba and you want to tip in CUC's and take Canadian money. Please don't tip in loonies or toonies, they have to find a tourist to exchange them as banks won't accept them. For the maids I always left 2 CUC a day or 1 CUC with a small gift. Take gum for the bartenders, they love it. If you aren't emabarrased take tampons for the ladies. A CUC is a good enough tip most times but don't tip every drink or they will actually start to expect it. Hope this helps.
Cuba
- Thread starter Master_Bates
- Start date
I actually ended up taking gifts to tip with instead of money, and I'm glad I did. After visiting the city I realized that gifts are better because there isn't that much for them to buy with the money. The gifts we can bring from even the dollar store are even better than what they can find.
Like what? Ok, I may have some extra shavers. What about pens (do they know how to write)?
I hope that the above statement is nothing more than a misguided attempt at poor humor.
If not, it is in very poor taste.
Yeah, I re-read that thread. Thank you.
You mentioned that you saw a girl like the pic you posted in that thread in La Habana. Well, La Habana is at Miramar, which is where I`m going!
Now, you said that you don`t like going to meet the girls at the clubs, but the posse I`m with say, that`s where you go, cuz if you try to pick them up off the streets, the cops don`t like that. Where do you find the estudiantes Senor Don Draper?
Sorry Mr. Draper, I didn't mean to make fun of the locals, but all I've read is how poor they are and how lucky we are. So I assumed that the literacy rate was low in that country and just wondered if decent pens were useful to them.
On the contrary, literacy rate is quite high. They are short of supplies though and pens will be appreciated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate
Here is an interesting point of view on gift giving, with more regular visitors on the Cuba board seeming to agree:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g147270-c129786/Cuba:Caribbean:Think.Before.You.Gift.html
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g147270-c129786/Cuba:Caribbean:Think.Before.You.Gift.html
You are absolutely right. I started going to Cuba in the early 80's and still go regularly. I have made many Cuban friends over the years and I am always amazed by their intellectual level. I know many who work as waiters or beach attendants and are holding MS degrees in mathematics, or various degrees in English.
I have met many, whose spoken English is better than mine. ( English is only my third language, and I have kept my foreigh born accent).
Cuba may be poor, but it has one of the best (if not the best) educational system in the world. It also has an excellent (free) medical system for all.
School supplies and candy for them to give their children. I even took an old watch/clothes/digital camera that would otherwise be garbage... they were VERY greatful for everything. I gave it to some of the key staff on the first day... they took care of me the rest of the time... Even things as simple as a dollar store clock would be appreciated.
Most of the hotel staff work around the clock. I would see the same 2 bartenders ALL week, at dawn, in the morning, afternoon, evening, late night... The other staff had several jobs at the hotel as well, they would clean the pool in the morning, then I'd see them at the towel station during the day, and then at night they'd be part of the live entertainment.
Most North Americans don't know how good they have it.
Nope, not until they travel to countries like Cuba, Mexico, Columbia etc. Hope you had a fantastic time and thank you for being the generous person you are
TristanI would disagree with that quote. A tourist male is only a sucker if he brings one back to their homeland to marry. Also, not every Cuban woman is a hustler. There are genuine, nice ladies there who work at a day job only if you catch my drift.
I just got back and had a blast. I was sort of a sucker because I stopped seeing different women when I met this one gal who stood out from all the others with her beauty, poise, intelligence and grace. Forgive me for lack of details but I will discreetly divulge a bit with this 'poor' Blackberry photo which doesn't do her justice. Oh and how can I forget, she was like a latin pornstar in the bedroom. Having said that, she truly was charming and very classy.
very cute
in fairness to cubans, 99% of them are like porn stars in the bedroom
compare to fucking inept caucasians, particularly from Ontario - more than one of SPs that I saw recently were unable to put their legs on my shoulders in missionary - don't they fucking have sports in school or what?
Sorry and nope, lol! She's too good, lol!
I was dating this runway model for the last four nights. Dining in nice restaurants in Havana, then back to the hotel at the top floor at the lounge for a liqueur and gelato ('gelato primo di sex' as she earnestly joked). Where other chicas (oh god, she told me that she's not my chica, rather my novia or girlfriend) could be had for 40 to 60 CUCs, she was probably $80 CUC and up for just a casual encounter, but we had dinner dates. She was a joy to spend time with, whether inside or outside of the bedroom. But she was intense. She asked me if I'd only see her when I return. Geez! I wanna rent a Casa Particulara with a pool the next time with my Entourage friends (yeah, that's how I felt like - you go to the Havana night clubs, and you feel like a rockstar). I better shut up now.
My friend thought the Cuban Chicas were trained by the Castro regime to put a spell on us gringos.
I saw three other girls (Jennifer Lopez-like then Jessica Alba-like then a voluptuous blonde who my friend thought looked like a female rapper or hip hop artist), had a threesome with two of them (Lopez and Alba cuz I didn't want to see Lopez again but she showed up at the club & searched me out - lucky for me, she didn't mind her friend joining us) before I saw my supermodel/actress novia heh hehe, and she blew them all away in the bedroom and was on par with some of the best gals in Toronto as far as PSE performance goes!!!!!!
At the same time, she was very sweet. She knew exactly what to say to me and put me on the spot at times. These girls play for keeps, especially if you're nice and generous to them. I didn't have the heart to negotiate firmly with her, and she didn't even ask for a price (smart girl - she doesn't hustle you - you go to her)!!!!!! She had a former Italian boyfriend, so her Italian wasn't bad, and she explained to me that she doesn't get paid - she only wishes to be 'helped' (un' auta). She was sooooooo smooth. The way she talked. The way she expressed herself in the bedroom. The odd utterance in English ('I like'). I told her what to say too in English at times - god I loved that Latin accent.
However, I will agree with you 100% that latin women are very passionate and perhaps all better lovers.
