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[Manics]

In a word: awesome.

Spent a week down in Varadero, Cuba....got used to doing nothing for a week, having all food and drink included and generally enjoying lying on a beach all day. Took a day trip to Havana where we saw a cigar factory which looked like a sweatshop. Basically all these cigars are hand-made which would explain their high price except for the fact that the people down there make shit money. So it doesn't explain their high price.

Also, there's a shitload of Che Guevara stuff down there -- Che shirts, Che coasters, Che postcards, Che headbands, Che underwear...I was Che sick after a week of that.

Weather was great, usually 25 degrees, mostly sunny. We were delayed 5 hours last Saturday when leaving due to the weather in Toronto and the plane ride sucked -- don't ever fly JetsGo.

That's all.

 

[jenov4]

Hey welcome back! I notice you got a tag also. Congrats on that one also. :lol

 

[Manics]

Hey welcome back! I notice you got a tag also. Congrats on that one also. :lol

Yeah, thanks...I actually like Clerks so I don't mind the tag despite it's somewhat "unflattering" statement. :lol Don't know who I rubbed right to get it.

 

[UtadaBarkley]

Was it an expensive trip? Did you run into any major issues or problems? Are the women nice?

 

[BigJonsson]

When it's all inclusive can you eat as much as you want no matter the cost of the food?

 

[MrPing1000]

terrorist!

 

[BigJonsson]

terrorist!

*communist

 

[jenov4]

When it's all inclusive can you eat as much as you want no matter the cost of the food?

Yep pretty much, you can stuff yourselves big time. Unlimited alcohol as well!

 

[MrPing1000]

*communist

same thing!

 

[Fuzzy]

Yeah I went down to Varadero 5 years ago, did it take you long to get used to the smell of the oil? It took me almost an entire day to get used to the smell. I went to the Dominican Republic 2 years ago and liked it a lot better.

 

[UtadaBarkley]

Yeah I went down to Varadero 5 years ago, did it take you long to get used to the smell of the oil? It took me almost an entire day to get used to the smell. I went to the Dominican Republic 2 years ago and liked it a lot better.

What do you mean, smell of the oil?

 

[Fuzzy]

They have oil fields in Varadero. Even though my hotel wasn't close to them I could still smell the oil when I first got there.

 

[UtadaBarkley]

They have oil fields in Varadero. Even though my hotel wasn't close to them I could still smell the oil when I first got there.

Oh...Gotcha. What did it smell like, your typical gasoline? Or did it have a better or worse smell, since I know gasoline is a product of oil?

And :lol @ the google ads.

 

[LUNA]

Yes they are quite fucked up: they don't have oil for energy, then they find big amounts of oil just where all the tourist are!!! (the main Cuba income)

So they have to take a decision wether they use Varadero as an oil plant or they keep the beautiful beaches, unless they find a way to take out that oil without polluting the beaches...

 

[Fuzzy]

Oh...Gotcha. What did it smell like, your typical gasoline? Or did it have a better or worse smell, since I know gasoline is a product of oil?

And :lol @ the google ads.

It smells nothing like gasoline, it's a lot worse.

 

[Pimpwerx]

It smells nothing like gasoline, it's a lot worse.

Oil fields or refineries? Grand Bahamas had this giant refinery down near Hunters, and on certain days, when the wind changed direction, they'd have to let school out early b/c of the fumes. It's a really unpleasant smell. Like exhaust fumes...on a grand scale. PEACE.

 

[MrPing1000]

Pimpwerx now is as good a time to mock u for writing PEACE at the end of every post.


MOCK MOCK MOCK


PEACE.

 

[Lil' Dice]

I have a few Cuban cigars i brought back from Italy. They're not all that expensive when purchased legally.

 

[Manics]

Was it an expensive trip? Did you run into any major issues or problems? Are the women nice?

All inclusive resort cost $1100 CDN for 7 days -- that includes flight, room, food and drink and all the resort stuff like tennis lessons, kayaking, snorkling, etc. This was the Sandals Royal Hicacos resort, booked it last minute otherwise it would be more expensive.

No major or minor issues, get to the airport, brisked through customs, bus awaits us to go to the hotel. Then at the hotel they have schedules of when the bus will pick you up in 7 days to take you back to the airport.

 

[Warm Machine]

Cuba was amazing when I went down there. I did smell the oil when I first got there but the Breezes Jibacoa hotel that I stayed at was far enough from the refineries that it never bothered me.

Havana is said to be one of the safest cities in the world, actually they say that you can walk into the shittiest parts and still be safer than in places like New York.

Cigars are cheap down there. About $2-$4 in singles. The same cigar in Canada is almost 10 times that price, all due to the pain of importing them. Cuban rum is incredible.

Did you land at the airport that had the "Socialism or Death" slogan written on the far fence?

 

[Manics]

Cuba was amazing when I went down there. I did smell the oil when I first got there but the Breezes Jibacoa hotel that I stayed at was far enough from the refineries that it never bothered me.

Cigars are cheap down there. About $2-$4 in singles. The same cigar in Canada is almost 10 times that price, all due to the pain of importing them. Cuban rum is incredible.

Did you land at the airport that had the "Socialism or Death" slogan written on the far fence?

I didn't smell any oil, but we were pretty far from Breezes Jibacoa (I noticed it cause we drove past it on the way to Havana -- my brother and his wife stayed there 4 years ago)

Cheap cigars? Did you buy off people in the street cause everywhere I looked they were like $7-$9 cuban pesos for a single. I bought a box of 5 Cohibas for $39.00 Cuban pesos (about $48 Canadian)

 

[Che]

You lucky bastards, I want to go to Cuba for years. What I want to know: Is Cuba relatively cheap for holidays?

 

[Warm Machine]

You lucky bastards, I want to go to Cuba for years. What I want to know: Is Cuba relatively cheap for holidays?

My GF and I stayed there for $1000 each. 1 week all inclusive resort.

I bought my cigars at the government store. $100 for 20 or 25. Can't quite remember. Pretty well the first thing they say to you when you get off the plane is to not buy cigars from people on the street as they are likely fakes.

 

[Manics]

I bought my cigars at the government store. $100 for 20 or 25. Can't quite remember. Pretty well the first thing they say to you when you get off the plane is to not buy cigars from people on the street as they are likely fakes.

Do you remember the brand of cigars you bought? I went directly to the store that was in the cigar factory in Havana so they were legit. I thought the prices were all government controlled so should be the same at any "sanctioned" store.

 

[COCKLES]

How did the natives treat you? Cuba looked a cool destinaiton until I saw a travel program and the presenter sampling the holiday got sick fed up beggers by the end of it.

 

[Manics]

How did the natives treat you? Cuba looked a cool destinaiton until I saw a travel program and the presenter sampling the holiday got sick fed up beggers by the end of it.

Well we didn't venture off the resort all that much -- 1 day to Havana, then another day we took a walk to a local mall called "Plaza Americana" We really didn't get hassled at all except for people on the street trying to sell us their cigars for cheap.

 

[jenov4]

How did the natives treat you? Cuba looked a cool destinaiton until I saw a travel program and the presenter sampling the holiday got sick fed up beggers by the end of it.

If you stay in the tourist isolated areas, there won't be any beggars at all. The people there are extremely nice (well, since they make like $20 USD a month, a $1 tip is amazing for them) and yes it's definitely safe there.

I'm sure this holds true for most of the hotels there, but our resort had security guards all over the place.

 

[Che]

My GF and I stayed there for $1000 each. 1 week all inclusive resort.

I bought my cigars at the government store. $100 for 20 or 25. Can't quite remember. Pretty well the first thing they say to you when you get off the plane is to not buy cigars from people on the street as they are likely fakes.

That's great, much better than I thought. Thanks man.

 

[Manics]

If you stay in the tourist isolated areas, there won't be any beggars at all. The people there are extremely nice (well, since they make like $20 USD a month, a $1 tip is amazing for them) and yes it's definitely safe there.

Our maid left us these love notes all week and made crazy animals out of the bath towels. She seemed very nice and hand-wrote all these notes...we tipped her $20 at the end of the week..she must have been extremely happy.