i wouldnt feel too safe doing something like that on my first visit there , i would rather stay in a hotel and get to know some of the locals and create a good friendship then i may do something like that.

Beach

Perhaps it would help to know somebody there where you can stay.  If not, then there's no other choice but to stay in hotels. 

One question to Jamesx, what's the difference between Cuban hotels and casas and why do you recommend staying in casas than in hotels?  Is it because of the price? 

I tend to agree with you. I don't think hotels in Cuba are expensive anyways, considering their economic situation.  

I am wondering how safe a trip to Cuba is in the current situation. Castro might be gone soon and who knows what kind of government change will happen, maybe even revolts.

I think I would be a bit worried about this type of accomadation to. But our travel agency has told us renting private CUBA ACCOMMODATION in Cuba is much better for your pocket because at list you will save 40% of the money you should spend in a cuba hotel. Since you pay directly to the owner of the accommodation you are contributing to a Cuban family's stand of living and the service is most of the times much better and more personalized than in big cuba hotels . Other important point is that you can improve your Spanish and learn how to dance salsa with real every day dancers.

I've just finished reading What I Did in Cuba and still haven't stopped laughing. As someone visited a few years back I can relate to a lot of this though my trip was a little less inependent (cossetted in a resort!). I can't recommend it highly enough though.

It's a very light hearted tale but still full of tips and history.

Get this free eBook if you're thinking of going to Cuba or if you've been in the last 25 years!

 http://www.lulu.com/content/423819

Thanks Tommie,

when I can find my lulu password I will defenitely check it out. I seem to have lost it somehow.

I thought about publishing a book too, but then I was turned off by the fact that they would only give you a ISBN number for black and white prints (not really a good option for a photographer )

What impression did you get from Lulu?

Andre

Travel Photos

I use Lulu.com a bit.

I've purchased two books ('What I Did in Cuba' for me, which is brilliant and another computer book for a work colleague) and a few free downloads too. It's no different than ordering from Amazon.

 I don't publish or write though. I just read.

 T

I guess I am going to have to check out LULU again. Who cares about ISBN. I need to find out if I can do a coffee table photo book with them.

I was under the impression the book was yours.

Too bad you are not writing though, you could make money from writing.

Andre

Travel Photos

from worldfactbook:

Theft. In 1988, there were 6,531 cases of theft
recorded by police investigators for a rate of 62
per 100,000 population.

no records for murder or anything serious. so if there IS a murder in cuba, he probaly not out there looking for you callis. worst thing is that someone steals your money - but thats a good thing because it goes to people who really need it and you cant pay this money for tax. you goverment would probably spent this money on bureaucracy, military or other useless stuff

most hotels are not really cheap because they are run by big travel companies, and you pay what you can or will pay for a night, not what they pay the people who run this hotel. sometimes you can even get a hotel in europe for the same price, but the people in cuba earn maybe 1/10 over ther for the same work - so guess who makes a good deal here.

I have always wanted to go to Cuba. But I am not sure if I would be comfortable staying with a family I really did not know.

Everybody I've ever talked to who went to Cuba loved it.  Most stayed in casas, but some did stay in hotels.  Unless they stayed in the sterile,  isolated beach hotels that cater to European tourists, they hated the hotels.  Imagine being on the 10th floor in a hotel well the elevator rarely works.

The people who stayed in casas enjoyed meeting the people, and were surprised at how well-educated they were.  A law degree in Cuba does not mean you will earn enough to support your family, nor does and engineering degree or a teaching certificate.  In general, these are the kinds of people who are renting rooms to travelers, from everything I could gather.

 I was going to go a few years ago, and changed my mind.  Now I'm really hesitant.  Technically I'm not allowed to travel there, because I'm American and it would violate the trade embargo.  With my luck, Castro would die while I was there, stuff would go wrong, and I'd get stranded in a country where I'm not supposed to be and with whom my country has no diplomatic relationships.  Paranoid?  Hey, I'm responsible for the horrible, rainy, summer Europe had in 1993.  Where ever I go...

Alot of people have been blowing by the illegality of Americans visiting Cuba by going through Mexico, not getting passport stamps etc. but now that Michael Moore has openly flaunted those laws, does anyone think it will be tougher or have we stopped caring about the embargo?

You can also go by leaving from Canada or the Bahamas.  I heard they look harder at people coming in from those countries.  However, I'm thinking of spending five or six months in Mexico and Central America, so by the time I got back they would have no reason to be suspicious since I'd be returning from someplace like Panama.

It will get easier, I think, if Castro dies or if we elect a Democratic President.

I was amazed at a couple of interviews I read, where reporters talked to some of the old people who originally fled Cuba when Castro took over.  It was a strange refugee situation, because they were all rich people who had their property seized.  I guess that explains why they are mostly Republican. 

Anyway, one man expects that when Castro dies, the US will go down and demand that all the rich families get all their property back, and he will go back to Cuba and live on his big sugar plantation with all the servants and the whole shebang.  I wondered if he thought the Bay of Pigs invasion was all about making hime rich again.

I don't want to be there when Castro dies.  However, it looks like Raoul is taking over even the ceremonial duties, so I don't think there will be much change with the death of Castro.  I don't know why people think that if he dies the country will immediately reject communism.  I've read interviews with older Cuban refugees that believe that when Castro dies the US will invade and give them all their property back and restore the oppressive fuedal system they had there.  I don't think so.

It sounds fun, but I dont know how safe I would feel. Its just one of those things I would have to ask around about like where other's stayed and if it was good, and what not. But thanks for the idea!

you could rent an independent place, a whole apartment or even a house

I think Americans can go to Cuba legally on an 'educational' tour.  But I think that will be expensive and too controlled.

But I will still have the stamp in my passport and that could spell trouble on the next entry to the US (I am not a citizen).

I thought its been like this through previous administrations (Clinton)? 

Crazy thought, but some people who fled to west Germany got some of the property back that was seized by the East German (communist) government during the divide. Since it was a reunion it was a whole different scenario though and none of them has slaves ;-)

Since the US is famous for messing in other countries affairs there is no telling (for me) what the reaction will be. For now I just wish I could go and take some good photos (old street cruisers and Caribbean flair).

Andre

http://www.aguntherphotography.com  

They won't stamp your passport if you ask them not to.  They just give you a visa or whatever on a separate paper.  You can get the same thing done if you go to Israel, because there are, or at least used to be, countries that won't let you in if you have been to Israel.  South Africa did the same thing.

When Clinton was in office there was no big crackdown, so going through the Bahamas or Canada or Mexico was no problem at all.  Under Bush there were several periods where people coming back from these countries (especially if they came in from Canada with a tan in January!) were quizzed and had their bags searched.  Actually, now that Jeb isn't governor of Florida any more, they probably won't be so strict, as George will feel no need to give his brother points with the Cuban community.

If you are not a citizen, I don't think you have to worry about it.  Europeans go all the time.  The law is that Americans are not allowed to go.