Cuban peso in free fall against the dollar

[mcicvara]

On 1/26/2022 at 10:06 PM, Corylax18 said:

...

I still dont understand why a Canadian would pick a Cuban all inclusive verse something in Mexico. 

 

 

Cigars?

[NSXCIGAR]

10 hours ago, Ryan said:

I had 20 pizzas added to my bill one night in Espacios.

Ha! Well, to be fair (and I'm not excusing it) but 22 could be a typo of 2. The chances of you catching an extra 8,000 pesos on your bill is pretty high. Do you think it was intentional? 

[Ryan]

1 hour ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Do you think it was intentional? 

Yes, absolutely. It was a quiet night. 

[Corylax18]

7 hours ago, mcicvara said:

Cigars?

I know there is a Cigar store or two in Varadero, but are there stores at any of the other All inclusives? I know there is a decent shop in Santiago and I've heard of one in the Holguin international terminal, but I've only flown through the domestic terminal there. Beyond the shops in Havana and Pdr are there many more?

[NSXCIGAR]

9 hours ago, mcicvara said:

Cigars?

In my comment I acknowledged that cigars would be a legitimate reason but other than that I don't understand it. What percentage of Canadian resort-goers are cigar hunting? 

[...]

5 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

In my comment I acknowledged that cigars would be a legitimate reason but other than that I don't understand it. What percentage of Canadian resort-goers are cigar hunting? 

Most likely very small...

[NSXCIGAR]

On 1/27/2022 at 4:17 PM, Corylax18 said:

I didn't realize they had 1,000 CUP notes,

Neither did I but that makes it real easy. A 1000 CUP note is the equivalent of about $10 now, so easy to work with.

Unbelievable the CUP is worth only 1 cent now. We're heading towards this:

[Bijan]

2 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

I know there is a Cigar store or two in Varadero, but are there stores at any of the other All inclusives? I know there is a decent shop in Santiago and I've heard of one in the Holguin international terminal, but I've only flown through the domestic terminal there. Beyond the shops in Havana and Pdr are there many more?

Haven't been in a while, but from what I remember you could buy cigars at a lot of (maybe most) all inclusives. I bought 3 and 5 packs of Cohibas from a 3 star all inclusive in Holguin on my first trip.

[mcicvara]

16 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

I know there is a Cigar store or two in Varadero, but are there stores at any of the other All inclusives? I know there is a decent shop in Santiago and I've heard of one in the Holguin international terminal, but I've only flown through the domestic terminal there. Beyond the shops in Havana and Pdr are there many more?

Yes, LCDH at Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Coco, Guardalavaca. Also numerous cigars stores other than LCDH. Very good one in Trinidad.

[Ryan]

Speaking of pesos. Maybe some of this needs a new thread, "Cuba Travel since Jan 2021", but there is a rule about bringing Cuban currency out of the country.

Travelers are allowed to bring out 2,000 cuban pesos (cup or "mn") when leaving Cuba (officially about $80 USD worth, unofficially $20 worth).

It can be handy to have some local currency when landing back in the country and tempting to bring out more than 2,000.

600 should get you a taxi from the airport to any hotel or accommodation in the city, 570 is the official rate. In any case that leaves you 1400ish until you can change more money. Many people will have a friend or driver meet them at the airport and that can help.

But a heads up, they are checking suitcases at the airport leaving the country for local currency and they will take it if they find it.

I know this as I met an acquaintance of a friend at a concert in Havana on the evening he was supposed to have left Cuba. On x-raying his bags, they saw rolls of bills and held him. He was about $200 USD worth of pesos over the limit and didn't hand over the cash immediately, like an idiot.

For whatever reason, he didn't forfeit the cash, which was an option of course, and chose to stay in the country to sort it out. He had to give the name of a Cuban resident for the money to be held in someone's name. He gave my friend's name and made it her problem, as well as missing his flight, requiring him to buy a new one. So he spent the night in my friend's place, came out with us that night (on her tab as he now had no money), that's how I met him, the kind of cheap b*****d who makes problems for all around him. My friend had to spend her day at the airport the next day sorting out the issue. He offered nothing nothing at all to her of course for her wasted day, dinner, accommodation and transport.

So, for anyone leaving Cuba. There is no problem bringing out 2,000 pesos. Without advising anyone to break the law, Rolls of money in suitcases will show up on x-rays. Airports have x-ray machines. If you want to bring any amount of money through an airport, don't roll it up..    

 

[...]

8 minutes ago, Ryan said:the kind of cheap b*****d who makes problems for all around him. My friend had to spend her day at the airport the next day sorting out the issue. He offered nothing nothing at all to her of course for her wasted day, dinner, accommodation and transport.

Seems like there is still no cure available for being a c**t… 

As years go by, it seems I have less and less patience for that kind of people, the type that take others for granted 😢