lunes, 17 de septiembre de 2018

CRUISE TO CUBA (TIPS)

Essential Tips to Get the Most out of a Cruise to Cuba. Hiring a local guide for having a genuine experience and knowledge of Cuba's society, traditions, and culture.

















With Cuba now opening up to  tourism, the country is being added as a port stop on many major lines’ itineraries. We have some top tips for cruising to the Caribbean’s largest island.

 Starting 2017, three of the largest operators – Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line – will each have a ship making port stops at the largest Caribbean island. On top of that, additional lines that will be adding stops to Cuba include Oceania Cruises, Azamara Cruises, and MSC Cruises.
Whether you’re from Europe, North America or Australia, now is the best time to take a Caribbean cruise that calls at Cuba.

Pick the Right Ship and Itinerary for Your Family 

With more options for sailing to Cuba, you will want to examine the different ships and possible itineraries. Non-American travelers will have the most options as those cruisers will not be bound to ships and schedules that comply with the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) guidelines for authorized travel to Cuba.
Each cruise line has its own unique style of cruising and caters to certain types of clientele. Learning a little bit about each cruise line and ship will help you pick the perfect cruise to Cuba for you and your family.
Depending on your country of origin, you will probably need additional paperwork to cruise to Cuba. Whether you are taking a cruise that departs from the US or another location, you will most likely need a tourist visa along with a valid passport. You can normally obtain these visas directly with the cruise line for a nominal fee. If you are taking a cruise that leaves from Cuba, you will be required to have the visa to board a flight to the island. For these travellers, it is best to obtain a visa from a third party.







Plan Your Time Ashore in Advance Leave Some Time to Explore on Your Own

With the influx of cruise ships sailing to Cuba, there is a growing demand for tours and sightseeing experiences in popular ports of call. While your cruise line will offer some excursions, we suggest finding a local guide  for a more personalised experience. More and more it is becoming popular to book an amazing, customizable  tour with a local independent guide.
This included a walking tour of Old Havana and a guided tour of some newer neighbourhoods in a classic (vintage) car. Along with intimate experience and expert insight, the tour is  substantially cheaper than the cruise line offerings. Book early, as these tours sell out quickly.

Even though Americans need to structure their time to comply with the OFAC’s ‘people-to-people’ travel restrictions, this doesn’t mean everything needs to be organised. You can also make time for some ofy our own explorations to venture through more of the city, interact with the Cuban people, and learn more about modern day Cuba. Of course, citizens from other countries have always been free to wander about as tourists. Either way, finding even a few hours to go off the beaten path will give you a greater appreciation for the rich heritage and culture of the island.


Bring Plenty of Cash

The banking system in Cuba is not as modern as you may be used to, not to mention the consequences of the US embargo. Most places do not accept credit or debit cards. Most transactions will take place in cash. You will need to convert international bills into Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC). Most popular currencies that are converted are Euros (EUR), British Pounds (GBP), and US Dollars (USD). There is likely to be a conversion fee on top of the exchange rate when changing currency locally, so it’s a good idea to assess your spending needs in advance and plan accordingly.
Internet availability is spotty at best in Cuba. While there are some locations that offer connectivity, the speeds are rather slow. Acquiring the necessary sign-on cards can be both time-consuming and expensive.
Old Havana is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Whether with a tour guide or on your own, you can explore the plazas and historic highlights of this area easily by foot. For venturing outside of this neighbourhood, you will need a taxi. Whether you choose one of the flashy 1950s classic American cars or something a bit more moderate, make sure to go with a professionally licensed taxi. Cars will be clearly designated as a taxi with official government markers on the vehicles. Do not even think about renting a car and exploring on your own, as many roads are not clearly marked or well maintained.





Your cruise to Cuba will certainly make for a memorable holiday – and by using these travel tips, you’ll be able to make the very most of your time ashore.
If you enjoyed this article and want to be in touch with me, just write to cubamigos@yahoo.es,  why not make your trip out of the common path? You can also give a call or send a whatssap on +53 52646921.


LOCAL GUIDE IN HAVANA
Humberto Linares
humbercuba@yahoo.es ,
  cubamigos@yahoo.es
+53 52646921

INSTAGRAM: humberto_habana

sábado, 24 de febrero de 2018

CUBA, VARADERO BEACH THE THIRD BEST BEACH IN THE WORLD

Varadero the third best beach in the world



Varadero was ranked third in the list of the best beaches in the world, according to the Travelers'Choice 2018 awards, organized by TripAdvisor, the largest travel website.
The selection is based on the opinions of millions of users around the world published during the last 12 months.
In the ranking of the best 25 beaches, the Cuban one was only behind Grace Bay (Turks and Caicos Islands), and Baia Do Sancho, in Brazil.
This beach is absolutely spectacular, said one user on TripAdvisor, while another praised that its waters are always clean and with a warm temperature and distinctive turquoise blue tone, picked up the official Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN).
The well-known spa town has 52 hotels, and dozens of houses for rent for tourism, according to data provided in November by the delegation of the Ministry of Tourism in the province of Matanzas.
Last year, Cuba received around 4,700,000 international visitors, and the authorities forecast that this calendar could reach 5,000,000 for the first time.

In the top ten of the best beaches in the world, in addition to the three already mentioned, appear Eagle Beach (Aruba), Seven Mile Beach (Cayman Islands), La Concha de San Sebastian (Spain), Clearwater Beach (USA), Seven Mile Beach (Jamaica), Bávaro Beach (Dominican Republic) and North Beach (Mexico), in that order.

http://cubamigos.webcindario.com
cubamigos@yahoo.es

viernes, 23 de febrero de 2018

Varadero la tercera mejor playa del mundo

Varadero  la tercera mejor playa del mundo





Varadero se ubicó en el tercer lugar en la lista de las mejores playas del mundo, según los premios Travellers´Choice 2018, que organiza TripAdvisor, la mayor web de viajes.
La selección se basa en las opiniones de millones de usuarios de todo el mundo publicadas durante los últimos 12 meses.
En el ranking de las mejores 25 playas, la cubana quedó solo por detrás de Grace Bay (Islas Turcas y Caicos), y de Baia Do Sancho, en Brasil.
Esta playa es absolutamente espectacular, resaltó un usuario en TripAdvisor, en tanto otro elogió que siempre sus aguas están limpias y con una cálida temperatura y distintivo tono azul turquesa, recogió la oficial Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN).
La conocida como ciudad balneario posee 52 hoteles,y decenas de casas de renta para el turismo,  de acuerdo con datos aportados en noviembre por la delegación del Ministerio del Turismo en la provincia de Matanzas.
Cuba recibió el pasado año alrededor de 4.700.000 visitantes internacionales, y las autoridades pronostican que en el presente calendario pueda alcanzar, por vez primera, los 5.000.000.

En el top ten de las mejores playas del mundo, además de los tres ya referidas, aparecen Eagle Beach (Aruba), Seven Mile Beach (Islas Caimán), La Concha de San Sebastián (España), Clearwater Beach (EEUU), Seven Mile Beach (Jamaica), Playa Bávaro (República Dominicana) y Playa Norte (México), en ese orden.

martes, 13 de febrero de 2018

Cuba Travel Help

Aluguel de temporada em Cuba: apartamentos, BnBs, casas de praia, casas com piscina, passeios turísticos privados / Aluguer de férias em Cuba Apartamentos, casas com piscina, quartos, guias privados. Todas as áreas de Havana e outras cidades importantes em Cuba

CUBAMIGOS: ALUGUER DE FÉRIAS EM CUBA

CUBA + AMIGOS, UMA DIFERENTE FORMA DE FÉRIAS: FAZENDO AMIGOS

CUBAMIGOS oferece quartos em casas coloniais, apartamentos com vista para o mar e para a cidade, estúdios, casas de praia e casas com piscina em Cuba
Suites duplas, simples e até de Havana Velha ao Miramar residencial, para não mencionar El Vedado com a paisagem de uma cidade projetada no
Década de 1910, a arquitetura da década de 1950 com seus maravilhosos parques e avenidas.
Com a cooperação dos proprietários e suas famílias, eles podem preparar jantares e eventos especiais.
Devido aos recentes acontecimentos na política, Cuba está recebendo milhões de visitantes e estamos orgulhosos de proporcionar uma experiência e lugares inesquecíveis de acordo com seus gostos e necessidades.

Escreva para cubamigos@yahoo.es e conte-nos o tipo de acomodação que você está procurando.
Você pode visitar o nosso site: http://cubamigos.webcindario.com



Куба АРЕНДА НА ОТПУСК В КУБЕ

Куба


Недвижимость на Кубе: апартаменты, BnBs, домики на пляже, дома с бассейном, частные экскурсии по городу / Квартиры для отдыха на Кубе Апартаменты, дома с бассейном, комнаты, частные гиды. Все районы Гаваны и других важных городов Кубы

CUBAMIGOS: АРЕНДА НА ОТПУСК В КУБЕ

КУБА + ДРУЗЬЯ, РАЗЛИЧНАЯ ФОРМА ОПЕРАЦИИ: ДЕЛАТЬ

CUBAMIGOS предлагает вам номера в колониальных домах, апартаменты с видом на море и город, студии, домики на пляже и дома с бассейном на Кубе
Двойные, простые и даже апартаменты от Старой Гаваны до жилого Мирамара, не говоря уже о Эль-Ведадо, с ландшафтом города, спроектированного в
1910-е годы, архитектура 1950-х годов с ее прекрасными парками и аллеями.
В сотрудничестве с помещиками и их семьями они могут готовить обеды и специальные мероприятия.
Из-за недавних событий в политике Куба получает миллионы посетителей, и мы гордимся тем, что обеспечиваем незабываемые впечатления и места в соответствии с их вкусами и потребностями.

Напишите на cubamigos@yahoo.es и сообщите нам тип размещения, которое вы ищете.
Вы можете посетить наш сайт: http://cubamigos.webcindario.com




martes, 14 de noviembre de 2017

CUBA, HAVANA, APARTMENT GOOD SAMARIAN

APARTMENT IN HAVANA: MODERN, INDEPENDENT, CENTRAL

Apartment acclimatized with view to the city. 

Building with elevator. Completely independent. 

Two acclimatized rooms and with windows. Living room, kitchen and bathroom. Beautiful decoration. 

TV, music player, fans, microwave, refrigerator, kitchen and washing machine. Included: service of cleaning. 

Optional services: Breakfast, dinners and others. Hot water 24 hours.

The apartment is centrally located in L street, in a building with modern elevator. 

Nearby are the avenue Linea where public transportation is available, the Embassy of United States, the Malecon of Havana , theaters, cinemas, hotels, banks.  

No far from there  there is an area WIFI to access to Internet. The area is safe to walk.

cubamigos@yahoo.es

martes, 25 de abril de 2017

CUBA: ENTRY & EXIT FORMALITIES IN CUBA

Cuba: Entry & Exit Formalities in Cuba


Whether it's your first or 50th time, descending low into José Martí International Airport, over rust-red tobacco fields, is an exciting and unforgettable experience. Entry procedures are relatively straightforward, and with approximately three million visitors a year, immigration officials are used to dealing with foreign arrivals.
Outside Cuba, the capital city is called Havana, and this is how travel agents, airlines and other professionals will refer to it. Within Cuba, it's almost always called La Habana. For the sake of consistency, we use the former spelling.

Visas

Regular tourists who plan to spend up to two months in Cuba do not need visas. Instead, you get a tarjeta de turista (tourist card) valid for 30 days, which can be extended once you're in Cuba (Canadians get 90 days plus the option of a 90-day extension).
Package tourists receive their card with their other travel documents. Those going 'air only' usually buy the tourist card from the travel agency or airline office that sells them the plane ticket, but policies vary (eg Canadian airlines give out tourist cards on their airplanes), so you'll need to check ahead with the airline office via phone or email.
In some cases, you may be required to buy and/or pick up the card at your departure airport, sometimes at the flight gate itself some minutes before departure. Some independent travelers have been denied access to Cuba flights because they inadvertently haven't obtained a tourist card.
Once in Havana, tourist-card extensions or replacements cost another CUC$25. You cannot leave Cuba without presenting your tourist card. If you lose it, you can expect to face at least a day of frustrating Cuba-style bureaucracy to get it replaced.
You are not permitted entry to Cuba without an onward ticket.
Fill the tourist card out clearly and carefully, as Cuban customs are particularly fussy about crossings out and illegibility.
Business travelers and journalists need visas. Applications should be made through a consulate at least three weeks in advance (longer if you apply through a consulate in a country other than your own).

Documents Required on Entry

Passport valid for at least one month beyond your departure date
Cuba 'tourist card' filled out correctly
Proof of travel medical insurance (random checks at airport)
Evidence of sufficient funds for the duration of your stay
Return air ticket
Customs Regulations
Cuban customs regulations are complicated. For the full up-to-date scoop see www.aduana.co.cu.
Entering Cuba
Travelers are allowed to bring in personal belongings including photography equipment, binoculars, a musical instrument, radio, personal computer, tent, fishing rod, bicycle, canoe and other sporting gear, and up to 10kg of medicines. Canned, processed and dried food are no problem, nor are pets (as long as they have veterinary certification and proof of rabies vaccination).
Items that do not fit into the categories mentioned above are subject to a 100% customs duty to a maximum of CUC$1000.
Items prohibited from entry into Cuba include narcotics, explosives, pornography, electrical appliances broadly defined, light motor vehicles, car engines and products of animal origin.

Leaving Cuba 

You are allowed to export 50 boxed cigars duty-free (or 23 singles) and up to US$5000 (or the equivalent) in cash.
Exporting undocumented art and items of cultural patrimony is restricted and involves fees. Normally, when you buy art you will be given an official 'seal' at the point of sale. Check this before you buy. If you don't get one, you'll need to obtain one from the Registro Nacional de Bienes Culturales in Havana. Bring the objects here for inspection; fill in a form; pay a fee of between CUC$10 and CUC$30, which covers from one to five pieces of artwork; and return 24 hours later to pick up the certificate.
Travelers should check local import laws in their home country regarding Cuban cigars. Some countries, including Australia, charge duty on imported Cuban cigars.

Licenses for US Visitors 

The US government issues two sorts of licenses for travel to Cuba: ‘specific’ and ‘general.’ Specific licenses require a lengthy and sometimes complicated application process and are considered on a case-by-case basis; their application should start at least 45 days before your intended date of departure.
Most visitors will travel under general licenses. General licenses are self-qualifying. Persons traveling under a general license do not need to notify OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) of their travel plans. Travelers sign an affidavit stating the purpose of travel and purchase a Cuban Visa at check-in when departing the United States via flights. Visas average $50, purchased through airlines or established third parties.
You might need supporting documentation to back up your claim when you book your flight ticket. Check with the US Department of the Treasury (www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/pages/cuba.aspx) to see if you qualify for a license.

Extensions


For most travelers, obtaining an extension once in Cuba is easy: you just go to the inmigración (immigration office) and present your documents and CUC$25 in stamps. Obtain these stamps from a branch of Bandec or Banco Financiero Internacional beforehand. You'll only receive an additional 30 days after your original 30 days (apart from Canadians who get an additional 90 days after their original 90), but you can exit and re-enter the country for 24 hours and start over again (some travel agencies in Havana have special deals for this type of trip). Attend to extensions at least a few business days before your visa is due to expire and never attempt travel around Cuba with an expired visa.

Cuban Immigration Offices

Nearly all provincial towns have an immigration office (where you can extend your visa), though the staff rarely speak English and aren't always overly helpful. Try to avoid Havana's office if you can, as it gets ridiculously crowded.
Baracoa , Bayamo (In a big complex 200m south of the Hotel Sierra Maestra), Camagüey, Ciego de Ávila, Cienfuegos, Guantánamo (Directly behind Hotel Guantánamo), Habana, Holguín, Las Tunas, Sancti Spíritus, Santa Clara (Three blocks east of Estadio Sandino), Santiago de Cuba Stamps for visa extensions are sold at the Banco de Crédito y Comercio at Felix Peña No 614 on Parque Céspedes, Trinidad (Off Paseo Agramonte) , Varadero.

US Citizens & Cuba

When President Obama decided to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba, decades of regulations started to shift, though some measures still await change (like banking). To further complicate matters, it's speculated that the current agreements would be altered by the Trump administration.
In conjunction with the US embargo against Cuba, the US government 'travel ban,' which had prevented US citizens from visiting Cuba, relaxed under the Obama administration. Technically a treasury law prohibiting Americans from spending money in Cuba, it squelched leisure travel for more than 45 years. At present, visitors undertaking non-tourism related activities are allowed to visit the island provided they meet the requirements of special categories.
A little history: The 1996 Helms-Burton Act, which was signed into law by President Clinton on March 12, 1996, imposes without judicial review fines of up to US$50,000 on US citizens who visit Cuba without US government permission. It also allows for confiscation of their property. In addition, under the Trading with the Enemy Act, violators may face up to US$250,000 in fines and up to 10 years in prison.
Under the Obama administration there was considerable progress in Cuba relations. Bilateral agreements have eased travel restrictions for Cuban-Americans, direct commercial flights are operating between the US and Cuba, there's postal service between the two countries, restrictions on the goods brought from Cuba has relaxed and there is greater leniency in the granting of legal licenses.
Visit www.cubacentral.com to inform yourself of the latest legislation on Capitol Hill.
Do you need a list of names and places to provide to the american authorities? Just write to cubamigos@yahoo.es