After a frenzied government hyped rush to become self employed the interest is waning and many Cubans have returned the coveted licenses which cost between 10 and 30 CUC (10-30$) per month to maintain. Recent visitors to Havana claim that things have reverted back to normal in the dusty streets of the city […]
In January the Obama administration made sweeping changes to the Cuba Travel Restrictions along with a drastic change in the remittance allowances and who can send them to Cuba. These changes are now being to filtered down into the general population and Cuba is seeing bumper numbers of Americans visiting Cuba this year, some […]
HAVANA – The forbidden fruit of American travel is once again within reach. New rules issued by the Obama administration will allow Americans wide access to communist-led Cuba, already a mecca for tourists from other nations. Within months or even weeks, thousands of people from Seattle to Sarasota could be shaking their hips in tropical […]
As owner of Singapore’s largest private collection of Cuban cigars at one time it has been my dream to attend one of the annual Habano festivals in Cuba. I finally made it! I attended the XIII (13th) Festival del Habano from February 21 to 25 but it was no dream, it was more like […]
Cuban television aired on Thursday the third and final part of the meeting which took place on Tuesday and in which Cuban and foreign personalities shared with Fidel their concerns on the need to improve the education and training of the new generations. Argentinean writer Estela Calloni said that it is essential to consolidate […]
A decision by Cuban authorities to open up the island’s state-controlled economy to some private enterprise has seen many line up for a new business license. The fiscal overhaul was announced in September last year by president Raul Castro as a way to reinvigorate the economy, but is only now starting to show signs […]
As Cuba moves away from its 5 decade old ration book, many are still asking questions. Is this all just a cost cutting measure propped up by propaganda of greater freedoms? What is the average Cuban getting “new” these days? Well he can request to start a business in a pathetic array of vocations for […]
As the Christmas season approaches many of you are looking for Car Rental in Cuba. We´ve compiled this from recommendations at Trip Advisor, Lonely Planet, Trivago, Amadeus. Car Rental in Cuba from USA Here is a short comparison of some of the Cuba Car Rental Companies who offer online reservations. Transtur Rent A Car – […]
From humble beginnings in France during the early nineties on the Minitel programming format, followed by several printed magazines in Europe in the late 90´s, the web development firm Digital Panorama S.A. created Cuba´s first online Gift Store along with Cuba´s first travel booking website GoCubaPlus. After later developing a whole host of websites for […]
Could the SDN list be the best censorship tool for websites? You may not know what the SDN list (Specially Designated Nationals) is but we´ll explain. It’s the US version of Iran and Chinas state censorship machine. Initially created with good intent to inform the world (and US entities, persons) of Terrorists, Rogue […]
Irina Bokova of UNESCO met today with Old Havana´s infamous front man Eusebio Leal. Few Cubans have lasted so long in such a post and the reasons why Mr. Leal has outlasted most of his peers (and critics) is that the job he has done and is doing is truly remarkable. Whether it […]
This year has seen the biggest exodus of Cuba dedicated travel agencies since the government allowed representation offices on the Caribbean island of foreign agencies in the early 90´s. The idea back then was to allow foreign travel companies and wholesalers to have on the ground staff to better manage inbound visitors and thus increase […]
Local operators are suffering from a distinct lack of automatics cars. Better said, they are nonexistent. Why one would ask? Well, as of January 2010 a new rule was quietly introduced where automatic cars are only bookable through approved agencies such as Havanautos or Cuba Car To combat this change and loss of business, […]
Cash-strapped Cuba will require visitors to buy health insurance if they want to enter the country, according to a new government measure disclosed on Saturday. Under the measure, which takes effect in May, the insurance will be sold by foreign companies approved by the Cuban government or by Cuban firms at ports of entry to […]
HAVANA – Ernest Hemingway still haunts Cuba; he’s just doing it in wax. A life-size likeness of the legendary author debuted last week at a wax museum in the eastern city of Bayamo. Hemingway wrote “The Old Man and the Sea” while living in Cuba and his exploits in literature and life are celebrated in […]
CARACAS, Venezuela President Hugo Chavez has turned to his friends in Cuba for help in tackling Venezuela’s energy crisis, drawing criticism Wednesday from opponents who say that the communist-led island is notorious for its own electricity woes. The socialist leader announced that Cuban Vice President Ramiro Valdes had arrived on Tuesday to head a Cuban […]
Ever so quietly the Cuban government began a campaign to lock foreign travel agencies registered inside and outside Cuba out of the lucrative Cuban American travel market. From early November agencies reported abruptly canceled services for clients arriving in Havana´s terminal 2. Initially the motive was that their receptive agents in Cuba, the likes of […]
The flurry of news emanating from the U.S between June and October concerning the possible lifting of travel restrictions seems to have died down. Many consider this is because Cuba is refusing to reciprocate or make any democratic concessions whatsoever. Others are suggesting that Raul Castro sees the arrival of millions of US citizens to […]
In another sign that Cuba´s economy is walking a financial tight rope the government is set to abolish the CUC or Cuban Convertible Peso by March 2010. Introduced as the brain child of Fidel Castro in a measure to eradicate the U.S Dollar and also reduce the value of remittances, the CUC was an […]
Cuba´s economy, fundamentally dependent on tourism, continues to ruin relations with Travel professionals and foreign operators located on the island or worldwide. The primary motives being the dreaded “stop sales” emanated by Cuban firms and tourist enterprises to their foreign partner’s months before the next high season approaches with apparently no sales concluded for […]
