Cuba question

[healer677]

I was informed recently that there are some specific items I can't bring into Cuba.

My buddies and I are travelling to Cayo Coco for a change of pace (we're usually Cancun guys) and was surprised when I was informed by an aquaintance that I cant bring - portable dvd player, cell phone and possibly my ipod and my notebook.

I guess I really don't need any of these things but I like to keep in touch with work.

Can anybody share some insight on this?

Anybody been to Cayo Coco lately? What's there to do?

 

[GoLeafsGo]

do the same, or any similar restrictions apply to travelling to the Dominican??

specifically, wireless phones and non-prescription drugs like Immodium and Gravol and Advil?? oh and portable music devices like Walkmans and CD-Mans?

 

[revolver]

In January I took my cell phone with me. It was in my carry on and wasn't questioned. On a previous trip, a fellow that arrived on the plane with me brought his laptop. Customs held him back and checked everything on it and even made copies of some of his files/programs. It's not likely worth the hassle if you don't really need it. If you take a DVD player they will assume you are bringing it as a gift for someone and will likely either: charge you a %100 duty or confiscate it and return it to you when you leave. I'm not sure about the ipod.

Non-prescription drugs like advil, immodium, etc are no problem. I've taken a walkman before without a problem.

 

[Malibook]

Anybody been to Cayo Coco lately? What's there to do?

I was there a couple of years ago.

There was no nightlife at all except for the resort disco and one club which was literally a cave.

The nearest town is very small and an expensive and legthy cab ride.
I think it was around $50US and around 45 minutes.
Had a couple of very nice meals in town and checked out a couple of bars but they were very boring.

Unless you are going on your honeymoon or with a new girlfriend, I would go somewhere else.
Actually, I would go somewhere much more fun regardless.

The beach was fantastic but I'd rather have numerous clubs, girly bars, massage parlours, chica friendly hotels/cabanas, casinos, and golf courses.
That's why I go to the Dominican Republic.
These things plus the fact that the cops don't arrest chicas simply for being seen with a foreigner.

 

[healer677]

Quiet is good for our purposes.

But, one of my travelling companions has a slew of medical problems and he has about 8 or 9 prescriptions. Should this be in it's original Rx bottles? Or will he need a note from his MD?

This is an R and R trip - we usually do Cancun and we got kind of tired of the nightlife. It was time to take a break.

 

[Jamaica-luvr]

Quiet is good for our purposes.

But, one of my travelling companions has a slew of medical problems and he has about 8 or 9 prescriptions. Should this be in it's original Rx bottles? Or will he need a note from his MD?

This is an R and R trip - we usually do Cancun and we got kind of tired of the nightlife. It was time to take a break.

I would 2nd the vote for the Dominican, but, I would currently stay away from Puerta Plata...there seems to be some unknown illness going around, especially the Riu complex...some think it may be Norwalk virus, while others are blaming it on the landfill site that is very near the town.

As far as prescriptions...make sure they are all in the original bottles, and make sure the label is easy to read...also, what I do is only bring enough of each medication to last for the trip, plus two or three days after that...just in case there is some sort of delay. I carry a prescription for Percocet, which, of course, is a narcotic, so, I be very careful only to take what I should need...I took a full bottle once(60 pills) and I am sure the maid(this was in Cancun) helped herself to some.

 

[Berlin]

The nearest town is very small and an expensive and legthy cab ride.
I think it was around $50US and around 45 minutes.

Cayo CC ain't Cancun for sure. That small city should be Moron, one of the oldest city in Cuba, the first to have a train station as I was told...Anyway,
I don't know the extent of Fidel's crackdown in there, but you can try this if looking for those type of action:

Take a cab before Saturday, walk around their sparse main street, around the few local bars or the only local market centre they have there with a cigar in your mouth. Locals will pop up and try to sell your habanos, and then you can query them for sp's, or eventually they will offer. The quote I got from one Cubano about 3 years ago, before the most recent crackdown, was USD $ 15 -$ 20 1 sog , room provided, as they know locals can't be inside your hotel.

If you are looking for heavy duty night life, Cayo CC is the wrong place. The resort entertainment staffs will be glad to take you to one of the local disco's they frequent, it will be fun. But it is nothing like Cancun or even Veradero.

Typical Cuban beaches, there is also a small rancho style bar/restaurant way right off of Melia Cayo CC on the beach ( Tryp Cayo CC is to the left of Melia FYI ) there they have excellent grilled whole lobster, which is worth a try, about USD 15 a piece.

 

[lube monkey]

I was there a couple of years ago.

There was no nightlife at all except for the resort disco and one club which was literally a cave.

The nearest town is very small and an expensive and legthy cab ride.
I think it was around $50US and around 45 minutes.
Had a couple of very nice meals in town and checked out a couple of bars but they were very boring.

Unless you are going on your honeymoon or with a new girlfriend, I would go somewhere else.
Actually, I would go somewhere much more fun regardless.

The beach was fantastic but I'd rather have numerous clubs, girly bars, massage parlours, chica friendly hotels/cabanas, casinos, and golf courses.
That's why I go to the Dominican Republic.
These things plus the fact that the cops don't arrest chicas simply for being seen with a foreigner.

Good spot to go if you want peace and quiet. We rented a jeep to go into Moron..a long drive. Not really much going on in Cayo Coco.

 

[Malibook]

Unless you are going on your honeymoon or with a new girlfriend, I would go somewhere else.
Actually, I would go somewhere much more fun regardless.

We stayed at Tryp Caya Coco.

My girlfriend was going to visit her family for a couple of days so I think she wanted to make sure I couldn't have any fun while she was gone.

 

[rama putri]

?

Went there as recently as last year with my cell phone and laptop. I have always brought my cell phone, no issues.

 

[MarkII]

I agree with the posters...the meds should be in the original bottles.

Also..make sure you have good medical insurance when going to cuba. Remember if you need to be medivaced out..they can come in from Miami to pick you up. They come from Mexico. With Canadian Insurance they will take you to the nearest friendly island for pickup to Miami.

I"m off to Cuba on April 15th, wrote to the consulate in Toronto asking aout restrictions etc..was told by them there are none..(other than the usual leave your weapons at home lol....)

However they are questioning anything that looks new..such as a music player of any sort..laptop..that sort of thing. As it could be a gift. Why are they doing this..The US recently put further restictions on currency heading to Cuba from those alreaedy in the US. Thats why there is now a visitor Peso converted at par with the US dollar in terms of rate. If you bring US dollars its a 10% penaty on your conversion. So bring Canuck Bucks. First time I've travelled without having to convert to USD!

 

[revolver]

So bring Canuck Bucks.

And if you do your conversions at the hotel you are staying at make sure that you've got new looking unripped bills. If there are any tears at all they will not accept them. They may be a little more lenient at banks but the hotels are very strict on this, at least where I stayed the last couple of times.

 

[raydeon]

Cell phone

I visit Cuba regularly and I always take my cell phone, not to use it there because it is not possible, but to have it when I return to Canada to call from the airport. I do not hide it, put in in my carry on bag. That bag is scanned upon arrival, before one enters the country. I never had any problems.
I know some people who take a satellite cell phone, and I have seen them use it inside the international airport in Cuba, in front of the security people. That is allowed, but not outside of the international lounge.

My objection to using the pay phones at Pearson is that it has been decreted international zone, and you have to pay long distance rates, even so you may only want to call accross Dixon rd. for a pickup.

 

[healer677]

Thanks for that raydeon -

Mine is a Sat phone and I generally get calls from work while I'm on vacation. Actually both myself and 2 of mine travelling buddies are in the same boat on this one.