02/08/2018
In the ever-changing world of travel information, a few interesting updates from The Godfather's most recent visit to Cuba:
1) Taxis are accepting credit cards! Sadly, as Americans, we are still not able to use them... in taxis or anywhere else in Cuba... so it makes no difference to us, but, it speaks volumes about the modernization efforts and infrastructure improvements!
2) There is a lot of construction going on around Old Havana. A number of fancy-looking, brand-new hotels are being built along, or close to, El Malecon... which, again, shows that changes are on the horizon. There's a stigma surrounding Cuba that "everything is old and outdated and antiquated" but these fancy new hotels are symbolic. I don't know whether they are foreign brands investing into Cuba or if they are state-owned, but regardless, SOMEBODY is infusing big bucks into the future of Cuban tourism! These hotels might soon be open to the public, and begin to change the perception of Cuba's offerings.
3) While the Passport Mafia still recommends staying at AirBnBs during your stay in Cuba ('casa particulars') it is worth nothing that The Godfather paid a visit to the NH Capri Hotel in Havana Vedado this trip. There is a lovely pool on the rooftop, along with multiple bars and restaurants around the property, and the rooms are rather luxurious and modern. Now, I say "luxurious and modern" in the context of Cuba, not compared to the rest of the world. The point to take away here is, unlike the stigma of everything being old and antiquated would suggest, there are indeed modern options.
4) Wifi cards can be purchased in the lobby of the NH Capri Hotel, and wifi signal throughout the hotel's entire property is solid and reliable. Granted, the wifi is owned and operated by ETECSA (the one and only state-controlled internet provider) so connectivity problems may arise... however, that is not a result of the NH Capri Hotel, it's countrywide. For what it's worth, sitting in the lobby of the NH Capri Hotel, you might forget that you're actually in Cuba as you surf the web and enjoy the air conditioning.
5) A strange but interesting discovery: email accounts with ending in .edu are inaccessible from Cuban Wifi. Regular Gmail, and other email accounts, work just fine - but if you have a university email address, it will not allow you to use it from Cuba. So if you need anything from a university email account - better forward it to some other account, or take some screenshots of the messages, before you arrive in Cuba!
More updates, complete with photos and videos, coming soon!
