Cuba and Vacationing - the current state of International Affairs and the Domino Effect

[Mandouke]

How much longer will it be ok to go to Cuba with the change that has happened in Venezuela?

I was there last May and was contemplating returning, but I will not, as I see the dominoes falling in the world. I expect Cuba to be one of those dominoes.

It is a tough decision, and I would imagine that things will only worsen over time.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Are you planning to visit anytime soon? What are your options?

 

[EagerBeaver]

Your post seems focused on the future, how about the present? There is no electricity on most of the island. You want to go on vacation to a tropical climate and have no electricity and not be able to have AC or take a hot shower in the morning?

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-suggests-cuba-should-strike-deal-with-us-2026-01-11/

Havana resident and parking attendant Maria Elena Sabina, a 58-year-old born shortly after Castro took power, said it was time for Cuba's leaders to make changes amid so much suffering.
“There's no electricity here, no gas, not even liquefied gas. There's nothing here," Sabina said. "So yes, a change is needed, a change is needed, and quickly.”

 

[Mandouke]

Your post seems focused on the future, how about the present? There is no electricity on most of the island. You want to go on vacation to a tropical climate and have no electricity and not be able to have AC or take a hot shower in the morning?

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-suggests-cuba-should-strike-deal-with-us-2026-01-11/

Havana resident and parking attendant Maria Elena Sabina, a 58-year-old born shortly after Castro took power, said it was time for Cuba's leaders to make changes amid so much suffering.
“There's no electricity here, no gas, not even liquefied gas. There's nothing here," Sabina said. "So yes, a change is needed, a change is needed, and quickly.”

Your post seems focused on the future, how about the present? There is no electricity on most of the island. You want to go on vacation to a tropical climate and have no electricity and not be able to have AC or take a hot shower in the morning?

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-suggests-cuba-should-strike-deal-with-us-2026-01-11/

Havana resident and parking attendant Maria Elena Sabina, a 58-year-old born shortly after Castro took power, said it was time for Cuba's leaders to make changes amid so much suffering.
“There's no electricity here, no gas, not even liquefied gas. There's nothing here," Sabina said. "So yes, a change is needed, a change is needed, and quickly.”

Have you been to Cuba?

 

[EagerBeaver]

Have you been to Cuba?

I am going by what is in the Reuters article on current conditions in Cuba- as in right now - see the link I posted. Past conditions are not relevant.

 

[Mandouke]

I am going by what is in the Reuters article on current conditions in Cuba- as in right now - see the link I posted. Past conditions are not relevant.

That speaks volumes, I take it as a no.

 

[anold99]

That speaks volumes, I take it as a no.

Haha, I don't think he has any idea what's over there; chances are he's hardly ever been there. Right now, the situation isn't great, and on top of that, Badoo has stopped working there. It's clear that because of this, women will be cheaper. In Cuban chat groups, people are saying there are power outages, so it's definitely true. Airlines don’t want to go there before summer. I suggest you go to the Dominican Republic or Colombia because you risk getting stuck in Cuba if things get worse.

 

[kstanb]

Things might get nasty there; it was already tough last year (i was there in July), and the problems have increased tenfold

I will not risk a trip there any time soon; I don't want to leave Cuba like Fredo in the Godfather 2

 

[anold99]

Things might get nasty there; it was already tough last year (i was there in July), and the problems have increased tenfold

I will not risk a trip there any time soon; I don't want to leave Cuba like Fredo in the Godfather 2

I didn't have that problem, except that the women were more expensive than I expected and the cost of living is pretty high for a third-world country. As for the sex, though, I have fond memories of it. Right now, it would be a bad idea to go there, there aren't even any return flights available.

 

[EagerBeaver]

In Cuban chat groups, people are saying there are power outages, so it's definitely true. Airlines don’t want to go there before summer.

So basically what I said was 100% true. Did you think I would post bulllshit? Have I ever posted bullshit? After 21,959 posts on MERB since 2003, if I was a bullshitter, you think the Mods would not have banned me by now after 23 years of alleged bullshit posts?

 

[Fradi]

So basically what I said was 100% true. Did you think I would post bulllshit? Have I ever posted bullshit? After 21,959 posts on MERB since 2003, if I was a bullshitter, you think the Mods would not have banned me by now after 23 years of alleged bullshit posts?

Mods are pretty reasonable and they were even more tolerant in the past lol.

 

[kstanb]

I didn't have that problem, except that the women were more expensive than I expected and the cost of living is pretty high for a third-world country. As for the sex, though, I have fond memories of it. Right now, it would be a bad idea to go there, there aren't even any return flights available.

I was there end of July 2025
it was hot and there were power outages in the casa particular I used for hosting women (at Vedado), at random hours and for many hours. not fun when it is over 40 degrees
Important to say no power outages at my 4 star hotel (Nacional).
Touristic restaurants had shortages of specific foods: impossible to find lobster or beef or chicken
The news of the day was the perpetual maintenance problems at energy plant Guiteras, the biggest on the country (old and derelict and constantly failing)
The other news of the day was that the Turkish power plant ship docked at Havana left due to non-payment during the peak consumption time
Then last december I heard there is a significant dengue and chikungunya fever outbreak, and it had killed some people

That was last year, when Mexico and Venezuela still offered them free or really cheap oil, things were bad then and now they are much worse. I am sure there is still going to be some tourism and some jineteras ready for visitors. But really, I don't want to be there while a revolt or an invasion happen; I don't want to be rescued during vacation times. There are other places with hot sun and hot women, I am starting to research Rio de Janeiro for my next sun vacations

by the way in the news today:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article315052027.html

protestors strike communist party HQ in Moron, Ciego de Avila... and I know it is far from the touristic areas, but one of these days a spark while detonate that powder keg that Cuba is... and when that happens I don't want to be there

 

[EagerBeaver]

Mods are pretty reasonable and they were even more tolerant in the past lol.

I have never posted any bullshit in the past and didn't post any bullshit in this thread. In fact, anold99 completely corroborated the truth of what I posted.