Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Perhaps they have a perception of what Canadians look like. My mother was told once by a US border guard that she " didn't look Canadian ".
I was told once by a guy in San Francisco, " ah, yes Canada, a lot of blondes in Canada ".
So who knows, some people have VERY odd ideas.
Canadians are spotted immediately no matter if they are Chinese-Inuit with checkered ears. In Cuba, they move as lemmings, always in directed streams to low cost resorts.
Americans are more independent, more curious and less sectarian, spend more money, no relation whatsoever. Americans do behave as Italians or Russian tourists.
Canadians are spotted immediately no matter if they are Chinese-Inuit with checkered ears. In Cuba, they move as lemmings, always in directed streams to low cost resorts.
Americans are more independent, more curious and less sectarian, spend more money, no relation whatsoever. Americans do behave as Italians or Russian tourists.
Yeah .... okay !
No offense but 5 stars in Cuba is like 3 starts everywhere else.
Most Canadians that want a really luxury vacation don't choose Cuba and rather avoid it because of that.
Cuba is a cheap vacation spot.
Some people avoid it specifically because they don't want to deal with all the poverty. Ex people even with jobs out right asking them for money and gifts all the time. It literally feels like you are being shoved in to a den of snakes at times when in Cuba. Everywhere you go people are straight out asking you for stuff. The only other place I have been that was like that was Cairo in Egypt and it was not that bad. It is depressing and uncomfortable in that respect. When on vacation to relax no one wants to deal with the countries drama. This is often why in Cuba some vacationers don't want to leave the resort. It is not safety is just to avoid dealing with people begging for things.
Adults that have more money dont want to leave their vacation feeling depressed.... they want to go to places where they can be stress free and not be pestered.
Going to Cuba is no big deal for Canadians because it is cheap.
Going to Cuba for Americans is a bit more of a hassel so it attracs a different type of traveller.
For example going to places in South America from Canada attracts a different type of traveller beacuse it is more expensive and tricker to go.
Cuba attracts more of a Spring Break crowd and it was actually the first place I travelled to with freinds only.
A great place to visit.... however not really high end travel. The food sucks and drinks are watered down because they dont have the same level of high end stuff flowing freely in to the country.
By comparison to other places I have visted ex
Occidental Grand Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias, Bolivar, Colombia
These are really 4 to 5 star places because the properties and rooms are amazing and the food is amazaing. Cuba has great properties... but the food and other amenities are just not as good.
P.S. If anyone is going to Cancun or Riveria Maya ... YOU NEED TO GO TO Xcaret even if you can't stay at the resort connected to it!
Cuba lacks the high end factor.
When walking around Cartagena, Panama City, Cancun or Playa Del Carmen you see pan handlers/begging but at the same level you would see in any major city around the world. In Cuba it is hardcore desperate. People are aggressively approaching you on the streets, in the stores, restaurants ... it is crazy. In other places people working in stores or restaurants etc would never be that bold to do something like that. In Cuba it seems like normal which can be really stressful for visitors.
In these other places people had more of a sense of pride... ex welcome to my country and nice to meet you. In Cuba it was like welcome to Cuba where is my gift ? Sadly I am not even joking. Cuba is a lot more seedy in that respect. There is a lack of authenticity in the people that you meet. I know that Cuba is an Island and I am speaking about other larger countries, but when in Trinidad, Curacaso or the Bahamas I never delt with that level of aggressive begging.
Again I want to end of a more postive note because I really do think Cuba is really worth visiting. It is a beautiful country with a lot to see.... but anyone going there needs to really open their eyes to some of the down sides of going to Cuba.
Ex if you are genarlly considered an unattractive socially off person in Canada or the USA... and you are going to cuba and all these attractive yougner men or women are in to you ... dont be a moron .... they are gold digging and looking for a ticket out of ther 99% of the time.
I am not trying to be mean ... but honest. I have travel a fair amount as a single woman before getting married and even when married and know I am okay at best and no super model. I have had my fair share of guys way out of my league when travelling that have proclaiming their love for me blah blah blah after not knowing each other that long ... and have learned to use my head.
My wife and I spent a week a few years ago in Havana, in a hotel where as far as I could tell had no other English speaking guests. Other than a one day tour to the East we were completely on our own and on that one day trip we spoke to more fellow tourist than the rest of the trip.
Cuba is not difficult to do outside the resorts, one thing is so many Canadians are not really interested in seeing the coubtry as much as fleeing our cold winters and they just want to lay back and be in the warm sun.
T9 me Cuba was cheap, safe and warm and the lack of toilet seats is a great reminder of how much better off financially Canadians are compared to Cubans. I hope to return soon, this time to the south central area.
Cuba is actually cheaper to go to then Florida to flee the cold. Plus if you accidenly travel with no health care insurance to the USA and get sick you are so much trouble!!! In Cuba the cost would be a lot cheaper.
My brother got in an accident in Cuba as was the irresponsible type that did not get insurance and the cost of the ER visit and care was great and cheap. If that happend in the USA it would have cost a lot of money.
Some people avoid it specifically because they don't want to deal with all the poverty. Ex people even with jobs out right asking them for money and gifts all the time. It literally feels like you are being shoved in to a den of snakes at times when in Cuba. Everywhere you go people are straight out asking you for stuff. The only other place I have been that was like that was Cairo in Egypt and it was not that bad. It is depressing and uncomfortable in that respect. When on vacation to relax no one wants to deal with the countries drama. This is often why in Cuba some vacationers don't want to leave the resort. It is not safety is just to avoid dealing with people begging for things.
Quote:
Originally Posted by klmrocks
When walking around Cartagena, Panama City, Cancun or Playa Del Carmen you see pan handlers/begging but at the same level you would see in any major city around the world. In Cuba it is hardcore desperate. People are aggressively approaching you on the streets, in the stores, restaurants ... it is crazy. In other places people working in stores or restaurants etc would never be that bold to do something like that. In Cuba it seems like normal which can be really stressful for visitors.
In these other places people had more of a sense of pride... ex welcome to my country and nice to meet you. In Cuba it was like welcome to Cuba where is my gift ? Sadly I am not even joking. Cuba is a lot more seedy in that respect. There is a lack of authenticity in the people that you meet. I know that Cuba is an Island and I am speaking about other larger countries, but when in Trinidad, Curacaso or the Bahamas I never delt with that level of aggressive begging.
These are interesting paragraphs. I was reading some other things about this as well, how most interactions ended up with a request for money.
These are interesting paragraphs. I was reading some other things about this as well, how most interactions ended up with a request for money.
It is not an exageration. This really happens there STILL. My freind was there with her family in the last year and she mentioned this. She was in some place with her husband and 2 kids. She is from a Caribbean background too so at first she though the lady was just joking when she said what did you bring for me as a gift. Then she realized she was not. It was uncomfortable. I also blame people for continuing to do this time and time again. It encourages the problem.
These are interesting paragraphs. I was reading some other things about this as well, how most interactions ended up with a request for money.
All Canadians and package tours in general visit four to five streets and squares in Old Havana. In those places there are all sort of beggars, people asking for money to take a picture, fake tobacco pushers, viagra sellers, people selling Che coins and all sort of hand made trinkets, totes, etc.
All those people are specialized in Canadian tourists, so you see a lot of progressive merchandising. They ask for gifts so they feel well giving to the needy, they speak their language, some even dress as anti-american revolutionaries and Che and blame Americans for a missing limb. In other words, they have them framed.
If you get away from those very specific places, nobody will ask you for gifts or try to push you fake cigars, viagra, illegal rooms for rents or a gift and nobody dressed like Che with a missing limb will ask you for money.
Not very different from Barcelona, if you move away from the areas occupied by tourists you will avoid Roma beggars, illegqal flea markets, street musicians, con artists, fake policeman, pickpockets, human statues, Nigerian prostitutes, heroin pushers, etc.
Last edited by farinello; 10-18-2017 at 03:51 PM..
Going to Cuba is no big deal for Canadians because it is cheap.
Going to Cuba for Americans is a bit more of a hassel so it attracs a different type of traveller.
Agreed, there's a selection bias with Americans (US Citizens); any American that jumps through all the hoops to travel to Cuba isn't going through the trouble so they can stay in an all-inclusive resort, which can be found on other islands for much less hassle.
All Canadians and package tours in general visit four to five streets and squares in Old Havana. In those places there are all sort of beggars, people asking for money to take a picture, fake tobacco pushers, viagra sellers, people selling Che coins and all sort of hand made trinkets, totes, etc.
All those people are specialized in Canadian tourists, so you see a lot of progressive merchandising. They ask for gifts so they feel well giving to the needy, they speak their language, some even dress as anti-american revolutionaries and Che and blame Americans for a missing limb. In other words, they have them framed.
If you get away from those very specific places, nobody will ask you for gifts or try to push you fake cigars, viagra, illegal rooms for rents or a gift and nobody dressed like Che with a missing limb will ask you for money.
Not very different from Barcelona, if you move away from the areas occupied by tourists you will avoid Roma beggars, illegqal flea markets, street musicians, con artists, fake policeman, pickpockets, human statues, Nigerian prostitutes, heroin pushers, etc.
Don't kid yourself. There is no comparison to what I saw in Cuba to Barcelona which I have also spent time in. Again you have no clue about "Canadians" because guess what most visiting dont give care about the political situatiin or anti American nonsense.... they are looking for the beach.... warm weather and somewhere to relax and gave a good time. What you are saying is dated and ridiculous and comical at best. If anything Canadians leave with a thank god I am not that poor vibe or stuck living here.
Cuba is a tiny little Island .... not sure why your post suggests Canadians or anyone else is crying over Cuba's situation.... everyone comes from somewhere and when on vacation most Canadians are not there to save Cuba or grip about politics ....
I went to other places in Cuba and it was the same attudue .... more or less. People approaching asking for gifts. I was with 2 Spanish speaking people born outside of Canada that were in Canada for like 5 to 10 years max and travelling with passports from Costa Rica and Colombia. I guess they could tell they where Candian too lol .
The views expressed appear ridiculously nonsensical and bias. You have never been to Canada and appear to have an irrational issue with Canadian even though there is huge regional differences between Canadians and it is one of the most multicultural countries in the world. Canads is a huge country to lump all Canadians in to a common description is a joke.
Agreed, there's a selection bias with Americans (US Citizens); any American that jumps through all the hoops to travel to Cuba isn't going through the trouble so they can stay in an all-inclusive resort, which can be found on other islands for much less hassle.
Also American have their own amazing all year warm and sunny spot for vacation in their own boarders.... why go to Cuba when you can go to Miami?
We loved it. I have been to many countries that are formerly communist or socialist now. We went with an accredited tour group and did an educational stay and loved it. We took lessons in the arts, tours on the environment, and saw cultural landmarks and festivals. It was great. It was not fancy but we were safe, well fed, and in comfortable housing. PM me if you would like the details of who arranged it. They are on the up and up with theCubam authorities and all activities were strictly legal.
Edit: this was a homestay program, not a resort.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
.....
!
? Sadly I am not even joking. Cuba is a lot more seedy in that respect. There is a lack of authenticity in the people that you meet. I know that Cuba is an Island and I am speaking about other larger countries, but when in Trinidad, Curacaso or the Bahamas I never delt with that level of aggressive begging.
