I will come to Havana, Trinidad and Varadero. Please, advise me, which of these places is best (and cheapest) for buying:
1) original cigars
2) rum
3) souvenirs
and where exactly in these places are located the shops and markets for these items.
Thanks for every information
Not much to buy anywhere - prices just about the same everywhere !!
The Castro government owns everything so the prices will be set at whatever they feel the market will bear. For some reason or another, cigars seem to be a little cheaper at the duty free store in terminal 3.
Kind of an oxymoron, isn't it?
(Apr 09, 2010 09:15 AM)downthewind Wrote: [ -> ]I will come to Havana, Trinidad and Varadero. Please, advise me, which of these places is best (and cheapest) for buying:
1) original cigars
2) rum
3) souvenirs
and where exactly in these places are located the shops and markets for these items.
Thanks for every information
Just put this post in Google search and you will see it comes from another forum.
It's not really store. It's called a bodega where the Cubans used to go to get their monthly libreta rations that are currently being phased out. This photo is quite dated but on my last trip I saw that was about the appearance of most bodegas still as they were back then on my first visit eleven years ago or so.
All the places you listed have decent selections of cigars and rum, but Havana will have the best choices/selection with Varadero second and Trinidad a very distant third. I've never found many Cuban souvenirs worth buying except for the occasional piece of art, books and antiques. You will find prices are pretty standard wherever you go with rum. Good luck with your shopping, there is the occasional gem if you look hard enough.
Ya man here I am from Florida and planing my vacation to Cuba next summer. I may find my favorite shoe products in one of the shoe mall in Cuba. Any one here who can suggest me a best and cheapest
Roxy Shoes mall in Cuba can inform me in this forum.
Well I think that Havana is by no means a great shopping city in Cuba, Cuban shops is limited, although some large shops have modern clothing shops, I also think that it doesn't have a strong tradition in producing handicrafts, but the rise in tourism has seen local artisans quickly making up for lost time.
As far as I am concerned those bodegas havent changed much over the last thirty two years OF my going there ;still dumps ; Any of the items you want best be purchased at the airport before leaving saves a lot of hassles .
Buying shoes in Cuba???? OMG...I am horrified!
(Aug 19, 2010 07:47 AM)Mercy Wrote: [ -> ]Buying shoes in Cuba???? OMG...I am horrified!
I know it is a bit of an oxymoron Mercy, but twice I have bought shoes in Havana, and still wear them. Once pair bought in 2003, are flat strapless sandals made in Italy, bought in store near the Prado and in 2007 I bought wedge sandals in store in Habana Libre hotel, made in Brazil, I don't wear as much but they are cute.
Both pairs I bought because I had blisters from my shoes, and needed something to walk comfortably in and these worked.
Yanet. Italian shoes are usually very narrow for me so I have a bit of a problem with them. I prefer French shoes.
It would just never occur to me to buy ANYTHING of value in Cuba.