I just got back from my 12th trip to Havana. There are more people asking for things because they are lacking a lot at the moment. But I can't think of safer place. I have no problem walking around the city at night. I wouldn't do that in most US cities.
I am planning my first trip to Cuba. I am Cuban American. I speak Spanish. But my main concern is my DSLR camera. It’s not like a big bulky camera at all and I’ll be very minimal with it. Maybe carry a bag with another lens. I’m wondering how safe people with cameras are in Havana.
I have been to Cuba about 50 times since 2000 and never stay on resort but stay in the cities and towns. Here are some of the things I have learned just to stay safe ANYWHERE when traveling. The first thing I do is buy a cheap second hand wallet from a thrift store before I go and carry that around with me filled with Canadian Tire money. If you are Canadian, you will know exactly what I mean. (think Monopoly money). If targeted by a pickpocket, they go for the decoy wallet and you have lost really NOTHING. I wish I could see the look on their faces when they try to exchange that at the bank. LOL!!! I never wear any jewelry or rings. I wear OLD shoes and old pants so that I don't look like a juicy mark. I never carry my passport on the street but carry a photocopy of the photo page with the passport number blacked out. If I for some reason need my passport, I can always go back to the hotel or casa and get it and the Cuban authorities will perfectly understand this. Crimes against tourist is serious business with penalties of up to two years in jail for the theft of a baseball hat and 5 years if the tourist is assaulted during the robbery. No "catch and release" for criminals like here in Canada. The only time I saw a purse snatching resulted in the entire neighborhood taking up the chase with the people on the balconies giving directions to the "hounds"....during the chase. Gives a whole new meaning to "Neighborhood Watch". The police were there within 5 minutes and when the thief was dragged out of the building he was trying to hide in....he looked a little worse for wear. LOL As far as I'm concerned, I'm safer of the streets of Cuba than I am in downtown Toronto or Hamilton right now. The Cuban justice system doesn't play around and the penalties are harsh.
Thank you for making this video, and I'm so sorry you had to experience that in Cuba. My husband and I are going in April, and it is good to get the latest news. Yes, I saw someone being robbed in Paris on the metro. Unfortunately, it happens everywhere in the world 😢 Happy travels!
Its NEVER been like that. I can tell you from experience. I could even see the drastic change from just last year (I was there last week) the trash, the people asking for things, children begging, it was not even that way only a year ago. I still felt completely safe though. You hit the nail on the head. The people are desperate. They are at their ropes end. My heart breaks for them.
I hope you get your phone back. I have a feeling you will. And I look forward to seeing the video(s) from the footage that you retrieve from your phone on your channel. Fingers crossed.
They didn’t charge me anything for the second phone. I have read that you’re not allowed more than two phones or laptops per person though. And I did get stopped and questioned by immigration on entry but I think that had more to do with my camera and microphone than my second phone.
😂 I love the juxtaposition in reading your thumbnail message “I GOT ROBBED IN CUBA” in screaming yellow and blue. Then, in your video…it’s a laid back, casual “Cuba is still safe” message. I would accuse you of the cheap and oft used “click bait” but I don’t think you’re manipulative that way. Rather, you seem naive. About Cuba, if not the world. Look, your “travel” advice to not slip your phone into your pocket is true ANYWHERE in the world, including in your own neighborhood. If for no other reason, phones will often fall out when you sit. Also, one problem Cuba has are the police themselves. There is a reasonably good chance they got your phone back but kept it for themselves. Your “Casa Particular” (AirBnB) owners all KNOW what’s going on in the streets of Havana but they do not tell the tourists because they think you will LEAVE or, write a bad review…or, never come back. Also, keep in mind that MEN get harassed in Havana too, young ladies lip-smacking and whistling with the forever annoying “Papi, Papi…ben aca!” 99% of all Cubans who approach you in Havana are “Jineteros”…which means “Jocky”. Only in this case, they RIDE the tourists. Havana is a hustle, with every 5 minutes someone approaching you with “Hey, hey…mine fren…where joo from?” or … pointing at your wrist “S’cuse meh, wha time? Here’s the reality of Havana: Everything is fairly normal during the day…at night, it is a different story. Also missing from your vlog is this: Cuban restaurant owners cannot afford to throw away old or spoiling food…especially deep-fat frying oil. They keep cooking or frying things even when gone rancid. These are things that are (in my opinion) far more dangers than your lost phone. Havana Cuba is ok to visit as long as you do your homework. Far better to rent a taxi and go to Trinidad where the people and the hustle are fantastically more mellow.
a dictatorship that has been couped by the USA since the 50's to maintain the dictatorship and labour camps was unfriendly and robbed an American??? NO WAY glad you're okay and hindsight is 20/20 but I would look at your country of origin's relationship with that country before travelling there.
It seems to me that having a phone stolen could have happened many places that she’s visited regardless of our country’s relationship with that country.
@@jamieb6049very true! The rate of phone theft is much lower than in so many other countries! And the police were far more helpful than I could have imagined!
@@YewbarCovel I was thinking more like Greece (Athens mainly), France (Paris), Costa Rica (San José), etc. People can be awful or desperate most everywhere in the world.
I just got back from my 12th trip to Havana. There are more people asking for things because they are lacking a lot at the moment. But I can't think of safer place. I have no problem walking around the city at night. I wouldn't do that in most US cities.
I am planning my first trip to Cuba. I am Cuban American. I speak Spanish. But my main concern is my DSLR camera. It’s not like a big bulky camera at all and I’ll be very minimal with it. Maybe carry a bag with another lens. I’m wondering how safe people with cameras are in Havana.
I have been to Cuba about 50 times since 2000 and never stay on resort but stay in the cities and towns. Here are some of the things I have learned just to stay safe ANYWHERE when traveling. The first thing I do is buy a cheap second hand wallet from a thrift store before I go and carry that around with me filled with Canadian Tire money. If you are Canadian, you will know exactly what I mean. (think Monopoly money). If targeted by a pickpocket, they go for the decoy wallet and you have lost really NOTHING. I wish I could see the look on their faces when they try to exchange that at the bank. LOL!!! I never wear any jewelry or rings. I wear OLD shoes and old pants so that I don't look like a juicy mark. I never carry my passport on the street but carry a photocopy of the photo page with the passport number blacked out. If I for some reason need my passport, I can always go back to the hotel or casa and get it and the Cuban authorities will perfectly understand this. Crimes against tourist is serious business with penalties of up to two years in jail for the theft of a baseball hat and 5 years if the tourist is assaulted during the robbery. No "catch and release" for criminals like here in Canada. The only time I saw a purse snatching resulted in the entire neighborhood taking up the chase with the people on the balconies giving directions to the "hounds"....during the chase. Gives a whole new meaning to "Neighborhood Watch". The police were there within 5 minutes and when the thief was dragged out of the building he was trying to hide in....he looked a little worse for wear. LOL
As far as I'm concerned, I'm safer of the streets of Cuba than I am in downtown Toronto or Hamilton right now. The Cuban justice system doesn't play around and the penalties are harsh.
Thank you so much for sharing your tips and experiences! They are so helpful. And I totally agree, I think Havana is much safer than most big cities!
Thank you for making this video, and I'm so sorry you had to experience that in Cuba. My husband and I are going in April, and it is good to get the latest news. Yes, I saw someone being robbed in Paris on the metro. Unfortunately, it happens everywhere in the world 😢 Happy travels!
Thanks! It’s so true, crime happens everywhere and hopefully your trip will be safe and wonderful!
I'm sorry to hear that happened to you, Brenda. I'm glad it wasn't worse and that you still enjoyed your time there.
Thanks Scott!! I’m glad it wasn’t worse too and yes, I still really enjoyed it!
Its NEVER been like that. I can tell you from experience. I could even see the drastic change from just last year (I was there last week) the trash, the people asking for things, children begging, it was not even that way only a year ago. I still felt completely safe though. You hit the nail on the head. The people are desperate. They are at their ropes end. My heart breaks for them.
That’s what I heard from so many people there! It breaks my heart for them. I hope someday it can go back to how it was - or better!
I hope you get your phone back. I have a feeling you will. And I look forward to seeing the video(s) from the footage that you retrieve from your phone on your channel. Fingers crossed.
Thank you, I hope so too!
@BonVoyageBrenda
How many phones can you take to Cuba? did they charge you anything for taking a 2nd phone?
They didn’t charge me anything for the second phone. I have read that you’re not allowed more than two phones or laptops per person though. And I did get stopped and questioned by immigration on entry but I think that had more to do with my camera and microphone than my second phone.
😂 I love the juxtaposition in reading your thumbnail message “I GOT ROBBED IN CUBA” in screaming yellow and blue. Then, in your video…it’s a laid back, casual “Cuba is still safe” message.
I would accuse you of the cheap and oft used “click bait” but I don’t think you’re manipulative that way. Rather, you seem naive. About Cuba, if not the world.
Look, your “travel” advice to not slip your phone into your pocket is true ANYWHERE in the world, including in your own neighborhood. If for no other reason, phones will often fall out when you sit.
Also, one problem Cuba has are the police themselves. There is a reasonably good chance they got your phone back but kept it for themselves. Your “Casa Particular” (AirBnB) owners all KNOW what’s going on in the streets of Havana but they do not tell the tourists because they think you will LEAVE or, write a bad review…or, never come back.
Also, keep in mind that MEN get harassed in Havana too, young ladies lip-smacking and whistling with the forever annoying “Papi, Papi…ben aca!”
99% of all Cubans who approach you in Havana are “Jineteros”…which means “Jocky”. Only in this case, they RIDE the tourists.
Havana is a hustle, with every 5 minutes someone approaching you with “Hey, hey…mine fren…where joo from?” or … pointing at your wrist “S’cuse meh, wha time?
Here’s the reality of Havana: Everything is fairly normal during the day…at night, it is a different story.
Also missing from your vlog is this: Cuban restaurant owners cannot afford to throw away old or spoiling food…especially deep-fat frying oil. They keep cooking or frying things even when gone rancid. These are things that are (in my opinion) far more dangers than your lost phone.
Havana Cuba is ok to visit as long as you do your homework. Far better to rent a taxi and go to Trinidad where the people and the hustle are fantastically more mellow.
I thought they robbed your heart
That would have been better! I can’t say I didn’t love anything there, I just wish I had the photos on my phone to remember lol.
a dictatorship that has been couped by the USA since the 50's to maintain the dictatorship and labour camps was unfriendly and robbed an American??? NO WAY
glad you're okay and hindsight is 20/20 but I would look at your country of origin's relationship with that country before travelling there.
It seems to me that having a phone stolen could have happened many places that she’s visited regardless of our country’s relationship with that country.
@@jamieb6049very true! The rate of phone theft is much lower than in so many other countries! And the police were far more helpful than I could have imagined!
@@jamieb6049 and those places have a history of dictatorships and currently imposing authoritarianism and nationalism.
@@YewbarCovel I was thinking more like Greece (Athens mainly), France (Paris), Costa Rica (San José), etc. People can be awful or desperate most everywhere in the world.
@@jamieb6049 yes those places have dictatorships France literally just got couped by a bank CEO ... like idek what you're trying to say at this point?
Embargo is not 100% reason...way more
Of course there’s more to the situation! There’s way too much to cover in such a short video. Thanks for watching!
Not 100%, but pretty high percentage regardless