A co-worker who has been going to Cuba almost as long and as often as
Geri and I just got back and had a bit of a story to tell. Normally
what they do is get the cheapest possible all-inclusive and then make
their way into Havana and stay in a casa particular for at least half of
their stay.
This time for the first time they couldn't book anything in advance. So
they just jumped on a bus and made their way from Veradero to Havana
where in the past just asking around near the bus station has gotten
them a room.
This time no-go. Nada. Zip. Rien. Buptkiss (sp???).
The reason? Cruise ships in the harbour full of American tourists.
Either there completely legally or many more who are relying on the
new-found lack of enthusiasm for enforcement being evidenced by the US
authorities. Apparently its common for passengers on the ships to book a
room overnight when pulling into a scenic port and the Havana stop is
no exception.
My co-worker's friends there say that it is a bit better at other times
of the year but right now is the peak (a US school break perhaps?) and
there isn't a CP room to be had anywhere in the city.
Back at their resort on the beach he and his family tried to get an
overnight group tour into the city from Air Canada Vacations, Gaviota
tours and a couple of other companies. Each had the same story: even
though they would normally offer tours that combined walking about
during the day, a show in the evening and then a room for the night,
they couldn't because of the competition for hotel rooms. They had or
had been forced to surrender their room bookings to the cruise ship
crowd and were only offering one day in-out tours of the city,
confirming what what happening on the CP front.
