Havana, Cuba

[KJG]

you are still allowed to bring in items for the "family" as long as you can show they are personal use.....and like shuster2210 said it really has always been a rule they are just now trying to make money.........with respect to the 25kg.....I think that is per bag is not....not collectively???? my girlfriend just came back from cuba and she took her husband a 19" flat screen tv....she had it on her carry on and she had no problems......again es Cuba......

 

[Avana]

Haha.. i did the same thing a while ago with a 27 inch tv in my suitcase!! This was at the very beginning of our relationship and my husband saved up every hard-earned convertible for the tv and paid it.. he wouldnt let me give it to him until he had paid it in its entirety, then when I got into the airport, the caught me... lol oh welllllll, i downplayed the charge and convinced him to let me pay that part, but i know i deserved that one!!

 

[shuster2210]

The 25-30kg rule is collectively. Checked luggage, and carry on, purse etc.
Soon as she saw my 2 suitcases and carry on she flagged me!!

I brought the laptop through without a question (really hasn't been an issue in recent years)
But another guy (Canadian) was charged $220 cuc for his 19 inch flat screen...

They appeared to weigh everything all together and then search and decide what they deem to be "taxable"
Even if all appears to be "personal" then they will charge $10 or 20 cuc per every kilo you are over.
This has always happened for Cubans, but as of Septmeber 3rd I've heard of a few tourists nailed with it.

And never say anything is a gift, tell them it's all personal, sayin its a gift will def get you charged if you happen to get searched.

 

[KJG]

wow.......not good.....well the one suitcase I am bringing contains all used clothing for my husband's mom and sister....and some soap and chocolate bars.....honestly what a pain in the ass......and so so mean.......well seriously now I don't know what to do......red bin the clothes here and take my one suitcase....but then again my one suitcase and carryon will be over the 25kg anyway.......wonder how people are faring at the matanzas airport.......might post something on trip central and see if I get a response......

 

[shuster2210]

I've always had better luck at varadero as opposed to Havana or Holguin.
And if I'm solo at varadero I always try and stick with a group of tourists walking out so it looks like we are together.
In January I sat next to a nice man that only had a carry on, 3 hours and a few beers later, he carried out my 2nd suitcase for me so I didnt get flagged lol

Holguin is worse than Havana, as it is the Aduana training airport, Havana is always hit and miss but always consistent with the fact that it's always some young girl pulling people in and the guys could care less what you have as a tourist lol

 

[KJG]

I've always had better luck at varadero as opposed to Havana or Holguin.
And if I'm solo at varadero I always try and stick with a group of tourists walking out so it looks like we are together.
In January I sat next to a nice man that only had a carry on, 3 hours and a few beers later, he carried out my 2nd suitcase for me so I didnt get flagged lol

Holguin is worse than Havana, as it is the Aduana training airport, Havana is always hit and miss but always consistent with the fact that it's always some young girl pulling people in and the guys could care less what you have as a tourist lol

yes....I heard that Holguin is the worst....I have never had problems at Varadero and I have always brought 2 suitcases a carry-on and big big purse!!! guess I am just being paranoid....but that is a good idea........maybe what I should do is not bring the matching second bag and that way it looks like different people's luggage.......and try and sneak out with a group.....just another thing to worry about LOL....

 

[ccunnington]

13 more sleeps KJG!!! you must be stoked!

 

[KJG]

13 more sleeps KJG!!! you must be stoked!

I certainly am.......was packing last night and then had a hard time falling asleep!!!!

 

[ccunnington]

I certainly am.......was packing last night and then had a hard time falling asleep!!!!

How long are you staying down there for? (you may have mentioned it in an earlier post, i'm just to lazy to read back today!)

 

[KJG]

How long are you staying down there for? (you may have mentioned it in an earlier post, i'm just to lazy to read back today!)

just a week........and hopefully if all goes well I will be able to bring him to Canada in November

 

[ccunnington]

just a week........and hopefully if all goes well I will be able to bring him to Canada in November

Sweet. We still haven't heard a thing from Bogota yet, but we did get her medical done last week, and I uploaded the receipt with a case-specific enquiry

 

[KJG]

Sweet. We still haven't heard a thing from Bogota yet, but we did get her medical done last week, and I uploaded the receipt with a case-specific enquiry

that is good......it is done......it is very frustrating with no communication.......we switched the interview date from Oct 1 to Oct 4 so I could get there and ecas shows Oct 1 and I am stressing about that........

 

[ccunnington]

that is good......it is done......it is very frustrating with no communication.......we switched the interview date from Oct 1 to Oct 4 so I could get there and ecas shows Oct 1 and I am stressing about that........

Did you actually get to talk to someone in person about changing the date?

 

[KJG]

Did you actually get to talk to someone in person about changing the date?

my husband did....he called the lady back who arranged the first appointment.....he will call next week if there is no change on ecas....

 

[KJG]

so just a little tidbit of information......today when I got home in the mail was a letter from Havana dated August 22, 2012 stating that my file was received in their office on July 11th....that is exactly 3 weeks from the date of file transfer according to CIC.......it stated that we were not to contact Havana until after January 11th, 2013....if we tried to correspond with them it would go unanswered until after that date......the letter was posted by canada post on september 12th......so obvioulsy it came back by cic courier and posted here but again the time line was 3 weeks....my husband received his phone call 1 week after the date of this letter....