At Cuban resorts, the end of tourism apartheid

All you can eat? All you can drink? In a 3 or 4 star hotel for $200. bucks a week? I'm retiring and going there today!

My Cuban friends tell me that the Cuban nationals are often sent to hotels different than those for the tourists.

There the food quality is decidely uneven...and items often run out quickly, not to be replenished! Except for the booze.

Lex Wadelski
Austin, Texas
http://thehypervigilantobserver.blogspot.com/

Good observation, something I wasn’t aware of, but the answer is quite simply this, since the Obama administration changed the remittance policy which now allows any Cuban-American to send as much money as they want to their familiies in Cuba, and travel without time restictions; the impact must somehow be a cause-effect factor from both these changes in policy. The sad part is that as you mentioned most cuban nationals do no make enough to enjoy these restaurants and beaches on a constant basis, and they other thing is they must convert what they earn into CUC (convertible currency) and lose 25 cents on each dollar they spend, which is a fee collected by the Castro government. Also, not all Cubans despite this policy change benefit, those who do not have family abroad get no remittances, and those the government can arbitrarily discriminate against, are not permitted near tourist areas. The way I see it, the people of Cuba do not get to enjoy their country in the same manner that foreign visitors can. The cash strapped government of Raul Castro is willing to do anything to increase tourism to the island, already in decline from the global recession. It is an act of desperation on behalf of the government of Castro, allowing cuban nationals access to their emptying hotels (which they own and run with foreign investors) and not an ideological shift or improvement in the horrid economic and political conditions under which they people of Cuba live.

"But this summer, something unusual has been happening up and down the beach at Varadero. The hotels are filling with cash-wielding locals."

This shouldn't be a secret to anyone. Since Obama has eased the restrictions to the Cubans in the US, the money is flowing back home again and, rather than spending the money on bettering their daily conditions, the thoughtless relatives are blowing it all on beach vacations. Of course, the suckers over here have to work two jobs so that they can afford the plush vacations of the relatives over there. Must be nice...

I'm Canadian. Just wanted to post an observation on why Canadians choose Cuba as a destination over all the other Carribean destinations; because there are no Americans. It's a sad result of a decade of Bush world politics which will probably take more than a decade to repair. The best way would be for Americans to give up this strange treatment of a neighbouring country and normalise all relations with Cuba. The world is watching.

Ok,Ok,ok Cuba,the Cigar was pretty good AND lasted a few days!It said Habana on the decorative band encircling the cirCUMference!But,still,Eye am unobtrused at the thought of letting my Americans among your beaches sew that the MY Joe Montana dudes ,Not Tony Montana ,can say Say Hello,To My BIG Friend,to your Cuban Babes!After all you are STILL Communists!The Babes of Cuba Eye can excuse though! Signed Joe Montana,Quarterback

nick, some of the best info coming out of Cuba comes from you.
i guess, in these times, you have no email but thanks so much
for your "exquisite" work!

This will perhaps sound selfish, but I really like the US embargo! For one, you won't be overrun by American vacationers. Also, La Habana is blissfully free of McDonalds and similar atrocities.