Just came back for Havana used Blexie OMG

[Fogfog]

I posted a longer response in a new thread-- yet wanted to add in here..

 

Our tour via Blexie waswith Elvis. He did an outstanding job weaving history, politics, social issues,architecture, common life, and pop culture into our day. We had severalprovoking discussions about things spanning the Revolution, the Bay of Pigs, housingin Cuba, the Cuban Missile crisis, Socialism and Communism, the authority Cubangov, favorite pop items like music, baseball etc. Our tour included agood deal of walking and we also had a gorgeous classic car (white and maroon)and a very polite driver.

Among the places wesaw were

-Walkthrough old Havana,

- Walkthrough the 4 main squares in the old city to see the Cathedral and mainmonuments and historical sites.

- Fort,People's House/capitol, Drive along Embassy row.

- Drivedown the malecon towards Fusterlandia which is an entire neighborhood coveredwith mosaic tiles. Walk Fusterlandia

- Visitthe Plaza de revolucion to see the square where Castro gathered millions andthe Pope visited.

- Lunch - ropavieja at Habitania 100 CUC (soup/ropa viejawith rice/beans, flan, beer, coffee, bottled water and heavy tip)

- Popped into to see"Hemingway’s" hotel and also at "his" bar, Floridita. Toocrowded to stay

- Stopped to do a Rumpurchase/Cigars purchase/Coffee purchase. Very thankful to have help withthe purchase. We spent about 245 CUC on rum/cigars/coffee -- our son spent closer to 500 CUC on rum/cigars (Cohiba!!) and coffee

We had hoped to see insidethe cigar factory however they were on break (vacation- August)

Tour was 130 CUC plus tipextra

[bob4cruise]

sorry I see your answer now

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Edited August 12, 2018 by bob4cruise

[Cruisegirl6]

I am afraid of eating there, heard stories about the water and such...and I have auto-immune issues, did they show you any part of the beach area there?

[Cruisin4]

Our tour via Blexie Havana Tours was with Blexie. He did an outstanding job weaving history, politics, social issues, architecture, common life into our day.

 

 

He is easy to find. Your exit the cruise terminal and walk across the street to the plaza and Blexie was there at the appointed time of 10am. The tour lasted 6 hours. He was born in Cuba and has never been off Cuba. His english is perfect. He takes you to the government rehabbed plazas, then also a block over and you can see where the real Cubans live.

 

Among the places we saw were

-Walkthrough old Havana,

- Walkthrough the 4 main squares in the old city to see the Cathedral and mainmonuments and historical sites.

- Fort,People's House/capitol, Drive along Embassy row.

- Drivedown the malecon towards Fusterlandia which is an entire neighborhood covered with mosaic tiles. Walk Fusterlandia (*** THIS IS A MUST SEE- Fuster's work was inspired by Gaudi)

- Visit the Plaza de Revolucion to see the square where Castro gathered million and he gave a 6+ hour speech there.

- Lunch - we skipped lunch and kept touring

- Popped into to see"Hemingway’s" hotel and also at "his" bar, Floridita. Too crowded to stay but fun to see

- Stopped to do a Rumpurchase/Cigars purchase/Coffee purchase. The only place that had Air-conditioning...

We had hoped to see insidethe cigar factory however they were on break (they reopen in Sept.)

Tour was 130 CUC plus tipextra The tour is for up to 4 people. So two couples toured, so we spent 65 CUC per couple plus tip. The first third of the tour is a walking tour with Blexie, the second and third part of the tour his friend Lou joined us who had an old fashioned well maintained car (that had A/C- YEAH)... he drove us to see different sections of the city and Blexie was with us the entire time. The tour was informative, we stopped to see one of the medical clinics as I am a nurse. Blexie is very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend him and his tour.

[mandream]

On 7/19/2018 at 6:39 PM, mandream said:

Just had a couple back and forths with Blexie. He was very responsive. Our tour is confirmed. Has anyone had Lauren as their guide?

 

Mike

 

On 7/19/2018 at 10:05 PM, Texasnee said:

Mandream.....I don’t tour with Blexie until November (our guide will be Raul) but I’ve heard many great things about Lauren. She speaks perfect English and everyone that has had her as their guide loved her. From what I’ve read, you’ll be in great hands.

 

Just wanted to follow up now that we are back and say that Lauren was Fantastic!!.  As Texasnee said - her English (and accent) were perfect - amazing since she has never left the island.  She was great with our two boys ages 6 and 8.

 

Couldn't recommend Blexie's crew highly enough.

 

Mike

[Nancy&Frank]

On 5/24/2018 at 5:34 PM, lisabdh1 said:

 

Totally depends on what it is, how much it weighs, how bit it is and if its wrapped or I am able to determine it is nothing illegal, etc.

 

What's your email and I will shoot you a message.

I will be with him next month.  Can you email me as well at ncg1211 at yahoo dot com

Thanks much,

Nancy

[Rickster50]

Stevanb

I noticed you sailed on the Veendam. We are doing a Cuba/Eastern Caribbean cruise in December,2019 on that same ship.

What was the overall experience like on the Veendam?

 

Cheers

Rick

[Stevanb]

The ship was fine but the food was a bit too bland for our tastes  .  But we went for the Itinerary only.  Anything else let me know

[ezi-amy]

My husband and I booked a tour with Blexie tours and had Rosio as our guide last week.  She was fantastic.  Her English was perfect.  And she was able to customize our itinerary to the stops that we requested to see.  We highly recommend Blexie tours to everyone.  You will not be disappointed.

[Texex2]

On 2/8/2019 at 1:40 PM, ezi-amy said:

My husband and I booked a tour with Blexie tours and had Rosio as our guide last week.  She was fantastic.  Her English was perfect.  And she was able to customize our itinerary to the stops that we requested to see.  We highly recommend Blexie tours to everyone.  You will not be disappointed.

Thanks!! So many great reviews for Blexie....just sent a request to nail down a tour while in Havana in June. Any suggestions on what not to miss, priorities etc? 

[ezi-amy]

We requested to go to Fusterlandia and the Havana synagogues.  I don't think these are on the standard tour, but our tour guide and driver were very accommodating.

[Stevanb]

They will take you anywhere you want to go . I would have a list ready if there is something you want to see special to make sure it is in driving range  We did 10 hours with him and dinner and then Tropicana 

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMErsaCccfV9WFJt-mZQnYJJrRAedkfFIPd5LS_gdVihHPoRRZY7E2BXLlWWc5Psw?key=VGZEZTZMQmRKUFlIUWo3RmxOZ1Z1UmhLanJYVnl3

[Texex2]

Nailed down a tour with Blexie in Havana 6/27. Based upon the multitude of great reviews, feel certain we will have a great time. Any suggestions on lunch at a local palador? Thoughts on the Tropicana? I have read some that day it is over the top turisty and some that say it is great fun. 

[Texex2]

On 8/12/2018 at 12:11 PM, Cruisin4 said:

Our tour via Blexie Havana Tours was with Blexie. He did an outstanding job weaving history, politics, social issues, architecture, common life into our day.

 

 

He is easy to find. Your exit the cruise terminal and walk across the street to the plaza and Blexie was there at the appointed time of 10am. The tour lasted 6 hours. He was born in Cuba and has never been off Cuba. His english is perfect. He takes you to the government rehabbed plazas, then also a block over and you can see where the real Cubans live.

 

Among the places we saw were

-Walkthrough old Havana,

- Walkthrough the 4 main squares in the old city to see the Cathedral and mainmonuments and historical sites.

- Fort,People's House/capitol, Drive along Embassy row.

- Drivedown the malecon towards Fusterlandia which is an entire neighborhood covered with mosaic tiles. Walk Fusterlandia (*** THIS IS A MUST SEE- Fuster's work was inspired by Gaudi)

- Visit the Plaza de Revolucion to see the square where Castro gathered million and he gave a 6+ hour speech there.

- Lunch - we skipped lunch and kept touring

- Popped into to see"Hemingway’s" hotel and also at "his" bar, Floridita. Too crowded to stay but fun to see

- Stopped to do a Rumpurchase/Cigars purchase/Coffee purchase. The only place that had Air-conditioning...

We had hoped to see insidethe cigar factory however they were on break (they reopen in Sept.)

Tour was 130 CUC plus tipextra The tour is for up to 4 people. So two couples toured, so we spent 65 CUC per couple plus tip. The first third of the tour is a walking tour with Blexie, the second and third part of the tour his friend Lou joined us who had an old fashioned well maintained car (that had A/C- YEAH)... he drove us to see different sections of the city and Blexie was with us the entire time. The tour was informative, we stopped to see one of the medical clinics as I am a nurse. Blexie is very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend him and his tour.

 

[Texex2]

On 8/4/2018 at 3:43 PM, Fogfog said:

I posted a longer response in a new thread-- yet wanted to add in here..

 

Our tour via Blexie waswith Elvis. He did an outstanding job weaving history, politics, social issues,architecture, common life, and pop culture into our day. We had severalprovoking discussions about things spanning the Revolution, the Bay of Pigs, housingin Cuba, the Cuban Missile crisis, Socialism and Communism, the authority Cubangov, favorite pop items like music, baseball etc. Our tour included agood deal of walking and we also had a gorgeous classic car (white and maroon)and a very polite driver.

 

Among the places wesaw were

-Walkthrough old Havana,

- Walkthrough the 4 main squares in the old city to see the Cathedral and mainmonuments and historical sites.

- Fort,People's House/capitol, Drive along Embassy row.

- Drivedown the malecon towards Fusterlandia which is an entire neighborhood coveredwith mosaic tiles. Walk Fusterlandia

- Visitthe Plaza de revolucion to see the square where Castro gathered millions andthe Pope visited.

- Lunch - ropavieja at Habitania 100 CUC (soup/ropa viejawith rice/beans, flan, beer, coffee, bottled water and heavy tip)

- Popped into to see"Hemingway’s" hotel and also at "his" bar, Floridita. Toocrowded to stay

- Stopped to do a Rumpurchase/Cigars purchase/Coffee purchase. Very thankful to have help withthe purchase. We spent about 245 CUC on rum/cigars/coffee -- our son spent closer to 500 CUC on rum/cigars (Cohiba!!) and coffee

We had hoped to see insidethe cigar factory however they were on break (vacation- August)

Tour was 130 CUC plus tipextra

Some in our group may not be up to a lot of walking. Can it be adjusted to have more time in car and less walking? You guys do lunch? Lastly, I have heard the guides appreciate some items that are hard to get in Cuba. Did you give anything other than a tip? Are tipping guidelines similar to US? I know it varies in Europe but want to be appropriate as I am sure the service will be great! 

[Cruisin4]

41 minutes ago, Texex2 said:

Some in our group may not be up to a lot of walking. Can it be adjusted to have more time in car and less walking? You guys do lunch? Lastly, I have heard the guides appreciate some items that are hard to get in Cuba. Did you give anything other than a tip? Are tipping guidelines similar to US? I know it varies in Europe but want to be appropriate as I am sure the service will be great! 

 Yes, just ask and they will accommodate

[Fogfog]

5 hours ago, Texex2 said:

Some in our group may not be up to a lot of walking. Can it be adjusted to have more time in car and less walking? You guys do lunch? Lastly, I have heard the guides appreciate some items that are hard to get in Cuba. Did you give anything other than a tip? Are tipping guidelines similar to US? I know it varies in Europe but want to be appropriate as I am sure the service will be great! 

 

Really it will depend on what you want to see.   The chips offer the bus/drive by tours. 

 

If you find my other post--I mention the general things we saw--and much of it is in the older part of Havana and in the pedestrian areas/squares etc...not easily accessed by car. We did drive out to see the neighborhood of mosaics--drivign past the embassies etc. also drove out to the cigar factory and where we purchased rum and cigars.

Some plazas, fountains and landmarks and such are pedestrian only. Really you gain so much by walking the streets of Havana. 

 

Perhaps spending time on TripAd and looking at what is in Havana to see (cross ref with google earth/maps) and you can decide what you want to see / do

 

How much time you spend on lunch depends on you--- your "Blexie" guide and driver won't eat with you (we offered/they declined) In other countries with private guides we have had the guide and driver dine with us so we can talk/learn more/share. We had hoped to work that out here but as I said--they declined.

 

Tipping in CUC  i proper. (what you will change your national currency to--is acceptable and required for payment for everything, Blexie, entrance fees, lunch, rum/cigars, tips etc is CUC)

Cubans will have to change it to CUP because that is what they use for currency

 

Blexie himself wrote a long item on his Facebook page and it was posted here on CC that he recommends you do NOT bring gifts/toiletries/toys/clothes etc that some are saying they pack/plan for their trips to Cuba.

Despite well intentioned folks doing this--according to Blexie it is problematic in many ways. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Stevanb]

Some in our group may not be up to a lot of walking. Can it be adjusted to have more time in car and less walking?

Yes they will make it anyway you want. We had a big list of what we wanted to do and he took us every wear we wanted to go except the cannon shot as it conflicted with the Tropicana

 

You guys do lunch?

Yes Lunch and Dinner and  drinks at the  at a Hotel where I bought cigars and at few other places

 

Lastly, I have heard the guides appreciate some items that are hard to get in Cuba. Did you give anything other than a tip?

 

Yes we brought a Marlins hat for Blexie  some sunglasses  and  candy .  It seems like now they take anything you have in volume when you go thru customs. We had not enough for them to question. 

 

Lastly we tipped him and the driver