>> made a typo and my comment is not three years old.<<

No -- the THREAD is 3.5 years old and the OP isn't interested any longer . . .

Thank you for your reply. I'm sure someone might still
be interested or in some of the other three year old threads.
You're reading this page for some reason even though its three
years old.

>>You're reading this page for some reason even though its three
years old.<<

. . . Because I thought it was a current thread. It wasn't until I opened it, I realized it was an old thread apparently topped by a spammer just before you and SambaChula responded.

Hello again. If you have not been to Cuba yet I'm sure
you will enjoy it, if 2 million other international
tourists per year get it cheaper than what is offered
to Americans, that part has to change.If a visitor
walks from the lobby to their beach chair you don't really
notice the fact that you're in a communist country, but
one feels it strongly as soon as one is out of the hotel,
I was travelling solo, had to make significant intellectual
adjustments about everything there, not just the giving part.
Inherent Cuban charm makes up for it, no one should be
detracted from going. We'll see what the future holds
but Cubans deserve a better deal too.

"had to make significant intellectual
adjustments about everything there"

Really? You must have VERY limited travel experience.

"Was not prepared for extensive tipping so have plenty of coin hand."

Perhaps I don't look like a rich American or something, but I was only 'hit on' once for anything during my whole trip, by a guy in the not-so-poor Vedado neighborhood of Havana (who I later met again in front of the Coppelia ice cream shop, where he greeted me like an old friend!) who had the good grace to blush when I suggested his story about needing milk for his supposed baby was total bs.

I can't believe how vicious Americans are. Stay home.

FWIW we were asked for tips, particularly in museums in Havana, e.g. for attendants to take our photos, [we were quite capable of taking our own but what the hell] and even in the museum to the local committees, which made us laugh.

but we were met with lots of kindness and interest in our lives when we expressed interest in the lives of the locals.

it is obvious that those who have access to the tourist dollar, like casa owners, have a much higher standard of living than those who don't. Nevertheless the gifts we took like biscuits and sweets were well received. We didn't see any shortage of clothes or stationery so we hope that by spending our money in Cuba and helping the economy we are helping the average cuban.

Everyone's experiences are different so we should probably not judge each other from a post on a travel forum.

Money.... money is what to bring to give..... then they can buy what they need or want in stores that accept CUCs.