Hoping to holiday in Veradero, Cuba in the winter. I'm curious to know what the shopping is like there? Are there beach vendors or malls? What would be a good souvenir from Cuba? Thanks.

A cigar?<BR><BR>Shopping is not very good in Cuba.

There is no shopping in Cuba - at least nothing like the other islands. Can't speak for Varadero but from our trip to the Melia in Guardalavaca, the only things you can buy are cigars, coffee (if you like strong stand-your-spoon-in-it coffee, then this stuff is for you) and rum and T-shirts. That's it. No beach vendors, no malls.

I agree with what's been posted. There really isn't any shopping in Cuba. Just Rum, coffee, cigars....and t shirts. The good news is, you don't spend any money there!<BR>

One word comes to mind about shopping in Cuba....CHEAP!!! You're not gonna find anything except for souvenirs...like what was mentioned previously, key chains, maracas, drums, lots of wood carvings...a lot of cute stuff actually and it's dirt cheap. for example, i got a drum, two maracas, 2 sticks, and a keychain for 3 dollars USD....in other islands the key chain alone would be that price.

Hi Erica, There is a mall,I beleave called "Las Americas" at one of the Sol Melia hotels in Varadero.Here you will find everything from Nike sneakers to TV's and washing machines.Also a bank machine.We found most of the stuff here more expensive than at home (Canada)but it was interesting to check out a regular grocery store.There is a large flea market in Varadero that great on the weekends,live bands lots of people,and souviners are really cheap,awesome beach here too.There is also a large flea market in Havana,lots of great deals here too.If you do a day tour of Havana you'll probally end up there.Definetly reccomend tour of Havana.ALSO, NO, never experienced any prostitutesin Varadero. Also we saw one guy with nice wooden stuff on a bicycle that was on the beach in Varadero each day.Hope this helps.

yeaa...<BR>sorry about that but there was another post saying Vardero was full of them,which kinda made me mad as it's just not true.Sorry for the mix up erica.