Melia Resorts Ordered Out of Cuba.....What Next

[00:00:00]going so live on today's show. Mia pulling out. We have Barcelo pulling out. IP Star's gone. Mu's gone. Who's going to cope? Who's running the resorts? Fall travel. Are we still going? And who's going?

[00:00:16]>> Who's going?

[00:00:17]>> What if the Cuban citizens?

[00:00:20]Cuba still needs oil. We're talking food supplies. Where's it going to be coming from? Beach bags. We're talking deals of the week. Bring your question. World's on tilt and we don't know how to manage forest fires. Someone told us so much more on tonight's live stream.

[00:00:36]>> Hello everybody.

[00:00:37]>> My god.

[00:00:38]>> Hey.

[00:00:38]>> Hey.

[00:00:40]>> We were just here.

[00:00:41]>> We were just here on Sunday.

[00:00:42]>> But we're back.

[00:00:43]>> We are back.

[00:00:44]>> Let's say hello to a few people.

[00:00:46]>> Let's say hello.

[00:00:47]>> Sandra and Phil. We're talking to Evie Fisher.

[00:00:49]>> Evie Fisher's here.

[00:00:51]>> We're talking to Lori and uh we're talking to Lorie Monks and probably Paul.

[00:00:55]>> We're talking to Ted Shaughnessy and William McCormack.

[00:00:59]to so many people.

[00:01:00]>> Michelle, Greg, Andy, >> Andy's here. Thanks, Andy.

[00:01:03]>> We're talking to Derek, >> Jill, Derek. We'll go back to the top.

[00:01:06]Mark, Ellen, my goodness, >> we've got a lot of people here, Christy.

[00:01:11]>> Yeah, everyone.

[00:01:12]>> We're talking to Peter and Coberg. Thank you all for joining us. And >> and well-dressed songs. I don't know the name, but >> yeah, welldressed songs. He brought up a good question.

[00:01:21]>> There's some great questions. So listen, if you have any questions that you want to address, start to put them in and if we skip over them just because sometimes they go so fast, just put it in. If you can copy and repeat it, that'd be great.

[00:01:34]>> Yeah.

[00:01:35]>> Hello guys. Ghost Viper, everyone's starting to chime in. Jesse, Sean, >> Angela, >> Jack, >> Seven Days in Paradise, >> cuz today's news for many, many people was heartbreaking.

[00:01:47]>> It It was a kick in the It was a kick in the ribs, actually.

[00:01:50]>> It was really hard.

[00:01:50]>> It really was. Yeah.

[00:01:51]>> Um I saw it yesterday and people had >> Are we frozen? Tell us that.

[00:01:55]>> I don't think so.

[00:01:56]>> Okay. Cuz on this screen we are. Okay.

[00:01:58]Good. Good.

[00:01:58]>> I I think maybe it's cuz of the weather, too.

[00:02:00]>> We didn't Cheersy.

[00:02:02]>> Okay. Belleville's in the house.

[00:02:03]>> If you're drinking coffee, I don't know if you are, but >> Yes, I am.

[00:02:05]>> No, you are. Our friends.

[00:02:07]>> Okay. Sorry. [laughter] >> I don't know if anyone Maybe you're having a beer. Maybe you're on holiday.

[00:02:12]Who knows?

[00:02:12]>> Celebrity 60s.

[00:02:14]>> Sean Stadium.

[00:02:16]>> Good evening, Susan. I'm having ice coffee tonight.

[00:02:19]>> Colette Mark.

[00:02:19]>> Abby, you'd be proud of me. Susan, >> Carl Pointer, Sally.

[00:02:25]>> So, should we should we preface that? A lot of people reached out to us yesterday with that news.

[00:02:31]>> My brother, so many people >> screenshot of it and we always like to do our homework and make sure >> panic >> that it's true, right? So, you did some work this morning.

[00:02:40]>> I did some work and I was waiting Yeah.

[00:02:42]till I heard back and I did hear back from people that could say the real stuff and it was like really like I was hoping it was going to be fake news.

[00:02:52]>> Yeah, we were hoping >> and it wasn't fake news. It's just the reality and the sad part is is I was just down there for five weeks. There was never any talk.

[00:03:02]>> No, >> it was business as usual >> and me was holding strong.

[00:03:06]>> They're holding strong. Yeah.

[00:03:07]>> Like I was impressed and they were happy.

[00:03:12]The problem isn't Melia or the problem is in between us and Cuba. There's another land mass that has a big >> influence >> influence and >> what they say is going and that's just the reality and they were forced out like these other people and >> true >> other other companies have been forced out.

[00:03:32]>> Yeah.

[00:03:33]>> And that puts a massive strain on the Cuban people and the Cuban citizens, the Cuban workers, everyone.

[00:03:41]You know, it's brutal. It's And it's not only brutal, but imagine if you are at Holy Sun and you're trying to book people and then you're booking people and then this pops up.

[00:03:52]>> Well, this is the this is the issue. Not only that, I mean, you were there promoting Melia pretty heavy the last week.

[00:03:58]>> And I didn't get paid or anything. I was going there because it's like, hey, >> but they were great. They were incredible. You had such a great stay.

[00:04:05]>> I did. I did. And it seemed like it was sort of business as usual. Even though we know it's not business as usual.

[00:04:11]>> It's not business as usual. But >> but now it's more so uh tricky because people want to know.

[00:04:18]>> People want to know.

[00:04:19]>> Should they still be going and and what's that going to look like? So, >> first of all, it's really tricky because we all know it's tricky because we're we're doing these live streams. Yeah.

[00:04:28]And we're just like, okay, well, how do we get there now? We got to go to Miami.

[00:04:31]Well, I don't want to go to Miami. I want to go to I don't want to go to Cancun, >> Panama. I want to go this way. So, everyone's trying to figure that out.

[00:04:38]>> And now we get this news is like I think some people are going to toss in the towel. I just know it.

[00:04:44]>> Yeah.

[00:04:44]>> And I think there's going to be die hards that are still going to go.

[00:04:47]>> Yeah.

[00:04:47]>> But it's just going to be like I've had enough. I just And this is exactly feeding into the administration that's doing this is their hands, right? Like they just want people to like quit.

[00:05:00]>> Well, and that's the thing. I think the number one thing that people are going to ask us is >> how h >> how [clears throat] not how am I going to go now, it's like if I do go and I'm putting in this extra effort, what can I expect when I'm there now that Neil has pulled out? Because Neil was a pretty uh a pretty solid resort in terms of its food, its food quality, >> structure, its management, everything, >> reliability. You could count on them.

[00:05:27]Like if they said something, it meant something. Like if you were going to a room class that you bought, you knew you were going to get it.

[00:05:35]>> Um, >> can you give him I [laughter] like listen to him.

[00:05:37]>> I don't know if they >> Sorry, that's our dog scratching.

[00:05:40]>> So, >> he's just trying to get comfortable.

[00:05:42]>> You know, it's just this is just a bit of a punch in the gut for people that were really looking forward to trying to figure out this fall and winter upcoming travel season. Now that being said, you know, I reached out to a lot of people today, like I said.

[00:05:59]>> So, um, because I just came from, where did I come from? I came from, uh, I came from Melia Verero. I got to know Marco.

[00:06:08]I don't know if you know the general manager.

[00:06:10]>> Some people might.

[00:06:11]>> I got to know him. I sent him a text early this morning. I said, uh, this was early this morning. I said, "Is it true Melee is leaving at the end of July?"

[00:06:20]Um, Melia Verero, Melia Los America. Oh, sorry, sorry. Uh, morning, Marco. I'm reading some news that Melia may be leaving Cuba. I'm not operating the resort in Veraro at the end of July. Is this true or is this fake news, Marco? I was planning on returning in September.

[00:06:37]I was hoping to come back to Mele Verlero in Los America.

[00:06:40]>> Yeah, >> he responds, I'm talking within a minute.

[00:06:44]>> Yes, he did.

[00:06:45]>> Like, it's it's there's no there's no break. He goes, "Hi, Mike."

[00:06:48]>> It's true. Melia will be leaving at the end. I will be leaving Melyia at the end of July. Mely will be leaving. Melie Verero, Melia Los America and so Palmer will remain open. Um it will be managed directly by the owner. Um same staff, same standards, same knowhow simply without the name Melia. So if you come, please keep your booking reservation.

[00:07:13]>> Yeah. So can you please keep your reservation?

[00:07:16]>> I'm not that great of a reader sometimes.

[00:07:17]>> No, that's okay. But I remember what he said. He just really was like, "Please keep your reservation." So for those people who, >> you know, even on our live stream on on uh Sunday were saying like, you know, if we go like, so I mean, he's saying the only thing that is changing now that always brings the question of where will they get their their resources, right?

[00:07:40]And someone is also asking a really great question. Uh does it mean that they'll never return?

[00:07:45]>> Well, that's a great question.

[00:07:46]>> That is a great question.

[00:07:46]>> That's a great question. Right. These are all questions and these people won't have that knowledge and uh you know it's it's just hard for everyone. Like I'm surprised he got back to me early this morning because I sent out messages to a lot of people and I'm I still waited half a day to get the information. I only posted this because it was right from him and I know him and he's a solid individual.

[00:08:09]>> Yeah. And he's a fantastic individual if you've ever met him. And uh I was saddened for him because for him this is a major blow. Yeah.

[00:08:18]>> Because he loved that place. Like he if you've ever run into the guy he works 24 hours a day. You can send him a message anytime and he'll respond to you.

[00:08:26]>> Yeah. I mean that's we're connected or you are at least I mean we both are but you're connected to quite a few people in Cuba and it is amazing the people that get back to us right away with like factual information >> because we wanted to do this >> share it with people because people are you know a you're heartbroken but also many of you might have had plans or you were thinking you might be going and you know some of you still will go I think that's that's uh that's the way it will be right some people >> ordered out is totally true, Sean. Order it out.

[00:08:59]>> Order it out. And then some um people have said earlier in the chat anyway, and this happened on a Sunday as well, >> not that you've given up, but you've given up for now, and you you you need a holiday and you want to go somewhere else. So, someone has booked Dominican.

[00:09:13]And uh >> you know, that's that's going to happen.

[00:09:16]Your heart is always going to be with Cuba. We know that. But um that's another topic we want to talk about is like if not Cuba, where and and I know Mike and I have said this a couple of times, we need to organize it so we can collect the information.

[00:09:29]>> Well, that's what we want >> is like where where should we be going and so we'll probably do it on Facebook so the information is all in one place that you guys can recommend for us.

[00:09:38]>> Yeah. And so we've reached out to a few people today that um put it on to a different um couple of different feeds, but we wanted to collect and gather the information. And then what we're going to do is compile a list. Yeah.

[00:09:49]>> And say >> what here here's a list of 10 properties. Yeah. Give me why don't you guys choose where you'd like to go and then I'll just break it all down and I'm going to go to the ones that pop up the most and so I'm not wasting um time and I can just go.

[00:10:02]>> Okay. Someone's asking. I'm going to keep like I think last day when I went through the questions it was really super helpful.

[00:10:07]>> That was awesome. Um, >> Mark Lefren, hey, how are you? I haven't talked to you in a while.

[00:10:10]>> My cell phone's asking, uh, he'd still like to visit. What's the best way to book a Cassa particular? We talked about this Sunday. It is harder >> because I basically, what I did is I just walked around like if you're going into Havana, you can put in Airbnb and Airbnbs will pop up. Like that's what you can do if you're going into Havana.

[00:10:28]You can probably do that in Verado, but for me, I made the video. I showed you where the castle was. I believe it was on 60 or 61. I showed the address in the video. Um that's, you know, you can walk if if what I would do is stay at Quattropolis for a few days >> for your 50 or 60 bucks a night.

[00:10:49]>> Yeah.

[00:10:49]>> And then go find one and then take some extra cash and it's going to be 30 US a night.

[00:10:54]>> Yeah.

[00:10:54]>> It's not that difficult >> um to find places because they're empty.

[00:10:59]Some people are saying they won't go anywhere else until they can go to Cuba.

[00:11:02]And some people are saying won't be won't be going until it becomes kind of back to normal. Um, we've booked Mexico for December. Yeah, I saw that too.

[00:11:13]>> I don't know what that means.

[00:11:14]>> I don't know that they chose United States. There's a pretty powerful >> there's a pretty powerful underlying uh >> um current in terms of people making decisions in Cuba. Uh yeah anyway >> apart from that let's keep going you think >> so so people were asking me why don't you go to the Symar Barcelo Solomar >> and they're pulling out and uh you know I barrelstar was pretty much gone like I didn't see I think there was only one property I think only opened in Veradero and I only think that Sallyar was left in Veradero so the rest like uh Blue Diamond did pull out like I said a month ago when I was down there.

[00:12:00]>> And this is I think what's going to have to we're all going to have to wrap our heads around is >> when I I so I went to I went to um Quattro Palmus twice. Once when it was running by Blue Diamond and then two days later Blue Diamond pulled out.

[00:12:15]>> Yeah.

[00:12:15]>> So I got to see >> Okay. One time with Blue Diamond and the next time without I think >> Was it different?

[00:12:22]>> The service was still the exact same.

[00:12:24]>> Yeah. bartenders, my room got cleaned, coffee was amazing, things moved around quite efficiently.

[00:12:31]>> Yeah.

[00:12:32]>> And then I went back before I flew home.

[00:12:34]The biggest change was going to be in the food. That is going to be the biggest change.

[00:12:40]>> Yeah. Yeah. For >> And if you've ever been to Melia Verado, that resort hinged a lot on your food experience because they really knew how to cater about the food. Whether it was outside, whether it was at the TMEX, whether it was at the level experience upstairs or whether it was at the buffet.

[00:12:58]>> Yeah, >> they really did a good job at that. And people went to that resort based on that. It wasn't really big beach resort.

[00:13:04]It the pool was okay. People went there because they loved the area to sit out in either inside or out by the 24-hour lobby bar. And they loved the food experience.

[00:13:15]>> I promise. So, so Mike, that's going to be >> if you were calling Holan.

[00:13:20]>> Holan, you're going to call.

[00:13:21]>> If you're calling, are you still saying I want to go to Malia Vera and they're going to say, "Yeah."

[00:13:26]>> Yeah.

[00:13:27]>> Like they're still going to book it that way. Just the name isn't going to change.

[00:13:30]>> The name's going to change at the end of this month at the end.

[00:13:33]>> So, it's going to be called probably I don't know what it's going to be called.

[00:13:36]>> Who knows?

[00:13:37]>> Verary something.

[00:13:38]>> And they'll know what you're talking about.

[00:13:41]>> But so, you can still go. And someone asked, is it going to be the same work like employees are the same workers able to keep their jobs?

[00:13:48]>> Yes. So like like I said with this message right here, so this is >> coming right from him. Um it's going to be >> the same staff, same standards, same knowhow simply without the Melia name that is coming from Marco that manages Veraro right now. Okay. So, just like when I was just at Solymore, I'm sorry.

[00:14:11]When I was just at Quattropamus, it's all the exact same staff.

[00:14:14]>> Same.

[00:14:15]>> It's the same check-in people. It's the same everything.

[00:14:18]>> It's just going to be the manager's gone.

[00:14:20]>> Yeah.

[00:14:20]>> The question that I really have is, okay, if Mia is pulling out, well, Melia brought in a lot of food. Where's the food going to come from?

[00:14:28]>> A lot of people are agreeing with Sandra, like she's saying, does anyone else feel like they would be cheating?

[00:14:33]It's like cheating on your wife if you go to Dominican or Mexico. It's crazy to feel that way, but Cuba is so special.

[00:14:38]It is a special place not supporting it now. But I completely understand, >> but people have to go on a 7-day holiday. You want to go on guaranteed, right? So, I think Cuba is going to be more for the adventurous person right now that's kind of retired like I am, like a few other people here like you know, Andy, like Kirk, like people that have more time on their hands and you're you're in for a 10day getaway and you don't know what's going to happen, but you're going to be okay. like, you know, like I know it's going to work out.

[00:15:08]>> Yeah.

[00:15:08]>> And that's why I went down and I made the videos and I have videos coming out to show you what's going on at these resorts.

[00:15:14]>> Yeah. And it's true. Nothing is changing but the name. And then we will we'll be looking to you for updates because we'll want to know what is the food quality like? Are they able to get that resource?

[00:15:27]>> And I mean I guess for us that's the one >> good thing is that you can go check it out for us. The the great thing is is I was online today and I'm not telling you what I'm doing, but [laughter] uh I was online today looking at flights and right now flights are crazy in August.

[00:15:42]So, I am probably going to go back and I'm compiling a list of where I'm going to go to.

[00:15:48]>> Yeah.

[00:15:48]>> And I'm going to quickly go back to a few places and make update videos.

[00:15:51]>> Yeah.

[00:15:52]>> Like that's just, you know, I'm just going to do it. I might as well. Like I just left there making update videos.

[00:15:58]Now I'm going to go back and make more update videos. But really, the price is not that bad. Like, >> yeah, I know he has to go, >> you know, like it is what it is.

[00:16:07]>> I wanted to read this um because seven days says, "I've seen many companies pull out over the years, but never this bad. A lot of changes." And that is interesting because you and I, we went on a walk today. Yeah.

[00:16:17]>> And we were talking about this when we first uh ventured back to Cuba. you know, we were young and you know, you go through that phase of where you you're not going anywhere because you you bought a house, you had your first kid, you you know, you're strapped. But when we did go, it was a sandals.

[00:16:33]>> We went to the sandals. It's now the royalty.

[00:16:36]>> The sandals pulled out. I mean, we tried to go back and we were looking for the sandals and it pulled out.

[00:16:41]>> But let's talk about that.

[00:16:42]>> Yeah.

[00:16:42]>> So, our first experience, we paid more back then than what we're paying lately.

[00:16:47]>> We went to a sandals. We thought this is our one and only trip. We went for a four or five bag.

[00:16:52]>> It was amazing. [clears throat] >> We had the best time. We did.

[00:16:55]>> So, we wanted to go back the following year. They go, "It's not called sandals anymore."

[00:16:58]>> We were like, "Oh, that sucks."

[00:17:00]>> And it was called the Royaltton. Not the Royaltton Hakiako. Is that how you say it? Hakyako or Hakiakas.

[00:17:06]>> Um, it's just called the Royaltton. And we went back and it was pretty much the same. It just didn't have the same in the pool, >> you know, the writing and >> same room, same staff, same everything, same stuff. and we returned for many many years. Seven or eight years. So, >> and it wasn't expense as expensive as the sandals.

[00:17:26]>> No. And I mean, don't get me wrong, I I I'm not that naive. I know that this is much bigger than that, but it does go to show that there's a pendulum and it it does swing and I have hope and faith that it will swing back. And yes, the structure, as we call it, Mike and I, the structure of Cuba, um, without getting completely political, because there are very strong opinions, >> we all knows it has to change. We all know that.

[00:17:55]>> We know the Cuban structure has to change and we have Cuban tourism falling off a cliff. So, I call it the gap. How do we bridge the gap until each either one of these changes changes?

[00:18:07]>> So, we need change here. We need change over here, but we don't know when that will change. So, we have the gap. And like Canadian tourists, we're filling the gap by supporting locals, supporting people, bringing medicines, bringing things. And that's what I always say is we bridge the gap.

[00:18:23]>> Um, sorry, Debbie's asking the the rumor had that Malia employees had not been paid. I'm going to say paid, not laid, since May. Um, >> do you know if that's true? It's hard to know.

[00:18:35]>> I I I don't know. That's that's a rumor.

[00:18:38]I can't see that coming from Melia.

[00:18:42]That's just me. But um >> we have heard that in other scenarios.

[00:18:47]>> I heard that at other resorts that were operated by other people that I won't mention. Yeah.

[00:18:52]>> But not I've never heard that from that >> from that chain and I can't see it.

[00:18:58]>> Yeah.

[00:18:58]>> I I but you know what? But rumors are rumors and I I like to deal with facts.

[00:19:03]And Kathy is saying, "Breezes Veradero was amazing." And Breezes left years ago as well.

[00:19:08]>> And we've been to Breezes in the Bahamas.

[00:19:10]>> Yeah, actually. Yeah, we have.

[00:19:11]>> And we'll never go back.

[00:19:12]>> No, [laughter] >> cuz we like the sandals better.

[00:19:16]>> That's so true.

[00:19:17]>> Oh my god. [laughter] >> We did not enjoy that, did we?

[00:19:21]>> I mean, paid. Yeah, I understand what you're saying, Debbie, that you heard they weren't getting paid.

[00:19:25]>> Yeah, >> I don't know about that.

[00:19:28]>> Yeah, me neither.

[00:19:29]>> I don't believe all rumors. And the unfortunate part of the internet is one person gets something and they run with it and then other people believe until it's proven not true.

[00:19:39]>> Good.

[00:19:39]>> And that's why when I called and I didn't put the post out until I had verification.

[00:19:44]>> Right. Sorry, I have to comment because someone earlier said that they sent you a message today >> and that you didn't respond. And if you weren't in our live stream on Sunday, I did talk about that. But today we actually went through Mike's phone, >> the DMs, >> the DMs in Messenger, Facebook Messenger, and he I'm going to say 15,000.

[00:20:06]>> No, it wasn't 15,000. We're talking probably I would say over 5,000 messages >> for sure. We spent >> hours >> deleting them.

[00:20:15]>> Deleting them just so that we can now try to get updated messages. Anyway, guys, when we're communicating futuristically, it will be me that manages all of that. But you're going to have to come through finding fish because Mike's phone blows up daily.

[00:20:28]>> Yes. Are people still going to Santa Maria? Yes, they are. There's one resort open.

[00:20:33]>> It's PlaySt.

[00:20:36]>> Yeah, it's open because I just checked it out yesterday and I got clarification that it is open. Let's run through some of these questions.

[00:20:42]>> And Terry, we all feel that way.

[00:20:43]Hopefully, when we go to Cuba, they will be free and it will be a prosperous country for its own people. We all want that for Cuba.

[00:20:50]>> But we all want that.

[00:20:51]>> We've always wanted that.

[00:20:52]>> You know, listen, let's talk about this quickly because people send me messages right now. You know, we went to Cuba last year and it was not sustainable.

[00:21:03]It's never been sustainable. The only time that Cuba travel has ever been sustainable for the resorts, for the airlines, is in high season. After that, everyone takes everyone's taking a a bath. probably the airlines are breaking even on the flights and the resorts are taking a a bath on but the resorts want to keep people there to keep operations running to keep rooms open to keep them aired out so they're not putting so much money into repainting them getting rid of all the mold and mildew from sitting rooms we all understand that um but the Cuban people actually there wasn't a lot of people there in offseason I was there and maybe say 50 to 75 people at at a resort but at least the 50 to 75 people that resorts brought tips and brought items.

[00:21:49]>> Yeah.

[00:21:49]>> You know, it's either you do that or you furlow all the people. And now most of the people are furoughed, right? And now these people are complaining that they don't have power, water, necessities of life.

[00:22:00]>> It's a it's a double-edged sword. Who wins? Who loses? All the Cuban citizens, they lose. There's no winner here.

[00:22:06]>> I I someone brought up what about Kokocoin? You and I talked about it.

[00:22:10]people. You have your sweet spot in Cuba and a lot of people love the KO.

[00:22:15]>> Kale Coco won't be opening this year.

[00:22:17]>> No, >> I can't see it.

[00:22:18]>> No, I don't.

[00:22:19]>> If they can barely keep Verado open.

[00:22:21]>> Yeah.

[00:22:22]>> And they have one resort open in Santa Maria.

[00:22:24]>> Yeah.

[00:22:25]>> Where are the people going to come from to facilitate to keep the operations of these >> going to happen? But I hope to get back there one day. It's one of my favorite spots, too.

[00:22:34]>> Um, I read something was >> Yeah. um have European countries pulled out >> also pulled out of Cuba.

[00:22:42]>> No, >> like airlines there's you still have airlines coming in.

[00:22:47]>> You don't have as many as they used to.

[00:22:49]>> No. You know, >> and Russian is not flying in because Russia can't refuel their planes. They can't go to DR Mexico. No one will take them because of the sanctions set upon them, right? So those Russian tourists can't come.

[00:23:02]>> And so that's happening. That's reality.

[00:23:05]>> Maintaining the pools in the grounds.

[00:23:06]That's good. Um they're maintaining things which >> they are maintaining things.

[00:23:11]>> Earlier in the chat someone had said you know we all knowingly go to Cuba even knowing their their situation the government situation. You went for fun but you also most of us here went to help people.

[00:23:24]>> That's right.

[00:23:24]>> Right. Like yes that's the part I think that we'll miss traveling to other parts of the world. Right.

[00:23:30]>> Like you know pe like like we always talk about this the wage of the average Cuban. This can be fought about amongst every pe all kinds of people.

[00:23:40]>> People will say it's 5,000 10,000 15,000 cup a month whatever whatever it is.

[00:23:46]>> I would tip out that like in like two hours like to some people. So the average and maybe I'm not the average tourist but the average tourists give a dollar, $2, $3. Well, if the average Canad if the average Cuban only made $ 15 to $20, a resort worker would make that in a day.

[00:24:08]>> So, like, you know what I'm saying? So, it's resort workers actually did do better because they took that money into town and supported their entire families. And we've talked about this many live streams, but that's true. It's a fact. I've talked to so many people and this is the biggest fact. one of the bartenders, the head bartender. I want to say I want to say El Patricia. El Patricia. I said, uh, he he's like, you know, he's we're we got to go be good friends with him. He was feeding us drinks one day. He goes, "Do you know that my mother-in-law my mother-in-law lives at our house?" I said, "Oh, really?" And he goes, "Yeah, she's a doctor." I said, "Seriously? Remember this conversation?" He goes, "I make more money than the entire family being a head bartender here." So his role was to look after the entire family. Even though his mother-in-law was way more educated than him, he brought in the family fortune. And you know that's that's hard. That's sad. That's the reality.

[00:25:10]>> Um there was a question for you and I think it was about Copa, but we have talked Oh, I'm sorry. I've lost it.

[00:25:18]>> That's okay. You can scroll back.

[00:25:20]>> Yeah. Oh, there it is. Uh, I was curious about Copa Airlines as you had mentioned flights from Miami to Santa Clara, but I've tried and no dates are available.

[00:25:27]>> No dates might not be available right now because even with Copa, Copa is really not even starting up until September if you really look or if you go right now in August, they're super expensive, but they fall right back. It looks like probably Copa is really not doing that route until it looks like the 28th or 29th of August because I've been on there today.

[00:25:50]Yeah.

[00:25:51]>> So, >> let's talk about this. Oh, if there's going to be trolls on here, Mark, let them because guess what?

[00:25:58]>> It's all right.

[00:25:59]>> Like, >> I don't know what the trolls think they're going to do. Let's just starve out an entire population and they're going to be okay in a couple years. I don't get that. I don't get that mentality.

[00:26:11]>> But then again, like I'm down there all the time and guess what? They're not. So if people want to troll me because I go down there and help out a certain population of people that are in desperate need of food and water.

[00:26:23]>> Also misinformed because to say people coming to Cuba and helping people, it only reaches the resort. That's just not true. It goes back to communities. It goes back to families. And lots of people go to other places.

[00:26:38]>> That's right. And there is some truth to that. Yeah. I like if I go to a resort, I'm actually helping out the government in a certain way. But guess what? My Cuban friends tell me when they go buy a bottle of water, a can of Coke, a beer, so are they. So you're misinformed. And like anyone that ever wants to call me out because I'm going and I'm helping out a government. I'm actually helping out a people. But unfortunately, sometimes you have to give medicine to someone, but you actually have to go buy around someone to give them medicine.

[00:27:06]And unfortunately, that's what you got to do. And if you don't like my content because you don't think that I'm I'm then don't watch me. It's it that's called freedom. You have a freedom of choice. Don't watch me. But guess what?

[00:27:18]You can't handle it and you will have to watch >> freedom. So I've removed them.

[00:27:21]>> Well, but don't let them let them troll.

[00:27:23]>> Yeah.

[00:27:24]>> That's called freedom. I have the freedom to let you do that.

[00:27:26]>> It does get distracting. No flights from any Canadian airlines. No.

[00:27:30]>> No.

[00:27:30]>> Um there was another question. When are you going back?

[00:27:35]>> I'm going to be going back in September.

[00:27:36]>> He's going back. It's I'm already in talks with certain people right now.

[00:27:40]>> Yes.

[00:27:41]>> But I'm not going to tell you cuz I haven't even booked it. I have to book my flight first and then I'm going to I'm looking at resorts to go back to.

[00:27:48]I'm paying for everything like I always do.

[00:27:50]>> We're not talking about you.

[00:27:51]>> I'm not being I'm not I'm never being paid by anyone to do this. Cuban Tourism Board doesn't give me anything to fly down there. I don't get any free flights. I refuse free stays. I just go and do my own thing and I pay for it.

[00:28:05]>> Yes. Um, can I give Patrick a quick recap because he was late because he's out west.

[00:28:10]>> Patrick, come on now.

[00:28:11]>> Yes. Uh, Melia did fully, they are fully pulling out by end of July.

[00:28:17]>> That's right.

[00:28:17]>> But just the name, they're still going to be open at this point.

[00:28:22]>> Management, workers, everything >> business as us if you can call it that.

[00:28:28]If that helps.

[00:28:29]>> So basically that you were late. You can always rewatch.

[00:28:31]>> Yeah. I think what people are worried about and what I get worried about sometimes is merely was just a really well ststructured organization. Yes, >> you could actually do the payment system. They actually navigated around.

[00:28:41]So, credit cards were almost working there. Again, >> they had a great accountability system.

[00:28:45]>> They had great accountability like if you needed something like like your ears, your you know like they looked after you. I think people get fearful when you have a chain like Melia pulling out that wow that's the top brand in that country. Um, how's the food going to be? Are the is stuff just going to disappear? And that's that's a valid point, right? Like, and where's the food going to come from? Because Melia brought in a lot of the food, the food, the cheese, the salamis, >> the the pork, the chicken.

[00:29:15]>> Yeah. And I asked you that today. Does Melia pulling out mean they won't support anything? Like, does it mean that the resources end?

[00:29:24]>> I don't know. That's a good question. I don't know. I'll have to find out when I go back in September. Like, >> yeah. So, we'll see. It does it does seem like if they're they're done, they're done. But you never know.

[00:29:34]>> Well, they are done, they're done. Just like Blue Diamond. Like when Blue Diamond pulled out, they were gone the next day.

[00:29:39]>> Yeah, it's crazy.

[00:29:40]>> Like the resort manager was gone.

[00:29:42]>> Um, what does that mean for Melia Hotel International? Oh, does mean.

[00:29:46]>> Okay. Well, this is what it means. So, believe Meia International is still going to be operating. It's not going to have the Melia name and it's not going to have the management. And I just met with him two weeks ago.

[00:29:56]>> Yeah. And the the funny thing is is these if you ever ever driven by these resorts, Melee International, the signage on that property is gorgeous.

[00:30:06]Does that mean they're taking it down or they're going to put something over it?

[00:30:09]I don't know.

[00:30:10]>> Yeah. Um Mike, I have to talk about this for a second. I know it wasn't on our list, but on Sunday you did talk about just that you had kind of brainstormed a charter.

[00:30:22]>> I did.

[00:30:22]>> And I have to tell you people, I had people reaching out to me wanting their name on our list of people who are coming on this charter.

[00:30:31]>> Yeah. Okay, hold on. Let's go back. I reached out. They reached back out to me about a charter. Maybe I reached back out to them. I haven't heard. And so that was last week. So, and everything that's going on in the news, I I just I'll have to wait and see what's going to happen with that.

[00:30:47]>> Anyway, I just wanted to be clear that there's no list yet because >> there's no list. There's nothing there's nothing formal formal done. Like I haven't even negotiated the price for a 737 plane [laughter] yet.

[00:30:57]>> Yes. But if we can do it, all of you in here, >> I'm crazy enough to probably sign the lease.

[00:31:03]>> Be the first people on our list. So, um, good to hear from you guys. I haven't caught a live in a while. Oh, that's nice.

[00:31:11]>> Melia Copa, uh, maybe Copa for a charter. I think with Copa, Copa is so busy, but what you can do with Copa is you could just do a group trip. Yeah, >> that's what it's going to be because some there's some good flight times with Copa. Yeah, >> Copa is going to be a lot more of a length, but you know, it is what it is.

[00:31:28]But if people are into a group trip maybe with Copa, >> but the only problem right now >> and people are asking me um >> I would never book anything right now in advance. Like a we've got hurricane season going to be coming up in September. So let like like you know like if we're going to do a group trip it's going to have to be not last minute but probably two minute two months away from where we're thinking about going.

[00:31:51]>> Start the car. I love that.

[00:31:52]>> Start the car. We're out of here.

[00:31:55]>> Oh, that would be so awesome. Eh.

[00:31:57]>> Oh yeah.

[00:31:58]>> All right. Where are we at?

[00:32:00]>> Let's talk about >> try to stay on track, guys.

[00:32:02]>> So fall travel. We're talking fall travel. We're talking who's who's going to be going. We're talking that right now. What about the Cuban citizens?

[00:32:09]Yeah. And you know, I've had a bunch of trolls on here and I I just don't think that people really, especially people that don't go to Cuba very often. I don't think they really understand the magnitude of the humanitarian issue that's happening in this country.

[00:32:26]>> I only know it because I was just there for five weeks and see it firsthand.

[00:32:29]There's no one in the streets in Verado.

[00:32:32]And now with this news like the US administration is winning this war of about like squeezing the news tight around the world. The whole world.

[00:32:44]>> The whole world.

[00:32:46]It's the whole world.

[00:32:47]>> And here's another issue going on that they just want to like deal with this.

[00:32:53]And there's right and wrong to everything. I'm not saying that. I'm just saying maybe go about it. How about a different way? How about dialogue?

[00:33:01]>> Yeah. How about like >> dialogue?

[00:33:03]>> Why so drawn out? Also, >> you know, I don't know. Tactics, >> stipulations, dialogue, send some money, let some oil go there. Like really, oil hasn't been sent to Cuba since March.

[00:33:16]>> 700,000 barrels. If someone can go research it and tell me what vessel has showed up, I went through Matanza the last five weeks. It's the same five ships, all red color, all riding high, all empty.

[00:33:28]>> All empty. I don't know where the oil's coming from. Yeah.

[00:33:31]>> Unless someone's sneaking it in.

[00:33:33]>> Yeah. I don't know, Mike. That part is uh >> they need oil and they How are they going to pay for oil if they don't really have a uh if you don't have >> Yeah.

[00:33:42]>> manufacturing, if you don't have tourism, you're really not selling tobacco. You're not selling hard liquor.

[00:33:48]>> Go take a look at how much hard liquor and tobacco we bought from Cuba in last year and you'll be like jaw drop. Yeah.

[00:33:56]>> It's like nothing. So Cuba, like their whole infrastructure, their whole everything was based on tourism.

[00:34:03]>> Last oil uh freighter came from Russia.

[00:34:06]>> Yeah. 700,000 barrels in March 2026.

[00:34:11]>> So like that is that's just the reality of what >> perhaps sneaking oil in. I don't know.

[00:34:15]>> They've got to be sneaking it in there because >> because they're still going. I remember sorry this guy Cuban guy here. What's your desire for the Cuban people if you just joined? We talked about that earlier. What's your desire for them to be happy and free?

[00:34:27]>> For them to be free. Like all of us want that.

[00:34:29]>> Like what what is your desire for the Cuban people?

[00:34:31]>> Yeah.

[00:34:32]>> Like I know what my desire is. If you've never followed me, then you have no idea then. Like I don't know why you're here.

[00:34:38]>> Yeah.

[00:34:38]>> If you're here, you know, if if you follow us, you you would know.

[00:34:42]>> You would know. Okay. We are already in the hurricane season. This is another good point. Talk about that a little bit because you talked about not um booking.

[00:34:51]We've talked about this many times about not booking too far ahead in hurricane season. So, >> well, because my brother and I learned our lesson a a long time ago or last year for sure because one of the biggest hurricanes ever and always the year before like September, October, November, I would fly home, fly back and forth, and then book it like a couple of days out. I would look at the weather because you've got storms all over the place and it gets tricky down there. And with that last storm last year, how big it was and we actually had to move move again and because we were down in Hin and we moved way up to uh where the heck do we go to? GMO >> GMO >> and we just skirted it. So >> yeah, >> it's not really that fun when you have to avoid big tropical storms and if you go and it rains for seven days, >> you're going to be so disappointed.

[00:35:42]>> So that's why I don't book really well in advance during storm season. Um Ivonne is saying uh the US trying to squeeze Canada out with their new tariffs. Yeah.

[00:35:52]>> Well, hold on. We're gonna be we're gonna be talking about this in a minute.

[00:35:56]Um I believe they said we don't even know how to manage our own forests. I don't know who said that one. Some guy down that kind of runs something in the States. He said that. Yeah. Today on the on the news, >> we don't even know how to manage our own forests.

[00:36:10]>> Oh boy. Anyway, >> we'll talk about that in a minute.

[00:36:13]>> Yeah. Um, so I think there's so much going on in the world and and and Cuba is so it's they're trapped.

[00:36:21]>> They're they're trapped.

[00:36:22]>> Yeah.

[00:36:23]>> And I don't know how this is going to unfold. Obviously, everyday tourism is going to be not going on. Um, you can still book with Holan. I deal with Veronica. I asked her if I could use her name.

[00:36:36]>> Yeah.

[00:36:36]>> Because I always like to ask and she said, "Yeah, you can say my name." I deal with Veronica. She She is excellent to deal with. She knows what I like and she knows Cuba quite well and she can tell you what resorts are actually opened right now and uh you can go with she'll give you the list. So if you want to deal with her that's that's up to you.

[00:36:59]>> US is out of you know what I I believe so too.

[00:37:04]>> No the funny thing is and this is not funny this is actually really sad. Have you seen the forest fires in Miami along the highway there that they actually had to close? I think it was I95 maybe today. So maybe they should actually look after their own forest fires.

[00:37:21]>> Mhm.

[00:37:22]>> Trump down 200 points got bumped.

[00:37:26]>> We just got Yeah. Yeah.

[00:37:28]>> So what else are we talking about now?

[00:37:30]Any other questions? Does anybody have any questions about what's going on? I was thinking about going to Hogan as well. Yeah, you were.

[00:37:38]>> Um, I don't know if I'm going to be doing that right now. There's two resorts open. There's the Elmorante.

[00:37:44]>> It's still being operated, but not by Mu and I believe there's the old Sunfish, the old Starfish property.

[00:37:52]>> It's opened.

[00:37:53]>> Yeah.

[00:37:54]>> So, but the problem is is getting there.

[00:37:56]Yeah.

[00:37:56]>> It's a very long bus ride. And if I do something like that, I probably will book it when I'm there when I know I can get a bus.

[00:38:05]>> Yeah. So, >> it's a good idea >> because it's going to take you it's going to take you 12 hours or 10 hours to get there by bus.

[00:38:12]>> Yeah.

[00:38:13]>> And that's a long go. They've had some major issues when it comes to energy.

[00:38:17]So, I don't even know how the resorts are actually operating.

[00:38:20]>> This is a really good question. I know that you don't have the answer, but in your opinion, how long will it take Cuba to recover once this madness is over?

[00:38:28]And I really think it depends on Oh, there's so many moving parts for that, right?

[00:38:33]>> What What does over mean though? That's the problem. Yeah, >> like you know what over means?

[00:38:38]>> You know that's it's What does over mean?

[00:38:40]>> It means how it's going to restructure or be restructured.

[00:38:44]>> Yeah.

[00:38:44]>> Um but someone else in here said, "You know what? Wouldn't it be amazing if you kept going and just supported the Kazas because those are the Cuban people, you know, >> for sure. And you can do that."

[00:38:55]>> Yeah, >> you can go do that. and they're very quiet, you know, like like I'm trying to like blend some of my uh stays stay at a casa for a few days. When I'm at Quattropolis, I eat breakfast there, maybe do my coffee, and then I'm going in for dinner or lunch. So, I blend my uh trips. Yeah, >> obviously when you're farther down the strip, it's harder to get taxis. I'm going to be honest with you, taxis are not just sitting at resorts anymore waiting for you. So, you know, you have to get yourself a taxi, then you're gonna have to find a taxi to go home.

[00:39:29]Yeah.

[00:39:29]>> So, it's not like it's just easy peasy where cars were going up and down the strip. It's it's a little different now.

[00:39:34]>> Um Beetles Bar really isn't even open.

[00:39:37]Like, it might be open, but there's no one there. So, it's not like you're going to go in and you're going to whine and dine and stay out all night. It's going to be amazing. Like, I was going to Los Moros, that hotel there, because a lot of Cubans were watching the soccer there. So, I'd go in, I'd be the only tourist hanging out with them. It was awesome, but you kind of have to know where to go, where the pockets of people might be.

[00:40:00]>> 62 was dead as a doornail.

[00:40:03]>> Yeah.

[00:40:03]>> And but they were playing music, but there's no one there. So, if you're into that, well, it's still operating.

[00:40:08]>> Yeah, we agree. Uh, someone, maybe it was Ellen, uh, asking, "There's a group that goes to Verado every year. Would you still Would you still go?"

[00:40:15]>> For sure.

[00:40:16]>> Why not?

[00:40:16]>> Do start doing your homework now. Like, I'm making the videos. The resorts are still operating. Yeah, >> they might just not be operating kind of like it was maybe last year. Yeah, >> but I I made the videos. Cubans are still going. Cubanameans are still going. Um they're offering some deep discounts for solo travelers.

[00:40:36]>> Um Cubans can go to resorts for I believe like Quattro Pomus is about 40 $45 per adult and the kids get to come for free. So it's not it's not adults anymore. It's a family resort. Do you know what resorts are doing to stay afloat? And you know what hotels are doing?

[00:40:53]>> Tell us.

[00:40:54]>> In Havana, uh, the MU that's closed down, any resort that's closed down that had a pool, they're trying to keep the pools open. They offer day passes to Cubans and to anybody that wants to go.

[00:41:07]It's It's not It's not cheap. It's about $20 US, but you get the pool all day and you get food.

[00:41:13]>> That's a great idea.

[00:41:14]>> Yes, they're doing that. And uh I've never even heard of that. we could learn from them. We could do that a lot.

[00:41:20]>> So, that's what they're doing. And uh even at the hotel, the trip that I was at on my last few days, the pool was being um open to Cubans for lunch and for the entire day. And you spend I think it's 20 US. So, when people say, "Oh, Cubans don't have money." This is where the Cuban um US Cubans come in handy is because they'll sponsor the entire family. Here's 100 US. Go to the pool for the day and have something to eat.

[00:41:45]>> Okay. Couple of good questions here. Is the Memories Hibakcoa still open? Yes, it's it's a good one, Angela, if it's on your >> You have to do a minimum of three night stay because I was just looking into >> Actually, we just did that today.

[00:41:57]>> Three night stay. I believe it's about a hundred bucks a night right now for myself.

[00:42:00]>> Someone asked, if you don't mind, where do you think you'll be going in September? Like what places?

[00:42:06]>> Well, I'm not going to tell you my whole itinerary because I haven't created it.

[00:42:10]I'm going to be gonna be Havana.

[00:42:11]>> I'm going to be flying into Havana. So, I'm going to stay in Aana for definitely a day because I'm not going to try to do the entire It's just not worth my $200 cab ride. I'll stay in Aana. I'll take a shuttle. I'll take the bus >> for my €15 to Verado and then I'll probably hit about four resorts, but I'm only going to stay at each resort for three nights. Okay.

[00:42:32]>> So, I'm I'm going to try to hit as many resorts as I can.

[00:42:35]>> Okay. And someone else asked, uh, how many hours a day do you work while you're away? And how many hours do you >> I work >> vacation?

[00:42:44]>> I don't vacation on my Ask my brother or ask >> in Cuba. I would say that Mike just works.

[00:42:51]>> I work what I do.

[00:42:52]>> I mean, if I'm with you, you do have a little bit.

[00:42:54]>> If I'm going to Cuba and if I'm going to a resort for three days, the first two days I'll be working on videos, Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok.

[00:43:03]>> Then the last day >> I'll do some work in the morning and then I'll just chill out. I won't go in the pool. I'll beachwalk every single day. Yeah. But I'll have a couple of beers and pack up and then move on to my next place. If I'm going for seven days, >> usually the last three or four days of my seven day, I chill out.

[00:43:22]>> Um, and then there was something. How do you get insurance in case you have a problem there?

[00:43:27]>> You're going to get insurance with Hol Sun. They offer a 30-day package. Talk to them. It cost me $70.

[00:43:35]>> 30 days.

[00:43:36]>> 30 days. We use the pool on the roof of the Iber. work for these places. They actually need to compensate me.

[00:43:42]>> They should.

[00:43:43]>> Andy actually said today, he goes, "You must get kickbacks from Trip Central."

[00:43:50]>> And I'm going to tell you, >> you're like, "Oh, I wish."

[00:43:52]>> I'm going to tell you, I I probably Trip Central actually did reach out to me to say, "How come you haven't booked anything lately?" Not like, "Hey, you want a voucher or anything?" [laughter] >> I have spent so much money with that company. You would think I'm probably one of their best customers I am.

[00:44:06]>> Yeah. And when it comes to WestJet and Sunwing, I'm probably one of their better customers. Not once have they ever reached out to me to offer me, hey, how about this? How about that? Not once. Not once. If I was an American flying American Airlines, they probably here, here's a free flight. Not even not in Canada. I don't get anything for free.

[00:44:27]>> But I do want to say thank you to Andy because Andy bought a sticker pack this week.

[00:44:32]>> He did.

[00:44:32]>> We still have a ton of stickers, guys.

[00:44:35]Four for 20. I know you were joking, Andy, >> but uh that would be it was a good amazing.

[00:44:41]>> Um >> but I also just like to tell people because sometimes people troll and say, "Oh, you get paid to do this."

[00:44:47]>> Yeah, >> I'm not getting paid to do that. And we added up how much I spent in the last five weeks.

[00:44:53]>> It was a lot.

[00:44:54]>> We're not going to say how much I spent, but it wasn't it wasn't no two grand, you know. It wasn't no three grand. No, it wasn't four grand. It was more. No, because I think people might assume because Cuba is in such dire straits that it's cheap.

[00:45:09]>> It's still not cheap.

[00:45:10]>> Definitely not cheap.

[00:45:11]>> Like if you want to go for uh one night stay, you can't do one night, but international iss 125 a night. That's what it is for myself.

[00:45:20]>> That's Canadian dollars.

[00:45:21]>> Yeah.

[00:45:22]>> So that's why I spent a lot of time at Mia Verado. It had the best value for money. It was about $92 a day and quattro palmus was I think was $67 a day but mle verero for the extra $20 I had just way better food quality and my room was fantastic. Management was amazing.

[00:45:42]Quattropolis was awesome too. A different price point and I would do diff I did different things when I was at Quattropolism like I'd be in town more. So just different experiences.

[00:45:53]>> I'm just telling someone how to order stickers.

[00:45:56]Um, sleep is a sign of weakness. Sleep is a sign of weakness. [laughter] >> I do sleep though.

[00:46:01]>> Oh, is it possible when you get to Havana to somehow get to >> Any idea?

[00:46:06]>> Yeah, you can, >> Debbie. You can.

[00:46:08]>> You can. You probably have to talk with Infoours. I If you guys follow me on Facebook, I even posted Infoour's website and the phone number to WhatsApp.

[00:46:17]>> Call Infoours. They speak English, too.

[00:46:20]They can set you all up. Infoours is the bus line that goes all over Cuba.

[00:46:24]>> Okay. you have to pay. You either I don't know how you're going to have to do that. That's why I do a lot when I'm in Cuba because info tours I think you have to put it on the cassa card, the plastic card and it's in euros.

[00:46:36]>> Oh, when it does open up, Paul Monks is asking, do you think there will be sales for packages? Do people well to give people more confidence to return to Cuba? That totally depends on which way it goes, right?

[00:46:48]>> Yeah. You know what? This is this is the crazy part. El Marante Mu pulled out the prices went up.

[00:46:54]>> Yeah, >> it went up. Like I couldn't like that boggled my mind. It's like, okay, Elmer was cheap. You know, it wasn't cheap. It was about $100 a day. And I thought, okay, I'm doing that. Then I was going to go book it and it was almost a grand.

[00:47:07]It went up $300 a month.

[00:47:09]>> Wow.

[00:47:10]>> And and management left. So, I don't understand that. Maybe because of fuel prices.

[00:47:14]>> Um, what in Havana? What is considered the most prestigious hotel?

[00:47:19]>> International. Oh, the most prestigious is going to be it's going to be the Packard.

[00:47:24]>> Okay.

[00:47:25]>> But you're going to be paying big.

[00:47:27]You're going to be paying probably two to $400 a night US.

[00:47:30]>> Um I'm in Edmonton. I can't find anything to Cuba on Holan. What am I doing wrong?

[00:47:35]>> You go to Holan. I don't even work for this company. You go to Holan. Don't go to packages. Go to hotel. Click on hotel. There's going to be a drop down bar and that's how you're going to navigate that site. I called Holson. I told him, "You guys got to fix this site. It's hard to navigate. hard to navigate. Okay, >> because packages don't work for Canadians.

[00:47:52]>> Um, and then also I had something. Are you two going to Vietnam like you said? Yes, we are. Yes, we are.

[00:47:58]>> It's already booked.

[00:47:59]>> It is booked. Not until next year, 2027.

[00:48:02]>> Sandra, I have a great question.

[00:48:05]>> I have a great question. What is it?

[00:48:07]>> We're waiting for you. [laughter] >> Uh, if Cuba was back to normal right now, where would you be going and why?

[00:48:14]Oh, >> if Cuba was back to normal right now, where would you go? Well, you said you wanted to take me somewhere.

[00:48:19]>> Well, I want to go to Los America, which >> America, but if I was picking, I would probably pick Hibacoa.

[00:48:26]>> Oh, really? Yeah.

[00:48:27]>> Well, it's still open. It's still operating.

[00:48:28]>> What's the last place we went to? The coral level.

[00:48:32]>> Oh, okay. Coral level. Esmeralda. Coral level. Santa Maria.

[00:48:36]>> Oh, where was our swim up pool?

[00:48:38]>> That's Esmeralda.

[00:48:39]>> Was it Esmeralda?

[00:48:40]>> Yes. Swim up pool was Esmeralda.

[00:48:42]>> Okay. Yeah. I just It was quiet there, but I loved it.

[00:48:45]>> Yeah. I didn't even have to leave our room.

[00:48:48]>> No, it was really it was really awesome experience. I think if I was going to go back right now, I'd be going to >> where my brother and I went to in Santa Maria.

[00:48:58]>> I love the hell was that place? Gosh, >> it'll come to me after this.

[00:49:01]>> Oh, it would be hard for me to pick.

[00:49:03]Yeah, you would love Rio de Toro and Hogin. I'm sure. Like, guys, I would love I love a lot of places in Cuba. I am super sad. I haven't been to Cuba in a long time.

[00:49:12]>> So, I have some people chiming in from Edmonton. Lisa, my brother is coming from Calgary. Yeah. Okay. So, he's gonna take Calgary to Toronto. He's gonna take the Red Eye. He's done this many times.

[00:49:24]>> And then he gets in at six o'clock in the morning. We take the 8 a.m. to Copa.

[00:49:29]Right. So, with Copa, when you get there, for 40 bucks, you can for $40 US, I believe it is, you can book yourself into four hours into one of the um one of the lounges. Book yourself into one of the lounges with a shower. You get coffee, you get food, drinks, everything's unlimited. Unlimited. And you get to book a shower, have a great shower, beautiful towels, soaps, shampoos, everything. Then you get back on your next flight and you go to Havana. Yes, it's a long stay. They even have beds in these some of these lounges, like these weird beds that you lay in.

[00:50:04]>> That's free.

[00:50:05]>> Cool.

[00:50:05]>> But you can book yourself into there.

[00:50:07]So, if you're going to do it a long haul or if you're going to go, prepare yourself. spend the extra 50 US dollars and then just book a lounge because it's worth it and and make it make it part of your deal. Make it part of the package.

[00:50:22]>> I love it. Everyone put in >> Los Tunas. Thank you. That's where I'd be booking right now.

[00:50:28]>> Yeah. Someone said, "Wasn't your swim up in KO Cruz?"

[00:50:31]>> It was It was But it was Esmeralda.

[00:50:33]>> Oh, was it? But where was the other place that had the hot tub? That's coral.

[00:50:38]>> That's in Santa Maria, >> right? Okay. Okay. Have we been to Yeah, we have been to Ko Largo and we loved it there too. I will go there too. Hey Jenny, when are you officially retiring?

[00:50:48]>> Have you been to Play a Vista Azul? Yes, and I think it's still open.

[00:50:53]>> I think it is. If you check in the dropown bar under Ver Daryl, I think it comes up.

[00:50:59]>> Um I am retiring. It'll be either November or December.

[00:51:06]>> I want to go to Havana. I have no idea where a good spot. I've made the videos.

[00:51:11]You should watch them on Finding Fish YouTube. It's our It's our YouTube video. I I stayed at >> Hotel Plaza. Yeah.

[00:51:20]>> But you can stay at the um Packard. You can stay at the >> um I It's called Hotel England. What's it called in Spanish? It's called uh >> Iglara. Stay atraa.

[00:51:34]Igla. I believe it's $75 a night. Check it out. It's right in the city center.

[00:51:40]I'm going to be if I go back I'm going to stay there for two nights because it's gorgeous.

[00:51:44]>> Built in 1875. It's got a lot of history. Comes with breakfast.

[00:51:48]>> Um there was one in here that I was like >> coral uh andos. That's it.

[00:51:53]>> Yes, that's it.

[00:51:54]>> And sonachos.

[00:51:55]>> And Senachos.

[00:51:56]>> That's insane. Well, it's not. Yeah, it's on the island of Ansenachos.

[00:52:00]>> We love that. Thanks, Terry.

[00:52:02]>> Oh, Andy. If only I could friend.

[00:52:06]>> Just do it. She's going to >> I'm going to Don't worry. There's just a few hurdles to finish off.

[00:52:11]>> 2026. It's going to happen.

[00:52:12]>> What is happening?

[00:52:13]>> It's happening. Have you been to Malia Trinidad?

[00:52:17]>> Yes, Malia Trinidad's actually still open.

[00:52:20]>> Yes, >> I just checked it out. I'm probably not going to go there because I don't know how I'm going to get there.

[00:52:26]>> So, but it is open. I checked it out under the drop down. I believe when I was in the drop down bar, it came under it was under Cing Fueos. Okay, before we go, we wanted to say a thank you to a lot of people. Um, not a lot of people, all of you for watching, but to people that constantly kind of support us and then repost our our items and reach out to us and support us all the time. Give us advice.

[00:52:53]>> William McCormack, Ted Shaughnessy, uh, who did I say? Repost our things all the time. Dan McCormack, >> Paul Monks is always chatting. Andy, Gail, >> Kirk, Graham, we've got a lot there's so many people out here. Paul Monks, like there's a lot of people that just constantly >> protect us and you know, just sometimes you're my pit bulls.

[00:53:15]>> Sometimes you're like our bodyguards, Susan, like there's so many of you and we just wanted to say we really appreciate it and we it doesn't go unnoticed. As busy as sometimes >> Michelle, >> Mike's Facebook and and platforms can be, we do notice, we do notice who's supporting us.

[00:53:32]We always do.

[00:53:33]>> Natalie's another one. And we just wanted to say thank you. I also >> I have to talk a little bit about Mike's deal of the week because I want to know if you guys think that's a great idea.

[00:53:44]He was going to do something each week on Facebook. He has a lot of time and he's so good at navigating the internet and all of the travel sites. So, we thought, cool idea. Maybe while Cuba isn't the easiest to get to and people are apprehensive but still looking for a holiday. I think the deal was crazy.

[00:54:02]It's that thing sold out. It sold out and I could even book it. I I wasn't going to book it anyway, but I thought it was time thinking we could. But if you like that idea, we'd love to hear >> deals of the week. And I also want to say thank you. This is important. It's the Patreons that support us.

[00:54:18]>> Yes.

[00:54:19]>> And they gave us extra gifts. Thank you very much. And people when I was away last time were were reaching out and said, "Can you can I send you $100? Can I send you $50? Can I send you $25 >> to give to people that they knew?

[00:54:31]>> The problem is is I only take so much money and when I'm gone, I can't get any more money. So, when I have money and it's kind of already allocated, it's really hard for me to do that. I did it this time, but it puts a major strain on my own resources >> when I go back because people always say, I want to give money to people. I want to I want to send money to someone in Verado.

[00:54:51]>> So, it would be more like in August they're reaching out.

[00:54:54]>> I'm going to do this. I'm going to be going away. If you have someone in mind and I'm going to be going to Verado, I'm going to a certain resort. If you would like me to physically put $20 into someone's hand, I will give you the warning. I will give you the uh the heads up.

[00:55:10]>> You can send me the money. I will take a selfie of me and the person and then you know that they got the money in. I'm as honest as they come. Like I don't need to keep $20 for myself. Do you know what I'm saying? But it's a great way for you and it was a great for way for people to put money into other people's hands.

[00:55:26]That's right. Because you couldn't get there, but I could.

[00:55:28]>> And then for example, we had people who just said, "I don't care who you give it to." And you you mentioned and you gave >> Yeah. Lots of people just said, "Here, can here's $100. Can you just go give it to people in need?" Well, I'm in I'm in Havana. That's not very hard. Yeah. Like just look around.

[00:55:43]>> That's good. So, if you're interested in doing that, it's just not going to work once he's already there.

[00:55:47]>> Yeah. Once I'm already away, it's no deal because it doesn't do me any good.

[00:55:51]And I can't give money away that I don't have.

[00:55:53]>> Right.

[00:55:54]>> So, but if you're into that, there you go. And if you don't want to do it, no problem.

[00:55:58]>> And maybe I'll make a post about that when you're gearing up to go so that people are ahead of the game.

[00:56:03]>> Yeah. Because a lot of people did mention certain people at the Hibcoa.

[00:56:06]Hey, I know so and so. Hey, if I give you 20 bucks, can you put $20 into someone's hands?

[00:56:11]>> And we can.

[00:56:12]>> And we can, right? Um, and then the last thing I want to talk about is I did mention on Sunday that I'm going to be looking at ordering beach bags for fall travel. And I just wanted to know what colors you're interested in. If you're interested at all, actually, >> if people are interested in beach bags, just give a thumbs up and then we'll say, "Okay, we got 100 thumbs up. We know we're doing beach >> bags." And let me know colors because we really we sold out of those so quickly and we sold out of many colors so quickly. So, if you're feeling like you want the beach bags, >> men's colors.

[00:56:45]>> Men's colors. Okay, cool. Pink is a men's color, I hope. Paul, anyway, let me know. And I will probably also, um, >> Paul, I'll get you hot pink.

[00:56:55]>> I will also probably do a Facebook post on that because then it's easier for me to collect colors and that kind of thing.

[00:57:00]>> Hot pink ones.

[00:57:01]>> Um, yeah, >> I I love some of the colors that we did last time. I thought they did >> hot pink, the lime green, and the blue.

[00:57:07]>> You should see I look great in hot pink.

[00:57:09]And guess what? No one's stealing my hot pink bag. I get I haven't.

[00:57:12]>> But it's funny the coppery brown color.

[00:57:16]>> All gone.

[00:57:17]>> I I use it as a work bag. I love it.

[00:57:19]>> Listen, if we missed anything, >> Yeah.

[00:57:22]>> we'll catch it on another live stream.

[00:57:24]You know, we just tried to do our best.

[00:57:25]Cube is still open. I'm still going. I know some of you still will go. I have videos coming out showing you the Melia properties. They're starting Saturday.

[00:57:34]>> Yeah. And they're still they're still there. They're just not called Melia.

[00:57:37]That's all. Cuba is not for everyone.

[00:57:39]Cuba is not for the faint of heart.

[00:57:41]Listen, >> like I always say, if you're going to travel to Cuba, do it at your own risk.

[00:57:46]>> But I'm still going.

[00:57:48]>> Anyway, if you haven't liked my channel, do me a favor. Like, subscribe. It helps us out. Give us a thumbs up.

[00:57:53]>> We're out of here. We're going away for a couple of days. And guess what? Video out on Saturday. Thank you all for joining us. We appreciate it all so much.

[00:58:01]>> Thanks everybody.

[00:58:02]>> Bright any bright colors for beach bags.

[00:58:04]Amazing.

[00:58:05]>> Yes.

[00:58:06]>> Ciao everyone. Thank you very much.

[00:58:09]>> Thank you.

[00:58:11]End it. There we go.