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Spiders in Cuba

Dartford, United...
Level Contributor
101 posts
8 reviews
16 helpful votes
Spiders in Cuba
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Hi Peep's.

Well, my first post on the forum, but not my last. Me and my other half are planning on visiting Cuba around the beginning of May this year. Hopefully to stay at the Paradisus Rio De Oro.

However looking at some of the posted photo's for this hotel i noticed one with a bloody big spider on it. This looked to somewhere around the grounds of this hotel.

As i'm not really an avid fan of these eight legged fiends, i'm not really partial to having an unexpected encounter with one :-)

If anyone has stayed in this hotel (the general area) and can let me know about the likelyhood of various encounters like this i'd appreciate some info.

Also can anyone tell me what the weather is like during May and whether this is a busy time or not?

Thanks all in advance.

(Brill forum/site b.t.w )

Twickenham, United...
Level Contributor
124 posts
1. Re: Spiders in Cuba
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We stayed at Playa Pesquero last August, we did see one spider (and he was rather large), but one of the staff was on hand to deal with it. Therefore it wasn't really a problem, & there can be no worse enemies of these than my wife & daughter.

My general feeling is that if you encounter any problems there are always staff nearby to help.

Hope this is of use to you & I'm sure you'll enjoy Cuba as we did, it is an excellent place to visit.

Alfie

Wiltshire, England
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26 posts
2 reviews
32 helpful votes
2. Re: Spiders in Cuba
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Londo, in all our 2 week stay at the Paradisus, we never encountered a single spider. My husband is absolutely terrified of them, so he was anxious about it too. We did encounter a few land crabs which my husband insists are like huge spiders, but even he was amused by the little critters.

Like the previous post said, the staff are always on hand to deal with removing any creatures that you may have a problem with.

Dartford, United...
Level Contributor
101 posts
8 reviews
16 helpful votes
3. Re: Spiders in Cuba
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Thanks everyone.

I really didn't want to miss out on going to Cuba & The Rio De Oro as i've read so many good review's about it. However i must admit that reading and seeing photo's of some of the rather large spiders did put me off.

I think i'll put on a brave face and give it a go. If i come back without having a heart attack :-) i'll post a review on my opinion and photo's. Wish me luck.

Londo.....

winnipeg
Level Contributor
328 posts
4. Re: Spiders in Cuba
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hi londo

we were in holguin cuba 3-4 yrs ago and never encountered any spiders whatsoever.

however it is a tropical climate to depending were you go will determine what you see. my husband met up with locals in domincian republic 5 yrs ago and they had just picked up a trantula in the woods and had it in a plastic cup and my husband let it crawl all over his arms. i am not that brave however.

when i go to these tropical locals i expect to see anything from ants, spiders, cockroaches, etc. i dont like it but accept it...i guess i liken it to the famous winnipeg mosquitos...there is NO way we could get rid of them for the tourists (heck we cant get rid of them for ourselves)...but tourists accpet that this is part of our environment and other than some good 'deet' there is not much you can do.

dont worry around resorts they generally 'spray' insecticide and you dont find much. you will be fine and so focused on the amazing water, weather and people you will forget all about those little 'annoyances'.

best of luck!

kbee:)

Dartford, United...
Level Contributor
101 posts
8 reviews
16 helpful votes
5. Re: Spiders in Cuba
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I must admin, looking at some of the ' Spider ' photo's on here that people have taken with their camera's it obviously look's like they've used the zoom which is why they look so big. I would rather have not found out. Being none the wiser is better for me :-)

Kent, UK
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304 posts
2 reviews
3 helpful votes
6. Re: Spiders in Cuba
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Hi Londo, we stayed at the hotel next door (got back last Friday) we didn't see any spiders in or around the hotel. The only spiders we saw were at the MiniZoo! Have a great time, the beach there is fantastic!

Toronto
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32 posts
7. Re: Spiders in Cuba
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Have some spider pics, but dont know how to post them on this forum. Found several spiders on the road at night, they were about 2" across, black and hairy, and they could jump a good distance too. Never found one im my room, thank god.

Toronto, Canada
Level Contributor
1,072 posts
98 reviews
156 helpful votes
8. Re: Spiders in Cuba
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Please do not let your worry about bugs spoil your trip. Honestly, if there is a bug it will find me, I have had a cockroach cross my shoe in a ritzy German restaurant in Baden-Baden, found a cockroach in the drawer at St Moritz on the Park in New York, and had a cockroach jump out of a sewer and crawl up my leg in Mexico. They never find my husband, only me!!

BUT, in four trips to Cuba I have had NOTHING in my rooms, nada, zip. I walk the beach, we walk thru trees along natural beaches and I have never so much as seen a spider! I've seen lots of little lizards on paths and walls, who eat the other bugs and are harmless.

Especially at a very clean place like PRDO, I would say your chances of running into bugs are nil. Have a great time!!

Toronto, Canada
Level Contributor
1,072 posts
98 reviews
156 helpful votes
9. Re: Spiders in Cuba
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Re: weather, go to www.wunderground.com, trip planner for Holguin, and put in your dates. Since hurricane season officially starts June 1, you might want to go earlier in May rather than later so that you are long gone before rainy season.

Dartford, United...
Level Contributor
101 posts
8 reviews
16 helpful votes
10. Re: Spiders in Cuba
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I agree. I'm planning on going around the 3rd May for 2wks. Previously had a look at 2005's weather for May and this look's nice and warm.

Can anyone also tell me. Is it correct that if you go to the Cuban Consulate you can get the Tourist Visa Card the same day?

Thanks.

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