I am not currently in Cuba but am relaying the information. When on WIFI at the resort all their downloaded Spotify songs were removed. I got them to get a VPN (Nord VPN) and when they connected to it (tried many different servers) nothing would work (browser, whatsapp, spotify, etc) .
I see many sites saying to use a VPN to get your music so it should work but is there something specific they need to do on their phone (like dns settings, change the port it uses, etc) to get it to work or could the VPN be blocked by the resorts router?
Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Edit: it’s an Android phone if that matters
Nord is my usual VPN when I am outside of Cuba, but inside, it has been hit and miss. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. So I have 3 VPNs on my phone: Windscribe, Psiphon, and Nord. I will switch between them if one isn’t working.
Be aware that re-downloading songs can eat up all your data or internet time quickly in Cuba. The internet it much slower than we are used to.
Regarding Spotify specifically - many of the songs I have on my playlists have to be redownloaded whenever I switch countries. It has to do with regional licensing agreements.
Download fubar or iTunes instead , it’s so much better. Torrent and download whatever you want beforehand. That way you don’t even have to rely on internet
Don’t go to Cuba as a tourist.
I live in Cuba and am extremely versed in the topic. If you’re using data 1.1.1.1 is the best one and works with everything without any hassle. I also have a paid ExpressVPN with Lightweight TCP, as well as Psyphon for data.
I suggest 1.1.1.1 for data and Psyphon for wifi
Thanks for the info. Only have Nord setup, didn’t consider needing multiple, but even after talking to support they could not help. Ended up using youtube to mp3 conversion and grabbed a few mixes plus used it for some casefile podcasts so things are better now. next time will bring a dedicated device for music that stays in airplane mode 24/7 while there
Thanks for the help!
Irrelevant comment. But if you had to make one, the better way to say that would be to do your research and make sure your money isn’t going to the government i.e. renting apartment/home from a local instead of a hotel or resort, not eating at larger restaurants, etc. The Cuban people can greatly benefit from tourism, if the tourists are smart about it and know where their money is going.
This is not something that Nord tech support can resolve. The big well-known VPNs also are easier to block in some places (some have well-known ip addresses). This is sometimes an issue in Cuba and China. This is why I use 2 or 3, and why they may work one day and not the next.
(most of the time, Nord works in Cuba, but there was about 5 months last year where it didn’t work for me in Havana, but it did work in the east)
I appreciate the information and we are aware of the situation for the people in Cuba, it is very sad. While it is a resort and not a rented home, clothing, stationary, medical supplies (Tylenol, Advil, Polysporin, etc) money, and so on was brought down specifically to help out, it has and continues to be given out so at least some people are getting a little help.
As much as going to Cuba will benefit the gov’t in some way as its hard to avoid, the reaction so far from the people has been an overwhelming thank you (1000 times over) for coming. The situation is very bad, resorts and towns are almost completely empty of tourists (at least where they are), people are beyond dirt poor and many have to work long hours 6-7 days a week just to make $25 for the month to feed their family so when there is tourists, especially those who are aware of how things are and bring stuff down to help, that small gift of money or clothing or medicine can mean the world to them.
They have no choice but to live under the communist regime and while telling people not to visit Cuba in the first place might sound rational since you aren’t helping support the gov’t, you are doing so to the detriment of the people themselves who have come to depend on the generosity of foreigners because they have no other options. I do however appreciate the idea of renting from a local Vs going to a resort, and will strongly consider that if / when I go back.
Oh It’s all good. I just think people who pop in to scream at people for simply visiting is just rude. Naturally, we will go wherever we want. It’s more about how we can travel respectfully and understand the implications of where our money goes and how to be responsible about it.
I am sorry I can’t help you. You have written one of the most polite answers I have read about this issue.
I agree it was un-necessary (not least of all because it had nothing to do with what I had initially asked), but it brought up a good point that on the surface, going to Cuba is supporting the communist regime, which is ultimately true and you can’t avoid it. However, as described, there is so much more to it and I feel its important to have a rational dialog. They still may not agree with my point of view, but at least they can see that this wasn’t just a situation where the cheapest vacation option was selected, as often Cuba is the cheapest in the Caribbean for Canadians, but in fact there was considerable thought put into how the locals could best be helped while there.
Actually, it’s more about how the lure of poverty porn, cheap vacations and witnessing communist oppression firsthand is too great for you to choose a different Caribbean island for you to spend your money on,…to the detriment of the Cuban people.
That’s ok, thank you for the compliment!
Exactly right. There are many reasons people go and it isn’t always a cheap destination for vacation. I love the downvotes for truth being spoken here…
For example, I’m a Freemason and there are fellow brothers who are Freemasons on the island. I go and visit them and help with their Lodge stuff. But if I simply say I’m an American traveling to Cuba, I somehow immediately get classified as a tourist going for a cheap vacay that exploits the Cuban people. Folks quick to point a finger are usually the ones who don’t think too deeply before casting their judgement.
Anyways, I hope you have a safe trip 
Cheers
Well if your perspective is that people go for this “poverty porn” allure, then I can’t help ya. That’s one perspective. For others, visiting can absolutely benefit the Cuban people directly if that is something one wishes to be involved in. Cuba being in the Caribbean doesn’t necessarily correlate with it being a resort or vacation destination that’s cheap and you can look at life through a glass window…that’s just very shortsighted
People absolutely visit Cuba because it is a somewhat taboo destination with the opportunity to see poverty and oppression close up and relatively safely. They love seeing a place and people held back in time. Why else would they go to Cuba when there are so many other options?
You think Cuba is some sort of unique situation? Go to Dominican Republic or Jamaica, neither are communist yet you will see poverty just the same (and people that rely on tourists / tourism to help them as well). I agree many people go to Cuba because it’s what they can afford as it is typically the cheapest option available for the Caribbean, but the idea that people go to Cuba to see oppression and poverty is just Ludacris. I’m sure there could be a few but I would bet a small fortune that they are extremely extremely rare. Most people just want a week away where it’s sunny and all the food and drinks are handled, and that is almost anywhere in the Caribbean, but when price becomes a factor, as it does for many people, they go where they can afford.
I have also heard from many people (and witnessed myself) that Cuba is a safe place to visit, specifically when going into the Major cities like Havana. That safety may in part be due to the gov’t control, but for people that like to visit the cities and go beyond the walls of the resorts, there are some places that are much safer than others.
Exactly, so why visit Cuba- the one island with an authoritarian government that limits every possible freedom? The one with political prisoners and demands of obedience and conformity on their people. Because it’s safe and cheap for tourists to enjoy the charms of a poor country held back in time and the anti capitalist chic vibe.
The original post was literally about how to circumvent govt web control to access music. Imagine vacationing in such a country. You’ll be able to access your Spotify in Jamaica and DR 
So,… I think you’re proving my point. You may also want to check out the inexpensive ski resorts in N Korea!
I’ve been to Jamaica many times and have helped citizens there as well. I don’t limit my scope to one country, but Cuba is a beautiful country and the people are amazing, and when a lot of people who work hard here and can only save enough to visit a country like Cuba because life is expensive, when they have a chance to go on vacation, they go where they can afford. They aren’t bad people for doing so.
Please understand that I am not ignorant to how things are and don’t think I wouldn’t prefer their gov’t to be better, but if you think people in Jamaica, Dominican etc won’t also face harsh penalties for messing with tourism that pretty much keeps their countries afloat then you are just being ignorant to the reality of the situation. You don’t need a communist govt in place to make sure locals know their place when it comes to a countries bread and butter, it just makes it an easy target to blame.
Cheers