27 cuba travel tips you need to know!
Money Tips for Cuba
1. Take cash with you
Even though things with the States are settling down now, it’s a good idea to take some hard currency on your trips to Cuba.
2. Take Euros or GBP Sterling – these get the best exchange rate.
3. Don’t take Aussie dollars, they don’t know what to do with them. Don’t take American dollars, the exchange rate will be terrible plus you have to pay an extra fee every time.
4. Cuba has two currencies:
CUC (Cuban convertible peso or ‘Cuban dollar’) aligned to USD which tourists must use, and CUP (Cuban national peso) worth around 1 CUC = 22 CUP.
NonCubans shouldn’t have any CUPs on them – though people do.
As Cuba/USA relations ease, the likelihood of the CUC disappearing and the CUP remaining is high. US dollars will also probably become more accepted too.
5. You will find dual pricing in most places and the CUP and CUC prices won’t match up. It’s important not to let this bother you!
6. Get a VISA card for Cuba
Due to it being an American company, MasterCard has never really worked in Cuba though with changes happening all the time, more and more American companies are working with Cuba now. VISA is usually ok. Usually!
7. Check to see if your bank has any American alliances. If it does, you might not be able to access your money regardless.
As US/Cuban relations improve, things will change.
8. Where to get money in Cuba
Try to get money out of the ATM upstairs on level 1 of Havana International Airport. Avoid using the bureau de change at the airport though. They’re known to give incorrect change and the rates aren’t as good.
Hotels and resorts usually have a bureau de change.
9. Every town will have two types of bank – Banco de Cuba, which are proper banks, or Cadeca, which is like a currency kiosk. The bank usually gives better rates.
10. Only one person at a time can be served in the bank. If you’re traveling with a friend or your partner, flip a coin to see who goes! Towns usually have ATMs too – though some smaller places like Viñales don’t.
11. Tell your bank you’re going to Cuba
It’s a good idea to do this every time you leave your country anyway, but one of our top Cuba travel tips it that it’s even more important for this destination.
International calls are expensive and internet access is very limited.
If your bank thinks your cards are being used without your consent, they will cancel them on your behalf and leave you stranded.
Documentation Required for Travel to Cuba
12. Travel Insurance for Cuba
You need to have travel insurance to travel to Cuba. They do spot checks at Customs and if you can’t produce policy documentation, they make you buy insurance there.
The credit card we use to buy flights has nominal travel insurance included. It doesn’t cover everything though but we took the gamble. We weren’t checked going into Cuba.
13. Print out any travel documents before you leave for Cuba
Tech is really hard to come by during travel in Cuba.
If you need any travel documents while you’re in Cuba or for your next destination, print them before flying to Havana.
14. Getting your Cuba Visa
Most nationalities require a visa for Cuba called a “Cuba Tourist Card” to enter – here’s a site with a list of countries requiring visas.
How to get a visa for Cuba? You can either buy yours through your local Cuban embassy or before checkin at a Cubana Air desk.
Your airline may include the Cuba visa on the price of your flight tickets – but you’ll still need to collect the tourist card at the Cubana Air counter before you check in.
Packing and Getting to Cuba
15. Travel as light as possible
When you fly to Cuba, if you can, go with cabin luggage only. We managed to and it was the best. We didn’t have to worry about losing our stuff or about it getting damaged.
We also saw other travelers struggling in and out of the tiny doorways of Cuban buildings and up tight staircases with their enormous bags, which looked like a nightmare.
16. Gifts and bartering in Cuba
There’s a lot of talk about having pens to give to people in place of money. There is a barter system in Cuba, but not for pens.
Kids love to have pens but there won’t be a mad scramble if you produce a chewed up Biro.
We saw a man trade a bar of hotel soap for a cigar once, and there seems to be a shortage of tinned tuna in Cuba – it’s one of the most expensive things to eat there.
Otherwise, clothing with American brands on it is popular as is anything to do with baseball.
17. Flights to Cuba
Get to the airport three hours before takeoff for both flights to Cuba, coming and going.
Cubana Air likes its passengers checked in at least an hour earlier than any other airline. Planes are often overbooked, so it’s worth that extra hour for peace of mind.
Download the new Skyscanner App, which makes it easier for you to find the best travel deals for Cuba. It’s an all in one flights, hotel and car hire search engine app!
18. Food in Cuba
Due to restrictions in trade, Cuban food isn’t the best – though it’s not the worst either. It’s usually just a bit bland.
Take a little salt with you or – as our friend did – take a bottle of sauce with you. He took some Sriracha, which was almost all gone after two weeks!
Technology in Cuba
19. Galileo Offline Maps
The internet hasn’t really taken off in Cuba yet, but you can still use your smartphone to get around.
Galileo Offline Maps allows you to use your phone’s GPS to show where in the world you are. You can even set Galileo to record your movements so you can see where you went!
You can also upload maps from elsewhere into Galileo (see my next point).
You need to download maps onto the app first before you get to Cuba and go offline. This is a paid app but worth every penny.
20. Casas de alquiler en Cuba
A brilliant blog, which tells you a lot about the country. This guy also has maps of Cuba with each Casas Particulares – a type of homestay popular with tourists in Cuba – noted on the map.
21. Havana Good Time
Havana Good Time is a good app-based guide to Havana that’s fairly current and will steer you clear of all the usual overtouristy spots.
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22. Best time of year to visit Cuba
As with any destination, there are good and better times of year to visit Cuba. Between mid November and March is the cooler dry season – this is usually a busier time of year due to the lower temperatures and humidity level.
When to go to Cuba?
Between May and June is the wet season when things get a bit sweaty in Cuba but things happen like the tobacco is harvested and carnivale, which are one of the most popular highlights of the Cuban calendar.
July to early November is hurricane season, when things can get a bit windy.
23. Book your first night’s accommodation in Cuba
Not sure where to stay in Cuba?
Another one of our top Cuba travel tips it that it’s not a good idea to arrive in Cuba with no plan of where you want to sleep that night. Make sure your first night at least is covered.
24. Book Cuba tours before you leave
As we’ve mentioned before, the internet is hard to come by in Cuba. Searching for Cuba tours and activities while you’re there will be difficult and costly.
We booked a small group tour with Cuban Adventures before we left and it proved to be the best decision.
25. Choose your tour based on itinerary
If you want to join a tour, you will need to think about how long you want to be traveling and create your list of places to visit in Cuba.
Don’t worry too much about promised services or extras. Most tours use the same agency for the tour guides.
26. Learn as much Spanish as you can
One of our helpful Cuba travel tips is to learn a little of the local language.
Even simple words and sentences will go a long way in Cuba. People love to talk to you and if you know a little of their lingo, they’ll be even friendlier.
It also helps if you’re staying in casa particulars so you can speak to your generous hosts.
27. Take salsa lessons
Everyone in Cuba knows how to salsa. Even if you just learn the basic steps, you won’t feel left out stood at the edge of the dance floor while everyone else is enjoying themselves.
You can take lessons in Cuba while you’re there, but by then it might be too late.
The most important thing to remember to do while you’re in Cuba is to have fun.
Cuba is not a dangerous country, as many people think. Crime rates are not high. There is a lot of bureaucracy here though, which makes traveling hard.
Providing you use your common sense and behave with respect for the local culture, you’ll have the best time in Cuba.
Worried about recent changes for American Travelers to Cuba under the Trump administration? These new updates will give you handy tips and insights about travel to Cuba in 2017
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