Pre-planning for Cuba. The US government has put some restrictions on flying to Cuba, so make sure to check out the rules you need to abide by prior to making reservations. For us it had to be a learning experience and we had to keep a journal as we went (although we were never stopped). Or you can avoid everything and just fly to the Bahamas, then catch a chartered flight from Bahamas to Cuba. We wanted to do this legally but I have had a lot of friends who just hop over from the Bahamas (at their own risk). We never had any trouble as we traveled through Cuba. The people are wonderful, helpful, happy, and just love you visiting their country.
FACTS TO KNOW:
CURRENCY: There are two types of currency in Cuba. The Convertible Peso (CUC) and the Cuban Peso (CUP). I call the CUC tourist cash and the CUP cuban cash. Both are referred to as pecos, but it’s important to know which is which because CUC is valued at $1 USD = $1 CUC whereas .25¢ USD = $1 CUP. Cubans can smell a tourist and when giving change and will give you back the lesser CUP peso if you are not paying attention. All stores and people on the street trade with either CUP or CUC.
Convert your money back before you leave Cuba because in America they won’t let you buy nor exchange Cuban currency. Credit cards are not widely accepted in Cuba, so you’ll want to pick up cash. Cash is used 99% of the time for transactions. You can exchange cash in the airports or at some Hotels with a typical 25% government exchange fee rate. Yes, the government gets the exchange rate fee, not the establishment you converted it at, so don’t gripe to the hotel.
POPULATION: There are 5 million people in Cuba with about 3% unemployment.
AVERAGE WAGE: I was told the average salary in Cuba is $480 USD a month. Our bus tour guide made $20 USD + tips. Doctors make $80 a month. Those who work in the tourism industry make the most.
FOOD: Food is limited on the island and a precious commodity. Be respectful of this. If you have leftovers from a restaurant, its nice to share them with the many homeless super sweet dogs in the streets. There are certain stores that sell food some of which is regulated. For instance in order to get five buns of bread, it costs about .01¢ USD and you pay in CUP. The transaction is recorded into a notebook for the government to make sure you are not buying more than that which is alloted to you.
RESTAURANTS: Restaurants are either government owned or privately owned. If you own a business, it has to be based out of your home. In Havana, you are only allowed to own one home but you can live with someone else, or live in the countryside if you own a restaurant. Menu’s of restaurants change daily because they never know what type of food will be available for them to serve.
INTERNET: To get internet, you have to first stand in line for 45 minutes to pick up an internet card. One card will get you one hour of wifi. Then you have to find a main park or plaza where you can hook up to the internet. If you stay in a 5 star hotel, wifi access comes with your room. You still have to ask for the user name and password. Be weary as some hotels may limit you to the amount of time you can be on the internet. Bring a paper map or buy one on the way because your GPS on your phone will not work.
PACKING: It was always warm while we were there so short, dresses, a light jacket, sandals are pretty much all you need. It rained 1 of the 10 days that we were there in December but it was a drive day and we drove right out of it. Typically on islands, the rain doesn’t last very long as the breeze pushes it right over the island.
DROVES: Drones are not allowed as of 2020, so just leave them at home unless you want to take the chance your drone being confiscated. We had our luggage checked at the airport.
SAFETY: I never felt unsafe on the whole island. The people are wonderful. If anything Havana would have been the place to worry about.
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