Cuba travel questions
Nov 29, 2016 11:58:27 #
Does anyone have current information about travel to Cuba. I want to go in early January or the last week of December. I'm traveling under a Press Pass since I'm a freelance journalist and the agency I work submit photos to can't help.
Also, I'm not going as part of a group. I'd like to see as much of island as possible in a week or two.
And yes, I'm checking with the state department, the airlines, etc. But I find it more valuable to listen to people who actually have been there.
I'd heard that if you go by an American Airline you don't have to file additional paperwork. They just have you check off one of the 12 acceptable categories. Is that true?
I know there are two currencies. I guess I have to exchange dollars when I arrive? yes or no.
Credit cards or debit cards aren't accepted. Is there anyway to carry something safer than cash....like the days of traveler's checks.
Is it hard to rent a car?
The biggie.....what is the best way to find housing?
Anything else I should know.
Thanks in advance.
Also, I'm not going as part of a group. I'd like to see as much of island as possible in a week or two.
And yes, I'm checking with the state department, the airlines, etc. But I find it more valuable to listen to people who actually have been there.
I'd heard that if you go by an American Airline you don't have to file additional paperwork. They just have you check off one of the 12 acceptable categories. Is that true?
I know there are two currencies. I guess I have to exchange dollars when I arrive? yes or no.
Credit cards or debit cards aren't accepted. Is there anyway to carry something safer than cash....like the days of traveler's checks.
Is it hard to rent a car?
The biggie.....what is the best way to find housing?
Anything else I should know.
Thanks in advance.
Nov 29, 2016 12:12:19 #
Go to the US State Department web site and see the requirements/restrictions on travel to Cuba. I think I heard there are 12 authorized paths to follow to visit Cuba.
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/cuba.html
Sarge69
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/cuba.html
Sarge69
Nov 29, 2016 12:20:16 #
I would probably just call a travel agency.
Jer wrote:
Does anyone have current information about travel ... (show quote)
Nov 29, 2016 17:53:01 #
I've contacted the State Department. I fit one of the 12 categories.
I know I can get there but I want to know more about the mechanics of going that probably only people who have physically been there can tell me.
I know I can get there but I want to know more about the mechanics of going that probably only people who have physically been there can tell me.
Nov 29, 2016 21:26:59 #
Nov 30, 2016 08:54:15 #
Jer wrote:
Does anyone have current information about travel ... (show quote)
What??? What kind of press agency would not be current on travel related documentation??
Nov 30, 2016 11:01:51 #
it used to be that they took US dollars all over and we would take US dollars for tipping and buying small things. Credit cards are accepted, just not American ones Visa and MasterCard that were issued by Canadian Banks were ok but not a Capital One master card or Amex even if they were the Canadian versions. All pretty ridiculous, they have changed their monetary policy and now you convert your cash, they now prefer Canadian dollars to US ones (they must be the only ones in the world, lol), to their Cuban money which IMO has a very fake value. I do not know of any traveller's cheques that are good there, for sure not American Express.
On a side note I never felt that I was in any danger of being robbed, I rented motorscooters and travelled any and all roads I could find, everyone I met was friendly, many are unilingual so Spanish only in many parts. There were many times that I would be waved down by someone on a road and they would try to sell you cigars or rum. Most of those products are counterfeit or below standards and not worth spending your money on.
There is a great black market in Cuba but it is common for the "authorities" to go through your luggage on the way out of the country and seize anything that was not purchased in a government approved store.
The island is not small by any means, I think it is somewhere around 1500 miles end to end, not to sure you can get all over without taking in country flights. If you see the in country planes, you might decide that the area you are in is just fine!
I have been there three times and although I liked the people, I don't like the government or the police and military presence. The resorts are super good deals for Canadians and some are pretty good but a four star in Cuba would not be a four star in other Caribbean nations.
Many Americans would come to Canada and take a Cuban vacation from here, on entry to Cuba they give you a travel document that says you have cleared their customs but they did not stamp your passport which is how the Americans travelling there got around the ban your government had on you going.
Do not have expectations of finding a great steak dinner anywhere unless it has really changed since I was last there. You will not see any cattle that look like those beauties that are raised in Texas in the US or Alberta in Canada, you will see some pretty scrawny looking cows here and there and the steaks are pretty much the same, scrawny scrappy little things. Fruit vegetables and chickens will do you well.
Anyway, I have no plans to return until they are no longer a dictatorship.
Check on Expedia and other travel websites and search for Cuba travel for the latest on money changing and such.
Oh and btw, if you can sometimes find locals who will open their homes to you and you have dinner there but you do pay them for it, it could be some of the best meals you get!
On a side note I never felt that I was in any danger of being robbed, I rented motorscooters and travelled any and all roads I could find, everyone I met was friendly, many are unilingual so Spanish only in many parts. There were many times that I would be waved down by someone on a road and they would try to sell you cigars or rum. Most of those products are counterfeit or below standards and not worth spending your money on.
There is a great black market in Cuba but it is common for the "authorities" to go through your luggage on the way out of the country and seize anything that was not purchased in a government approved store.
The island is not small by any means, I think it is somewhere around 1500 miles end to end, not to sure you can get all over without taking in country flights. If you see the in country planes, you might decide that the area you are in is just fine!
I have been there three times and although I liked the people, I don't like the government or the police and military presence. The resorts are super good deals for Canadians and some are pretty good but a four star in Cuba would not be a four star in other Caribbean nations.
Many Americans would come to Canada and take a Cuban vacation from here, on entry to Cuba they give you a travel document that says you have cleared their customs but they did not stamp your passport which is how the Americans travelling there got around the ban your government had on you going.
Do not have expectations of finding a great steak dinner anywhere unless it has really changed since I was last there. You will not see any cattle that look like those beauties that are raised in Texas in the US or Alberta in Canada, you will see some pretty scrawny looking cows here and there and the steaks are pretty much the same, scrawny scrappy little things. Fruit vegetables and chickens will do you well.
Anyway, I have no plans to return until they are no longer a dictatorship.
Check on Expedia and other travel websites and search for Cuba travel for the latest on money changing and such.
Oh and btw, if you can sometimes find locals who will open their homes to you and you have dinner there but you do pay them for it, it could be some of the best meals you get!
Nov 30, 2016 11:05:05 #
Jer wrote:
I've contacted the State Department. I fit one of the 12 categories.
I know I can get there but I want to know more about the mechanics of going that probably only people who have physically been there can tell me.
I know I can get there but I want to know more about the mechanics of going that probably only people who have physically been there can tell me.
Have you ever been to third world country before?? Cuba qualifies for that definition.
Nov 30, 2016 17:42:53 #
micolh wrote:
What??? What kind of press agency would not be current on travel related documentation??
If you are working as a freelancer in many cases, you have to take your work to them and they will decide to use it or not. You really are an independent contractor. If they purchase your pictures, then the financial agreement is made. I've sold material to this group many times in the past. However, everytime is the same. If you tell them what you want to do, the answer is always the same.....they want to see the photos and/or story first before making a decision.
If this group doesn't want to buy them, then I'll shop the photos around.
Nov 30, 2016 17:44:09 #
Nov 30, 2016 19:56:06 #
RonH
Loc: Shoreview MN
Send me a private email and I'll give you my phone number. Have been to Cuba as a journalist. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what it was like before I went. What I know now is different than what I was expecting.
Ron H
Ron H
Nov 30, 2016 21:46:26 #
I am head to Cuba this weekend and have the following info from my travel company. Good Luck.Regarding money, the clip below is from an e-mail I received before we left which indicates the exchange rate from $US to Cuban CUC (pronounced Kooks) is $US 1 = ~ CUC 0.87, after 10% discount and 3% service fee. I didn’t find this to be the case. When I exchange both US $ and Euros at the terminal when we disembarked from the ship, the fee for exchanging both currencies was ~ 3.6%. The exchange information below may be the case if you do the exchange in a bank. I did not see any ATM’s and no merchants took credit card – only cash.
We were advised NOT to give money or gifts to anyone. The concern is creating an expectation that l tourists will give handouts, which is discouraged by the tour operators and apparently the government also.
Tipping was encouraged:
Tour guides: 8-10 CUC/person
Driver: 2-3 CUC/person
Wait staff: 3-5 CUC/person on prepaid meals or 10% of bill
Street performers/Characters: 1-2 CUC/person
Bathroom Attendents: 0.50 CUC/person
Hope we can talk tomorrow.
John
---------------------------------
Cuba is like most other foreign destinations, you bring a major foreign currency and exchange it into the local currency to make purchases while you’re there. Cuban currency is NOT traded internationally, so you can’t buy it in advance. You buy it when you arrive in Cuba.
1.) The major legal currency for Cuba is the Cuban Convertible Peso, CUC. It’s what you exchange your foreign currency for and make all your purchases with in Cuba. Most tourists will only ever deal with CUC. For international exchange purposes 1.00 Cuban Convertible Peso = $1.00 USD. Note that there is a 10% penalty charged when exchanging USA dollars cash, so, you will only receive 87 centavos CUC for one USA dollar when changing the money, allowing for the 10% penalty and a 3% currency exchange fee. This is discussed further below.
2.) The second legal currency in Cuba is the simple and lowly Cuban Peso, CUP, which is rarely used by the vast majority of tourists, but it’s still something you should know about as it is perfectly legal for tourists to use it. For example, you can pay the ride in old taxies anywhere in Cuba in CUP. They cost berween 10 CUP and 20 CUP per person depending on the distance and destination. However, you can pay for the service in CUC as well. Just be aware that there is no way to pay 10 CUP in CUC, so that will cost you 50 centavos CUC, which is 12 CUPs. You can also use CUP in local shops where Cubans buy their provisions.
Outside of a resort or hotel when you're travelling independently it’s always handy to have a few Cuban Pesos on you. You get about 24 of them for 1 Convertible Peso.
Street food like sandwiches and pizza, fresh fruit drinks and other small purchases are all incredibly cheap. Once you get a feel for Cuba – if you speak a little Spanish it will be even better – there are peso bars and restaurants that can be quite interesting. Movies are cheap too.
Both types of Pesos, CUC and CUP, are legal tender in Cuba and both are completely available to anyone – including foreigners – with no restrictions whatsoever . You can exchange your CUC for CUP at any bank and most non-resort and non-airport Cadecas.
As a first-time visitor to Cuba though or as a resort tourist venturing off the resort for the day you can easily handle ALL your transactions with Convertible Pesos, CUC.
Lastly, if you leave a tip, leave it in CUC.
==============================
It's not uncommon in certain situations to be scammed by being charged in CUC but given your change in CUP. Therefore it's a good idea to know how to recognize the two different currencies:
Convertible Pesos, CUC: http://www.cubacurrency.com
Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) | Cuba Currency & Money Guide
www.cubacurrency.com
There are a some scams and cheats in the streets based in the ignorance of the common traveller of the differences between the Convertible and Not Convertible pesos.
Cuban Pesos, CUP: http://www.cubacurrency.com
Cuban Pesos (CUP) | Cuba Currency & Money Guide
www.cubacurrency.com
The rate of change of the Cuban Peso with the Convertible Peso is of 1/24 (December/2005). There are different emisions of the bills, but we will show only the latest ...
Note: The 3 CUP bill with the image of Che makes a nice inexpensive souvenir.
=============================
Accurate Exchange Rates: All the internet currency exchange sites (like coinmill.com, xe.com, oanda.com, x-rates.com, etc.) are useless for real budgeting because they only give mid-market rates, ignoring the buy/sell costs that you'll be charged at the bank or Cadeca in Cuba.
At present here is the ONLY website that gives you the exact exchange rates that you will receive at the Bank in Cuba.
We were advised NOT to give money or gifts to anyone. The concern is creating an expectation that l tourists will give handouts, which is discouraged by the tour operators and apparently the government also.
Tipping was encouraged:
Tour guides: 8-10 CUC/person
Driver: 2-3 CUC/person
Wait staff: 3-5 CUC/person on prepaid meals or 10% of bill
Street performers/Characters: 1-2 CUC/person
Bathroom Attendents: 0.50 CUC/person
Hope we can talk tomorrow.
John
---------------------------------
Cuba is like most other foreign destinations, you bring a major foreign currency and exchange it into the local currency to make purchases while you’re there. Cuban currency is NOT traded internationally, so you can’t buy it in advance. You buy it when you arrive in Cuba.
1.) The major legal currency for Cuba is the Cuban Convertible Peso, CUC. It’s what you exchange your foreign currency for and make all your purchases with in Cuba. Most tourists will only ever deal with CUC. For international exchange purposes 1.00 Cuban Convertible Peso = $1.00 USD. Note that there is a 10% penalty charged when exchanging USA dollars cash, so, you will only receive 87 centavos CUC for one USA dollar when changing the money, allowing for the 10% penalty and a 3% currency exchange fee. This is discussed further below.
2.) The second legal currency in Cuba is the simple and lowly Cuban Peso, CUP, which is rarely used by the vast majority of tourists, but it’s still something you should know about as it is perfectly legal for tourists to use it. For example, you can pay the ride in old taxies anywhere in Cuba in CUP. They cost berween 10 CUP and 20 CUP per person depending on the distance and destination. However, you can pay for the service in CUC as well. Just be aware that there is no way to pay 10 CUP in CUC, so that will cost you 50 centavos CUC, which is 12 CUPs. You can also use CUP in local shops where Cubans buy their provisions.
Outside of a resort or hotel when you're travelling independently it’s always handy to have a few Cuban Pesos on you. You get about 24 of them for 1 Convertible Peso.
Street food like sandwiches and pizza, fresh fruit drinks and other small purchases are all incredibly cheap. Once you get a feel for Cuba – if you speak a little Spanish it will be even better – there are peso bars and restaurants that can be quite interesting. Movies are cheap too.
Both types of Pesos, CUC and CUP, are legal tender in Cuba and both are completely available to anyone – including foreigners – with no restrictions whatsoever . You can exchange your CUC for CUP at any bank and most non-resort and non-airport Cadecas.
As a first-time visitor to Cuba though or as a resort tourist venturing off the resort for the day you can easily handle ALL your transactions with Convertible Pesos, CUC.
Lastly, if you leave a tip, leave it in CUC.
==============================
It's not uncommon in certain situations to be scammed by being charged in CUC but given your change in CUP. Therefore it's a good idea to know how to recognize the two different currencies:
Convertible Pesos, CUC: http://www.cubacurrency.com
Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) | Cuba Currency & Money Guide
www.cubacurrency.com
There are a some scams and cheats in the streets based in the ignorance of the common traveller of the differences between the Convertible and Not Convertible pesos.
Cuban Pesos, CUP: http://www.cubacurrency.com
Cuban Pesos (CUP) | Cuba Currency & Money Guide
www.cubacurrency.com
The rate of change of the Cuban Peso with the Convertible Peso is of 1/24 (December/2005). There are different emisions of the bills, but we will show only the latest ...
Note: The 3 CUP bill with the image of Che makes a nice inexpensive souvenir.
=============================
Accurate Exchange Rates: All the internet currency exchange sites (like coinmill.com, xe.com, oanda.com, x-rates.com, etc.) are useless for real budgeting because they only give mid-market rates, ignoring the buy/sell costs that you'll be charged at the bank or Cadeca in Cuba.
At present here is the ONLY website that gives you the exact exchange rates that you will receive at the Bank in Cuba.
Nov 30, 2016 22:48:45 #
Great info.
Let me know how it goes.
Thx.
Let me know how it goes.
Thx.
For tBragg Guy wrote:
I am head to Cuba this weekend and have the follow... (show quote)
Nov 30, 2016 22:50:41 #
I've been to a few "third world" countries. That's why I want to get as much info before I go.
micolh wrote:
Have you ever been to third world country before?? Cuba qualifies for that definition.
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