10 Things to Consider When Planning a Cuba Holiday

The changes in Cuba are slow with reforms still likely to take many years, with sixty years of history unlikely to come tumbling down in the way in which many tourist investors would hope it will.

Cuba nonetheless, and despite slow changes, has seen a speedy increase in tourism visitor numbers over the last 10 years and this shows no signs of slowing.

Tourism is the fastest-growing sector in Cuba and no doubt many of you reading this are also considering visiting Cuba over the coming year.

So this post is for you; to give you some tips on visiting Cuba as a tourist and some things worth considering in preparation for your trip.

1. Visa

Most of you will realize that a visa is needed when visiting Cuba, but I still see visitors being caught out at the airport.

Given that so many of us are used to being able to visit a country for 90 days without the need for any type of visa (such as within Europe), it is perhaps understandable that some unseasoned travelers do not realize that a visa is needed to enter Cuba.

From a country such as the UK, you need what is a visa or otherwise named a tourist card and this allows you to stay for up to thirty days, and it can be extended relatively easily.

If you are booking your trip through a tour operator or travel agent, you can usually have them organize your visa.

In the UK the Cuban embassy also provides additional information.

Whatever country you are flying to Cuba from, make sure to check the entry requirements.

2. Currency in Cuba

Cuba has two currencies, which tend to be in use, and these are the American dollar and the Cuban Peso.

The Cuban Peso is mainly used by locals and rarely used by tourists.

You can sometimes find out which bars and restaurants will let tourists pay in the peso, but it is not always so easy.

As a tourist, you really want to be armed with U.S. dollars as your main currency. Using dollars can mean that some things are priced a little more expensively for tourists, but this is the easiest way to ensure that you can pay for things with little trouble.

Most things tend to be very cheap in Cuba, so you should not find using dollars such a problem.

Update: All money has to be converted to CUC’s at a 3% conversion rate for tourists.

For US dollars there is a 10% penalty charged in addition to the 3% conversion rate.

It is hard for Cubans to convert dollars into CUP’s and they lose 10% of value.

3. Keeping Safe

It is always a surprise for many people, when learning about Cuba, to realize that this country is actually a quite safe place to visit as a tourist. In a country that is so tightly controlled and regulated in many ways, crime tends to be quite low.

This is not to say, of course, that crime does not exist, but a stay in Havana or one of the big tourist locations such as Varadero is statistically safer than many holiday locations in Europe and afar.

The one thing you do need to be careful of though is traffic on the roads.

If you plan to drive whilst in Cuba, then you need to be extra careful, especially if you were thinking of driving at night.

The condition of the roads is not great and street lighting can be very poor in some areas. I would personally only drive during the daytime in Cuba and also stick to the main roads.

Do not expect the M1 or M4 like in the UK, bur roads which are often more akin to dirt tracks or one-lane routes.

4. Travel Insurance

Even though it is not advised, you can visit a lot of countries without having travel insurance, but Cuba is different.

Do not attempt to visit Cuba without a travel or holiday insurance policy, because it is required by law if entering the country – a law by the Cuban government.

You are not normally asked to leave the country, but you will then be asked to buy travel insurance there, and then you can find that your time in the airport on arrival is otherwise inconvenienced and not a good start to your Cuban experience.

Having travel insurance makes sense anyway, when traveling, and I would strongly advise having a policy before departing for Cuba.

5. Bartering

Although not something you have to worry about per se, do be prepared for a country in which bartering is part and parcel of everyday life when it comes to shopping for anything.

As a rule of thumb. offer half and then be happy with a cost of 60%. Not all places are suitable for bartering but, if you are in a market, then bartering is expected.

Personally, I do not enjoy bartering at all because I find it a hassle, but some people love it!

6. Internet Access

Most of us seem to expect internet access these days.

Only 5 or 6 years ago, you might have struggled to find a decent signal in many hotels worldwide, but now this is fast changing – but not in Cuba, I hasten to add. Internet access in Cuba is still very limited indeed.

You can actually turn this into a positive, by staying technology-free for the duration of your stay and by leaving your phone in the hotel safe and enjoying the culture, the foods, and the people of Cuba (and a cocktail or two also).

Maybe pre-warn family not to expect much communication from you during your stay.

A few of the big and expensive hotels now have Internet access, but it can be patchy sometimes.

Let me know in the comments of your own feedback! Did you have a different experience?

7. Food

I absolutely love the traditional Cuban foods and yet others describe the food as basic and bland.

I find it simple but delicious most of the time, so like in any country, it is very much down to personal preference.

If you are heading to one of the main resort hotels, you will find that the food is often very much tailored for tourists, so if you want real traditional Cuban food, you need to eat where the locals eat.

Go out on the street further than other tourists and you can find some great places to eat at half the price.

8. Water

The key is to drink bottled water rather than tap water and to make sure you stay hydrated in between those cocktails.

The humidity can be high, so try and always have a bottle of water with you in your bag when you go out each morning.

9. Finding Accommodation

If you are looking to BOOK A HOTEL, there is a wide selection of options much like in any country.

Some of the lower quality hotels though can be extremely basic, whilst the best hotels, in a city such as Havana, still often look quite dated and look as though they could do with a make-over.

The beauty of Cuba though is that it is like a living museum, so I strongly recommend Cuba, but just be open-minded when visiting.

The main options are hotels, but there are also some places that kind of resemble backpacker accommodation but in the form of Casas Particulares. Airbnb is also looking to expand into the market, although they are only open to Canadians at the time of writing.

A hotel tends to be the easiest option in all honesty.

10. Where to Visit. Havana or the Beaches?

This for me is what I think deserves some real consideration. If you are determined to see the culture meet real Cubans and have a somewhat authentic experience, then I would strongly recommend spending at least a few days in Havana.

I personally think that one or two weeks in Havana can be great and it is what I often do because there is plenty to do and see in the capital.

You can also use it as a base.

The most perfect experience I would suggest is to spend half of your time in Havana and half of your time in one of the beach resorts, such as Varadero.

If you are staying for a week, then 3 nights in Havana and 4 nights in Varadero or even better, a week in each!