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Practical information for travellers (situation 2005).
The lands language is Spanish, only very few can speak or understand English.
It is possible to travel in Cuba without active knowledge of the Spanish, but
some basic skills on this area are practical.
The dollar no longer is a legal means of payment, instead of that the peso convertible has been introduced.
At every bank (also at airport arrivals) one can exchange dollars or euros for pesos convertible.
ATM's and ATM -cards don't function, credit cards (not all brands) only at banks.
Using euros offers an advantage, on exchanging dollars there is a 10% extra charge (Americans Molesting Tax).
The bank also buys back pesos convertible for euros or dollars. Every bank also can provide you with pesos national,
the local currency. Handy to have for example 10 dollar worth of pesos national for buying an orange
or a snack. For all the rest it is not of any value.
A visa is compulsory and has to be obtained on forehand. It is only valid
for one month and can only be extended locally (for max 1 month). This is a complicated matter
for which one should reserve two days unless acted as follows :
buy in a certain special bank special tax stamps (no kidding) for a total value of $25US.
Be present at the immigration office (Havana outskirts) at 9 a.m.
Bring passport, visa, return ticket, stamps and patience. With a bit of luck you are in the clear
before the afternoon. At 11.30 a.m. no new customers are admitted. Question however is
if you would notice this before a couple of hours waiting in vain.
The cheapest way of getting there is a charter to a resort destination.
Leave after your first night the resort for what it is and take a taxi to
the nearest city. From there you will be able to travel the island by public transport
or rental car. A flight on Havana is more expensive but you will be running around in Havana
the same night. From the national airport take an official taxi downtown for about $25US.
Other offers aren't much cheaper, illegal and less comfortable.
The use of drugs in Cuba is very much to be discouraged.
It is strictly illegal and the locals don't want to run any risk in this matter.
So changes are high that you will be reported and run into serious problems.
Rather enjoy the sublime rum (Havana club) or go for Jamaica.
Be careful with im- or exporting goods. The customs are rather critical.
A packet of tobacco already presents a problem because they suspect it to be drugs.
Once they are convinced it is just tobacco the atmosphere lightens.
Export of even the most basic art objects can present you with a problem.
You should have an certificate to proof tax has been paid for it.
This certificate is to be purchased in a special branch of the custom office in Havana.
All over Cuba locals rent rooms (casas particulares).
For that these people have to have a licence which is shown at the doorpost.
A room almost always is to be found. Only in Holguin and Havana you might have difficulties
finding a place. The reason for that is that these are the only cities where a foreigner
is allowed to stay with a Cuban, and so it seems this happens quite often in these cities.
The measure of course should prevent prostitution and is complied with rather consequent.
Further more it is useful to realise that a commission-system exists.
Any person that takes you to an address where you rent a room receives a commission
that can run up to 20% of the rate of the room daily. Lot's of people of course try to accompany
you to an address in order to receive the commission that in the end you pay for yourself.
Also a hospita always tries to send you on to befriended people in the next town, for the system
also works on long distances. They self call it 'una cadena' (a chain). Actually it works quite well
for if you try to arrange things for yourself most of the time you"ll spend more effort for
less result. Bargaining on the price of a room is possible but can only save you like
10% of the price if you stay for a longer period. Expect to pay 20 to 30 US-dollar a night for a double.
Also in this case of course you should pay in pesos convertible.
Aspects you do want to take into account :
Do you like the hospita (because you will run into her quite often), how much traffic noise
is to be expected through the window of your room, is a reliable backup system for drinking water
in function, can you have some privacy (often you more or less live in the centre of the family),
how well a cook is your hospita (often the only way of getting a meal that can bring the average tourist
satisfaction).
Travelling by public transport is well organised en comfortable.
Tourists most of the time use the most comfortable bus company "Viazul" (air-conditioned).
The second company "Astro" is less comfortable but still not bad. The frequent stops however
make your journey less swift and the price difference is not very big.
Expect to pay about 40 dollar for 500 kilometres. Bus tickets for "Viazul" can be bought
in advance or at departure if chairs are still available. So you don't have comply with the Cuban
queue-system that is in order for all the other public transport systems.
Miraculous the busses drive according to schedule. Not so the train.
A delay of four hours is not very special, if a train arrives at all. Not recommendable.
After all, in this way you can get to any major city. For getting at small towns (off the track)
you will have to depend on local busses or taxi's. Diehards can try to travel on the back of a truck.
These 'camiones' also serve as public transport. However the finding out of where, when and whereto is
not easy. For escaping a resort you probably have to rely on a taxi that without doubt will rip you off,
since most of the time it is the only way of getting there (away).
Taxis are operated with a meter system. If the occasion is present they will try to
avoid using it, not in your advantage I guess. Taxis are not very cheap: about 20 dollar for
a 20 minute ride. The byci-taxi is prohibited for tourists (looks much too colonial).
For hard cash they"ll take you, but the operator runs a risk of being fined, so in advance, also settles
this bill with you.
The horse carriage officially also is prohibited for you, but you might succeed of getting a ride
for as little as 10 dollar cent. Renting a car is another possibility for seeing the island.
Don't count on 'American' fuel prices. Fuel is scarce and extremely expensive.
While giving locals a ride mind your luggage (hearsay).
In finding addresses to stay a travel guide is practical, although you stumble over people renting rooms
at every bus station. I did use the lonely planet guide and found it to be useful although not very practical.
Internet facilities in major towns generally are available. However it doesn't work very fast
and is not very reliable. Besides, you have to hand in a copy of your passport and have to log in
with your own private code. So mind your language, big brother is watching you.
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