Non-American Credit Cards

eeyoreuk

Help I am going to Cuba next May and have been told that they will not accept credit cards that are backed by an american bank. Which cards can I use that are not American backed thanks eeyoreuk

Unbelievable_2

You should have a look at the Nationwide cards - they are obviously not American backed, but also do not charge a currency commission.

Have a look at this too.

svmitche

Apparently this only refers to American Express, not any card backed by a US bank. See Guardian link:

http://travel.guardian.co.uk/askatraveller/story/0,8915,1296915,00.html

Reaper

The same applies to Travellers Cheques. Don't take American Express ones.

nh

I am going to Cuba too on my honeymoon in September! How exciting.

I will take a Nationwide credit card by the way. Will we be able to use debit cards? I have heard there are no cash machines as tourists are not allowed to use the local currency peso. They should use American dollars, I think I read somewhere.

I was thinking of maybe taking some dollars (cash) for our three days in Havana, then we are going to an all-inclusive resort (Sandals, no less!) so will only need some dollar bills for tips. I'm pretty sure we'll be able to use our credit card there for spa treatments etc.

svmitche

You can't use debit cards. Apparently there are plenty of ATM machines for credit cards though.

I think you can actually use the peso, but not take it out of Cuba, as with the Rouble in Russia. You can use them, as even if you pay with a dollar bill you will get Roubles in change, but are not supposed to remove them from the country.

nh

I'm assuming with a Nationwide credit card you get charged for cash withdrawals? And you get charged interest by the day as well?

I have never once drawn money out of an ATM with my credit card and I am not starting on my honeymoon

I think I will take US dollars in cash. I am pretty good with cash, I have never once lost my purse etc, or do you think travellers' cheques are a good idea. I always shy away from them because of the commission you get charged when both buying them and cashing them in (or am I wrong about that?)

svmitche

I would imagine travellers cheques are ok, as long as they are not American Express ones as stated above.

Cash and a good room safe seems to be choice on this occasion!

Fatboy_NSS

American corporations are forbidden from doing business with Cubans. Therefore American issued credit cards will always be declined if they're used in Cuba. Cuban law states that only Cubans can use Pesos, so you'll have to use dollars (although this is often overlooked outside Havana).

My opinion would be that you should take enough dollars to cover the stuff you'll need. I might be totally wrong here, but I personally wouldn't trust the Cuban banking system as much as I would the banking systems in Western Europe or North America. By this I mean knowing that ATMs would be available and travellers cheques could be cashed easily. I know VISA cards are accepted in Cuba as I've seen transactions on the system at work, but I don't know how many merchants accept it and how many ATMs there are.

eeyoreuk

Hi

I have had a letter from my travel agent to say that the American Dollar will no longer be accepted. That I can only get cash when I am over there. Also some friends were there when this change occured and they had problems getting rid of the dollars they had. The travel agent has suggested travel chq in Sterling, but I also wanted a credit card for security. But I would advise that you do not take the dollar.
thanks Eeyoreuk

nh

Just seen this on lonely planet website

As of 8 November, 2004, US Dollars are no longer legal tender in Cuba. Travellers must now use 'convertible pesos'; travellers' cheques and credit cards drawn on American banks are also no longer acceptable. Exchanging US Dollars incurs a 10% charge.


The website is at http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/caribbean/cuba/