Cuba

Sneaker

Hi,

we're off to Cuba next month for the 1st time. Am I best off taking English money and cashing it in at the hotel plus a credit card?

Thanks in advance

Jdubb

you can get it at the airport when you land - sterling is good! If I remember rightly the rate was better at the airport than our hotel but it was difficult to know on landing how much we really needed - in the end actually very little was the truth. Have a wonderful time we certailnly did and are longing to return!:)

Sneaker

Excellent, thank you. I think I'll get £100 at airport and take my Abbey Zero card and draw cash on that.
Never been there before or all inclusive so no clue how much we'll spend. First 3 night in Havana then onto Varadero.

kimmee

I went there 2 years ago and took sterling and changed it when I needed to at the hotel. As we went all inclusive we didn't spend very much at all except for souviniers (sp?) but we also didn't go on any trips whilst there. Any Cuban currency that we had left over we left for our hotel cleaner as they are really appreciative of that (we also tipped every day) and we also left our toiletries because apparantly they are also very much appreciated.

Have a fab trip, it is a very lovely island and the people are very friendly and helpful.

Sneaker

Great thanks. Did you guys have any vaccinations? I'm not registered with a Doctor and wonder if it's too late?

kimmee

No, didn't need to have any jabs - at the time there wasn't any official advice that visitors to Cuba needed any but don't know if that's changed.

Jdubb

Sneaker wrote: »

Excellent, thank you. I think I'll get £100 at airport and take my Abbey Zero card and draw cash on that.
Never been there before or all inclusive so no clue how much we'll spend. First 3 night in Havana then onto Varadero.

Yr welcome, we stayed at the Playa Costa Verde (if I remember rightly) in Varadero (all inclusive with Thomas Cook) and it was superb! A really nice people, funnily you notice the difference in Havana, bit more like us City folk here (not much time for tourists save if they're spending) but a good experience nonetheless. (Food very good at the Hemingway place, sorry can't remember it's name but everyone there knows it!) We were given the tip to leave a little pressie daily for our maid and she'd make us nice animal shapes with our towels and she did! MOST importantly, the beach is amazing and the water is truly see through! I'm so envious :beer:

Sneaker

:beer:

Thanks I will google the Hemmingway place. Only B& B in Havana. I've heard that rather than leaving the toiletries on the side for maid at end of holiday you have to writeza note and let them know so that they don't get fired when their bags are searched.

Is there any recommended guides for what to do in Havana?

Thanks again!

Incapuppy

Do not accept any medical advice from someone on a forum other than to check with a medical professional for current vaccination requirements. Most destinations have a list of recommended vaccinations, Cuba is not exempt from this.

Check that your travel insurance actually covers Cuba, a few insurers were recently excluding it, defining it as a 'war zone'

Good luck with finding an ATM and your Abbey card may well be useless in Cuba if the info on Trip Advisor is up to date.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/cuba

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Tourism-g147270-Cuba-Vacations.html

jamesbrownontheroad

Sneaker wrote: »

Is there any recommended guides for what to do in Havana?

One word: walk! Explore on foot, smile and say hello to everyone you meet. Cubans are the most hospitable and friendly people you will meet in the Caribbean, and will love to stop and chat.

Photos from my 2005 Christmas trip: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesbrownontheroad/sets/72157606890998882/ (I was based in Montreal at the time, hence the Air Canada shots... I decided to swap -30ºC for +30ºC )

Sneaker

Right, I'm booked into to see Nurse about jabs. thanks.

Thanks for sharing the photos, some great shots, silly question, but is it safe to wander around like a typical tourist with the SLR round your neck?

I've googled the Hemingway place, is it the one that was his favourite bar?

http://www.netssa.com/havana_restaurant_bars.htm