Cuba - Tips and Experiences Please!

inmypocketnottheirs

Off to Cuba at Easter and would love to hear others hints, tips and experiences.

We have heard that the courtesy sopas/shampoos etc from hotels are appreciated by the locals. Is this true? I've been hoarding from my many business trips!

Anyone with recent experiences?

Thanks!:beer:

Hinni

Hiya!
My hubby and I went to Cuba in 2000. It's a fantastic place, very friendly. We particularly liked the fact that there were no fast food joints on every corner - God bless America!!!?? :rolleyes:
We stayed in Varadero but ventured into Havana a couple of times. Very easy to get around, great museums etc.
You will be approached by street hawkers selling cigars, which can sometimes be annoying. Buy your cigars at a 'proper' shop. There are a few around and easy to find. We don't smoke but bought several boxes and sold them at a good profit when we got home.
A trip to the Copacabana is a must!
Enjoy your trip - room for a small one?

nikibella

Hi,
Cubans are poor and need everything, so take with you soap and shampoo from the hotels and t-shirts and other gadgets, they'll be most welcome. When I went there the US dollar was the only used currency, so it was very helpful to take many 1 dollar notes to give as tips, but now it has changed. You'll find out when you get there, or someone else can give more recent advise.

Tight_Git_3

We went last year on Honeymoon to one of the all inclusive hotels at Varedeo. The Dollar is no longer welcome and a Cuban convertable peso is used, which you change for sterling over there.

Anyway, we had a great time - apart from hurricane Wilma!! but did find that all the staff expected tips all the time, from the sun bed man to the room cleaners, which starts to grate a bit after you've paid for everything upfront already.

Basically if you don't tip you get served last......

Also watch out for the welcome drinks you may be offered on the airport transfer bus. After you have drunk them and they collect the plastic cups back, they want paying and as you have no local currency.....

This caught a lot of people out on our bus, who assumed that as we were all inclusive the drink was free, but it wasn't and I saw a few £10 notes being handed over.

We found the Cubans to be very friendly people and would consider going back, although not in hurricane season. Enjoy.

jeanna_2

hi,
we went a couple of years ago and as said the locals appreciate anything you can give. we took toiletries,toothpaste,brushes,pencils,notebooks,small toys, sweets, chewing gum,perfume and aftershave not used, postcards to say thanks and some clothes either bought really cheap in the sale or no longer needed and gave them to people.we gave the pencils bought cheap in tesco to someone to give to a local school.
http://debbiesreviews.proboards88.com/index.cgi?board=Cuba. have a look here for useful info.
hope this helps