1. Get you VISA
It is actually a Tourist card not a real VISA. The procedure is very easy. You just need to go to the embassy with a valid passport and have 20-30Euros with you (different price per country). You could maybe check with your airline they might also help you with it.
2. Health Insurance?
Nobody asked us in Cuba for it, but it is recommended to get one if you don't already have one from your work. For Belgium the mutualiteit has a health insurance included but you need to contact them as they will need to send you a letter confirming this in Spanish.
3. Announce anyone that you will be hard to reach
Internet
I would take the huge advantage of Cuba not having internet to just disconnect from social media for a while. But ok if you can't and can't here you go the details.
You can buy internet cards from ETSCA which is the phone company. you can get the cards in 30min for 1 CUC; 1h for 2 CUC and 5h for 10CUC. you will get a user number and a password. enter your browser to connect usually it works better then from the pop up.
​Second part of the story is that you don't have interent everywhere. Hotels usually have and then the city center in most of the cities and in several places in Havana. It's easy to find them as you will see a bunch of people with the heads down
You can buy internet cards from ETSCA which is the phone company. you can get the cards in 30min for 1 CUC; 1h for 2 CUC and 5h for 10CUC. you will get a user number and a password. enter your browser to connect usually it works better then from the pop up.
​Second part of the story is that you don't have interent everywhere. Hotels usually have and then the city center in most of the cities and in several places in Havana. It's easy to find them as you will see a bunch of people with the heads down
4. Queues are a national sport
arm yourself with patience, you will need to queue for everything.
5. Download maps.me
this app was a great help. it's free, works both on Android and iOS. Download the country you go to beforehand. No internet needed once you have the map. it gives you direction and also you can spot different landmarks or restaurants along your way
http://maps.me/en/home
http://maps.me/en/home
6. Cuba is safe
I don't know if it is safe for tourists only, but we had no problem going around the streets in the middle of the night. Maybe a bit more careful in Santiago de Cuba after 2AM but the rest is very nice and relaxed
7. they have 2 currencies CUC and CUP
Cuba is working with 2 currencies
CUC - pesos convertibles
CUP - peso nacional
1 CUC approx 27 CUP (2016)
1 CUC approx 1 Euro
it's good to change some CUC into CUP if you plan to travel by bus in Havana or you do a road trip to buy food from local stands. CUC is accepted everywhere.
CUC - pesos convertibles
CUP - peso nacional
1 CUC approx 27 CUP (2016)
1 CUC approx 1 Euro
it's good to change some CUC into CUP if you plan to travel by bus in Havana or you do a road trip to buy food from local stands. CUC is accepted everywhere.
8. Bring Cash (EURO, GBP)
you can take out money from your VISA but best would be to have enough Euro with you. I guess British pounds will also do but for now US dollars are not recommended as the exchange rate is very bad.
9. Inform your Bank that you go to Cuba
don't forget to call your bank before leaving to Cuba. Also for any transaction Cuba related, best to avoid adding comments like Cuba as the transfer might be stopped as it comes under the highlighted words in bank systems.
10. Power
They usually have the same plugs like in US mainly 110 volts with 2 legs. You can find in modern hotels 220V
11. Bring giveaways with you
we discovered once there that we would have made a lot of people happy by bringing some pens,towels or cloths to give away with us. so if you can spare some space in your backpack will be highly appreciated
12. Drink bottled water
best to drink bottled water. if you find buy as it is not everywhere. the food usually is cooked with filtered water so you should have no problems.
13. Exit tax not is not more applicable
as of November 2015 you don't need to pay the tax anymore as it is included in your flight ticket. you can check it with the airline but this is what I have been told when I left (with Iberia)
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