Want to make this crystal clear… CUBA is not Dominican Republic, Costa Rica nor Colombia. Can’t compare this country to anything else. So you need to manage your expectations accordingly.
For 5 days, I have experienced the inner Cuban life beyond a tourist can experience. I have had the gracious opportunity to break bread and drink rum with the locals as well as get a better understanding of the everyday life of Cubans. People are nice and very curious about the outside world beyond the island and in some cases the city of La Habana. Cuba is a place that encourages everyone to experience.
Things that you need to consider.
Visa:
You can purchase your visa at your airport before you board the plane. Depending on the airlines, the visa price varies. Spirit is $100, JetBlue, Delta and American are $50 for a Cuban Visa.
Currency:
Instantly, you will lose money converting your money to the Cuban Pesos. For every $1, you will get .87 cents compared to the Euro, you get a positive gain. You are better off converting to Euros then to Pesos. Lucky for us, we now have a contact who gives us 1 to 1 conversion against the dollar but we must exchange with $100 bills. There are 2 types of currency.
CUC = Tourists. This is the currency all tourists must have for everyday transitions and we will pay more on things that will cost a local less.
CUP = Local. This is the currency the locals use
Communication:
Best to have an unlock phone so you can purchase a sim card and purchase minutes to use their cell communication. Internet access is extremely limited to parks where you have to buy an internet card for 3 pesos. I guess this is their way in controlling the internet access. If you are planning to mingle, you must have a phone because without it, it is a complete blackout.
Lodging:
You have the option to do hotels or rent some room, apartment or house via Airbnb. Depending on your preference, I prefer to rent my own spot so I can do whatever I want without any worries. Please be clear that you want a private apartment with no one living there with you or on the premises.
Overall, Cuba is a great city to visit and explore. I will definitely be going back but to Santiago de Cuba.
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