Heading out to Cuba soon. Any advice?

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Geoff S

Sounds like a great trip! Don't be afraid. Cuba is a very safe country. Precautions? Take lots of sunblock. Beware of fake cigars sold on the beach. Be prepared in some areas to be approached by people trying to sell you stuff or services (Hey Lady, I braid your hair?). Take copies of your passports and put them in a couple places in case you lose one of them. Note that your resort may take them for some time to make copies, sometimes overnight. Beware of roaming charges on your cell phone. Beware, internet access is slow and expensive.

Tourists use the Cuban Convertible Peso. They're worth $1.08 US. Don't take US dollars! While tourists used to use this, a few years back they stopped in favour of the convertible peso and now they'll charge a 10% premium on converting US dollars. Best to take spending money as Canadian cash and exchange it for the convertible peso upon arrival. A few places will take credit cards, but only if they're not drawn on a US bank. Better to be safe with cash. Use your in room safe.

While your resort will have all inclusive food, you'll get tired of the resort food and want to eat out a least once or twice. Meals are pretty cheap ($3-$5 per person) so it might be nice for a change.

You will meet with a Sunwing rep upon arrival and at your resort. They can arrange or help you arrange some of the extra activities that aren't included and are there to help you with anything you have, whether it be with the hotel, or how to find this or do that. Most speak English, among other languages but they can translate/communicate for you if need be.

Tip your maid. It doesn't have to be much, a peso or two a day is very much appreciated. You will probably be thanked with beautiful towel designs, fresh flowers and a handwritten note.

Negotiate prices! This doesn't work with government run stores, restaurants or booths in the market but anything that's run by individuals like vendors in the market, taxis (coco or otherwise), etc. be prepared to bargain. The price they give you is never the lowest price they're willing to let it go for. The more you do it, the more comfortable you'll be with it and it's a lot of fun once you get used to it.

Make a trip to Value Village and pick up lots of clothes of various sizes. T-Shirts with logos like Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Florida, various things like that. You can use these in your market negotiations. You wouldn't believe how much bargaining power something that cost you 50 cents at Value Village will gain you in Cuba. Just make sure you don't take ALL those clothes to the market at once because they'll want everything you have to trade for their painting or sculpture. I say various sizes because most of these people have families and would love to take home something for their own kids. Electronics are also very expensive in Cuba. I think if you brought a little portable CD player that'd cost $20 in Canada, one that plays MP3 CD's and burn a CD with 150 mp3's on it or something that it could be worth at least 5 times that much down there.

Go to the Bulk Barn and load up on some candy. Give it out to the local kids playing in the streets. Leave some on your night stand daily for the maid's kids. When you're ready to go home, leave all your toiletries like shampoo and soap. It's little things like this that are appreciated there. The people are so friendly and it's nice to be able to put a bigger smile on their faces and make a difference in little ways like that.

Have a great trip. Hope some of these tips help. Before you know it, you'll be going back again!

meet and enjoy the locals
they are very friendly and happy/helpfull

David G

bring an extra suit case with stuff to give away. old close school suppies anything really. use that as tips instead or in addition to money. change your canadian money at the cuba airport you get the best rate. also find out thought the internet or even yahoo answers your hotel sales office email. email them tell then that you're coming ask if you can bring them anything and hopefully they will upgrade your room, I've been going to cuba for ten years now i pay for the cheapest room and get the best! value village is awsome for stuff too

DJDrum

Its a good idea to go all inclusive.
But you need the essentials,
Travel Insurance,
SunTan lotion
and usually take a bit of money, because you never know if you want to go on any trips.

Beardo

How young are the children ?

What sort of things are you interested in ?

Tropicales

You'll like Santa Lucia. It's a nice beach there. I've been to that resort many years ago and it was nice. I haven't been recently but there seem to be still some nice reviews about that hotel.

For your children's age range, there is a lot for them to do. Besides taking a good supply of sunscreen, take water toys that you can blow up there for the pool and other beach toys for playing in the sand. Your teens will be kept busy by the Animacion Team with activities that include scuba diving and snorkling at the coral reef, sunning, swimming, playing beach volleyball, windsurfing, pedal boating and engaging in other water sports. Visit the coral reef. Enjoy the entertainment that is offered during the day and at night.

Or go to the Bay of Nuevitas for sports fishing, scuba diving in sunken ships, seeing colonies of Roseate Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) and watching a great show featuring Bull Sharks (Carcharhinus leucas). At Cayo Sabinal, you can go snorkling, scuba diving and hiking.

You are close to the local town and can easily get there in minutes. Take daytrips and excursions if you can. Snorkelling is available and they'll take you out to an untouched beach. That was an amazing trip for me when I went.

Make sure to attend the orientation meeting the day after your arrival with your tour rep to get all information about trips and excursions, vacation stay tips, etc.

You will have a great time there for sure.

Riki

You are in for a real treat, you and the kids will all enjoy Cuba. Many people have given you excellent answers, One thing, be sure to hang on to 25 CUC per person to pay the departure tax when you are leaving. Go and enjoy, Cubans who live in Cuba will welcome you. If possible, load your case with gifts for our Cuban friends who treat us so kindly.
http://www.cuba-junky.com/cuba/what-to-bring.html
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic

Don Camilo

Enjoy the country whose destroyer you support with your presence and your money

Elizabeth, don't lose your time. They don't care about us

Elizabeth

I am going to give away free maps so people can see that Cuba is not the only place in the world. Now if you like communism and want to learn from it, go ahead and sit down with Fidel, he is very knowlegable in that. You will help us to suffer more.

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