A place where everyone loves Ron.

[drron]

Isla De La Plata is not part of the Galapagos being very close to the Ecuadorian coast but does have the bird life.Cruises around Galapagos are only on vessels that cruise there exclusively and have a permit from the Ecuadorian authorities and are nearly exclusively crewed by Ecuadorians.

Indeed at no point in this trip did we feel unsafe walking around.

 

[kermatu]

Wow. What a great trip, and fantastic report. Thanks for taking the time to post (and make folk like me very jealous)!

 

[drross]

thanks drron. hope to be in cuba in May..great photos, great commentary.

 

[drross]

In Mexico after 8 days cycling in Cuba. A few points to consider if going there. We were told the currencies to take we're Canadian dollars, euro or Mexican pesos. Don't bother with the peso just the first two. US dollars are welcome but usually attract an extra 10% conversion fee though we did find a bank in Pinta del Rio that didn't charge us the extra fee. For a cash society( debit cards usually useless and credit cards not widely excepted outside of Havana) it's terribly hard to get cash out. ATMs regularly run out of cash, if you can find one. Internet is slow and you have to buy a card usually 2-2.50 CUP for an hour. Having said that the hour usually only lasts for 40-50 minutes. Only 54 WiFi spots in the whole country. Hilarious to see 50 backpackers sitting in the gutter outside a 'hotspot' trying to log on at night.... Happy to answer any questions

 

[Champo]

We are travelling RTW using Qantas FF points business class in September 2016. First to Norway for a Hurtigruten Cruise on the Finnmarken from Kirkenese to Bergen, then to Munich for a Trafalgar Tour, then through New York to Cancun overnight, then to Havana Cuba for 3 days just to experience the place. Back to Cancun via Mexico City then New York for a few days before flying home via Hong Kong to Adelaide (The New York to Cancun and return to New York had to be done using additional points in Economy because my 35,000 miles had been reached - also difficulty in getting just some of that itinerary within the 35,00 miles)

I have received varied advice about visas for Cuba. Some say just get there and lodge a form handed out on the flight while Trip Adviser recommends applying in advance sending passports, photos, evidence of accommodation booked, etc to Canberra costing near $300 all up. Can someone offer their advice based on their personal experience re visas and also converting Euros into the local currency please?

 

[pagingjoan]

..........
I have received varied advice about visas for Cuba. Some say just get there and lodge a form handed out on the flight while Trip Adviser recommends applying in advance sending passports, photos, evidence of accommodation booked, etc to Canberra costing near $300 all up. Can someone offer their advice based on their personal experience re visas and also converting Euros into the local currency please?

My personal experience may be a bit dated, as we were in Cuba almost a year ago. However, we obtained a Tourist Card, which is the equivalent of a visa, before leaving Australia.

The following may be a relevant reference for you:
Smartraveller.gov.au - Cuba
Entry and exit You will need a visa to enter Cuba. A tourist card, which is considered a visa for entry for tourism purposes, can be obtained through your travel agent or through your nearest Embassy or Consulate of Cuba. Information regarding visas for other purposes, such as study or work should be obtained from the nearest Cuban Embassy.

We were advised before arriving in Cuba that hotels would be able to change Euros. None of those in which we stayed, in various parts of the country, could do so. However, there was a Bank in central Havana which did exchange Euros with no fuss - although they refused all other currencies that we had with us. That wasn't a problem for us, but offering it for general information. We had paid most of our expenses in advance, so were able to manage with cash exchanged in our time in Havana at each end of our touring.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your travels.

 

[Champo]

Smartraveller.gov.au - Cuba[/URL]
Entry and exit You will need a visa to enter Cuba. A tourist card, which is considered a visa for entry for tourism purposes, can be obtained through your travel agent or through your nearest Embassy or Consulate of Cuba. Information regarding visas for other purposes, such as study or work should be obtained from the nearest Cuban Embassy.

We were advised before arriving in Cuba that hotels would be able to change Euros. None of those in which we stayed, in various parts of the country, could do so. However, there was a Bank in central Havana which did exchange Euros with no fuss - although they refused all other currencies that we had with us. That wasn't a problem for us, but offering it for general information. We had paid most of our expenses in advance, so were able to manage with cash exchanged in our time in Havana at each end of our touring.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your travels.

Thanks pagingjoan. We have also pre booked and prepaid transfers and accommodation so other than tipping the transfer driver would not need cash until we located a bank in Havana. Did you find any ATM's? and do you recall what currency you used in Cuba?

 

[drross]

Euro widely accepted especially in Havana. Lots of direct flights from Europe and Cuba seems to be full of ignorant arrogant German tourists. ATMs few and far between them and often out of cash. MasterCard accepted by them and the occasional Visa. Debit cards usually useless unless used in a bank branch(eg Qantas cashcard). The line for money exchange at the airport is 1/2 to 1 hour long though one couple told us they waited 90 minutes. Bank offices are very quiet/polite places where everyone waits their turn by sitting down and everyone seems to give the foreign tourist preference.

 

[drross]

Ps we applied for our visa via Canberra etc. daughter met us in Mexico City and we purchased hers from the boarding gate form1/4 the price. Don't loose it...rather expensive to replace

 

[pagingjoan]

Thanks pagingjoan. We have also pre booked and prepaid transfers and accommodation so other than tipping the transfer driver would not need cash until we located a bank in Havana. Did you find any ATM's? and do you recall what currency you used in Cuba?

In ten days, we did not find an operating ATM. However, the Bank a few minutes walk from the hotel in central Havana was - as dross says - extremely quiet, with few customers waiting, and polite and efficient (if not particularly fast) service. We used Euros occasionally to tip someone, if they suggested it.

 

[Lat34]

We were in Cuba (mostly Havana) in February this year and managed well with Euros. We changed some at the airport, some at one of the banks after a rather long wait for our number to come up Restaurants in Havana were OK to take Euros directly on a 1:1 basis for CUPs but make sure to ask first. Internet access is indeed hilarious to 1) obtain and 2) try using but it's fun anyway. No mobile phone roaming either.

For "whatever" reason we had to purchase separate tickets Las Vegas-> Panana City and Panana City-> Havana. Cuban visa/tourist cards were purchased (in USD as I recall - $25??) at the checkin counter - you can't board the plane without one. That was it.

Collecting baggage in Havana also took an extraordinary amount of time even though we had business class tickets - apparently each bag is x-rayed on the way into Cuba.

Enjoy!

 

[pagingjoan]

......
Collecting baggage in Havana also took an extraordinary amount of time even though we had business class tickets - apparently each bag is x-rayed on the way into Cuba.

Enjoy!

We shared that experience, on landing in Havana. I may be mis-remembering but I think we waited more than an hour after the first bags appeared, before ours turned up.

Actually, the first "bags" were more in the line of giant television sets, white goods, air con units, and furniture, rather than suitcases. Apart from the inconvenience and uncertainty of the long wait, it was quite entertaining to watch the parade and the theatrics around the collection, then the slow process through the check points.

And good training for the "schedule" over the entire visit.

Not that we would have missed the trip. It was one for the memory banks.

 

[drross]

Bags out by the time we cleared 'customs'. Love the uniforms of the staff-the women all wear stockings! in 38-42 degree heat. You'll enjoy Cuba but expect lots of long waits

 

[pagingjoan]

Bags out by the time we cleared 'customs'. Love the uniforms of the staff-the women all wear stockings! in 38-42 degree heat. You'll enjoy Cuba but expect lots of long waits

Skiting, eh?

 

[drross]

Skiting, eh?

No. Things have obviously improved since you were there

 

[pagingjoan]

No. Things have obviously improved since you were there

Yes, that may be. We were there almost a year ago. However, some other family members were there a month or so ago, and their experience was closer to ours, according to their reports, so you were in luck with your quick service.