Trip to Cuba

[RTWtraveler]

We spent two weeks on an island stopped in time. Other than an increasing number of charter flights from the US, you cannot book a ticket to Cuba that includes a stop in the US. As we needed to make a stop in San Francisco, A separate booking to reach Havana, we used Aeromexico. Mexico City was one of the worst airports I have ever transited. In old Havana we stayed in a casa particular, sort of a BnB, but you become part of the family. The people were fantastic. Food, sight seeing, and old cars were every where. We went now, before the embargo ends and the character changes forever. We rented a car, which turned out to be a nightmare, to visit Playa Girion, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad on the south coast. The major east/west road was eight lanes wide, but virtually no traffic. Motor traffic that is, there was predominately hoarse drawn carts and wagons on the verge. All in all, it is a fantastic country to visit, just do it quickly.
Bill
RTW Traveler

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks for that Bill - any chance of something more expansive in the trip report section?

Good move to go before the embargo ends - I regret missing an opportunity to go last year.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I was in the West Indies earlier this year and regret not making the effort to go to Cuba.

 

[Fifa]

We will be visiting Cuba for a week in April next year.
Who did you book your casa particular through and did you pay in advance?
I'm also hoping that you do a trip report with pics .

 

[russellferrier]

I had a chance to go in the '70's and passed it up. Been kicking myself ever since.
Must get there before it's destroyed!

 

[DC3]

Friends who holidayed in Cuba put me off that trip. Some issues that I remember were dual currency, rude hotel staff, poor food, taxi/bus fare issues, lack of credit card availability, general feeling of being "ripped off", tipping (service charge already added, but tip still expected on top of that)(including when the hat is passed around when musician is playing in the restaurant), etc. They felt that everyone was just after their money. They are widely travelled, but the Cuba experience was not as good as they had anticipated.

I have toyed with the idea of holidaying there for some time, but it seems important to do your research, as with any trip. Maybe I will do it one day?

 

[Milboo]

Sounds like your friends went in not having researched things properly!

- yes there is dual currencies but tourists don't really need the local peso - just the CUC. You can easily get some peso at the exchange places if you want to get ice cream at Coppelia or a street pizza.

- we stayed in 2 hotels - including the main one in Cienfuegos and Hotel Nacional in Havana. Service is not 5 star standard as things are a lot more relaxed but I remember helpful staff.

- food. Yeah it is not like what you are used to (I was so over ham and cheese sandwiches!) but there is damn good cheap lobster to be had! Since the advent of paladars, more and more good food is becoming available. But it pays to remember this is a country that still has rations for the staples and have limited food supplies so once they've run out or if there was no lobster that day then the menu is limited!

- no credit cards - well that's a given when you consider their infrastructure and the US banks not being available. This is widely known so should have been anticipated. I had no issues using my card to withdraw money in the cadecas.

- tips - don't remember really tipping anyone other than leaving change behind.

- people after money. They do take advantage of tourism. They need to! This is a country where the standard wage for people is around $20 a month. However, those who work in anything associated with tourism has the potential to earn more.

Cuba is a vibrant and friendly country. People there live very simple lives and on very little. I loved the lack of mass consumerism and the flooding of advertising.

 

[Moindardt]

Was watching an story on Cuba last night. Apparently airbnb is the way to go. Renting rooms or houses was one of the few ways of getting money with Castro in power. Now they use a local broker who has the Internet to connect to airbnb. You can pay airbnb with you cc and they pay the cash to the home owner.

 

[Moindardt]

Oh. And no internet. Hence the few people with it are the new power brokers.

 

[Fifa]

Was watching an story on Cuba last night. Apparently airbnb is the way to go.

Apparently we cannot book Cuban Airbnb accommodation from Australia.
My searches give me the following message:

We've determined your location to be in Australia. We are not licensed to provide booking services for this listing.​

 

[Jacques Vert]

Mexico City was one of the worst airports I have ever transited.
RTW Traveler

Really? We transited MEX 5 years ago and found it was excellent.

Maybe that was because having flown in from Havana we were prepared for anything; or maybe because we spent our time in the Mexicana lounge which was excellent, but alas, Mexicana is no more.

 

[Happy Dude]

We will be visiting Cuba for a week in April next year.
Who did you book your casa particular through and did you pay in advance?
I'm also hoping that you do a trip report with pics .

I wouldn't worry about pre-booking any CP's Fifa. There's always someone to help you. Your hosts in one town will hook you up with someone in the next. Never had a bad experience.

I couldn't possibly be friends with anyone who'd not visit a country because of the lack of internet and credit card acceptance, or won't chuck in a buck for a muso - while drinking $2 mojitos!!

 

[pagingjoan]

Apparently we cannot book Cuban Airbnb accommodation from Australia.
My searches give me the following message:

We've determined your location to be in Australia. We are not licensed to provide booking services for this listing.​

Agree with other posters, Fifa.
We had nine days in Cuba this month, in a mix of Government and private hotels, and homestay. We had organised ours in advance but it would not be necessary. Plenty of choice, certainly at this time of the year but may be a little different when you are travelling.

Will post a more detailed report in the relevant thread when back in Oz, shortly. Still on the move.
But do ask any questions.

 

[RTWtraveler]

There were not enough immigration/customs agents, so there were huge lines. Took about 1.5 hours for processing immigration. I did like the red light green light stop at customs, I have never seen that anywhere else. Air train between terminals was good.

 

[pagingjoan]

There were not enough immigration/customs agents, so there were huge lines. Took about 1.5 hours for processing immigration. I did like the red light green light stop at customs, I have never seen that anywhere else. Air train between terminals was good.

Interesting.
No wait at all for Immigration when we arrived in Havana about three weeks ago.
(Waiting for luggage, though. That was a different story! But amazing theatre to help pass the time. )

Airtrain? At Havana?

 

[RTWtraveler]

Not Havana, Mexico City........Havana was great, but did have to wait for luggage, but not in MEX

 

[Boca68]

We are to off to Cuba next month. Looking forward to it. Planning a few days in Havana, then Vinales, Cienfuegos and Trinidad. Flying in from Cancun on Interjet. A bit of a risk, but could not ignore the prices. About 25% cheaper than Cubana. (fingers crossed!)

Also had the same issues with AirBnB. Apparently, there is a way around the issue, but eventually we found what looks like nice moderate accommdation.

Also, managed to squeeze in a status run with AA using the Cancun leg. Doing Miami - Cancun (squeeze in Havana here) - Dallas - Las Vegas - Chicago - Miami.

 

[RTWtraveler]

The ABNB link is only for US residence, we tried to and called them. Our ABNB account is from Australia, so we were cancelled out. I can pass you the casa particular contact we used, they were great.

Watch Foreign Correspondent on the ABC Tuesday, 18 Aug....it is on Cuba.

 

[BVT]

I am just back fro 12 days in Cuba, via Mexico City.

MEX was a great airport, busy, but easily navigated and helpful ground staff. AeroMexico was a great airline, ime.

Cuba was just sensational. We booked our CP through casa particular cuba .org - Casa Particular organization for renting private rooms in Havana and all Cuba. It took a while, as responses were not prompt and our chosen casa's were no longer available, but in the result we found a great one in Old Havana with a rooftop terrace with great views and , importantly great breezes.

Cash is king so take plenty. Only the big hotels take CC, sometimes. Internet is expensive and patchy.

But Go. Just. Go.

You will not regret it.

 

[Milboo]

We are to off to Cuba next month. Looking forward to it. Planning a few days in Havana, then Vinales, Cienfuegos and Trinidad. Flying in from Cancun on Interjet. A bit of a risk, but could not ignore the prices. About 25% cheaper than Cubana. (fingers crossed!)

Also had the same issues with AirBnB. Apparently, there is a way around the issue, but eventually we found what looks like nice moderate accommdation.

Also, managed to squeeze in a status run with AA using the Cancun leg. Doing Miami - Cancun (squeeze in Havana here) - Dallas - Las Vegas - Chicago - Miami.

I flew Interjet and had no issues at all. I remember lots of leg room!

My tip for Vinales - hire a taxi and go to Cayo Jutias for the day for some beach time. Go early before the bus arrives - even then only a dozen people turned up!

Loved Trinidad - there is an awesome place to get pizza from a hole in the wall - I just could not give you an address!