Getting A Visa
Step One
Travel is open again to Cuba! It was closed to travelers for some time due to COVID. But, hooray, if Cuba is on your wish list and you are planning a trip, start making plans. Since the trip we took right before the Virus appeared a lot has changed! So here it is: the basic and most important steps to plan your trip.
You will need three things (four if you are from the U.S.A.) to travel and enter Cuba: #1 Your passport (current at least for the next six months). #2 Travel insurance, #3 Declaration of your purpose for traveling to Cuba And, as a traveler from U.S.A, #4 A Cuban Tourist Card (a.k.a a visa)
The Cuban Tourist Card
1. You can obtain a Cuban tourist card from the Cuban embassy in Washington D. C. of from various city consulates.
2. You can obtain one on line https://www.visagov.com/en/cub-visa-for-cuba
3. You can also check with the airline you will be traveling with to see if they are currently offering that service.
Choosing aVisa Category
Step Two
There are eleven categories which cover a traveler’s purpose for visiting Cuba. We traveled with the category Support for the Cuban People. That means that all your activities and what you plan to spend your money on will help the Cuban people. If you are reading this blog I would imagine you will be choosing the same.
The interesting thing is that after declaring my support, I actually started to take it seriously. I decided to stay in a Casa Particular (a private room or home) rather than stay in a hotel. Some sites come with prepared breakfast in the mornings. Consider it. A Cuban breakfast is so good and possibly your best meal of the day. Some days we ate at paladores, restaurants run and partially owned by locals. I also did activities like the cooking class I took in Havana and a guided hike in Vinales. So yes, I was contributing to the economy but I also got to interact with the people of Cuba.
Money Matters
Step Three
Euros, Canadian dollars and British pounds are well accepted and used in Cuba. Not so for the American dollar.
On our trip to Cuba we exchanged our dollars for Euros before even leaving the U.S. Once we arrived at the airport in Havana we exchanged our Euros for Cuban currency, CUP. There are new offices now at the airport called CADECA, short for Casas de Cambio (Houses of Change). You can check the current exchange rate (it is known to change often) on their site:
If you need more cash when you are in Havana, there are several CADECA offices throughout the city. They can also be found in other towns and tourist sites throughout Cuba. Once again, check their website.
U.S. dollars are not accepted in Cuba except in some cases in restaurants and in casa particulares. Even in that case, any change will be given to you in CUP, the official currency of Cuba. Leaving a tip should be in CUP, also. Euros are liked and well accepted in everywhere in Cuba. Canadian dollars are accepted, also.
Aside from the money you will need once you are in Cuba, try to make as many payments as possible before you leave. We paid our apartment rental, for example, on the AirBnB site.
Know, too, that no USA debit or credit card will work in Cuba. Better to prepare yourself to only deal in cash. It is good to know also that restaurants and bars, casa particulares, don’t accept credit cards once you are in Cuba.
Travel Insurance
Step Four
Travel Insurance…it’s required! And it’s important. The Cuban government requires all visitors to have a travel plan that will cover any unforseen expenses in Cuba. And even if it weren’t mandatory, it is always a good idea. However, it may be somewhat confusing to determine the difference between travel and medical insurance. I have included a site that is perfect to answer your questions about what you will need for your trip to Cuba. https://visaguide.world/travel-insurance/cuba-travel-insurance/
A Place to Stay
Step F ive
There are two sections of the city where most visitors are likely to stay. One is Havana Vieja (Old Havana), the other is the Vedada. In Old Havana there are some pretty interesting hotels. There is no traffic here other than foot traffic, so keep in mind that you will be walking in this section.
The Vedada is the old and quite beautiful residential section. Many have opened their doors to tourists. Our host was super attentive and there whenever I needed help which wasn’t often. But I appreciated it when I did have questions. Staying in a local residence, navigating the neighborhood each morning and during the evenings…it was a great experience. We used AirBnB and you can see our apartment below:
Airbnb not only gives you options on their site for where to stay, but for what to do. If you are doing this on your own you might have a Support the Cuban People visa. On the AirBNB site you will finds tons of ways to support the locals and have a great time. One thing I did was a cooking class. So much fun! Find it here: https://www.airbnb.com/s/Havana–Cuba/experiences?
So these are the basics you will need to know. I hope they help you get right into your stay, without hassles, like you’ve been in Cuba forever.
In my next post, Doing Havana Your Way ( https://roadtosuchness.comhavana-doing-it-on-your-own/) I will guide you through getting your local money (CUPS) at the airport, Airport Taxis, Getting Around Havana and Cuba. We will also look at where to Eat, Drink and Stay and also will provide a local website.
