Anyone travelled to Cuba by themselves before?

Question

Am going to Cuba in July on my own to Holguin and Santiago and I was wondering if you could give me some tips to a first time traveller to Cuba..I hear that you have to stay in a Hotel for the first few days of the trip, but i don't want to stay in a hotel, I want to stay in a casa particular (more cheaper) and mingle with the locals...anything i should look out for, things to and not to bring to Cuba..any hussle at the airports? Anything would be most appreciated..thanks

Answer 1

this is long but I have supplied a link to a very helpful website. My family is going to Cuba in July as well to visit hubby's family. Have a safe and wonderful trip !!!


You could not longer use US Dollars or any other foreign currency in Cuba, and if you bring dollars a tax of 10% will be applied to you at the exchange of them for Cuban Convertible Pesos (this tax will not be applied to other currencies). So my strong recommendation is to bring Euros, UK Pounds or Canadian Dollars. You will change them while in Cuba, without the tax that will be applied to US dollar exchange. Additionally you will be able to exchange back the remainin Convertible Pesos at the end of your travel.
Virtually any visitor need a Cuban visa or tourist card, which allows a stay of 30 days in the country, and usually could be extended for 30 extra days. Usually, visas for all nationalities cost around $30usd and can be obtained over the counter at the Cuban Embassy, or direct from your travel agent. Postal visa applications take 1-2 weeks to process. Visitors need a return ticket, and proof that they have booked a hotel room for at least three nights (a casa particular reservation slip is usually acceptable).

personal belongings which are to be admitted into the country with total relief of Customs duties. In general it is understood that the term personal belongings includes items - wether new or used - that a traveller could reasonably require for personal use for the duration of the trip taking into consideration all the circumstances of the voyage and its intermediate stops. It excludes any goods imported or exported with commercial or definitive purposes.
except for the underaged - new or used articles which are not part of his/her personal belongings and valued up to a total of $250.00 (two hundred) USD, one time in a natural year.
Cuba is a signatory country to the Convention on Customs Facilities for Tourism and Cuban national legislation complies with stipulations of the said Convention. Tourists are entitled to import as personal belongings items described as such in the text of the afore mentioned Convention on Customs Facilities for Tourism, which will be admitted into the country as a "temporary admission" with total relief of the payment of Customs taxes. This items must be re-exported on departure of the tourist. Among these articles are: video, film and photograhic cameras, hair dryers, electric shavers, portable radios and tape recorders. They may also temporally import portable personal computers (laptops) and their cellular telephones.

Import and export of the following items is prohibited:

DRUGS AND STUPEFACIENTS
EXPLOSIVES
OBJECTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, LITERATURE AND / OR ANY OTHER PRONOGRAPHIC ARTICLE OR ITEMS ATTEMPTING AGAINST GOOD MANNERS.
ANY ITEM - INCLUDING LITETATURE - ATTEMPTING AGAINST THE SECURITY AND INTERNAL ORDER OF THE COUNTRY.
ANIMALS, PLANTS AND THEIR PARTS LISTED IN ANEX No.1 OF THE C.I.T.E.S. CONVENTION (RELATED TO ENDANGERED AND PROTECTEC SPECIES).
Notwithstanding the administrative measures applicable in each case, persons pretending to import or export any of the above listed articles shall be liable to the corresponding penal responsabilities.
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Import by travelers of the following items is prohibited:
Electric power plants (generators)
Video equipments of all types, notwithstanding the country of manufacture or brand, including those produced and sold in the market as built-in accesories for other equipments (VCR, DVD, Play Station 2, etc.) Shall be exempted from this prohibition foreign diplomatic personnel, Cuban officials having stayed abroad for over a year, as well as individuals authorized to import household ménage.
Radio transmission equipment and transceivers;
Wireless telephones that operate in bands different than 40-49 MHz and 2,4 and 5 GHz
wireless microphones
Wireless Facsimile terminals;
Telephone switchboards and equipment;
Professional Radio and TV receivers differing from household models;
Geo-positioning equipment (GPS );
Satellite receiver antennas and stations;
Satellite communications ground stations.
Freezers of more than seven cubic feet of capacity;
Air conditioners;
Electric kitchens and furnaces - of all types, models and capacities
Electric ovens - of all types, models and capacities, including micro waves.
Electric showers - of all types, models and capacities
Electric fryers - of all types, models and capacities
Electric water heaters
Electric irons without sprinkler consuming over 290 watts/hour or electric irons with sprinkler consuming over 703 watts/hour
Electric bread toasters
Electric resistances for irons, furnaces, water heaters, etc.

Answer 2

First, Cubans love Americans. They love us and our money. There are stores in Havana that only accept the American Dollar. It is illegal for us to go there because we have no embassy there so if you get into trouble you are on your own. If you get caught you will be prosecuted by the feds for trading with the enemy. But on a lighter note, Cuba is BEAUTIFUL! It is recommended to stay in a hotel because there are tourists from other countries and you would be safer in my opinion. There will be no hassle at the airport, they won't even stamp your American passport. Just be very careful. I was only there for a weekend and loved it. Good Luck!

Answer 3

I certainly have been to Cuba for my holiday trips and enjoyed each minute of it. you will desire to bypass to journey the flavour of the country and this is heat friendly human beings. you do not would desire to stay interior the hotel all the time, how else are you able to assert which you have been there in any respect in case you do not see the country for your self? individually, i got here across it to be safer on the streets there than in London or any huge city. The track is everywhere, the all and sundry is heat and friendly, the seashores are surprising, the nutrition is super and the regulations are very nearly 0. as quickly as you have been to Cuba you will elect to return repeatedly as I certainly have. Cuba is amazingly time-honored with Canadians And the British, bypass there and you will adore it.