Advice on travel in Cuba for Australians...?

Question

Hi! I'm planning a trip to Cuba but it is very hard to find reliable information. I'd like to know:

1. What currency is used in Cuba, and will it be possible to exchange Australian dollars for that currency easily?

2. Where are the best places to stay in Havana? We just want to stay some where comfortable but not overly expensive.

3. Is the best way to fly there from Australia to L.A. to Mexico City to Havana? Is there a better/cheaper/faster route?

4. Is it considered offensive to speak English in Cuba? We can speak Spanish, but would probably be speaking English to each other.

5. We might even get married while we are there. Do you know anyone who has done that? Where did they do it? Presumably it won't be legal in Australia though, right?

6. Any other advice??

Answer 1

there are many good answers, BUT US dollars are NOT accepted in Cuba any longer. I suggest changing any monies from Australia into Euros, as those are recognized pretty much World wide. These answers will be lengthy, I will provide links, but I like to be thorough.


1. since Nov 2005, US dollars are no longer accepted in Cuba. US dollars are a pariah currency and you will be penalised (+10%) for changing them. Credit cards drawn on US banks (including affininty cards for non-US organizations that are administered by US banks) are not accepted. Tourists will be given Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) when they exchange their pounds, euros, Canadian dollars, yen or whatever on arrival. 1 CUC is worth approximately 24 Cuban pesos. It is not permitted to change CUCs into local currency. Where prices are quoted in local shops the price is the same number of pesos whether you’re a tourist or a local. Money should only be changed at official exchange bureaus or banks to avoid scams confusing the two currencies. Do not exchange currency on the streets, even if you are offered a seemingly better deal.
The CUC is only exchangeable within Cuba. Its value is pegged to the dollar - 1CUC= approx $1.08. However, as stated above, you will pay a 10% tax upon changing US dollars into CUCs, making the exchange rate more like 1CUC=$1.19. This tax does not apply to other currencies, so if you are travelling from the US it might make more sense to change your dollars into euros or sterling before travelling. As of Aug 2006, 1CUC = 0.57GBP, 0.84EUR or 1.22 $Canadian.

2. I will stay in my husband's family home in Aguada de Pasajeros, so I left some links for you to browse ref the hotels

3. I would think it would be easier to fly into Mexico and to Cuba from Mexico. They have flights to Cuba on a regular basis. Check with travel agents in your area on the cheaper/faster info.

4. It is not considered offensive to speak English in Cuba. They are accustomed to tourists (although not American tourists..lol) speaking many different languages. If you do speak Spanish, that will be helpful to you in purchasing items, etc during your stay.

5. There are hotels that include weddings as part of a package. Contact a travel agent. If you have never been married before, all you need is a passport that is valid throughout your stay in Cuba, and a tourist card (available from a travel agent, airline or the Cuban consulate). If either the bride or groom has been married before, the previously married person must, in addition to the valid passport and tourist card, also produce the following documents:
if divorced: his/her birth certificate and Certificate of Divorce;
if widowed: his/her birth certificate, Certificate of Marriage and Certificate of Spouse's Death. The decree absolute(s) or death certificate(s) must be legalised by the Foreign Office prior to departure. These documents must also be translated and legalised by the Cuban Embassy.

6. Get immunizations please, especially hepatitis. Keep a watchful eye on the news as to conditions in the country since Fidel is getting pretty ill. And good luck with your marriage !!

Answer 2

1. Cuba's currency is the Peso - but you can also use the US dollar down there as well. I'm not sure if they'll take the Australian dollar, but they probably will, since they prefer western currency down there. You'll get a better exchange rate from the black marketeers on the corner than you will from the official Cuban government money exchange agencies.

2. The Tropicana is the best hotel in Havana, and it's pretty reasonably priced compared to other major hotels in the Carribbean.

3. You might want to avoid any route that passes through the United States to get to Cuba, since my country has had an embargo on Cuba since 1961. I would advise flying to London, and through London to Cuba - there's direct air service from England to Cuba, and you won't get hassled by ICE (US Customs) like you would if you passed through Los Angeles on your way to Cuba.

4. Most Cubans have relatives in America (there are 11 million Cubans in the world, and 2 million of them live here in the USA) so many people there speak English and they're not at all bothered by English speakers. They'll probably be really nice to you if they hear you speak English, because they will know you are a tourist and have money to spend.

5. You can go to the City Hall in Havana or in any other major Cuban city and you will be able to get married by the city clerk. The ceremony is a legal marriage so there is no reason why the Australian government wouldn't recognize it. (America recognizes foreign marriages, so I would assume your country has similar rules)

6. Cuba is a very beautiful country, with a vibrant culture. You definitely want to experience Cuban music while youre there. Also, they have great beaches, so you definitely want to go down to the shore while you're there. Cuba is also a pretty big country, so you'll want to travel around outside Havana if you have time - Santiago is the country's second largest city, and you definitely want to go there too. Also, if you can, go on a tour of a cigar factory, it's actually pretty interesting.

Have fun on your trip to Cuba!

Answer 3

1. The currency is Pesos. There are two different kinds. The pesos the tourists use and the pesos that the Cubans use. Get the tourist ones. Not sure about exchanging Australian dollars..it might be easier to change Australian into British or Canadian currency and then exchange it in Cuba for tourist pesos.

2. Go to "Trip Advisor" or "Thorntree Forum" or "Cuba Junky" to find someplace affordable to stay.

3. Get a travel agent to advise you on the best route....check with a few different ones.

4. English is spoken in the tourist areas, But try and speak some spanish to them and they will love it.

5. It's much easier to get married just before you leave Australia and then just have a renewal of vows in Cuba. There is a lot of paperwork to be done for a tourist getting married in Cuba...translations,and it costs a lot more money, etc.

Answer 4

Americans are not allowed to travel to Cuba.

1. Peso, I don't know if exchange is easy. I would use a credit card, the credit card company can usually get a better exchange rate.

6. Buy cigars!

What is your timeline? Fidel Castro is reportedly very ill. Things could change if he were to die. Perhaps you should consider a Carribbean Island.

Answer 5

you have nothing to worry about cuba is lovely, the people are lively and love rumba, and the carnival is unforgettable, music is lovely, food is also and the fruit is organic with no artificial ingredients in it. cuba is one of the safest places on earth, allowing you to wonder the streets till watever time, and go into all areas.Only be carful with your money make sure it is kept safe because pickpocketing or purse snatching is the only real crimes which occur.

Answer 6

the only one i think that got married there was oswald and that didn't turn out to well! i live in the u.s and i would like to think that you Aussies arnt that touchy-fealie type!

Answer 7

are you stupid? what are you gonna do in Cuba? see thousands of miserable people, and get robbed. trust me, my family came to the U.S. for a reason.