I have been told to take holiday money for Cuba out in UK sterling to change when I am there. Although I realise that Cuba and America have their differences, I have always found the rest of the world preferes to deal in dollars over anything else, so which should I go for?
Also, can travellers cheques easily be used over there and should these be sterling or dollars?
2007-09-10 22:32:24 · 19 answers · asked by Jooles 4 in Travel ➔ Caribbean ➔ Cuba
I am from the UK and went in June and took sterling. They charge you extra for changing dollars dont take them, first you will pay to change pounds to dollars then to change dollars to pesos. They prefer anything except dollars.
Take sterling and you will be fine.
Referring to the below comments, things have changed a lot with the introduction of the tourist peso the (cuc), in the whole time i was there i didnt see any dollars at all. Read the home foreign website it tells you not to take dollars.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618385839
2007-09-10 22:45:27 · answer #1 · answered by Robbo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Best Currency For Cuba
2016-12-16 17:13:41 · answer #2 · answered by carper 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We went to Cuba in june found the best way to go was to take British pounds and change money at the hotel. They don't like American dollars or travellers cheques in Cuba. Only tip if you get good service sometimes they expect a tip even if they don't really do much for it.
2007-09-11 09:16:16 · answer #3 · answered by shirlie w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
whatever you do, do not take American dollars. Two or three years ago Castro put the brakes on their use and they are now illegal. Take Sterling or Euros in either cash or travellers cheques. You can change them at either the airport or your resort upon arrival into Convertible Pesos, the currency tourists use in Cuba. If you run short you should be able to obtain a cash advance using your credit card at your resort. Be sure to get lots of single peso notes or coins to use for tipping and save 25 pesos to pay the departure tax when you leave. Oanda.com can give you an approximate rate.
2007-09-11 00:41:06 · answer #4 · answered by Richard K 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
DO NOT TAKE DOLLARS - they charge ALOT more to change over into peso's as alot of Cuban relatives who live in America send money over so they charge more for this, you are better taking UK Sterling you can not use and american linked credit cards, and we were advised against taking travellers checks, we took £1000 and a credit card when we went!!!
Have a great time, Cuba is my favourite place
2007-09-11 09:54:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only currency accepted is the convertible cuban peso, you can only get these in cuba and they are non transferable anywhere in the world, meaning if you do bring them out of the country they are absolutly useless so any you have left change up there - or spend!
you can change sterling or euros into cuban pesos, so the easiest thing to do is just take sterling cash. if you take travellers cheques you cannot exchange any that belong to any american bank = this is the same for credit cards, ie american express, MBNA!
2007-09-10 22:45:01 · answer #6 · answered by enzuigiriuk 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the US dollar was almost "banned" in 2004 by Castro ( fidel) saying that since Cuba does nt trade with US it will be really not neccesary to use the US dollar in the island so he imposed the use of CUC ( cuban convertible peso) which is a currency only valid in Cuba and is equivalent to the US dollar as it is a "hard coin" in Cuba , stores , taxis , hotels where tourist go deal with CUC , so that is why they 'force" you to change the US dollar at the airport into CUC , get ready to be deducted 10 percent tax and 10 percent penalty total you loose 0.20 per every dollar, so on the other side since Cuba receives mostly European tourists and trades with the European Countries , then the EURO is changed at a better rate and even accepted in most places so yu dont have to change the EUROS into CUC neccessarily.
Hope I helped
2007-09-11 13:28:26 · answer #7 · answered by Palmasysol39 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We went last year and we just took traveler's cheques and sterling, and we had no problems changing it in the hotel, don't take dollars this is a big mistake as you cant get them change in many place due to Fidel Castro the Cuban leader.
you can exchange sterling in to convertible Cuban peso when you are there xx
have a fab time we did xx
2007-09-11 03:39:18 · answer #8 · answered by Kate 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You just take sterling with you to Cuba and exchange it for Convertiable Cuban Pesos while your there, all the hotels have little banks so no problem with exchanging and you don't get ripped off either, you can't use dollars though so don't bother taking any unless you want to be embarrest, enjoy your holiday, Cuba is the most amazing place.
2007-09-11 02:05:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Having been to Cuba quite a few years ago,you will find American dollars are the accepted currency, as at that time you could purchase items in the dollars shops which is mainly for tourists only. Although if the locals have dollars they can also use them.We could not use the Cuban currency so you would not be able to shop in the local shops whatsoever.
Things may have changed since then but very much doubt it.
Cuba is a very vibrant and exciting country , with music and song all around, I am sure you will enjoy it. However do take care of your handbags, one of our party had her bag snatched whilst enjoying a tricycle buggy ride through one of the towns we where touring.
2007-09-10 22:54:42 · answer #10 · answered by Aleak!! 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋