Just 90 miles from Florida, the communist island nation of Cuba is a gem known for its classic cars, eclectic architecture, as well as its vibrant culture and music. After over 60 years of travel restrictions for Americans, President Obama opened up the island to people-to-people travel and recently has allowed expanded flights.
With the island more accessible than ever, now is the time to go! The U.S. embargo on Cuba has prevented the island from becoming commercialized like many of its Caribbean neighbors and it is truly a magical place.
I was lucky enough to visit Cuba this April for a colorful weeklong adventure. Here are my top ten tips for making the most out of your own visit.
1. Follow legal restrictions
The U.S. and Cuba still do not have fully restored diplomatic relations, and there are many regulations regarding your visit. The most accessible way to go is through people-to-people travel, a trip in which you directly interact with the Cuban people. The easiest way to do this is by staying at a casa particular, which is a Cuban bed and breakfast. Some casa particulars can reserved on Airbnb. This is a great way to experience authentic Cuban food and you will have the chance to practice your Spanish!
2. Take cash — lots of it
Most U.S. credit and debit cards don’t work in Cuba and ATMs are a rarity. Cuba has two parallel currencies; the Cuban Peso (CUP) and the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC). The CUC is the designated tourist currency, and is worth slightly more than the U.S. dollar. You will need to convert all the money you bring into CUC.
3. Prepare your cellphone with offline apps
There is little cell service in Cuba, so it is best to come prepared, although Sprint and Verizon recently began roaming services to the island. As someone who has travelled to Cuba, I highly recommend downloading an offline maps application that allows you to navigate using your GPS, along with an offline translator.
4. Bring a home pharmacy
Medicine, personal products, toiletries are all very expensive and hard to find in Cuba. Pack any of these products you might possibly need—come prepared.
5. Bring baseball cards!
Everyone knows that Cubans are fanatics about baseball. During my recent trip to Cuba, this view was strongly confirmed. A member of my travel group brought along a few boxes of baseball cards, which do not exist in Cuba. They proved to be quite handy! We were able to use them to barter for lower cab fares and even join in on a baseball argument at the famed Hot Corner. Plus, they make a great gift for new friends you meet during your stay.
6. Learn some Spanish in advance
While it is possible to find some English speakers anywhere you go, the majority of Cubans speak little or no English. I found it extremely helpful to study up on some Spanish ahead of my trip. I would recommend Duolingo, a free website that I used.
7. Don’t forget your camera
Cuba is a photographer’s paradise. The people, the streets, the architecture, the plants, the food, the ocean—everything is colorful and waiting to be captured. Go ahead, upgrade your camera like I did. You won’t regret it.
8. Forget about reliable internet
In Cuba I tried writing a daily blog, which required me to find decent internet access each night. This is no easy task. There are limited places in the entire country with internet to begin with, so few hotels offer internet. For an hourly fee, you can get a mediocre connection. Be aware, internet is highly unreliable, even at the most prestigious hotel, the Hotel Nacional. When I was in Cuba, their internet went down for a few days. Take my advice, leave your devices at home and unplug for your stay.
9. Bring a power adapter
Outlet types can vary by hotel. Come prepared with an adaptor. You don’t want to be unable to charge your camera.
10. Be carefree, go with the flow
If you follow this last piece of advice, I can assure you will have a great stay in Cuba. Remember that everything runs a bit slower in Cuba, things won’t always be on time or run just as planned. Sometimes the least expected and most spontaneous turns of events can lead to the best of memories.
That’s it! Those are tips for traveling to Cuba based on my recent adventure. It was one of my favorite travel experiences. Take the initiative and go before the country changes. You can check out my blog to see photos and more details from my trip. Already been to Cuba? Let me know in the comments below what tips I missed.
“Sometimes the least expected and most spontaneous events can lead to the best of memories.”
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