10 Things Every American Should Know Before Traveling To Cuba
Cuba has been on my “must see before I die” list for about 10 years now. Something about the impossibility of it made it more appealing to me.
I wanted to experience a country that wasn't dominated by consumerism, a place where new trends rarely reached, and most of all, I wanted to experience what it meant to live a Cuban life. And now, since President Obama took a trip to start mending the not-so-stable relations between both countries, I knew it was my last chance to visit before McDonald's and Starbucks began plopping their consumerist claws on the island.
What I didn't know at the time was that this trip would put my travel booking skills to the test. Of course this is because I'm being cheap and refuse to pay for a travel agent to book my trip from start to finish when I have a brain and Google at my fingertips.
Then I fell flat on my face; I learned Cuba has extremely limited access to internet, creating a predicament for someone like me, who likes to research details about a country before diving in head first.
Due to the lack of information available about Americans going to Cuba, I figured I would make a research trip out of it all to write this blog that I was needing all along.
Here are all the things Americans need to know before going to Cuba.
Plan how you'll book your ticket
Sure, some companies are now allowing direct flights from the USA to Havana, but you'll have to pay big bucks to get the comfort of a 45-minute trip from Miami and figure out your visa/tourist card in advance.
I did it the old fashioned, cheap way, which meant a lot of risk taking and hitting up Mexico before heading on to Cuba. I found my flight on Skyscanner from LAX to MEX (the largest airport I've ever seen), and from there booked a flight to Havana.
The entire trip time was about 10 hours with a four hour layover, and cost me no more than $750 round trip. On the way back, I booked from Havana to Cancun, Cancun back to the USA. I've heard Cancun's airport is significantly better to enter Cuba from because of its small size, so maybe this is the right gateway for you.
Buy International Health Insurance
Again, this information wasn't BOLD or outlined anywhere, but while I was researching, I came across a few articles that stated all foreign travelers booking a trip to Cuba must have international health insurance to enter the country.
I'ma be real; I've never bought travel insurance or international health insurance before, which is probably careless, whoops. After closing several tabs that quoted about $200 for unnecessary insurance policies, I came across this company Right Roam, that had basic insurance for a month of coverage for only $15.
The bonus with this was that they didn't only cover health incidents, the policy also had trip coverage listed, and $300 of reimbursement if luggage was lost, among other things that gave me more peace of mind when planning such a stressful trip.
I entered and left the country fine without having to show anyone my insurance policy, but it was still comforting to have spent the extra $15 for a tiny bit of ease.
Buy a Tourist Card
Wow, what can I say about this step? It had me mumbling things in Spanish to the Cuban embassy, and to the workers of the Mexico City airport weeks before the trip all in an effort to get the answers I needed.
I've taken trips abroad in which you need to go to the country's embassy, apply for a visa in advance and anxiously await a response. I've also gone to Egypt, where you simply get off the plane, and buy a visa when you're already in the country.
Cuba uses neither of the two systems that I've experienced, and it seemed like no one could explain how I could get a freaking visa/tourist card to go to Cuba before getting to the airport.
Here's what you need to know:
Some flight and tour companies sell you the tourist card with your flight. Since I was a cheapo, clearly that wasn't my case.
If you book with a travel agent, they'll most likely handle this for you as well.
OR if you're going the straight up rogue way, you'll need to buy it right next to the check in counter of the Mexico City airport. There will be a tiny podium, with some janky signs posted sideways about fine print policies, don't expect an easy “BUY TOURIST CARD HERE” sign, because that'd be way too easy.
There will most likely be an airport worker taking passports and scribbling on pieces of paper. That's exactly where you need to go to ask about your “tourist card.” After you find the podium, it's all simple and straightforward (like finally, jeez). You pay $25 USD for a visa that lets you stay in Cuba for 30 days. You have the option to renew for an additional 30 days once in Cuba.
Prepare To Have Limited to Connection
As of now, there is absolutely no way you can get cell phone service with American telecom companies in Cuba. Don't even bother buying international texting or some sort of “global” cell phone plan, because it won't work.
You will also experience the least amount of WiFi you've ever experienced, which is actually great in the long run. It's one of the few places in the world left where you can actually enjoy your time in the country, without posting about it every two minutes.
In order to plan for this lack of connectivity, download all the entertainment you'll want for your duration abroad. Take screenshots of your flight bookings and documents as backup.
Write down important addresses you'll need when you arrive in Cuba. Lastly, notify your family that you'll truly have limited connection when you arrive. If they're worried, give them your flight information so they can check when you land.
Once you're settled, you'll be able to pay $2 to $10 for Nauta WiFi cards that will give you one to five hours worth of internet that can only be accessed in public parks (nothing beats tweeting and sweating), and inside hotels. Even as a connectivity addict, I had to surrender to the impossibility of accessing strong WiFi in Cuba.
Booking a Casa Particular
Since Cuba is pretty new to the tourist game, options for accommodations are a little bit different. There are no hostels and pretty few luxury hotels, that I clearly won't be staying in.
The only other option is staying in a Casa Particular. Think of a Casa Particular of a temporary homestay, almost like an Airbnb. If Cubans have extra rooms in their homes that they'd like to rent, or entirely vacant apartments, they'll put a sign on their door with the iconic blue anchor to show their vacancy and that they're a legal Casa. Side note: Blue signs are for tourists, red signs are for Cubans only.
I found my first Casa through a friend, it was on the pricier end of the spectrum ($40/night for two people) for a private apartment with a balcony facing the Malecón and the ocean. It was definitely worth every dollar. Five days into our trip, we switched to a Casa right down the street for $25/night for a room inside of an adorable abuelita's home.
Casas can be as cheap as $15/night for up to two people, but cheap rooms usually don't have windows which is a personal deal breaker; traveling ain't so good when you can't see anything.
Most Casas have the same amenities as you would a hotel; usually private bathroom, clean towels, sheets, etc. Don't count on ever having WiFi though.
Also, it's important to know that you can book listings on Airbnb.com only BEFORE getting to Cuba. Once in Cuba, you'll be blocked from actually booking rooms through the site. Book your accommodation in advance to avoid the stress of knocking on doors like I had to.
Prepare Your Money
Yesterday, I had to join the dozens of tourists waiting in line to exchange money at a Cadeca, or a “Casa de Cambio (House of Exchange). I overheard some Americans behind me speaking to a local who was clearly trying to scam them for an inflated exchange rate; I turned around and used my slightly more experienced knowledge to see if I could help out.
What they didn't know, like most other Americans, is that while relations between the US and Cuba is slowly getting better, there are still fees for our USD.
Any Cadeca will charge a 10 percent commission fee for converting USD into CUC, or Cuban Convertible dollars, aka “Tourist Currency,” not to be confused with the CUP, or “moneda nacional” for the locals. The smart technique is to exchange Euros in advance and use that to exchange into local currencies while abroad.
Oh, and the most important part about planning your finances is that you CANNOT withdraw money from any ATM in Cuba, nor can you use any of your credit cards, so you need to bring enough cash money to last the entirety of your trip.
Prep Your Tummy
To put it simply, food in Cuba is overall pretty crappy because of their many years of isolation, and the fact that all rich restaurant owners fled to different countries when the revolution wiped out the rich class.
Aside from the political reasons that cultivates crummy food, the water quality produces limp fruits and veggies. I swore I had a watermelon that was so dry it had the texture of a cookie. And lastly, privately owned restaurants are still learning how to cater to the Western world's standard of service, prepare for some hungry days.
Beware of the Water
Water in Cuba might will give your stomach a poopy time, literally, so some good advice would be to pack probiotics to take a few days before your trip and have enough to last you while abroad. Bring Immodium AD and Pepto Bismol for if and when things get bad. Even if you're not gulping glasses of tap water, you'll most likely drink a mojito with ice cubes made from tap water.
Pack Snacks
My first few days, I was craving chocolate like never before. It seemed like there were no stores that sold cookies, chocolate or anything in general because there were barely any stores. At this point in time, Cuba is the furthest thing from having a consumerist culture, things are extremely difficult to get, stock, sell and buy.
The few grocery stores that there are sometimes require you to wait in four lines: one to check your bag, another line to get inside of the store, another to order basic things from behind the counter (i.e. hair products, cookies, basically anything that you'll really need) and another line to check out.
It's a struggle, so I suggest you bring extra snacks that you know you'll miss.
Going out to Eat
You might see windows on the street, or “cafeterias” selling pizza, spaghetti or simple sandwiches, which I've eaten in, and never had any problems. If you have a sensitive stomach, you might want to stay away from street meat. You'll also see Paladares, which are privately owned restaurants inside locals' homes. The name comes from a Brazilian novella about a poor woman turned millionaire after opening her own small restaurant in her home called “Paladar.” The service is usually way better than it is at government owned restaurants, which often make you feel like your middle school cafeteria served at five star standards.
Pack Extra Clothes and Toiletries
This one is the opposite of advice I'd normally give for long trips, but here's why you need to pack a little extra to go to Cuba. Most Cubans have challenges affording basic things like hygiene products, clothes, shoes, etc. There is also a shortage of things like paper goods: paper plates, paper towel, toilet paper, etc.
You'll notice that the airport check-in for baggage will be bigger than any you'll ever see; family members returning to Cuba will bring back massive flat screen TVs and duffle bags filled with lotions, Ziplocks and clothes. Even if you're a backpacker, you can probably pack a few extra shirts that you've only worn once that will make all the difference to a Cuban.
On our first day, we met a Cuban man named Frank, who passed the sketch-o-meter test; all he asked was for clothes he could give to his sisters in exchange for local information. Fast forward and we had a full day of Havana sightseeing and paid him back in four tank tops and shorts.
And so, while Cuba is still difficult to get to as an American in 2016, I can confidently say that it's been one of the most gratifying, profound and eye-opening trips I've taken.I highly recommend you experience it all for yourself through a local lens. Be prepared to strip yourself out of your comfort zone, put your gadgets and gizmos away and get lost in time for the very first time.
