A Few Thoughts For A Smooth Cuba Experience
One of my favorite things about this city is how safe it is. You can walk around Havana, at any time, and you will feel safer than in any other city in the world (always with common sense, of course!). So feel free to wear your comfy shoes, pack your bottle of water, sunscreen, and wander around anywhere you’d like. This said, there are a few tips to travel to Cuba that you should know of, so you don't make the most common “tourist mistakes”:
The Money Exchange
Cuba is definitely one of the most complicated countries to plan in terms of budget. With a different exchange rate between the official one stipulated by the government (120 CUP for 1 USD) and the unofficial one with which regular people will exchange you (Up to 350 CUP for 1 USD), and without the option of withdrawing money from an ATM if you are coming to Cuba from the USA .
That's why I'd advise to to pay for all the services you can before you arrive (Accommodation, tours in Cuba, Airbnb Experiences (in Havana and abroad), Cars, Transportation between provinces); etc.
Bring Euros instead of dollars, they are better received by the locals and with them you can pay in most private businesses. How much? It depends on your budget, but I would say that with 100 Euros a day, a couple can walk comfortably and have a fairly relaxed stay in Havana, as long as you spend it with common sense.
The Cigar Hustle
There are certain public places where people may approach you (mostly by the touristy spots), trying to sell cigars. As nice as they may sound, it’s not exactly Dalai Lama material. They may be trying to rip you off. It is not recommended to buy cigars outside the official “Casas del Habano” stores. Buying on the street, you’re just as likely to get a fake box of cigars as you are to get an authentic one, and you don't want to waste the few cigars you’re able to carry back home, with fake ones.
Where to eat?
The culinary scene in Cuba is growing very fast. There are some really amazing choices that will let you experience how our chefs have adapted and mixed traditional Cuban cuisine with the latest international trends. Just make sure to remember this: good restaurants don't need people around Havana to bring more clients. They already have their own reputation. As such, random people on the street recommending places to you equals random people getting a cut of your bill, and not necessarily the best food your money could buy. So even if you don't like to plan everything ahead of time, make sure to do a little research on places you would like to try before getting here.
My favorite restaurants in Havana are the following:
1- RioMar (@riomarrestaurantbargrill) Great seafood accompanied by a lovely sea view. They also have my favorite pork ribs in town.
2- Al Carbón (@alcarbon.cuba) Ivan Rodríguez is one of the most famous chefs in Havana. This is where I like to go when I’m introducing foreign friends to grilled Cuban dishes. The “Lechoncito ahogado” is their most famous choice.
3- La Catedral (@lacatedralcuba) Budget, budget, budget! Cocktails for 2 bucks! Good variety in the menu. Random fact: My aunty loves it here, she’s been here over 100 times.
4- Jama Asian Food (@jama_asianfood) Japanese-style restaurant right in the heart of Old Havana. My go-to when I’m up for sushi with my friends. The cocktails here are also remarkable.
5- La Guarida (@laguaridahavana) The most famous restaurant in Cuba, by far. Favorite place for international celebrities when they visit Havana, and the film set for the only Cuban movie ever nominated for an academy award: Fresa y Chocolate. Certainly an icon of Cuba’s avant-garde cuisine, and also the hardest table to reserve on the island. Definitely make reservations well ahead of your visit!
Nightlife
Havana’s nightlife has become much more diverse and interesting just in the last five years than in decades before. Now, with private business owners and entrepreneurs designing curated experiences, atmospheres, and concepts, the city is living a nightlife renaissance. I know Tropicana is a mythical place, and nobody would say it isn’t an interesting spot to visit; however if you’re looking for a more authentic experience, this is where I go out:
1- Yarini Habana (@yarinihabana). Amazing signature cocktails and live music.
2- PaZillo Bar (@pazillobar). Greatest bartender in town and an impressive house-made rum.
3- Fábrica de Arte Cubano (@fabricadeartecubano). One of the coolest places on Planet Earth, period.
4- King Bar (@kingbarhavana). My favorite place to dance, which means my favorite place to go out.
5- Efe Bar (@efebar_cuba). The coolest DJs of Havana perform here.
Transportation:
When taking a taxi, make sure to always negotiate the price before getting in. The fare from the airport to the city is about $20 USD. And to move around Havana (Old Havana to Vedado) the prices go from $5 USD to $10 USD per ride. There’s an app called “La Nave” that functions like Uber, and works great. You can even add your card as a payment method and save your cash.
Two-seater bici-taxis will take you anywhere around Centro Habana for $5 USD. It's more than a Cuban would pay, but cheaper and more fun than a taxi.
The hop-on, hop-off Habana Bus Tour runs on two routes: T1 and T3. The main stop is in Parque Central opposite the Hotel Inglaterra. This is the pick-up point for bus T1, which runs from Habana Vieja via Centro Habana, to the Malecón, Calle 23, Plaza de la Revolución, and La Cecilia at the west end of Playa. Bus T3, runs from Centro Habana to Playas del Este, the nearest beach from the city.
If you ask me where I’d go outside Havana, I’d pick Varadero Beach, even for a day trip. It’s the most beautiful beach in the Caribbean and totally worth the two hours back and forth. Trinidad and Viñales are also great choices, though you might have to spend a night or two in order to fully enjoy the experience.
Internet:
The one million dollar question. Connectivity in Cuba has massively improved over the last couple of years. Though the prices remain high for the average Cuban salary, it is not an odyssey to find connection as it used to be just a little while ago. You can even buy a sim card called online Cubacel Tur SIM, with 4G 2.5GB, 20 Mins and 20 SMS National and International, and pick it up upon your arrival at the airport. If you’re in an Airbnb that has WiFi, you’ll still need to buy the internet cards to use it. Just make sure to log offafter you’re finished, or your available minutes will continue counting down, even after you’ve disconnected. Also, make sure you download a VPN (preferably a payed one) before coming, many of the financial apps and American services are geoblocked while you connect to internet in Cuba, so a VPN will be very useful if you need to use one of those.
I think we have covered many of the questions that travelers have before arriving in Cuba, but if you still have some more, or need an extra help with your trip planning, I recommend you to book this 1-hour Online Experience, where a local expert will be helping you to have an amazing Cuba trip.