Travel Questions and Advice

[Agentwhite]

Hey there guys,

I am planning a trip to Cuba and was looking for some advice on which part of Cuba to stay at? Also, how much hobbying money should I bring and what kind of gifts are good to bring along?

Thanks.

[El Rey De Pollo]

I've got a car booked (just an economic) from around 27-28 January to 7-8 February. As they are hard to come by this time of year and I will mainly be using it late afternoon/evening, perhaps someone would like to share and have it mornings/early afternoon?

Price is around 80 cuc incl. extra driver and insurance, so that would be around 40 cuc daily each.

As you may know, having a car in Cuba is the fastest way to mucho pussy...

[Methos]

I was in Cuba from Dec 11 - 18. At the cadeca in the city the rate was 72.xx / 100 CAD every time I went. It was 70.xx on arrival at the airport.

In my past several trips the rate has been worse at the airport and I will only change what I have to at their counter.

[El Rey De Pollo]

Have a look on the Cuba boards on tripadvisor. Some very detailed calculations in there. Clearly shows that even with the lousy rate against both EUR and CAD, you will still loose money exchanging directly from USD to CUC.

No, why would I need a car? Anyway, this is the conflict I'm talking about. After all is said and done am I any better or worse just using my USD for chavitos? Does anyone know who has actually done the math?

[Petrolero]

After all is said and done am I any better or worse just using my USD for chavitos? Does anyone know who has actually done the math?

If the loonie gains 5-6 cents on George, you're better off using USD. The range has been 1.19 to 1.25 in the past 10 days. Change as much money as you think you will need for the casa and other outlays, soon after landing.

How are you at managing a Forex account. The Euro surged on the USD last week to 1.49, now it's 1.39, and it may move south next week. There's your 10% USD vig to Castro right there.

[Doc Bill]

No, why would I need a car? Anyway, this is the conflict I'm talking about. After all is said and done am I any better or worse just using my USD for chavitos? Does anyone know who has actually done the math?

[PincheCabron]

Doesn't the crappy exchange rate $1.00eur = .69 US nullify any advantage. The canadian dollar is a bit better $1.00 canadian buys .76cuc. It all adds up to US $1.00 = .80cuc after it's all said and done.

Yes, exchange to Euros or Canadian $. USD has a 10% penalty on conversions. And that is way more than you'' loose on the double exchange from USD to EUR/CAD and to CUC.

When will you be there? Got a car booked? :-)

[El Rey De Pollo]

Yes, exchange to Euros or Canadian $. USD has a 10% penalty on conversions. And that is way more than you'' loose on the double exchange from USD to EUR/CAD and to CUC.

When will you be there? Got a car booked? :-)

Hi Guys,

Good to be back on the Cuba board! I'm heading there next week. I don't understand the intricacies of currency conversions, so can someone just answer a simple question simply?

Would it be better if I exchange my US dollars to Euros here before going to Cuba? And why or why not?

Thanks much!

[Doc Bill]

Hi Guys,

Good to be back on the Cuba board! I'm heading there next week. I don't understand the intricacies of currency conversions, so can someone just answer a simple question simply?

Would it be better if I exchange my US dollars to Euros here before going to Cuba? And why or why not?

Thanks much!

[El Rey De Pollo]

Will be in Havana most of January. No cars left to book except at crazy prices like 100 cuc daily for an economic.

If anybody will be in Havana with a car in January I would be happy to work something out. This could be a complete share or maybe I could just rent it from you from time to time when you don't need it. For a couple of hours, half a day, the evening etc.

[Aluminosis]

Aluminosis,

You got it wrong. Take a look at CAD. 100 CAD=73 CUC as of now.

I sit it, the information of http://www.banco-metropolitano.com/tasasn.htm of Dollar Canada and Franco Suizo are not correct.

(Lo siento, los datos de http://www.banco-metropolitano.com/tasasn.htm de Dólar Canadá y Franco Suizo no son correctos).

Correct changes to 8 December 2008:

100 CAD Dólar Canadiense = 71,03 CUC.Changeable diary
100 GBP Libra Esterlina = 132,74 CUC.Changeable diary
100 CHF Franco Suizo = 74,36 CUC.Changeable diary
100 EUR Euro = 114,97 CUC.Changeable diary
100 USD Dólar USA = 80,833 CUC. FIX

The formula to know the daily change of the CUC is the following one (NOT VALID FOR BILLS USD):

(La fórmula para saber el cambio diario del CUC es la siguiente (NO VÁLIDO PARA BILLETES USD):

100 CUC Pesos Cubanos Convertibles = 100 Dollars USA - 10,50 %

Ejemplos/ Examples:

1 º Quote of 100 USD to dates yesterday (8/12/2008):
(Cotización de 100 USD a fecha ayer (8/12/2008):
Euro EUR= 128,46
Libra GBP =148,31
Franco Suizo CHF= 83,08
Dólar Canadá Can= 79,35

2º To reduce 10,50 % (8 % for revaluation CUC/USD March 2005 + 2,50 % commission change):

(Restar el 10,50% (8% por revalorización CUC/USD Marzo 2005 + 2,50% comisión cambio):
Euro EUR= 128,46 – 10,50% = 114,97 …. (100 EUR = 114,97 CUC)
Libra GBP =148,31– 10,50% = 132,74 …. (100 GBP = 132,74 CUC)
Franco Suizo CHF= 83,08 – 10,50% = 66,55 …. (100 CHF = 66,55 CUC)
Dólar Canadá CAN = 79,35 – 10,50% = 71,03 …. ( 100 CAN = 71,03 CUC)

Cotización al 30 Noviembre 2008: 100 USD= 81,43 CAN:
81,43 – 10,50% = 72,88 ….. ( 100 CAN = 72,88 CUC).

I sit it, my English is not very good.

[BeersTerry]

The exhange rate is a little worse and they will try to rip you off but if you need cash, you need cash.

At the exchange counter. Count all your cash before leaving the front of the line. If it does not equal the exchange rate, just push all the money back toward the teller and tell them no.

They will treat you poorly, like you can't count and embarrass you but in the end, you will get all your money.

[Questner]

Aluminosis,

You got it wrong. Take a look at CAD. 100 CAD=73 CUC as of now.

[PincheCabron]

I don't recommend changing cash in the airport. It's really bad in cuba now and they will try to rip you off. Maybe convert just enough for a day. The hotels aren't any better. I would recommend changing at a bank. Changing dollars to another denomination is iffy as there are surcharges and the dollar is not on par with the euro. You will wind up with the same exchange rate.

[El Grande]

You do this at the Airport in Cuba.

They do have an extra 10% tax on US$. You loose less if you change your US$ in Euros or Canadian$ before you enter Cuba.