Havana

[Mondo707]

I'm sure many of you now know, you can't buy cigars from a Habano SA or rum from a shop, without the Cuban debit card.

I was told its available at the airport, anyone know where exactly?

Which currency is best to load it with?

Any detailed and accurate info is appreciated!

I was in Havana at the end of January and after going thru customs I bought the MC card with Euros (100) If you have USD you can also buy it. Don't know about other currencies.
They have the exchange rates for all the currencies just like banks or currency exchange places you see @ airports.

In case you don't buy the card, lots of casas sell bottles of rum out their front door. They have little cabinets with lots of stuff they resell for a small profit. I'd buy water bottles and sodas this way almost daily since the places I went to buy with the MC were almost always out of water and sodas.

I bought one bottle of Havana club añejo with the MC card which lasted me the whole time I was there. As far as cigars, I don't smoke but bought a 3 pack before coming back at the airport, went thru customs in Newark and was never searched (had it on my coat) Also, a gal sitting next to me on the plane from Habana to Newark had a bottle of Santiago rum (really good shit) and they confiscated it in customs. She's really pissed when I saw her afterwards.

As far as changing money is concerned, I brought most of my cash in USD and had a connection to exchange it at 160 CUP to 1 USD.

Heads up: When you exchange your currency I'd advise you to get the CUP in the higher denomination bills, eg; 200,500, & 1000 bills. Some funny shit, 2nd time a contact that got me and exchange the 2nd time I needed it, got me all of it in smaller bills, like 10 & 20 CUP. Man what a bummer, just think what 16,000 CUP looked like, well it's actually like 2 huge bricks! No kidding, so trying to carry those bills around became a huge problem and paying also was a hassle. I remember going to El Biky (one of my fave places to eat) the bill was something like 4000 CUP and you should have seen the waiter's face when I handed him that sum in CUP, haha.

BTW, most places give you the option to pay both in CUP or USD, just make sure to ask what exchange rate they'll give you if pay in USD, otherwise you might get shorted on the exchange.

Enjoy your trip and report back.

Saludos.

[MocosGuey]

I'm sure many of you now know, you can't buy cigars from a Habano SA or rum from a shop, without the Cuban debit card.

I was told its available at the airport, anyone know where exactly?

Which currency is best to load it with?

Any detailed and accurate info is appreciated!

I just booked a trip for May and bought my tourist cards online from the Cuba travel services site. They came in 2 days via fedex. I've read it's available at the airport as well but also higher price.

[Newport]

I'm sure many of you now know, you can't buy cigars from a Habano SA or rum from a shop, without the Cuban debit card.

I was told its available at the airport, anyone know where exactly?

Which currency is best to load it with?

Any detailed and accurate info is appreciated!

[Dealdo]

If you read post # 1745 under the general info thread you will find out about what you need to know b4 traveling to Cuba.

Btw, AFAIK, American insurance doesn't work in Cuba.

Thanks Mondo! Hey I haven't heard from you in long time bro. Are you in Cuba now or soon. Good times last time I saw you there.

[Jesterl]

Coming from a Miami native(yes there are a few), we have a saying here that MOST women from other countries rot in customs. In other words once they get in they totally change and become rotten just like the native women. In spanish it sound mush better "Se pudren en la aduana". And to multiply that exponentially, she is from Cuba! No way man, they are the most shysters out there. Never trust a cuban woman, remember their culture is tainted by soviet era morals. Please don't get me wrong they fuck like animals though. I have travelled a bit and this is rule number one for an american, atleast. Never bring a girl in that can not come in by herself. If she is a successful lawyer in country X and she is making a sacrifice that is one thing but if she is desperate to get out, she will do or say almost anything to whomever to get what she wants.

I know someone who sponsored a girl from Colombia to come visit him and travel to Disney world together. They went and had a good time. When it was time to leave she said she could not pass up this oppurtunity and had someone pick her up at his house and dissappeared. Now he can't sponsor anyone, not even a fiancee for ten years I think it was.

That sucks!

I wasn't aware you could sponsor girls? What is the mechanism.

[Mondo707]

Is it true now we must have an insurance to travel to Cuba?

I'm not sure if American insurance work in Cuba.

And how about the visa flying from Mexico, do the airlines sell the visa right before departing like in the US?

Thanks guys.

If you read post # 1745 under the general info thread you will find out about what you need to know b4 traveling to Cuba.

Btw, AFAIK, American insurance doesn't work in Cuba.

[RainmanSahut]

Dear Fellow Travelers.

You need a Green tourist card to enter Cuba from any country other than USA.

You need a Pink tourist card to enter Cuba from the USA.

Both must be purchased in advance.

How? At gate with American Airline day of travel.

Otherwise read below.

https://cubasbest.com/how-to-get-a-cuban-tourist-card/

Do you need health insurance to travel to Cuba? Yes.

Most Airlines include Health Insurance with ticket purchase to Cuba. American Airlines Does this for You.

Do they check to see if you have health insurance on arrival? NO.

https://cubasbest.com/cuba-travel-insurance/

Your Reason for travel to Cuba is the same as everyone, In Support of the Cuban People!

God Bless You!

You also must register your arrival with Cuban Government 24 hours before travel to Cuba.

https://dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/inicio

Language selection top right of page.

This are the things You Must Do to travel to Cuba.

Rainman.

[SpacedCowboy]

Medical insurance has always been a requirement for Canadians going to Cuba, I would be surprised if it was different for Americans.

Some of the airlines from USA include the insurance in the price of the airfare.

[Zeos1]

Is it true now we must have an insurance to travel to Cuba?

I'm not sure if American insurance work in Cuba.

And how about the visa flying from Mexico, do the airlines sell the visa right before departing like in the US?

Thanks guys.

Medical insurance has always been a requirement for Canadians going to Cuba, I would be surprised if it was different for Americans.

[Dealdo]

Is it true now we must have an insurance to travel to Cuba?

I'm not sure if American insurance work in Cuba.

And how about the visa flying from Mexico, do the airlines sell the visa right before departing like in the US?

Thanks guys.

[SpacedCowboy]

Uncle Volodya. Maybe checks the US airlines websites (like American Airlines, Jet Blue, United). I know for the US Citizens, they may buy the Cuba visa at the gate of the departing airport (like Miami, Ft. Lauderdale). But imma not sure if its applies to non-US citizens.

For example, I found this on Jet Blue websites.

A Cuban tourist visa, which is sufficient for only certain categories of OFAC-permitted travel, can be purchased from JetBlue at a "gateway airport" (the final airport before departing the USA) for $50 per person. Customers will need their passports, boarding passes and a major credit card to buy the Cuban tourist visa. USA Citizens and citizens from third countries traveling to Cuba from a USA Gateway airport who qualify for a Cuban tourist visa must have the pink tourist visa issued in the United States (that visa can be purchased from JetBlue). Green tourist visas issued in third countries are not valid to enter Cuba from a USA Gateway..

I was charged $100 at the gate last week. There was no vetting or scrutiny involved, Felt like buying a ticket to Disney Land.

[SpacedCowboy]

Gents,Is it true you need to clear your phone of anything sex related or confidential information before coming to Cuba. Any experiences with this?
Will this Cuba immigration / customs / polica actually go through your phone?
Sorry if I am being overprotective. I just don't want hassle. But also don't want to lose my intimate photos!.

Is it likely? No. Is it possible, Absolutely. I watched them do secondary searches on maybe one In ten. Almost all were nothing more than a quick passport scan. But least two were asked to follow them to another location. Of course I have no idea what happened next. My advice, get a cheap used phone. Install only what you need. Don't give them access to more personal information than necessary. After your thru, get a SIM, install a vpn, and la navi. It's like uber for. Havana. Eliminates the language barrier for getting around.

Have fun, it's an awesome city. Just realize, whatever you give someone, they will ALWAYS ask for more. Learn to say no mas.

[United1]

Gents,

Is it true you need to clear your phone of anything sex related or confidential information before coming to Cuba. Any experiences with this?

Will this Cuba immigration / customs / polica actually go through your phone?

Sorry if I am being overprotective. I just don't want hassle. But also don't want to lose my intimate photos!

Cheers,

U1.

[Dealdo]

Hello everyone.

I'm going to Habana 22nd of April, is anybody going to be there?

Is been sooo many years, what are the hot spots now? Used to be nightclubs like Mío why Tuyo and Don Cangrejo, I heard some parks got action as well? How that venue works and what quality we are expecting?

Happy hunting.

[Adinga]

Nash Travel in Canada will handle everything however you will pay up.

Now I just fly thru Cancun -- Interjet has 2 flights daily to Havana.

Hope all goes well