| Travel Management Inc. |
Your first trip to Cuba?
Outside the island's hotels and resorts little English is spoken. It may be very challenging to organize activities on your own if you do not speak Spanish.When should you reserve your trip?
Cuba which is still a socialist country, lives at a slow pace. At the same time, the country is very popular with the almost 2,000,000 tourists who travel there each and every year. In Cuba there is no central reservation system equipped with sophisticated computers that are open 24 hours a day. It takes time to make any reservations.Cuban Departure Tax
Remember to keep $20 in cash on hand in order to pay the Cuban departure tax. You must pay this tax at the airport when leaving the country. We suggest you put $20 in your passport once you have reached your destination.Money
In Cuba there are basically two currencies in circulation. The Cuban peso, which is used to pay Cubans, is of little use to tourists. The US dollar, the currency every tourists uses in Cuba, is accepted everywhere.It is important to travel with small denominations, $50 or $100 are almost impossible to exchange. Safes are usually available in hotel rooms.
It is Impossible to use any credit card issued by a US bank.
All major US travelers checks are now accepted at specially-designated Cuban banks (banco financiero Internacional, CADECA, Banco Metropolitano, Banco Popular).
Phone Calls
The cheapest way to make an international or national phone call is by using public (blue) phones that accept calling cards. To call the USA, you must dial 1 19+1+(area code) + phone number. The cost is $2 per minute.
For calls inside Cuba, you must dial 0 + (area code) +phone number. Calls inside Havana cost $0.05.Getting Around
You can move around freely in Cuba. There are no travel restrictions for tourists. Planes, buses, trains, taxis, and rental cars are available. You should choose your modes of transportation before leaving home and book them in advance. The number of gas stations is limited, but you will always be able to find gasoline.
Gifts
Cubans are so friendly and are short of so many things. The best advice we can give you is to bring your old clothes and hand them out at the end of your stay. For kids, candies are a great gift. If you are visiting a school bring pencils and erasers.Health
You do not need any inoculations before visiting Cuba. There are no major health risks in Cuba for travelers. Tap water is generally safe, but it is recommended that you drink bottled water. Bottled water is easily accessible. In all major hotels, doctors are on duty 24 hours a day. On Havana hospital is entirely reserved for foreigners, and several international clinics can be found in the most important tourist areas.Health Insurance
While traveling in Cuba you are not covered by your US health plan. We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance.Safety
Cuba is a very safe country. You can walk around at night in tourist areas without having to worry. Police officers are posted at every street corner to ensure tourist security. There are some pickpockets, so please carry only small amounts of cash.
