I’ve made a quick blog post on things I’d wish I’d known before I arrived in Cuba. I just feel there’s a lot of misunderstanding about what to expect from this iconic country.
I had done extensive research beforehand, but still, sometimes you have to experience something for yourself before you really learn. So I hope this will help you!
But, please remember, Cuba is safe. Sure, there’s pickpockets around, and a few guys who’ll ask you to help them out, but otherwise there’s not much crime.
The biggest problem in Cuba is the government, not the people.
Airport
José Martí International Airport is one helluvan experience. And that’s coming from somebody who’s been to the likes of the Philippines and India. Cuba really caught me off guard with this one, so well done! 😅
Once off the plane, you follow the signs – which may give you a false sense of any organisation. 😂 You enter a small hall, the queue won’t really make much sense, but if you’re a tourist, go to the one which weaves to the right side. You’ll slowly shuffle along until you come to a lady at a desk in the middle of the room. She will scan the barcode you received after filling out your D’Viajeros Travel Form. Then you join another queue, sticking to the right again. This is another very slow queue for the immigration check, and it’s beginning to get hot and stuffy. Here, people are beginning to grow impatient (but you ain’t seen nothing yet!)
After immigration have let you through, you think “yay, I’m in Cuba! Time to breathe in some of that fresh Caribbean air!” Nope, sorry. Welcome to The Chaos Zone. There is one more “queue” until before the final door. “Oh ok,” you think, “it’s only baggage x-ray, won’t be a minute.”
It’s time to strip off, and not for security, this is because the heat is now choking you. You’re in a growing crowd of maybe 50 people, the queue has long gone, everyone is pushing forward, cutting in front, swearing, pulling at each other, losing their balance, and blatantly cutting in front of you, no eff’s given. The staff aren’t wearing uniform, they’re deliberately ignoring everyone because they can see it’s a disaster, and it’s probably nearly always the case.
My mum had gotten a different flight, she arrived an hour or so before me. Well, don’t expect to be able to contact anyone via phone. The WiFi doesn’t work, ok I’d read that already, but also there was no signal for SMS or calls either. And I was a looong time getting through Arrivals.
Don’t let this put you off. Once you’re out of those doors, you’ve done it, it’s over. It’s part of the experience. I just wanted to give you a heads up! 🫡
(By the way, I had a great time, I mean zero disrespect with this, but it seemed every person from every nationality in the airport was becoming stressed and confused. I just stood there and accepted it 😌 because I hate drama, not because I’m chill.)
Taxis
So you’re finally outside. Take a moment. And now head through the hoard of taxi drivers. But you knew this was coming, and anything is easier than going back through those doors. Take your time, there’s no shortage of drivers. Agree the rate before you get into the car, the going rate is €25 or $25 CASH. Cash is king in Cuba. Jose Marti Airport is a way from the city centre, so it’s a good price really.
Buses
I arrived late so there weren’t any buses running. However, we did get a bus from the city to the airport on our return. €5 or $5 per person, and you get a seat in a comfy air conditioned bus. We got it from Parque Central. Here’s the timetable for both directions:
WiFi
I mentioned WiFi a minute ago. Don’t expect to connect willy-nilly. Your hotel may have internet, but that could mean it will only work in the lobby, not reach your room, or constantly cut out. They can’t help it. Power cuts are frequent too. You could be enjoying a daiquiri at the rooftop bar, as we were, and all the lights could suddenly go out. They’ll be back again in a few seconds though, the staff know how to handle it.
If you do need to be connected, you can buy a WiFi card. I know they definitely sell them at a designated kiosk at the airport for 25 CUP for 1 hour.
Currency
This is where my brain just… broke. Before I’d even arrived. I spent hours reading online, trying to understand this. I’ll try my best, but guys, I’m not even sure I fully get it! 🤯
Cuba has one currency now. CUP, Cuban pesos. If you exchange it at a bank, tourist office, hotel or any official place, you get a poor rate.
For example: I changed €200 at Hotel Nacionale, they gave me 13,560 CUP. Later on, I changed with a man on the street (they’ll approach you) and got 35,000 CUP for the same amount. Like, sorry, what??!
So my advice: Change as little as you can, and wait for the locals to ask you if you need money. It’s weird, but it’s a win-win. They want our euros/dollars and we want a good deal! 🤝
Supermarkets
Another thing I kept reading was that tourists couldn’t go into the supermarkets. This is untrue. Yes, there’s not much in the shops, you won’t be making any sandwiches, but you can still buy drinks and snacks. However, you cannot go up to the fridges and help yourself. You must queue up and tell the cashier what you’d like to buy, and they will bring it for you. It will help immensely if you know Spanish!
Scams/Tricks
At the end of my trip to Havana, my friend sent me a link of all the scams here. Honestly, we didn’t have any. Well, maybe one. The milk. Someone starts talking to you and it comes out that they need baby milk, but the situation in Cuba is genuinely terrible, and they have rations. You can go to the shop with them and buy a ration of baby formula. It’s cheap. And yes, I fell for it. But I dunno, I didn’t feel “scammed” as such. I know they have friends in the markets and can return the milk for cash. But they need it, no matter what for, they still need it, and it didn’t add up to much.
In Cuba, they have no milk and no medicine. You’ll see old ladies on the street selling paracetamol in singles, sanitary pads/tampons, and cloves of garlic. They aren’t frontin’. So you know what, take my couple of euros for whatever you need.
People are also constantly telling you that “today is the national day for… cigars/rum/whatever” and they know where you can get a good deal. But you can just tell them no and they won’t push it.
“If it sometimes seems that all Cubans are, as they say of themselves, un poco loco, a little crazy, it is because they live in an impossible country.” – Anthony DePalma
