I didn’t absolutely love sum total whole of my experiences as I sorted through the memories on the flight out of Cuba. ![]() I abide by the rules, so Cuba was huge for me.Īnd I’d love to say government restrictions is the reason I don’t plan to go back to Cuba, but that’s only part of it. I’m a tiny bit of a goody-goody deep inside. There’s no denying that Trinidad holds a certain charm.īut that was all just the fear of my government, repercussions, fines, lying, people being angry with me. For me, an American, it was a bit trickier and I felt some general malaise and anxiety for the several weeks leading up to my trip. And if I did, it would probably be on an educational Cuba tour where someone helped guide me through the best experiences.Įarlier in the year I met my travel buddy, Louise, in Cuba for a week of fun-it was totally legit for her to go, she’s South African. So hear me out, because a lot of people might not agree with this, but I will probably not travel back to Cuba-and definitely not while the US embargo is in place. And I steer clear of overtly negative posts on a country or city because travel is so very personal, and I’d hate to steer someone away from visiting Cuba because of a mediocre review from me. I have a confession to make about why I rarely mention the eight days I spent in Cuba a year ago … I stayed mum because much of it’s lukewarm. For more information, please check the Cuban Tourism Office website (external link) where an English language option is available.(Story from a trip to Cuba in January 2010) Travellers can purchase insurance coverage prior to their travel, or on arrival in Cuba at the point of entry. Insuranceįrom, travellers to Cuba will be required to have valid travel insurance, including medical coverage, in order to enter the country. Individuals offering exchange facilities to avoide queues should be avoided, and where possible small denomination bills should be requested. You are advised not to change money anywhere other than at the airport Cadecas, hotel exchange bureaux or banks, due to the prevalence of forged currency. Travellers' cheques and/or credit cards drawn on all other American banks are also not accepted in Cuba. America Express travellers' cheques are not accepted in Cuba. Credit card transactions, including withdrawals from ATMs, are subject to local commission charges of between 11% and 13%. US dollars are no longer accepted as payment in Cuba, and you will be charged 10% commission to exchange them. You should be aware that New Zealand bank notes/coins cannot be exchanged in Cuba. You should also be aware that there are very few ATMs available for drawing cash against debit cards in Cuba. You should also note that we have heard reports of banks offering incorrect advice. If your bank cannot confirm this then you should bring suitable Euro alternatives. You should check with your bank before you travel to confirm that your debit/credit/ATM cards will work and will be accepted in Cuba. Visitors use the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC), as opposed to the Cuban Peso (CUP) used by locals. Currency in CubaĬuba operates a dual currency system. For further information on staying with a family, please see your travel agent or visit a Cuban Embassy (external link). Tourists are usually guided towards staying at hotels in Cuba, but it is possible to stay with a family under certain circumstances. Those travelling via other countries excluding the US, such as Canada or Mexico, are unaffected by this US legislation. For more information see the US Department of the Treasury website (external link) and the US State Department’s travel advice for Cuba (external link). Tourism isn’t one of these 12 categories. This applies to US nationals and all foreign nationals who are either resident in the US, or travelling through the US en route to Cuba on any airline.Įverybody travelling to Cuba from the US (both US citizens and foreign nationals) will need to comply with US law and travel for one of the 12 authorised categories of travel. Travel is permitted to Cuba from the US however travelling for tourism purposes directly from the US to Cuba isn’t allowed under US law. ![]() The tourist card is valid for a stay of one month in Cuba, and a possible extension for a second period of 30 days is permissible. New Zealanders are able to obtain the tourist card through New Zealand travel agencies or by direct application to a Cuban Embassy. New Zealanders require a Tourist card to visit Cuba, which should be obtained prior to entering Cuba.
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