- Bring enough cash to last your entire stay. US issued credit/bank cards do not work there; US cash is not accepted. Exchange your money at the airport (I would advise against exchanging anywhere else).
- Download Google Translator if you are not moderate in Spanish. Our Airbnb host was bilingual but it was not in English. Same with maps; there is NO wifi (with the exception of certain hotels and parks.)
- Focus on learning the culture and way of life, rather than beautiful selfies. I had seen so many amazing pics from other bloggers and attempted to take gorgeous shots in various locations, but quickly realized I was losing sight of why I was truly there. Put your camera/phone down and dive in.
- If this will be your first visit, stay longer than 3 days. I truly regret only staying for 3 days (one of those days was an entire beach day); I did not get the opportunity to see/do a lot of what I wanted.
- That myth of the food being unseasoned is just that: A myth. Unless you love the taste of a ton of salt, no need to bring your own seasoning.
- THERE IS NO WIFI. I cannot stress this enough. Not every hotel has wifi and when you do locate a wifi park or hotel that does, the connection is sketchy. Wifi cards cost about 2-4 CUC's and there will be someone near a wifi spot selling them.
- Do not accept change in CUP. For tourists, CUC is what you should receive.
- Respect the Cuban way of life. Complaining about the lack of amenities can be viewed as insulting. Don't be THAT American.
- Comfy shoes are a must. There's a ton of walking and the streets are cobblestone and not in the best condition.
- Book a walking tour/driving tour. Tour guides are so informative and so proud of Cuba and give you a true history.
- Do your research in advance! Restaurants, tours, beaches, things you truly want to do/explore. You cannot just simply log on to Google while there, and look.
Prior to traveling, I read other bloggers accounts of their trips: Chante's and Fashion Steele. Also check out my travel crew's accounts: Dionna and Georgette.
If you plan on traveling to Cuba, let me know! I would love to hear your thoughts.
Until next time....
I too have this on my travel bucket list. Last year a couple of friends had the chance to visit Cuba as part of a Mission trip and when asked why they didn't bring back a lot of pics saying they were just trying to soak it all in. Glad you had a safe and enjoyable trip and thanks for sharing.
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