So you're thinking about going to Cuba? Having just gotten back, all I can say is don't think just book! I didn't know what to expect when we left for our trip. I had read all of the blogs, done all of the research, however nothing can fully prepare you for how different Havana will be from any other travel experience you have had in the past.

Flights: Cuba Travel Services is a great source for booking your trip from NYC or Miami, as they have direct flights from both starting points. We flew direct from New York and our flight went very smoothly. They recommend you get there 3 hours early on both legs of the trip, which we found unnecessary, but better to be safe than sorry. That being said, the Havana airport does not open until 7 AM, so getting there at 5:30 AM for a 8:30 AM flight like CTS recommends was definitely not worth it.

Money. There are two currencies in Cuba: CUC and CUP. You will hear that you can use both CUC and CUP and while this is perfectly legal they exchange at extremely different rates and the locals do not like accepting the CUP. If someone tries to give you change in CUP, request that they exchange it for CUC (pronounced cook).

CUC is pictured on the left, CUP on the right.

There will be two prices everywhere: one in CUC and another in CUP. As a tourist, you will always pay the CUC price, so simply ignore the CUP price. They tend to match up, but with 1 CUP being worth significantly less than 1 CUC (1 CUP is .37 CUC) the CUC price is obviously more expensive.

Before you leave exchange dollars for euros through your bank in the US and bring WAY more than you think you need. Your US credit cards will not work anywhere, as US banks have not yet been allowed to send money to Cuba, so if you run out of cash you're in trouble. We brought 1,500 euros, as well as 1,000 USD as back up. This was more than enough to get us through the trip and pay for our hotel with some to spare.

Internet. You will be able to connect to the internet in your hotel, but it will be spotty. Don't expect wifi hotspots like in many countries. Because of the lack of wifi, print everything you need prior to leaving. This includes flight information, hotel confirmations, an attraction guide, and restaurants with their addresses. Also, let your loved ones know you will be off the grid, there's no need to have anyone worrying.

Cannon inside the Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro.

Accommodations. I recommend staying at a hotel in Old Havana, specifically the Hotel Saratoga, Hotel Parque Central, or Melia Cohiba. We stayed in the Melia Habana, which was very nice and had a great pool, but was a 10 minute taxi ride away.

Many of the hotels will charge you per person, not per room. Make sure when you book you list how many people will be staying there, so you know exactly what it will cost. You should bring cash to pay for your room on top of your spending money. They will ask you to pay upon arrival in cash.

You can also stay in a Casa Particular, basically a B&B. This is a budget friendly option and you can find them on Air B&B if you book in advance.

Barter. Whether it is a cab, a meal, or a beer always barter. Local Cubans know you are a tourist, so they are giving you an elevated price. For example: when we first arrived we were paying about 15 pesos for a cab to Old Havana from our hotel, by the time we left we were paying around 8 CUC.

The beautiful buildings across from the capitol.

Explore. Our favorite thing to do in Cuba was wander the streets of Old Havana and pop into the different bars with live music. The locals are so welcoming and happy to have you, so talk and get to know them.

The history in Havana is also quite incredible. Make sure to not leave without seeing all of the different sites. Tip: On the weekends there is a cannon show at the castle at 9 PM. Be there on time or you will miss it.

Food. You probably read that the food is lacking and to bring spices or hot sauce with you. We found that the Cuban food was delicious when eaten at the right places. I do not recommend trying anything but the Cuban food. We sampled a pizza and it left a lot to be desired.

Safety. We felt safe throughout our entire trip. We did have one encounter with a local who gave us directions and then requested money in return. Unfortunately this was at the end of our trip and we were running very low on cash, so we couldn't afford to give someone money for just telling us to go left. After we apologized and began to walk away they followed us for several blocks. They never did anything, but it was very scary.

Packing. There are three different types of outfits you will need in Havana, detailed in my last post. Pack light so that you don't need to check your bag. The check-in process is very different from a normal airline, so the likelihood of losing your bag is high.

Finally, have fun and be safe! Havana is an amazing city with so much to offer, so get booking!

Xx Allie

Preparing For Your Trip To Cuba