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Varadero Varadero
5 Reviews One night I stopped one of the "old taxis" said I wanted to go to Cardenas, 10 kms away. The Lady driver looked at me and said "OK". I got in and she turned around and started to drive me back towards...
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In Cuba their is the moneda nacionaland the chavito which is cuc conversion of the dollarwell one time i saw a guy that had no idiaof the difference and he changed his dollarson the street and received national currency.. the best way for you is to take travelerschecks and change then at bfi Banco Financiero Internationalyou get a better deal than cadeca
Made in 1960's by local painters with direction and and command of Mr.Castro.I know it's amazing scenery around, even good restaurant below the cliff but can't help myself to say this is a way to pull out money from foreigners pocket couse I didn't see any cubans there. Maybe at first there was some "normal" explanation of ruining this beautiful cliff but .... at least you can do is to make a photo If they take you here you don't have alternative, probably you'll have lunch here too. That's something you can really enjoy.
Avoid all-inclusive to ultra-inclusive tourist resorts on Varadero, Cayo Coco & Cayo Santa Maria, if Cuba interests you of course... Rent a car and escape as many days as you can... Just go to the small scale tourist locations (see article), normal Cuban beaches visited by the Cubans themselves (much more fun and to see) and wild beaches if you have a rental car or other transport...
By introducing the paper money Chavitos as the legal currency for tourism, the government of Cuba and Carlos Lage has fallen into a great lottery victory. Whatever currency or credit card you bring into the country, you sacrifice 11 per cent at the altar of Cuban Economy, your contribution to the welfare of Cuba. if you have american money, it is yet another 9 per cent. there is no way around it. Credit cards issued outside USA are charged 11 per cent for each transaction, eventhough the final amount is in dollars. buy your cubana and viazul tickets on internet and pay it by credit card OUTSIDE the country or from internet payment within the country. I bought a Havana to Baracoa ticket through internet and paid only 128 USD and when i bought the ticket from Cubana in La Habana I paid the equivalent of 142 usd to the credit card company based in UK and who charged me 5 pounds ie about 8...
Take a calculator with you so you know the exact amount of Convertible Pesos coming to you. If you don’t have a calculator, do NOT accept any transaction that doesn’t come with a printed receipt. No printed receipt invariably means that you’re being short-changed. Ripping off tourists during money exchange transactions has become a very common occurrence. We never exchange our money anywherejust in hotel.There are no service charges to exchange money at a bank, so don’t listen to that crooked teller – demand honest service. Dond count on cash machines because if you find any they have 6 numbers pin code ( we have 4)Lots of Cubans working money exchange scams, including the flight check-in personnel at the airport. It goes without saying that any traveler is an idiot to exchange money anywhere except at a proper institution, or between trusted friends.Other big problem! Bring enough cash...
Every child in Cuba has to go to school and gets food there. There are no "street kids" like in other Latin American countries. But some kids ask tourists for little gifts or sweets or money. This way some earn more than adults with a proper job which causes social problems. Therefore don't give money or things to kids which can be resold. There is no need for children to beg.
Sometimes tourists will be asked to buy milk for infants of the family. This is a trick. The person will buy the milk in your presence and afterwards, when you are gone, he/she gives back the milk and gets your money. By the way: children up to seven years get milk for free in Cuba.
Especially in state restaurants and bars some employees like to gain some extra money by tricking you. E.g the total on the handwritten check is higher than the addition of the various items or there is only one number as total written on the bill. Always double check the bill and if necessary ask the waiter for the receipt of the registration machine, because there the waiters cannot cheat. Always ask for the written menu card beforehand . If there is no card, ask about the prices before you order anything.
Tropicana, everyone knows where it is, how to get there and how much it costs...and it's a lot. But also every cuban knows that Tropicana is not what it used to be 20-30 years ago. It's really expensive to get in and once U are there U realize that U pay for a normal cabaret just with some more "mulatas" dancing and a big show. For some it's the best place in Havana but for many of the people I've met, this is just another tourist trap... if U can afford to get in and want to go there, then do it, but believe me, U'll dissapointed.
There are many tips about this subject but I will had my own one experience. One of the more common traps the tourist gets into is Cuban Cigars. Most of the cigars the hustlers offer on the streets are fakes. I could tell U histories about many friends who arrived at my place very happy because they found very good price for a nice Cohiba or Montecristo box of cigars and when they tasted the product they realized it was fake. So be carefull, unless U've a good friend, cuban or not, that can corroborate the quality of the cigar don't buy them on the street. Many people are deceived by hustlers and sellers right nearby the factories. People think, where, we are nearby the factory so this cigars are for sure stolen from the factory...nooo!! big mistake, many of the cigars are home made by some persons who claim to be cigars makers. And yes they are, but the worse ones.If U buy them on the...
Villa Las Brujas Cuba
2 Reviews and 51 Opinions I could have chosen Okay but some problems, but I still think it falls too short to express how...
NH Parque Central Havana
8 Reviews and 1269 Opinions This is a jewel of a hotel, located just a block or two away from Old Havana, and the shops of Calle...
Iberostar Varadero Varadero
5 Reviews and 1871 Opinions great food gained 5 lbs on the french sauces whatch out for the car rental guy Frank , he takes the...
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Q: We're hoping to do Eastern Cuba in December, we've already done the west. I'm trying to book flights, ideally from Manchester. I...
A: flights domestically it is, aerocaribbean do it, as you are in Manchester check the Cuban tourist office http://www.travel2cuba.co.uk/ hope it helps cheers
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