Cuba Travel Tips: Where To Stay & How To Enjoy Your Stay

So far we’ve released two of our three part Cuba travel tips series for those looking to travel to the Caribbean island. Once you’ve figured out your Cuban Tourist Visa and you’ve prepared yourself for the financial expectations in Cuba, then you are ready for everything else that the island has to offer.

Cuba Travel Tips: Where To Stay & How To Play…

One. If you are a travel snob you should stay in Varadero, Cuba it is tailor made for tourists with resorts, restaurants, activities, and all things expensive and fancy like you like it! (It’s also where the beach is)

Two. I stayed in an Airbnb with a nice couple who lived in Nuevo Vedado, Cuba, which is considered a luxury neighborhood. Staying in an Airbnb is the definition of “People to People” and therefore you will not have lied on your Visa. (Go back to part one for understanding)

Please note your AirBnB host needs to take a pic of your passport and have you sign a tax record book so they can report it to the Government. So don’t be surprised when they ask for this

Three. Bring allergy medicine if you have allergies because it gets real between the exhaust from the vehicles and cigarette smoke everywhere 🙁

Four. Leave your hang ups at home! Cubans are festive people. They love to talk, and dance, and kiss, and invite you into their space if they connect with you. It is these organic relationships that make Cuba great. So just chill, be respectful, and go with the flow.

Five. Bring toilet paper and wipes as you will have to pay for these in public bathrooms and they only give you 2 pieces of paper. Packing hand sanitizer and sun block always helps too.

Six. Know some Spanish. Obviously it’s not required for you to have a good time, but it is necessary if you want to ensure you have an amazing experience. Knowing the language will lessen confusion and will allow locals to loosen up and really share with you.

Seven. Don’t buy the wifi card at the hotels it’s typically 10 CUC for 1.5 hours. You can get one at a little booth on the street for 3 CUC and it gives you 2-3 hours. I heard someone bought one for 7 CUC and it gave them 6.5 hours but the reception was not the greatest and didn’t connect much in the buildings. There is a wifi park and there people will be around selling a 1 hour card for 2 or 3 CUC. You can also visit the wifi office and get a 5hr card for 10 CUC.

Eight. Cuba is a photographers dream. Most people will be excited to have you take their pic. But just know some will ask for money after.

Nine. Please don’t be that typical American that complains and treats everyone like poor poverty victims. Be respectful! Candy, Toiletry Items and Clothes are the most appreciated. A group I was with even brought books to donate to a book store and school. (My tour guide would of loved a Spanish to English translation book, he watches movies to learn English). The government reads the people’s emails so don’t ask what people want.

Ten. I am the world’s pickiest eater and 89% of my diet is chicken so I didn’t enjoy the food because its heavy on seafood and red meats. Black rice is a national food, the potato things are fantastic!

Eleven. The street signs are either really big on the buildings or on the corner in the ground as shown in this picture. (Triangular rock with number on it) The streets are odd, even numbers and letters. For example my BnB was located on 18th street bet. 17th &19th and I know that MLK is located at 23 Y F (23rd and F).

Twelve. I also ate at Cafe America located behind the Martin Luther King, Jr. monument they were fun in there and the food was good.

Thirteen. The bread in this pic is the bomb! We totally over paid for them, but it was worth it.

Fourteen. The most amazing view was at La Guardita, go in the day for the best pics. Go at night for a view of the moon that will take your breath away. Please be warned the building is not what you would expect. You not even think is safe to walk into, but I promise it is worth it!! There’s like 50 million levels to get to the top so if you’re scared of heights this will not be for you. “MAKE A RESERVATION” THIS IS NOT A SUGGESTION.

Fifteen. Bring money for Cigars (lots of money), watch out for the canal street type dudes trying to cut you a deal. (New Yorkers know what I mean)

****DO NOT DRINK THE WATER UNLESS YOU WANT THE RUNS****Ask for no ice in drinks****

I hated the bottled water so I bought Aquafina from JFK and brought it on the plane. Also the water in the 6th box of this pic saved my life!!! However, it may only be available in select parts of Cuba.

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