Cuba

[Master_Bates]

I'm heading to Varadero next week. I've read some conflicting reports on which currency i should take... Canadian or American?

Any other tips (non hobby related) would be appreciated.

 

[Jennifer_]

I took Canadian but brought some US one dollar bills for tipping.

In-terms of tipping though - go to a dollar store and buy gifts to use to tip with. I brought a load of little things with me - pens and pencils, notebooks, stickers, gum and candy, travel sized toiletries, hair clips and elastics, lipstick....

The maids definitely took extra-good care of me because of the gifts I left each day.

I remember this one girl who was working in one of the restaurants at my resort... She seemed very young to be working - she could barely speak English but she was trying so hard to have a conversation with me. Super-sweet girl who was in school.

I wanted to give her something so I told her to wait while I ran to my room. I grabbed a pile of school supplies that I had brought and a bunch of coloured barrettes and earings. She was so grateful. The next day I was walking around the resort and I ran into her. When she ran up to say hello, I couldn't stop smiling..... She was wearing the earings and all those little, mismatched barrettes I had given her the night-before. It looked a little silly lol but so cute.... It was one of those moments when I realized how lucky we are in Canada... and how a little bit of kindness can do so much for someone who has very little.

 

[Nightowl27]

very good points by Jennifer. The Cubans are happy to see small gifts like those, as they are things that they in general would not have access too, even if they had a bit of extra cash to spend.
for currency, consider that there is now a 10% 'fee' on converting USD into the convertible peso.

 

[Ironhead]

A friend of mine goes down every year and he told me his family uses US currency. It is what they prefer, according to my friend.

 

[elwoodinontario]

I went down with canadian, and had no trouble. Most hotels have a currency exchange office nearby, and will exchange currency at the front desk. Mine had one on the property.

 

[Berlin]

which currency i should take... Canadian or American?

Canadian $.

When you head to the exchange booth at your hotel to get the tourist peso you'll learn why.

 

[TeasePlease]

Canadian. There's an extra "tax" on the greenback. Just bring Canadian, and pay once for conversion.

Tipping in US is fine. The black market still goes by the greenback.

 

[Tristans_Angels]

TeasePlease and Jennifer are right. Bring Canadian and they also love little gifts. When I went years ago I brought a bunch of ladies and mens jeans from WalMart as well as many of the things Jennifer mentioned. They truly appreciate these things as it is very expensive for them to buy. Have fun!!! Hugs, Tristan

 

[Master_Bates]

Thanks... I'll definitely head to the dollar store.

 

[revolver]

Forget the US dollars for tipping. Just tip in CUC's. I've been asked a ton of times by cubans who have received US currency for tips to exchange it for them. Both at resorts and at the Airport on the way out, even by the airline reps in the airport. They don't want US tips.

 

[Master_Bates]

How safe is cuba? especially at night time...

 

[Don Draper]

How safe is cuba? especially at night time...

I guess you're not very familiar with Cuba, asking this question?

 

[elwoodinontario]

How safe is cuba? especially at night time...

If you stay in Varadero, you will have absolutely no problems, at all. They are very tourist-friendly.

This point I cannot stress any further: DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, DRIVE A VEHICLE! Foreigners, in any traffic accident, are considered guilty until proven innocent. Take a cab!

 

[KBear]

Forget the US dollars for tipping. Just tip in CUC's. I've been asked a ton of times by cubans who have received US currency for tips to exchange it for them. Both at resorts and at the Airport on the way out, even by the airline reps in the airport. They don't want US tips.

This is also my experience, and the Cubans have been willing to take a hefty conversion hit to get rid of the USD. Tip in CUC for sure.

Take Canadian $ and convert them to CUC at the airport or resort. Spend/gift CUC in Cuba.

For the maids, leave 1 CUC on the pillow every morning and you will be well looked after.

 

[TeasePlease]

The extra tax is a 10% conversion fee that applies only to the USD.

Leave five bucks and they'll make sure your bar fridge is well stocked and get you any liquor you want as well.

Cuba is very safe.

 

[night ride]

First of all, the cuban people are not greedy. I didn't overdue it with the tipping when I was there this year, but whenever I handed over a CUC or two or three I could see legitimate appreciation. It was so refreshing in contrast to the entitlement some people have here. (As an aside what the hell are well-paid cashiers in Ontario Government casinos doing with tip jars?).
I too was asked to change money - Canadian money to CUC's so I take it Cdn $ isn't that useful to them.
I was told by a knowledgeable Cuban that the best item to bring for the everyday people is clothing.

 

[Don Draper]

Canadian money to CUC's so I take it CDN $ isn't that useful to them.

It's not that it's not useful. It's that the conversion is better to CUC. You need more than $50.00CDN to get $50.00CUC. So if you give a Cuban $50.00CDN, he'll end up with $40 or $45CUC depending on the exchange rate that day.

 

[GPIDEAL]

I will be leaving soon for Miramar, outside of Havana, at a great resort. My posse also say to bring Cdn $, not American (however, the locals perhaps don't care about USD so now I'm thinking about what Jennifer said), and change at the Airport (better I think than at hotel). They also bring some trinkets to give to locals (even tooth paste with a brush, etc.). Oh geez, now I have to hit a dollar store.

 

[Don Draper]

https://terb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?311846-My-Havana-Trip-Report

 

[antaeus]

What about the 1 year in prison for every US$1? Was it urban myth or still exists?