Useful tips for traveling to Cuba. Tips for travelers during their vacations on the Island: currency exchange, medical care, weather, security, accommodation, customs and immigration regulations. Get information here.
How is medicine in Cuba? Tourist medical care
In the main cities there are specialized clinics to care for tourists and travelers. Most hotels have 24-hour medical services and specialized personnel.
Cuban medicine is recognized worldwide for the professionalism of its staff and technological innovations. It is not necessary to get vaccinated to travel to Cuba. In addition, there are more than 8 well-equipped international clinics for more caring circumstances. We recommend that you only drink bottled water, very easy to buy in any establishment. In this way you will avoid contracting common diseases in the tropics transmitted by water.
How is the Cuban climate?
The climate in Cuba is warm and stable most of the year. You should pack simple, cool clothes made of light fabrics, preferably cotton, for both day and night. During the winter months (from December to March), slightly warmer clothes are enough, especially when cold fronts arrive. You should not forget in your travel suitcase: sunglasses, sunscreen and bathing suits to have fun on the beaches or pools.
Where to stay in Cuba?
You have 2 safe options: state hotels and private rental houses in their different categories: apartments, flats, houses and villas.
Private houses for rent are classified as economic or luxury. In the economic ones, the accommodation ranges from USD 30 to USD 70 per day per room. For luxury homes, about $ 125 to $ 175. Both are much cheaper than state hotels and it is a confirmed fact that: tourists who enjoy a good private rental house with a swimming pool (such as those offered by our site) never return to a hotel again. Are you wondering why?
Well, we explain with an example: If you choose a 5-star hotel, with an approximate price of 187 USD for a room, you would be paying perhaps for a bedroom of 4×5 square meters (in the best case), a swimming pool for dozens of tourists and perhaps an all-inclusive service that guarantees a stuffy hotel meal, because no matter how good a chef is, it is very difficult to cook for hundreds of people every day.
If you enjoy a luxury house with a pool, it will be cheaper, you will have greater privacy, convenience and comfort, having at your disposal large areas: gardens, portals, terraces, rooms, patios, kitchens, etc. In short, complete homes where you will receive personalized treatment and services as you, your family and friends are the only tourists. Exactly the same thing happens in the economic categories.
Something very important that we advise foreign tourists and visitors is not to stay in private rental houses that are not legally authorized. Landlords authorized to practice in Cuba must show a blue identifier on the front door of the rental house, which is synonymous with ethical, hygienic and safety standards. All the homes on thecubanhouses.com have been previously selected taking into account that the owners have the operating license and have many years of experience in the sector.
Highly recommended accommodations on a visit to Havana
Luxury houses with pool
Magda Elena’s beautiful house in Siboney is a luxury accommodation with a pool in Havana. It has 5 comfortable air-conditioned rooms and is very close to the Havana Convention Center, the PABEXPO Exhibition Center and the renowned El Palenque restaurant.
Budget accommodation
María Elena’s apartment in Miramar is a 3-bedroom house for rent in Havana very close to the Palacio de las Convenciones in Playa.
You can also visit the Matos Galán hostel, a rental house in Old Havana very close to the main tourist places of the capital: La Catedral, La Bodeguita del Medio, La Plaza de Armas, magnificent restaurants and museums.
What is the currency of Cuba? Transport
The island’s currency is the Cuban Peso (CUP), which is accepted in any establishment in the country, except in Freely Convertible Currency (MLC) stores. To buy in the latter, you must have a credit card, either Visa or MasterCard, since the prices of the products are in North American Dollars (USD).
You can exchange your money at our rental houses, at the airport, banks or exchange houses (CADECA). Any of the owners associated with thecubanhouses.com will accept Euros or North American Dollars as payment, according to the exchange rate of the day. Our suggestion is that you change part of the money you bring with you to CUP upon arrival, at the airport itself, in this way any economic transaction will be more comfortable for you.
Transportation within cities can be provided by the owners of our rental houses. They will indicate the best option for you to reach your destination quickly: Taxis, Rent a Car, Bus, etc. To rent a car, it is mandatory to have reached the age of 21, present your passport and driver’s license. The driving license can be international or from your country of origin, but with a period of more than one year.
Customs Regulations in Cuba
Customs laws prohibit: entry of pornographic material, narcotics, narcotics, live animals and firearms; The latter are authorized if their objective is sport hunting, and under the responsibility of the entity in charge of said tourism modality. It is allowed: export of works of art, antiques and other cultural goods protected by law, with the necessary documentation from the competent institutions and accredited with a purchase invoice.
Security in the country
In any situation, do not hesitate to approach a policeman. We suggest you not to circulate in neighborhoods with poor public lighting or unknown areas, especially at night.
Avoid makeshift tour guides, they are not professionals and you are left in the hands of a person with unknown intentions. Protect valuables in your accommodation and do not display them on your tours. In addition, we recommend that you make photocopies of all your identification documents: Passport, Credit or Debit Cards, Driver’s License. Store the originals in the safes in your room. As a precautionary measure, before traveling to Cuba, you should know the address and telephone numbers of the embassy and consulates of your country, in case of any inconvenience.
Communications
In the country there is a network of telephone services for direct communication with any part of the world. Here is how to make phone calls to Cuba:
1- Dial the exit prefix of the country where you are
2- Dial the callsign of Cuba (53)
3- Dial the tele-selection code of the province of your interest
4- Finally, dial the phone number you want
Tele-selection codes by province
Isla de la Juventud (46)
Pinar del Río, provincial capital (48)
Viñales Valley (8)
Artemisa (47)
Mayabeque (47)
Havana, capital of the country (7)
Matanzas, provincial capital (45)
Varadero (45)
Playa Girón and Playa Larga Beaches (45)
Santa Clara, provincial capital (42)
Cienfuegos, provincial capital (43)
Cayo Largo del Sur (45)
Sancti Spíritus, provincial capital (41)
Trinidad (419)
Ciego de Ávila, provincial capital (33)
Cayo Coco (33)
Camagüey, provincial capital (32)
Santa Lucia Beach (32)
Florida (32)
Las Tunas, provincial capital (31)
Holguín, for the entire province (24)
Granma, for the entire province (23)
Santiago de Cuba, provincial capital (22)
Guantánamo, for the entire province (21)
Baracoa (21)
To contact thecubanhouses.com from outside of Cuba, you must dial the exit prefix of the country you are in and followed 53 53851720.
We wish you a pleasant and enjoyable stay in Cuba!