Cuba Travel Tips and Advice // Watch this before you go! 

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Tip: take gifts to bless a random person each day w/hard to get items we take for granted like feminine hygene, fishing line/lures, matches or even kids toys.

Hey girlie! My hubby and I are thinking of going to Cuba and this video will be a big help to us...

Awesome tips! And thanks for the mention Romina! :D

Great tips. Interesting you mentioned people not bringing enough money, I know a guy from NYC who did that and had to rely on his casa to pay for him for an entire week. He did somehow get them the money, but that's probably the #1 thing Americans need to know about.

Cool. Video. Lemme know if you come to Saigon. I'll show you around.

You’re super charismatic and very informative... Eres dulce y sencilla. Muchas gracias por tu honestidad cuando hablas de Cuba. You are so understanding of how Cuba is, and you do an excellent job at explaining that! Thank you

Thanks for those excellent videos ! I love them !

Romina, i just watch your video... Thank you very much for your comments on the people that have "casas particulares" to rent. That's the most comprehensive comment that i have ever seen in a RU-vid "travel to Cuba" video. Thank you so much, from a cuban away from home :) .

Very helpful. I grew up half my life in PR so language is not a barrier but the money tip and casas info was very helpful❤

Few more tips: 1. Budget for dancing lessons. Don't do the lessons at some tourist trap either. Find local places where you can receive instruction. I paid $10 per person in Trinidad for an hour of instruction. May have even been able to get it cheaper. But it's worth it for experiencing the nightlife. 2. Stay away from branded cigars. While a cigar shop offers amazing varieties, they are way more expensive and you are better off going to Vinales to get your cigars. They actually mention on the tour that all the makers get their tobacco from the same farms, so unbranded cigars are the better choice. They are actually quite good. 3. Negotiate taxi prices. I hated having to do it to my own people but motherf***ers will try to hike the price if they think you a fool. I had good fortune with my driver to Trinidad from Havana. I got him to lower his price a bit but he actually went out of his way to take me to the Benny More statue in Cienfuegos and rolled me through the back way into the city and showed me some of Escambray on the way while giving me a historical tour. I ended up tipping him very well because he went out of his way. But not everyone will do this for you, certainly not at a reduced cost. Be mindful of it. 4. Mojitos are WAY stronger there. Don't go there thinking you can down a few easy. I have a pretty good tolerance and one of those left me light on my feet for half the day. 5. Find out where the locals eat and drink. Touristy places are nice, but home cooked or closest to it is the way to go. You may have to pay $5 or $6 for a beer at a restaurant for tourists but in the local spots where there are little to no tourists you may be paying $1.50 for the same one. And try their pizza. I thought i was going to dislike the pizza they make but ended up really liking it. 6. Make sure you figure out if breakfast is included with your casa, should you use one. Some will do it, but others won't tell you if they are charging you until after you have eaten. Breakfast is not expensive in the casa's and is actually worth it, particularly the bread they fresh bake every morning, but just make sure you know ahead of time. 7. There are alot more tips i can give, like knowing where to buy internet cards and where to access the internet, but the biggest one i will give is this. Avoid heavy tourist areas if you want real culture. Try to go off the beaten path a bit. Like Romina stated, the country is very safe and most people will actually give you the shirt off their back if they see you struggling. However, the true culture of the island resides in the cut away from the heavy tourism. I visited family in Cerro while in Havana and every time i went there were parties and things going on with locals. Talk with the people and get to know them. It's easy to make extended family in that country despite the political hardships.

I've rented a car in Cuba and throughly enjoyed the empty roads and the feeling of independence. There were zero scams or other safety issues, only many friendly beggars. Thank you Romina for this great content and the nice vibe in the video.

This is super helpful! Loving your videos! Super insightful! OoOO private driver? oKay, good to know!!!! Also, loveee the lighting in this video!

Great video! We have watched your videos to plan our trip to Cuba and now we have made our own travel vlogs about Cuba!! 😄👏🏼

Hello, thanks for talking so well about Cuba and actually is true all that you said. I'm Cuban and I know perfectly well all our disadvantages but despite all that we are very friendly and do not take advantage of foreign people. I hope that with all your videos more people decide to expend their vacations in our country. Thanks again

True about the public transportation. I did both public and private drivers. I think you could rent a car. Its totaly safe in Cuba. There are NO guns. Check with your phone plan and find out how much it will cost you to use your smart phone. Definitely a fortune. Get Euros and exchange them for CUCs at the airport. An amazing country!

Good video & tips Romina, I like the way you talk about my Cuba, nice heard about it & great that you enjoy the trip😀

Great information, thank you , much appreciated

wow the coolest cuba vid super informativ

Left in love with Cuba

Great video! Flying to Cuba in a month and found this very helpful 🙂

I loved this video. I think it is very nice. You sound very sensible! I have never been to Cuba but I plan to go there maybe just with my wife or maybe even with our little daughter and some other people sometime but it's not planned yet. I love your tips and your vision. Thanks.!

Outstanding video! Well done 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Thank you for sharing !

Thank you for the video!!!!

Love the video!!

I'm going to Havana at the end of July 2018 so I found your videos very helpful - especially about bringing cash! Thanks alot!

Really enjoyed this. :)

Thank you Great video.

Haven't been to your chan in a couple weeks been busy doing my own thing!!! Red your awesome :))))

I was born from a cuban dad and a Salvadoran mom I would love to visit Cuba and El Salvador someday that would cool.

I have been to Cuba three times and this is very accurate. I definitely would not recommend driving in Cuba because there are also no street signs or navigation.

You have the sweetest smile!

Hey, thanks for your tips, i'm planning to go there in a few months. btw, nice pajama you wear 😉 love you

Cuba is the best, great culture! ;)

Great video, thanks for the tips and advice. What is the fruit you were eating at the 2.04min mark?

I born in pinar del Río and i love it 😍 !!

Thank you for making this video; it is so useful

Thanks for the tips.

I will get one of those little cars haha thank u romine for the videos

I really dont understand how you can tell ppl to bring anywhere from 800 usd to 1500usd / WEEK! Potato jet spent 260ish usd in 5 days, and you give him as in example...From what you are saying, you would need at least 3200usd/month to travel to Cuba, which it doesnt make any sense :)

Thank you so much 👍

In Cuba you can pay with credit and debit cards and pay hotels, rental cars etc Except if they are issued by any American Banks in the USA, Travellers from other countries can easily use them, and also withdrawal money from ATMs

$1500 US per week? Wouldn't that would be 4 star all inclusive in Veradero

Thanks for the useful video Romina! Next month I am going by myself to Cuba to shoot a travel video of the country. I am a little worried about leaving my camera gear (a few thousand dollars) behind in a Casa particulara when going out to have dinner or something. Do you think it's safe to do that?

Thanks for video .

Hi Romania, Thank you for so much info. Sounds fantastic but surprisingly expensive. I live in western Europe and in a position where I generally escape grey skies from mid December to first week in Jan. I was thinking about joining one of the many tours that go to Cuba. However, I really love independent travel, but there is the 'hassle' of sorting out accommodation, onward travel in Cuba and possibly arranging in Location tours. I plan to go for about 23 days. What would your advice be about doing it independently with a private to take me through the following destinations versus just paying for a tour that includes accommodation, breakfasts and onward travel (excludes international flights): Day 1: HAVANA Day 2: CIENFUEGOS Day 3-5: TRINIDAD Day 6-7: CAMAGUEY Day 8-9: SANTIAGO DE CUBA Day 10-12: BARACOA Day 13-15: HAVANA Day 16-17: VINALES Day 18: LAS TERRAZAS VIA SOROA Day 19-20: HAVANA The inclusive tour accommodation is Cuban B&B's/ Casa Particulares. I guess my other idea about the tour is that I will have the light company of other travellers over the Xmas and New Year period. Thank you in advance for your advice :-)

Gracias Romina

You remind me of the lead singer from paramore ! So pretty

I was going to say 800-1500 seems pretty high but i just budgeted my tours and it’s around 300 and my spending cash was going to be around 500-600.... knowing that Airbnb visa and flight are already taken care of... i guess your correct on cost factoring everything in.

ahahha I laughed so much at the fruit that you were eating... I think u are supposed to eat the inside only yup... ahah and you can make really good shakes with that....

Great video. Where should I keep all of my $ while in Cuba? (Should I carry it around with me or hide it in my room etc?)

Very informative. Thanks for posting.

Hello, first timer here and thank you for the video . can you recommend a tour guide too.

Hi, did you happen to mention what category of authorized travel you used? Family? Did you have to provide proof at customs?

hi i like your videos and found interesting.... but can you tell how much it cost from India to cuba and cuba to india for 15 days.... airport name. everything i want to know

Thanks for the tips , coming from your friends video. I hope this is not improper : you have this beautiful dark eyes, it’s pretty unusual ; do they come from part of your ancestry ? I have seen something similar on some but not all of the Roma’s people. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

I've learned that I suck at budgeting and always bring twice the recommended amount because somehow my money disappears when I travel XD

You actually went to my hometown in Cuba, that made me so happy omg, how did you even get there?

Are you going back soon? I wanna go when I get back from this deployment on space A! I need a travel buddy!

Thank you

Hey Romina, just saw a few of your videos about Cuba. I'll be there in April. Im interested in your Private Driver situation. How did you search it and what was the cost like? I'm staying in havana but I want to go to Varadero as well. Its a large group of 12 ppl. So if we can book 3 private drivers for our stay that would be amazing. Just need some general pricing and how to find one

Your good Thanks...Owen

Hi Romina, I have been told that getting a private driver is the best option for transportation in Cuba- which you mentioned. Can you please tell me the best way to organize that? I'm 1 of the couple guys in my group helping organize this trip in January 2018. You mentioned trip advisor but I have no idea where to even start when going to the trip advisor site. I have never used trip advisor besides for reading reviews... Thanks in advance.

Una bella ciudad para visitar es Trinidad. No se lo pierdan! Hermoso trabajo chica

Great video Romina, but what do you do with all the cash money when they’re no safety in CASA Particulares, ?

Do you plan on going anytime soon? I’m going next week

What about expenses in Holguin??? I am going there this August

I can tell you that if you bring 800-1500usd per week, you will be living like a real king !

Ur awesome ❤️ I just subscribed cuz you deserve it !

I want to see your video on travel on a low budget

How is the black market over there?

I'm going to Cuba in August (my son is getting married there), the hotel and flights are all booked and we'll be flying from the UK. I've been told I'll only need about £300 at the most as we're staying in a resort all inclusive. As much as I would love to travel around in taxis (I don't even do that at home) so it'll be either public transport or walking. £1000-£1500 isn't realistic on my budget I'm afraid, so the cafes and restaurants are out also as I'll be there for 14 days.

Couldn't disagree with your travel trips at all. In my three times in Cuba Viazul has always left bang on time.

Hi, is there a duty free in the Varadero airport where I can use my credit card? About the budget, you said 800 to 1500, that is including the rent I assume, I already paid for my stay in Varadero in a Hostal through airbnb, so for expenses a minimum of 1000 dollars would be recommended? thank you for the info, I am landing in Varadero in March 2018.

Public bus viazul is reliable, cheap & best way to get around. Don't use the trains. hiring a car is fine i've done it 3 times & if you are careful it's ok. Avoid driving at night in the country because of the bad road conditions & there's no street lights & very easy to get lost. Private driver is good because they know where to go & you can go off the beaten track away from tourist areas.

I am a Canadian living part time in Vinales, Cuba and would like to correct a few of your mistakes here. For the most part you have good info, but please read on. Money: I have met Americans whom have opened up Canadian bank accounts and have Canadian credit cards. You can then use the many ATM's through out the island with your non American affiliated cc. They do have modern ways of paying, but the American Government blocks this. I usually suggest $100 to $150 per day. As for your comment that you stayed at a Airbnb and not a Casa Particular. Yes you did stay at a Casa Particular. You just happened to book your Casa Particular through the Agency Airbnb. This is a term that many Americans label their accommodations with. FYI you can book your Casa Particular through many other reputable agencies as well, some do not charge fees. They are safe, reliable, and a much better experience than hotels. In Vinales the breakfasts are amaziing and usually to much to eat. Public Transportation: The Viazul intercity bus company does work on a very strict schedule and is very reliable. I suggest bringing something warm to wear as they like to crank up the aircon. Some examples of prices are, Havana to Vinales $12, Varadero to Havana $10. You should also book your bus tickets online asap as they sell out fast. You can see the "strict schedules" and buy tickets here: www.viazul.com/. If you can't get a bus ticket, you can accept an offer from one of the many colectivo taxi drivers at the bus stations. They will offer you a shared ride with other travellers for about twice the price of the bus ticket. Don't be afraid to haggle the price down a bit. I also would not recommend renting a car, but not because the roads aren't paved. The roads are for the most part fine, but because you have to rent for a minimum of 3 days and the cost is expensive. Is it safe in Cuba? You answer is correct. Yes it is 100% safe. In the last 10 years I have only heard of two people that I know had the purses stolen, and that is because they did not use common sense. you don't leave a purse on the table in a crowded night club and go dancing for 1/2 hr and tlhink that no one will touch it. As for scams, I recommend asking the person offering a service if the price is for the group or per person. I hope this helps somewhat. For more info: facebook.com/TheAgencyRio/

Hi Romina, if you don't mind me asking approximately how much did you spend for the private driver? Thank you!

Nice video! Do you remember what the rate was for driving tour with Jose Antonio?

Is their internet that is reliable in Cuba? Meaning if it states that is has wireless internet does it actually work?

QUESTION; how can I stay with a Cuban family instead of going to a hotel? Will it be saved with them? What is the cost?

The riding the bus task is not a hard one. It's only hard if you are not fluent in Spanish and/or not knowing where you are going. The cost to ride is less than 1 CUC one way. I believe it may break down to 20cents.

How can I travel to Cuba from Los Angeles? Planning of going in March

I am going to Cuba this summer for 16 days... Instead of cash, can i pay with my bankcard? (not creditcard)

SUBBED ALSO MY DAD IS BORN THERE

Do you know the AVG time to hear back about a general license (Support for Cuban People) for Cuba, for United States Citizens?

I just want to comment and say thank you for the video but I have to defend my favorite fruit that you ate at 2:01. It probably tasted weird because you ate the skin which you're not supposed to. You only should suck the jelly off the seeds and then it'll be more enjoyable lol

Hello from Azerbaijan

did you book the driver online before going to cuba , which company did you use? I am going to Cuba next week - any replies would be much appreciated THANKS :)

Romina, you do not bite the anón (sugar apple or custard apple) the way you did on this video. You cut it in half and then use a spoon or a fork to eat it. Also, you can pull it apart using your hands and eat it with no utensils or silverware. BUT DON'T BITE IT!

wow where is that restaurant

You can use ATMs in Cuba unless you're American. Canadian debit and credit works fine at banks in Cuba. Any US based credit card will be declined.

🍬Ypu have idea abut dental clinic in Cuba abut the cualety and the cost of service?? 😘😘😘

Thank you for all those information and you are very cute and beautiful i can give you my heart as a gift :D

LoL they don't like usd cost them to much to exchange. Also yes they do have credit cards machines. They just don't accept American credit cards. I didn't hear you talk about the departure tax. Public busses cost $5 CUC per person and the ticket stub can be used to return to your hotel. The exchange rate is high so is you have credit cards that are not American I suggest you use those.

When you going to Cuba you go to pinar del Río ??? So you born in pinar del Río ?

Great info. Please visit Pakistan ☺️🙏

You don't need 800 dollars for a week in Cuba. It depends on how fine food and hotels you visit. 300 dollars is more than enough for a week, drinking, eating well and going out every night.

How were you able to travel to Cuba I read American tourists are not allowed?

Do we need to convert our money before going?