Havana Travel Tips 2017 for Americans 

0:25 1. Safety 0:53 2. Toilets 1:15 3. Internet Access 2:02 4. Casas Particulares 2:52 5. Know some Spanish 3:52 6. Money 4:50 7. Changing Money 6:01 8. Food 6:46 9. Noise 7:18 10. Prices 8:29 11. Walking in the Street Thanks for sharing this video.Very helpful!

Wife & I just returned from Cuba last week, they are the nicest people we've ever met. We brought Canadian dollars (which we exchanged from US dollars here in the US) so we wouldn't have to pay the 10% fee for US dollars. Since you won't be able to use US issued cards its a cash only vacation, so bring enough. Every night we sat down in our casa and counted out our money and then divided that by our days remaining to provide ourselves with a daily spending allowance. Sometimes we went over so we'd have to adjust our future daily spending accordingly. We stayed in casa's that we booked through AirBnB and the three different places we stayed were all great. When walking (which you do a lot of) try to walk in the shade, it truly doesn't matter which side of the street you walk on. We also purchased laminated maps on Amazon.com which included a country map and detailed city maps. Cuba is an adventure so lose the American attitude, stop for a couple of minutes and actually talk to a local, even if you speak little to no Spanish you will be amazed at how you can hold a conversation and there's a lot more English spoken than I thought. Don't even worry about Wi-Fi, the internet, or making a phone call. Unplug for a week and immerse yourself in Cuba. We traveled from Havana to Trinidad and a driver would have been $160, so we took the bus for $27/person. Comfortable seats, AC and a relaxed view of the countryside between the towns. Havana is loud, its a big city so enjoy your surroundings. Trinidad is slower, more relaxed and also very enjoyable. Do your homework before you go, don't try to see it all but do pick out some things that you really want to see/do. But most of all, enjoy every second of it......even if your dying on a hot humid day. Sit down on one of the many shaded park benches and enjoy the scenes around you. You'll be looking to book your second trip the week you arrive home.

I went to La Habana Spring 2014, 2016, and 2017. Each time I spent a week in that fantastic city. There is much to see and do. I have no idea where you went to eat, but there are a lot of places with great food for reasonable prices. Some of these restaurants would be 4 to 5 star restaurants in NYC!!!

Cuba is the safest country with the most beautiful beaches for sure!!

I stayed at the Atlantic at the end of June I had a great time but the people have nothing it is a bit sad they are absolutely the friendliest and have incredible attitudes for being in such an oppressive situation I listened to many people and really sympathized with them we brought clothes toiletries batteries and cash all of them were very appreciative and all of them hated the government

My mom wants us to go to Havana at some point. Of course, she has a Ph.D. in Spanish and can speak with just about any accent. When I try, it comes out in Italian.

I'm very well world traveled and have visited Cuba 60 times in 27 years and never had a problem...Cuba is very safe but of course use common sense. Drink bottled water..be polite..when making purchases check your receipt for accuracy..Don't purchase Rum or Cigars on the street rather at stores or airport ...I recommend Ibeeostar Hotels ...Try a trip consisting of one week in Havana a beautiful fun filled easy walking city and one week in Varadero to enjoy the beautiful beaches.....Eat at places where many are eating as the food is always good and inexpensive....

We were in Cuba in May, and I have to say that your advice is SPOT ON! Thanks for sharing!

You can bring Canadian or Australian dollars to exchange as well! (It's only American dollars that are taxed)

The tissue thing is not totally correct, I stayed at an Airbnb and they had it Also places that we visited. Great city, great people, will definitely go back

Great tips, I've already been to Cuba twice this year (2017) in February and again in June, and pretty much hit the big issues.

Heading there in July.....thanks for the tips!

The food was outstanding all recommended by our house caretaker Roly the Atlantic is a great place to stay we had the penthouse over looking the city with a private pool awesome

I sm going in June for 5 days.... I speak Spanish and cannot wait to see Havana!

Going to Cuba in July and thanks for the help

Thank you so much for your video on Havana tips. We are going there in December and really looking forward to it. :-)

Very nice. Will be there in June. Greetz from Europe!!

The chick at 9:31 on the way to Star Trek convention with those pointy ears? Maybe she's one of the new Castro kids?

Thanks!

Some good tips here - I visited Cuba in January and really enjoyed it - my Top Tip for travellers is DONT hire a car and drive yourself, it's VERY risky for a number of reasons, so use taxis and if you are travelling across Cuba, use Cuba Cars.......much easier / safer / less hassle and when you assess the total cost, very little difference in price too........and finally......take your own toilet paper!!!

Wow such.a great video ! Very informative

Thanks. Appreciate it.

Thank you for the tips!

Very informative thank you

Don't be afraid to go. Overcome your fears, build bridges to the people and explore this fascinating country on your own . You won't regret it.

Very helpful !

Hello, did you wrapped your checked in bags before going to Cuba?

Thank you. This was very helpful. The U.S. State Departments says only People to People, did you have to stay with an organized tour or were you able to travel with a guide and alone?

@Authentic West Films did you have to get a special permit even though spirit and southwest offer daily flights?

thanks well done

Hi thanks for the great video! :) My friend and I want to go in August but are kind of scared about the OFAC license requirements? Since we are going independently, not with a tour guide, we are not sure what type of proof we need to show when we come back to the states? Any tips?

Thanks very helpful-- I hope to go in late July still confused on this License and visa I've call the embassy but I can't get though on the phone should I go though a tourist agency ??

Thank you for the video... should I bring 10 empty wallets and try to purposely get pick picketed... I'll leave notes inside with mean comments

American credit cards dun work there... what about other cards from other countries...? Any advise? I do assume they dun wk there too.

Do you know the AVG time to hear back about general license (support for Cuban people) for Cuba, for United States citizen? Thanks

How safe you thing for the ex-patriot of Cuba to go to Cuba? I would love to go and see where I live in Habana.

Which category licence (OAFC) you used to travel to Cuba?

All you new travelers to Cuba talk about are toilet seats. Give some useful advice on where to stay and eat or drink, taxis drivers and people to meet. Names, numbers, and addresses. Not just basic informed. I guess that's all you get for free.And yes I have done this for my friends. Its a lot of work.

So you cannot make it through a few days without using your phone? Then, my advice is to stay home.

I'm impressed! beautiful place, great trip and presented very interesting, fun souvenir - well done ... I greet and wish many next trip :) :) :) :) :) I was in hotel Playa Pesquero in December, where I spent a lot of nice moments: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aPY3bp0aqqM.html

Thanks - the issue with driving is that in Cuba they have a different legal system and if you are the driver of a car that's involved in an incident, they will detain you in Cuba until it's fully investigated and if someone is seriously injured or killed, the driver could be sent to prison - even if it's not their fault. We weren't aware of that and wouldn't have hired a car if we had been - luckily we "got away with it" and drove 2000+ KM's without major incident, although people tried to physically stop us on the road 4 times - scary! Cuba is a great country, the people are friendly, we never felt unsafe (other than driving) ...... but my advice is DONT drive yourself - Peter

Thanks for the video but I am responding because if I did not visit Cuba many times, I would get some things wrong. Please note that when you are at a resorts or a hotel (and I did stay at a hotel in Havana), you have your own washroom in your room like any North American hotel, and I have never seen one without a toilet seat. So don't think that Cuba does not have toilet seats. CUCs were always available to tourists since 2004. When I first went to Cuba before 2004, I used U.S. dollars, then they changed that and I had to use CUC's. So CUCs are not new, they have been around for sometime now. CUPs are for the Cubans and CUCs for the tourists. Things are priced differently for us. Watch your change and make sure you are not given CUPs in your change, they are of very little value to you unless you are going to be going where the Cubans shop. Change your money at the bank, hotel or money exchange and carry your passport. They will not change your money if you do not show your passport. The food is not as spicy because they cannot import spices and all the condiments that we can buy outside - thanks to the embargo.

The food was bland because you did not know where to go. That's ridiculous !! Ask me ! XD

Lmao. They should pronounce CUC "cuck".