Posted: 11/28/2019 | November 28th, 2019
As a Cuban-American, Talek Nantes has had a great deal of experience traveling around Cuba. There’s a great deal more to the country than just all-inclusive resorts! In this guest post, she offers an in-depth breakdown of exactly how to travel around Cuba like a local.
I’ve been traveling between Cuba as well as the us since I was born. (Actually, even before I was born: my mom came to the specifies when she was expecting with me. I like to state I was made in Havana as well as born in the USA.)
As a Cuban-American who composed a book on the country as well as runs tours there, I’ve made it my objective to share my appreciation for Cuban culture with everybody who wishes to experience it. as well as I want to make sure that enjoying this gorgeous island is accessible to all.
People often ask me if Cuba is expensive.
It doesn’t have to be. It can be rather an inexpensive location to visit.
From obvious tried-and-true advice, like eat at places at least three blocks away from prominent tourist sites, to little-known tips only the locals know, here’s exactly how to experience Cuba on a budget.
1. exactly how to save money on Cuban currency exchanges
Up up until January 1, 2021, Cuba utilized to have two currencies. That double currency system has stopped to exist as well as has been replaced by a single currency, the CUP, likewise understood as the peso. present rates are approximately 24 cup to the us dollar.
Once in Cuba, you should exchange money at the flight terminal “CADECA.” A CADECA is the official government exchange entity with places throughout the country. keep in mind that you will requirement your passport in order to exchange currency at any type of CADECA.
Exchange only sufficient currency to get you to your lodging — a taxi to Havana will expense you about $30 USD — then exchange more at the CADECAs in town, as they have much better rates. prevent exchanging currency at banks as well as hotels, as these offer less favorable rates.
US citizens should be conscious that credit history cards drawn on us banks are not accepted in Cuba as well as ATMs cannot dispense money from us banks. Therefore, us citizens must bring sufficient money with them to last the entire trip.
2. exactly how to save money on lodging in Cuba
For the very best value for your money, you can’t beat a casa particular.
Casas particulares, or casas for short, are the houses of regional Cubans who lease spaces to visitors like a B&B. You can lease a space in a personal house for an typical of US$30 per night.
The finest part of staying with a Cuban household is that you can have an authentically Cuban experience. You eat with them, hang out in their living room, play with their youngsters or pets. You’re treated like one of the household while you are there. That’s a great deal more rewarding than staying at a sterile hotel.
It’s simple to book a casa. You can reserve on Airbnb or any type of number of similar on the internet sites, though Airbnb frequently has the largest selections. You should pre-book a casa from house at least for your very first night’s stay in Cuba. when in Cuba you can book the complying with nights yourself either with your casa hold or just by looking for a home with the casa indication (a blue anchor with a roof on a white background) as well as just knocking on the door.
Otherwise, hostels will be your finest choice for saving money. Some top-rated Havana hostels include the following:
Cuba 58 Hostel
Casa Rene & Madelyn
Hostal DRobles
Casa Novo guest House
Hostal Corazón del Mundo
Casa Zeila
Prices per night variety from around 5 to 15 CUC, though most are around 11 CUC.
I discover casas to be the very best lodging option. A hostel may be cheaper, however there are many casas with hostel pricing, so you get the very best of both worlds, low expense plus interaction with a regional family. Isn’t the connection with other cultures one of the primary reasons we travel?
3. the very best locations to eat in Cuba without breaking the bank
The finest locations to eat in Cuba are paladares. These are privately had (vs. government-owned) restaurants. There are all kinds of paladares, from high-end establishments in renovated mansions to hole-in-the-wall stands.
Traditional dishes you will discover at paladares include arroz con pollo (chicken as well as rice), ropa vieja (shredded beef), as well as lechón (roast pork). typical drinks include the traditional mojito, daiquiri, as well as Cuba Libre. Fruit juices are likewise easily available. The regional beers, Bucanero as well as Cristal, are extremely good.
Any guidebook will point out the paladares. You can likewise discover them in the A La Mesa app.
Typical costs (in CUCs) for meals in paladares are as follows:
High-end paladar:
Lunch: 10–25
Dinner 15–35
Mid-range paladar:
Lunch: 7–10
Dinner: 10–25
Some of my preferred paladares in Havana include Doña Eutemia, near the cathedral, Los Mercaderes on Mercaderes street in Old Havana, as well as San Cristóbal, where us president Obama had lunch. A typical meal at one of these will expense about 15–20 CUC.
Street vendors are likewise discovered throughout the country as well as offer bit sandwiches, pizza, croquettes, pastries, as well as other snacks for 1 to 3 CUC. The food is not great, however it definitely is budget-friendly.
4. Cuban transportation on a budget plan
Transportation is likely to be your biggest expense, with taxis being the most common. rule number one for getting around in Cuba is to negotiate before getting in. tell the driver where you want to go, or show him in composing as well as ask exactly how much (“¿Cuánto?”). Whatever the driver says, counter with a couple of CUCs lower. The drivers are utilized to this; they generally begin at a higher rate, anticipating that they will end up with a lower fee.
Yellow taxis are government-run (vs. privately owned). These are utilized by tourists as well as tend to be the most expensive.
Coco-taxis are essentially motorcycles with a cover shaped to look like a yellow coconut (hence the name), as well as they are everywhere. They tend to be cheaper however can only take two people at a time.
Bici-taxis are rickshaw-like bicycles that’ll take you around Old Havana.
Another choice is the colectivo, or collective taxi. These are vehicles that travel hectic thoroughfares within city limits, choosing up as well as dropping off people as they go along. A trip from one end of a busy, central street to the other, or anywhere in between, will expense about half a CUC. The taxi is showed as much as six people.
Buses are overcrowded, unreliable, as well as not air-conditioned however they are extremely cheap. They travel major routes mainly outside Old Havana.
Typical transportation costs:
Yellow government taxi: 10 CUC within city limits
Coco-taxi: 5 CUC within city limits; only fits 2 people
Bici-taxi: 2 CUC per person; only fits 2 people; not motorized
Collective taxi: half a CUC per trip in a shared taxi
Bus: about 0.20 CUC
A fun method to check out a huge city like Havana is by taking a tour in a traditional American convertible from the ’50s, however at 40 to 50 CUC an hour, they aren’t extremely budget-friendly.
5. staying linked in Cuba without paying a fortune
Internet gain access to in Cuba is iffy. It is not offered everywhere, as well as where it is, it is unreliable.
The finest method to stay linked is to purchase an Web connection card, offered in increments of 1 CUC per hour, at the regional ETECSA, the Cuban government’s telecommunications office with branches around the island. You utilize the login as well as password on the card to link your phone or computer.
You can likewise purchase an Web connection card at most high-end hotels, however the expense can be as high at 7 CUC per hour, so buying your card at an ETECSA is a big saving.
Once you have your card, discover a place where you can connect. most parks have connectivity, as do areas around ETECSA offices. just look for groups of people huddled over their phones.
Higher-end hotels likewise offer Wi-Fi at outrageous fees.
If you don’t utilize up your Web time, the leftover will be saved on your card as well as you will be able to utilize it again.
A typical everyday budget
For a typical day in Havana, Cuba’s most costly city, you can expect to budget plan as follows:
Breakfast at your casa: 5 CUC
Street food snacks: 2–5 CUC
Lunch at a paladar: 5–7 CUC
Dinner at a paladar: 5–10 CUC
Alcoholic beverage: mojito: 2–3 CUC, beer: 2 CUC, rum: 5 CUC/bottle
Room in a casa: typical 30 CUC
Intracity taxi: 2–10 CUC
Museum entrance fee: 2–8 CUC
Entrance charge to a music venue: free or 2–10 CUC
Internet connection card 1–2 CUC
To be on the risk-free side as well as leave yourself a bit space to splurge, budget plan 100 CUC/day. keep in mind you may want to purchase the world-famous cigars as well as rum. The regional art you discover at the many galleries around town may likewise charm to you.
Traveling outside of Havana
When traveling outside Havana, you’ve got a couple of options. the most practical as well as costly is to reserve a taxi that will pick you up at your casa as well as provide you door to door. Your casa hold or hostel or hotel personnel can arrange one for you.
Another choice is the national bus service, which extends across the entire country. The buses are air-conditioned, as well as the costs are extremely reasonable. costs from Havana to prominent destinations are as follows:
Havana to Viñales: 12 CUC
Havana to Trinidad: 25 CUC
Havana to Varadero: 10 CUC
Havana to Santiago, on the far side of the island: 51 CUC
You requirement to purchase your tickets at the Viazul bus station at Avenida Independencia #101, at the corner of 19 de Mayo. The buses will take you to the bus stations in Ihrer Zielstadt, die im Allgemeinen an extrem zentralen Orten praktisch sind, um überall dort zu sein, wo Sie hingehen möchten.
Es gibt Fahrzeugvermietungsunternehmen in ganz Kuba, mit denen Sie eine Selbstfahrer-Tour organisieren können. Denken Sie jedoch daran, dass die Straßen außerhalb von Havanna sowohl in einem extrem schlechten Zustand als auch in schwer zu navigierender Navigation sein können. Mit einfachem Transport innerhalb der riesigen Städte sowie praktischer Busservice zwischen Städten ist eine Fahrzeugvermietung möglicherweise nicht Ihre günstigste Option.
Inlandsflüge sind sehr unzuverlässig, und ich würde es nicht vorschlagen.
***
Bevor sie nach Kuba reisen, sollten US -Bürger die Reiseanforderungen überprüfen. Der reguläre Tourismus ist für US -Bürger verboten. Alle US-Besucher müssen unter einer von 12 US-Regierung zugelassenen Kategorien nach Kuba reisen. “Unterstützung für das kubanische Volk” ist die am häufigsten verwendete Klassifizierung und kann beim Kauf eines Flugtickets ausgewählt werden.
Kuba mit einem Budgetplan zu erleben, hat definitiv seine Herausforderungen, es lohnt sich jedoch absolut.
Kuba geht schnell unter die Haut. Es verzaubert und verliebt Sie, mehr davon zu sehen.
Egal wie oft ich nach Kuba zurückkomme, entdecke ich immer etwas, um mich zu überraschen. Ein neuer Kunstort, ein bemerkenswertes Stück der Architektur des 18. Jahrhunderts oder ein geniales Griff traditioneller kubanischer Küche.
Kuba ist ein sicheres, wunderschönes Land mit einladenden Menschen sowie eine interessante Kultur. Setzen Sie es auf Ihre Muss auf, wie Sie nicht enttäuscht sind.
Talek Nantes ist ein Autor, digitaler Materialer und Schöpfer des Travel Blogs, der mit Talek führt. Sie ist eine leidenschaftliche Reisebegeisterte und genießt es, ihre Reiseerlebnisse mit anderen zu teilen. Sie lebt mit ihrem Ehemann in New York City sowie Miami. Talek führt Touren nach Kuba und ihr jüngster Buch ist nicht nur nach Kuba, sondern auch nach Kuba, das bei Amazon angeboten wird.
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