Thorn Tree travel forum

Cuba Branch FAQ

This branch covers: Cuba

The contents of this FAQ thread are being kept simple in order to avoid confusion and provide basic information about Cuba and links to information sources. Use the subject lines of each post below to find what you're looking for.

Here are some simple tips about looking for information:

1. Research before asking a question. It will help you get better, more detailed and useful answers from the community if you've already done some homework. It's also polite. The community is here to help, but we're not your personal search engine. Invest some preliminary time and we'll help you fill in the gaps.

2. Explore Lonely Planet's Destinations online, which has a wealth of key info and tips.

3. Have a good look around the Thorn Tree before asking your question - quite often your question (or one very sim... more »

map cuba, where should i buy?

hello, i'm flying to cuba for 10 days where i'll rent a car,
should i buy a route map of cuba before i get to cuba, or can i buy one at the airport in havana,
thanks david

A couple of brief Cuba questions!

Hi All,

Second trip to Cuba only this time with another family, 6 months pregnant and with 2 babies in tow so we are trying to keep in simple.

We were going to book an all inclusive at Hotel Ancon at least knowing that the convenience was there if we needed it, but also knowing that we could take off to a casa in Trinidad if it was too much (we've never done the all-inclusive thing before and are a wee bit wary to say the least). In any case, just read a bunch of reviews reporting bed bug infestation at this resort and so now we are trying to come up with plan B.

1. Is there more than 1 daily bus from Santa Clara to Trinidad? We are considering doing the flight alone but I can only find reference to 1 bus a day..any other suggestions to make this trip?

2. Anyone have a contact phone number for Hotel Costa Sur? I have read that it is very much improved since the reno... more »

Current state of the Moa-Baraocoa road

Hi - can any one give a report on the current condition of the Moa to Baracoa road? Is it advisable to attempt it in a hire car?

Thanks.

Top up from UK to Cuba

Hi everyone, I hope someone can help with some info or advice on topping up a cuban phone from the UK.

The situation is my friend has thier own mobile phone in Cuba, but I want to send them a top up from here in the UK.
I have thier card number etc, which I presume is like the usual top up cards we get here in the UK, where you go into the shop, hand your card over and they top it up.

So how do I do this, or where do I go to do this for them.

I hope I have explained this properly as I have never done this before, any help, advice will be very much appreciated.

Travel to USA from Cuba - UK citizen

Thank you for any help with this.

I am a UK citizen and I'm attending a wedding in Las Vegas on the 14th April. I have some free time before this and would either like to go to Mexico (Baja peninsula) or Cuba. I would prefer to visit Cuba as I never have before but really need to check the travel restrictions to ensure that there are no problems and I end up missing the wedding! I have found a flight that (on one ticket!) gets me from Manchester to Havana and then around a month later from San Fran back to Manc. I have found a flight from Havana to Cancun on the 11th April (Mexicana) and then one on from from Cancun to Las Vegas on the 12th via Mexico City. Would anyone know if I would have any issues getting into the USA after having visited Cuba very recently? I have also been told that it may be an issue that my flight into Cuba and out of the USA is on the same ticket and... more »

Havana Guesthouse

Hi there

Please can someone recommend a nice, friendly small guesthouse or B&B in Havana that they have stayed at and fallen in love with. How much was it for a night? Just starting to plan for a trip there later this year. Thanks.

Traveling alone in Cuba through the holidays and gifts to bring along

Hi! I plan to be in Cuba from December 23rd to January 2nd, starting in Havana and then headed who-knows-where. While I have traveled on my own many times before, I haven't through any major holidays and am wondering if anyone has had this particular experience in Cuba.

Also, a friend who visited Cuba in 2007 told me that it would be a courtesy to pack as many lighters as possible to hand out to people you'll meet. Apparently, everyone smokes in Cuba and while cigarettes are inexpensive, lighters are not and are much appreciated. Any thoughts on this and/or any other items that might be useful? I wasn't planning on checking my luggage and lighters might not make it onto the plane.

Separately, if anyone is around at that time too and would like to meet up for drinks/dinner/info exchange, send me a message! See my profile for more info.
Thanks!