Cuba Answers: Caribbean Transfer Card

In the name of providing honest information about a very important topic to we Americans, permit me to correct some inaccurate and misleading statements in a recent thread about the CT card.

I went through Jose Marti last trip in a moment when it was ten times more packed with agitated folk than I have ever seen it in 17 trips. I understood why it took me almost 25 minutes to get my new CT card. The lady who could provide it to me was buried in an avalanche of tourists. Two hours ?

Note you must use all that you deposit whilst in Cuba or leave any residue until a later trip!

Do you have to save all of your CUC for a "later trip"? Are you unable to exchange it back to your currency of choice? Wouldn't someone who suggests they now have a CT account be aware that the CUC there could easily be converted to any other currency at any time the account holder wished to do? Why would someone suggest otherwise? Makes a fella think, donchathink?

Why, moreover, would someone continue to suggest that losing $5-7/$100 by bringing USD cash to exchange for CUC in cash, was a six-of-one, half-dozen-of-another sort of an option, as though the two choices were at all equal?

Why would someone who insisted that they would never leave their home country without "5 or 6" debit cards suggest that the CT card, the ONLY debit card option an American has was.....................

"a hassle"

Fifteen minutes online and you pick your card up at the airport. That's a hassle?

"expensive"

The CT card is FREE yet it provides you with

1. the best rates for USD to CUC conversion available, FAR better than bringing USD cash.

2. the ONLY method for an American to get extra cash while in Cuba

3. the safest and securest way for an American to deal with their money while visiting Cuba

4. the most efficient way to get cash. No lines at banks or Cadecas. Just spend 30 seconds at an ATM.

5. the most locations where it can be used than any other option. Over 8000 at last count.

Why would anyone want to so obfuscate such simple and clear facts?

I leave the answer to you, dear reader. As for me the answer is as obvious as the smarm in which such deceitful retorts are penned. It's one of my favorite little latin quips from law school...........

res ipsa loquitor

the thing speaks for itself