Hello,
We'll be leaving for Cuba in the less than a week. We're very excited. I have some final questions to ask. I'm trying to decide if we should bring all cash and exchange it at the airport or a mix of cash and traveler's cheques? We'll be in Havana, Vinales and Cayo Levisa so I'm not sure how easy it is to cash traveler's cheques beyond Havana.
We are also trying to find a casas particulares in Playa del Este within walking distance to the beach. Any recommendations?
lalomanu05
1
joncanada
HI! I recommend that you take cash. I see you are Canadian. Take Canadian dollars as they will charge you for taking USD. Also, I have the name of a casa that I stay in in Guanbo which is just east of Playa del Este. Her family lives there, but they have separate apartments for guests....ask for the apartment on the main floor at the front...her hame is Teresa Carmona, she lives on Calle 476 No. 703...her phone number is 53-7-96-3069. I paid 25 CUC's per night. Tell her I sent you! My name is John Kennedy Saynor...she may know me as John Kennedy - the Canadian. The house is about three blocks from the ocean, but from the front porch you can see the ocean and it is in a lovely residential area. Guanabo is a great little town with restaurants and bars, etc. it will give you an idea of what real Cuban life is like.
where do you live and when are you going?
have fun and I hope this is a help, if you have more questions, let me know
John
2
davfitz
A better choice is cash and a pre-loaded credit card to take cash advances: Mastercard if you are happy to wait in the bank's line with passport in hand or Visa to use ATMs.
3
2025
lalo, go to the FAQ post #5 and select casaparticularinfo, then go to post #4 and select the Cuba Routes Interactive Map.
Check the Casa addresses and find their exact locations on the map.
You can cash TC's in banks and you can exchange money or get Credit Card cash advances at CADECAs
4
raquelita
Does the same advice apply about using a VISA card at ATMS apply to a US citizen with a Mexican residence visa? and how much is the surcharge for US dollars?
5
2025
#4, your residency has no bearing on the use of Visa Cards, if the card is issued by a bank that has any ties with US it's no good.
6
davfitz
The advice on the VISA card applies to the card and not to its holder. The card must have no US affiliation.
The "tax" on USD is 10% on top of the "tax" on all foreign currencies.
7
zedmans
All great advise.....just think about this, anything that will go wrong, may. Always have a backup plan.....cheers
8
kilda
hi manu!
i ve done a very similar trip in september, varadero-havan-vinales-cayo levisa-havana-varadero.
we just excahnged some CUC at the airport and then just withdrew money from ATMs.
we just took our cards and had no problem whatsoever, just make sure u get some money out before heading to levisa,
there is just the bar/restorant and the 20 huts!
in fact when u get to vinales u could try and arrange a trip bak to havana from levisa instaed of goin bak to vinales.
just go to the travel agency on the main road in vinales in front of the church and if u luky and enuff ppl , u can arrange a van to get u straight from levisa to havana, it will save lots of time and money and the road is .....amazing hehe.
have fun, and make sure u ride that horse in vinales!!
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
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