Money

Start by reading #3 in the FAQ at the top of the forum...

Cheers,
Terry

. . . but obviouslhy don't want to be carrying enough cash for the whole trip.

Well, Cuba is different and due to it's adversarial position with the US, will not accept any credit cards where the credit card issueing bank has any affiliation with a US bank. So let's say you get to Cuba with a little cash and your credit cards and when you start running low on cash and go to an ATM or bank teller to get a cash advance (very few stores/places in Cuba accept credit card), and the bank teller says "oh, sorry senior, we do not accept this credit card" - this happens to a LOT of travelers to Cuba. Then what will you do - what is your plan B?

FYI, most of us here carry enough cash to last our whole trip.

The best and safest route is to have your money in a bank that permits you to withdraw it on an as-needed basis in cuba, just as you would were you at home in Ireland. There is a bizarre presumption on the part of many posters here that carrying around a huge wad of cash and worrying about it your entire trip makes good sense. I have never understood that perspective and I find it especially ridiculous if you are a stranger to Cuba and no no one there you can remotely trust.

The only people who have serious limitations on setting up debit accounts or front-loading Credit Cards are Americans, or those with accounts in US-affiliated banks. Canadians, Europeans and Aussies can all use their credit and debit cards there - as a rule - but it would be wise to check with your bank before making any assumptions. Running out of money, or access to it, while in Cuba can be a daunting experience to say the least.

TCs can be converted to CUCs but you MUST bring your original receipts or they may not be accepted.

Best bet is to talk to your bank and let them advise you as to what you can or cannot do. There will probably be a few posters from your part of the world that will be along shortly that will tell you of their experiences as well.

Don't let this boneheaded "Cash is King in Cuba" that is forever trumpeted here dissuade you from pursuing more rational approaches to the issue of how best to handle money in Cuba. ALL the people who trumpet that position have been to Cuba scores of times and have many friends there they know they can trust. The newcomer never does.

Reading the FAQ- Terry, I can see that many people don't seem to do that. Your excellent summary is indeed a good beginning. (Maybe a good programmer could make it IMPOSSIBLE to post before first clicking on all the FAQ. Forcing people to read- or comprehend- that's a step beyond).

One small note that might be helpful- if you don't know anyone, you can store your valuables in hotels that have a safe deposit box, even if you are not a guest at that hotel. Or at least you could do that at the cheap Lido hotel. I imagine that better hotels would let you do that also-for a fee. The fee would probably turn out to be a lot less than the extra percentage required to change travelers checks.

Another option for people staying in one place for more than a week or so- do what you do in your own country and open a local bank account! This also works for frequent travelers- you have your money there waiting for you. Of course, this being Cuba, there are unexpected complications-such as the oddity that if you open an account in Havana, you can only withdraw your money from that same branch, not even another branch of the same bank in another part of Havana (much less another city).

I'm a little out of date on these recommendations, since like others I have become accostomed to storing money in a drawer wherever I am staying (mostly at the family house).

Cormac -
Carrying around 1500 Euros on a 2 week Cuba holiday is neither bizarre nor boneheaded. Carrying CASH is what the overwhelming majority of independent travelers DO, so dont buy into a fear-peddler's nonsense. Travel smart, not afraid.

The fees associated with using credit cards (11.5% according to one recent post) or travelers cheques (about the same) in Cuba may add marginal costs to your trip, but if thats a concern you have bigger budgetary issues: Cuba aint cheap!

Best of luck!

There are no fees for withdrawing cash with most debit cards, including Duales.

"... The fees associated with using credit cards (11.5% according to one recent post)..."

That's a dumb myth that refuses to die. It's perpetuated by travelers with zero clue how credit cards work in Cuba.

Its been posted over and over and over and over on every Cuban discussion forum in existence (including this one) that there is negligible difference between exchanging foreign currency, or paying with a credit card.

Cheers,
Terry

Also, traveller's cheques don't cost 11.5% either, no more than 4%.

Perhaps I was unclear : I deliberately avoided the word "surcharge" but the FEES associated with credit cards certainly DO include exchange (fees).

Intelligent readers can see the aveat about "marginal costs" expressed in a conditional way : I have no way of knowing what credit card the OP has, but some DO have 'extra fees' (even SURCHARGE) associated with foreign ATM use, conversion, etc. That's no myth. The OP certainly needs to confirm his card's Terms and any additional withdrawal fees with his issuing bank.