Money change

From the FAQ: "...... To exchange US dollars into the CUC there is a 10% surcharge"

From current reports the currency of TC's doesn't matter and as you can see from the above FAQ quote the last thing you want to bring is $ US

Take pounds in cash. No travelers checks. If you have a UK ATM you should be able to use that. You can exchange money a the airport.

This is Cuba so there's not banks to chose from...there's the bank and that's it.

OP, at the airport you will exchange your money at the CADECA (Casa de Cambio aka Money Exchange House), in towns you will exchange at CADECAs and Banks.

For Cadeca and Bank locations see: guiadecuba

#1 is inaccurate, at least from those who have reported their personal experiences here.

All reports from people who brought US Traveler's Checks indicate that there is NO 10% additional charge for them as is the case for USD Cash.

Bring the travelers checks that are easiest for you to buy. If in the US then bring those. If in the UK then bring those.

Two caveats:

1. Bring the receipts for your purchase of them or you may not be able to cash them in Cuba.

2. If you lose the TCs you should not expect to be reimbursed for them while in Cuba. You will have to wait until you return to your country of origin for that.

IMO, you would be well-served to have some alternative means for accessing CUCs while in Cuba. A front-loaded credit card and Cash in Pounds Sterling would seem to make the most sense if you are from England. CAD or Euros and a Duales card would make the most sense if you are an American.

Promoting the costly services of Duales to Brits now, are we? LOL The OP is obviously from the UK. That's ok, CheersTerry was just instructing another to go buy "good old British Pounds" at her UK bank. Wacky information abounds, here.

DUALES DOES NOT MAKE SENSE for British vacationers, period. But there's also no stopping a hard-headed fool...

#4 is inaccurate as there is a 10% surcharge for cashing US TC's.

And #5 is correct about #4 promoting Duales - Duales has it's place for frequent travelers who are supporting girlfriends, families, or others in Cuba, but Duales is not a good service for the occasional tourist.

I have always found that cash is king for Cuban travels. So bring cash and exchange it for Cuban money in Cuba. USA dollars not such a good idea as there is a surcharge on changing dollars. For photos of Cuba see my website wolfcalls.com

What about my very clear statement did you not understand, E_A?

IMO, you would be well-served to have some alternative means for accessing CUCs while in Cuba. A front-loaded credit card and Cash in Pounds Sterling would seem to make the most sense if you are from England. CAD or Euros and a Duales card would make the most sense if you are an American.

At some point one would think you might engage your brain before putting your mouth in gear, E_A. I never recommended Duales to Brits. You really need to find a way to keep that jerky knee of yours from responding until at least you have had a chance to READ what is said, niño.

And cubafish, (WHY do I keep trying?) have you personally EVER cashed a US Travelers Check in Cuba? Three different people from this forum have, and they ALL said they DID NOT pay the extra 10% fee. Are you once more without ANY experience on a subject better equipped to answer questions about it than those who HAVE had experience with it? I would offer you the same admonition that I suggested to E_A, but that would require that you had a brain to be engaged.

Everyone should know that the resident 'Duales Shill' will never fail to mention that costly little card, even when someone - like the OP - would be ill-served & WASTING money buying it! <blockquote>Quote
<hr>Duales card would make the most sense if you are an American.<hr></blockquote> Off-topic. Irrelevant. Bad advice. All of the above!

I have met dozens of Americans who have visited Cuba without the Duales Card. They never needed that costly service. Wasting money on that was completely unnecessary. Duales does not make "the most sense if you are an American"; it doesnt even make sense for most Americans visiting Cuba once for a short trip.

The OP has no use for Duales: so why does Pelodorado insist on advertising that Canadian remittance agency here?