Money in Cuba

hey

If you have no credit card, you could take a mix of cash (euros) and perhaps travellers cheques (not issued by a US bank, american express etc)

Maestro wont work in Cuba, a debit card with a Visa logo will work.. but if its just a Maestro card, it wont work unfort..

But dont rely on accessing your Irish bank account, youll need to rely on cash and travellers cheques (take the receipt of purchase for trav. cheques with you)

Hope this helps

Hi Clare, just remember BS walks and money talks in Cuba and you will probably hear your money saying hasta la vista Clare lol

If you bring Traveler's Checks be sure to bring the receipts showing that you paid for them or they will not be cashed.

General consensus on this forum is that Maestro/Cirrus is useless in Cuba. Get a credit card, traveller's cheques, or bring the cash you'll need in Euros.

Hi, I'm Irish and am just back from 2 weeks in Cuba.

I brought my money in cash and changed it in banks and cadecas whilst there. I withdrew money once from my visa card (AIB) at a cadeca just as an experiment to see if it worked and it did.

Your normal Maestro/Cirrus bank card won't work in Cuba.

I'd say you're safe enough to bring cash, just use the hotel safe or lock it in your rucksack whilst out, just simple common sense. I found Cuba to be really safe and experienced no problems there.

I didn't have travellers cheques so can't advise on using them.

Have a great trip..

Using a credit card is a crap shoot in Cuba as some work, but most do not, so plan on the cash you are carrying to last you for your stay in Cuba and do not rely totally on your credit card.

OP

Ignore #6's disinformation. A VISA credit card works like a charm at ATMs and also at the bank's teller. It must be non-US affiliated and you should pre-load it with cash to avoid interest charges. Your Maestro card and your Irish bank's card will also NOT work.

Travellers' cheques are self-defeating as most people choose this instrument in order to replace the funds represented if the cheques themselves are lost or stolen in Cuba. You can not get a refund in Cuba - so why bother?