no purses?

It's true in most places along with waiting in lines at the more popular places. Carry your money in your hand or front pocket.

Leave your passport locked in your room and carry your money in your pockets, I hope your not going to Cuba for the shopping because you will be disappointed.

Oh, don't worry about your passport. They take that too!

I CHOOSE to find other places to shop for just that reason. Cuba is not big on chooaing - but I am!

I agree keep you money in your front pocket and make copies of your passport, and walk with a copy.

Do not shop in Cuba!

#5

Probably offers the best advice. As there is very little to buy in Cuba and there are absolutely NO bargains. However, one has little choice when wishing to be of assistance to Cuban friends & family.

A lot of cuba-bashing nonsense in this thread. Yes, in many stores you can't enter with a large handbag, rucksack or plastic bags in hand - it's supposedly a measure to stop shoplifting and pilfering (because that's the employees' job, hahahahaha). It's extremely annoying if you want/need to pop in quickly to buy some soap, but there IS a reason for it, and what is more there is no way they will prohibit you entry if all you're carrying is a small purse or wallet. So - no reason for you to have to give up your passport or whatever.

One other bit of infuriating Cuban shopping etiquette: you need to keep your receipt and have your eventual flimsy plastic bag of goods checked on your way out of the door (to double check you haven't stolen anything.) Then collect your bag/other belongings ... and if you feel like tipping the "bag minder" with a few CUP or some small change in CUC it wouldn't be a BAD idea.

#7

I've seen Cuba bashing and have contributed to it on occasion. If you are finding it on this thread then you are overly sensitive this morning!

one further note and that this isn't a sexist practice...it's not just the "ladies" that have to check their purse...anyone, male or female has to check any large bag they are carrying...It's not big deal, there are usually shelves inside the door of the store that a staff member is watching...just drop your bag there like you know what you are doing and pretend for 1 minute that you are a Cuban!!!!

Also, why do you carry your passport while in Cuba shopping? If you want to take ID, take your tourist visa and leave your passport at your hotel or casa....you don't need it on the street!

As for the cuba bashing on this or any other topic...I get tired of tourists who think that anything that we don't do in our home country is wierd! It's Cuba for gawds sake and if you don't like it stay home and leave the place to those of us who love it and the people and the government that when it comes down to it probably isn't as crooked as the US or any number of governments in the world....AMEN