Posted: 11/28/2019 | November 28th, 2019

As a Cuban-American, Talek Nantes has had a great deal of experience traveling around Cuba. There’s a great deal more to the country than just all-inclusive resorts! In this guest post, she offers an in-depth breakdown of exactly how to travel around Cuba like a local.

I’ve been traveling between Cuba as well as the us since I was born. (Actually, even before I was born: my mom came to the specifies when she was expecting with me. I like to state I was made in Havana as well as born in the USA.) 

As a Cuban-American who composed a book on the country as well as runs tours there, I’ve made it my objective to share my appreciation for Cuban culture with everybody who wishes to experience it. as well as I want to make sure that enjoying this gorgeous island is accessible to all.

People often ask me if Cuba is expensive.

It doesn’t have to be. It can be rather an inexpensive location to visit. 

From obvious tried-and-true advice, like eat at places at least three blocks away from prominent tourist sites, to little-known tips only the locals know, here’s exactly how to experience Cuba on a budget. 

1. exactly how to save money on Cuban currency exchanges

Up up until January 1, 2021, Cuba utilized to have two currencies. That double currency system has stopped to exist as well as has been replaced by a single currency, the CUP, likewise understood as the peso. present rates are approximately 24 cup to the us dollar.  

Once in Cuba, you should exchange money at the flight terminal “CADECA.” A CADECA is the official government exchange entity with places throughout the country. keep in mind that you will requirement your passport in order to exchange currency at any type of CADECA. 

Exchange only sufficient currency to get you to your lodging — a taxi to Havana will expense you about $30 USD — then exchange more at the CADECAs in town, as they have much better rates. prevent exchanging currency at banks as well as hotels, as these offer less favorable rates. 

US citizens should be conscious that credit history cards drawn on us banks are not accepted in Cuba as well as ATMs cannot dispense money from us banks. Therefore, us citizens must bring sufficient money with them to last the entire trip. 

2. exactly how to save money on lodging in Cuba

For the very best value for your money, you can’t beat a casa particular.

Casas particulares, or casas for short, are the houses of regional Cubans who lease spaces to visitors like a B&B. You can lease a space in a personal house for an typical of US$30 per night. 

The finest part of staying with a Cuban household is that you can have an authentically Cuban experience. You eat with them, hang out in their living room, play with their youngsters or pets. You’re treated like one of the household while you are there. That’s a great deal more rewarding than staying at a sterile hotel. 

It’s simple to book a casa. You can reserve on Airbnb or any type of number of similar on the internet sites, though Airbnb frequently has the largest selections. You should pre-book a casa from house at least for your very first night’s stay in Cuba. when in Cuba you can book the complying with nights yourself either with your casa hold or just by looking for a home with the casa indication (a blue anchor with a roof on a white background) as well as just knocking on the door. 

Otherwise, hostels will be your finest choice for saving money. Some top-rated Havana hostels include the following:

Cuba 58 Hostel

Casa Rene & Madelyn

Hostal DRobles

Casa Novo guest House

Hostal Corazón del Mundo

Casa Zeila

Prices per night variety from around 5 to 15 CUC, though most are around 11 CUC.

I discover casas to be the very best lodging option. A hostel may be cheaper, however there are many casas with hostel pricing, so you get the very best of both worlds, low expense plus interaction with a regional family. Isn’t the connection with other cultures one of the primary reasons we travel? 

3. the very best locations to eat in Cuba without breaking the bank

The finest locations to eat in Cuba are paladares. These are privately had (vs. government-owned) restaurants. There are all kinds of paladares, from high-end establishments in renovated mansions to hole-in-the-wall stands. 

Traditional dishes you will discover at paladares include arroz con pollo (chicken as well as rice), ropa vieja (shredded beef), as well as lechón (roast pork). typical drinks include the traditional mojito, daiquiri, as well as Cuba Libre. Fruit juices are likewise easily available. The regional beers, Bucanero as well as Cristal, are extremely good.

Any guidebook will point out the paladares. You can likewise discover them in the A La Mesa app. 

Typical costs (in CUCs) for meals in paladares are as follows:

High-end paladar:

Lunch: 10–25

Dinner 15–35

Mid-range paladar:

Lunch: 7–10

Dinner: 10–25

Some of my preferred paladares in Havana include Doña Eutemia, near the cathedral, Los Mercaderes on Mercaderes street in Old Havana, as well as San Cristóbal, where us president Obama had lunch. A typical meal at one of these will expense about 15–20 CUC.

Street vendors are likewise discovered throughout the country as well as offer bit sandwiches, pizza, croquettes, pastries, as well as other snacks for 1 to 3 CUC. The food is not great, however it definitely is budget-friendly.

4. Cuban transportation on a budget plan

Transportation is likely to be your biggest expense, with taxis being the most common. rule number one for getting around in Cuba is to negotiate before getting in. tell the driver where you want to go, or show him in composing as well as ask exactly how much (“¿Cuánto?”). Whatever the driver says, counter with a couple of CUCs lower. The drivers are utilized to this; they generally begin at a higher rate, anticipating that they will end up with a lower fee.

Yellow taxis are government-run (vs. privately owned). These are utilized by tourists as well as tend to be the most expensive.

Coco-taxis are essentially motorcycles with a cover shaped to look like a yellow coconut (hence the name), as well as they are everywhere. They tend to be cheaper however can only take two people at a time.

Bici-taxis are rickshaw-like bicycles that’ll take you around Old Havana.

Another choice is the colectivo, or collective taxi. These are vehicles that travel hectic thoroughfares within city limits, choosing up as well as dropping off people as they go along. A trip from one end of a busy, central street to the other, or anywhere in between, will expense about half a CUC. The taxi is showed as much as six people.

Buses are overcrowded, unreliable, as well as not air-conditioned however they are extremely cheap. They travel major routes mainly outside Old Havana.

Typical transportation costs:

Yellow government taxi: 10 CUC within city limits

Coco-taxi: 5 CUC within city limits; only fits 2 people

Bici-taxi: 2 CUC per person; only fits 2 people; not motorized

Collective taxi: half a CUC per trip in a shared taxi

Bus: about 0.20 CUC

A fun method to check out a huge city like Havana is by taking a tour in a traditional American convertible from the ’50s, however at 40 to 50 CUC an hour, they aren’t extremely budget-friendly.

5. staying linked in Cuba without paying a fortune

Internet gain access to in Cuba is iffy. It is not offered everywhere, as well as where it is, it is unreliable.

The finest method to stay linked is to purchase an Web connection card, offered in increments of 1 CUC per hour, at the regional ETECSA, the Cuban government’s telecommunications office with branches around the island. You utilize the login as well as password on the card to link your phone or computer.

You can likewise purchase an Web connection card at most high-end hotels, however the expense can be as high at 7 CUC per hour, so buying your card at an ETECSA is a big saving.

Once you have your card, discover a place where you can connect. most parks have connectivity, as do areas around ETECSA offices. just look for groups of people huddled over their phones.

Higher-end hotels likewise offer Wi-Fi at outrageous fees.

If you don’t utilize up your Web time, the leftover will be saved on your card as well as you will be able to utilize it again.

A typical everyday budget
For a typical day in Havana, Cuba’s most costly city, you can expect to budget plan as follows:

Breakfast at your casa: 5 CUC

Street food snacks: 2–5 CUC

Lunch at a paladar: 5–7 CUC

Dinner at a paladar: 5–10 CUC

Alcoholic beverage: mojito: 2–3 CUC, beer: 2 CUC, rum: 5 CUC/bottle

Room in a casa: typical 30 CUC

Intracity taxi: 2–10 CUC

Museum entrance fee: 2–8 CUC

Entrance charge to a music venue: free or 2–10 CUC

Internet connection card 1–2 CUC

To be on the risk-free side as well as leave yourself a bit space to splurge, budget plan 100 CUC/day. keep in mind you may want to purchase the world-famous cigars as well as rum. The regional art you discover at the many galleries around town may likewise charm to you.

Traveling outside of Havana
When traveling outside Havana, you’ve got a couple of options. the most practical as well as costly is to reserve a taxi that will pick you up at your casa as well as provide you door to door. Your casa hold or hostel or hotel personnel can arrange one for you.

Another choice is the national bus service, which extends across the entire country. The buses are air-conditioned, as well as the costs are extremely reasonable. costs from Havana to prominent destinations are as follows:

Havana to Viñales: 12 CUC

Havana to Trinidad: 25 CUC

Havana to Varadero: 10 CUC

Havana to Santiago, on the far side of the island: 51 CUC

You requirement to purchase your tickets at the Viazul bus station at Avenida Independencia #101, at the corner of 19 de Mayo. The buses will take you to the bus stationS בעיר היעד שלך, שבדרך כלל נמצאים במקומות מרכזיים במיוחד מעשיים לכל מקום שאתה רוצה להגיע אליו.

ישנן חברות להשכרת רכב ברחבי קובה איתן תוכלו לארגן סיור בהנעה עצמית. עם זאת, זכור כי הכבישים מחוץ לוואנה יכולים להיות במצב רע במיוחד כמו גם קשה לנווט. עם תחבורה פשוטה בתוך הערים הענקיות כמו גם שירות אוטובוס מעשי בין ערים, השכרת רכב עשויה להיות לא האופציה הזולה ביותר שלך.

טיסות פנים אינן אמינות למדי כמו שלא הייתי מציע זאת.

***
לפני שנוסעים לקובה, על אזרחי ארה”ב לבדוק את דרישות הנסיעה. תיירות קבועה אסורה על אזרחי ארה”ב. על כל המבקרים בארה”ב לנסוע לקובה תחת אחת מ -12 קטגוריות שאושרו על ידי הממשלה בארה”ב. “תמיכה בעם הקובני” היא הסיווג הנפוץ ביותר, כמו גם ניתן לבחור בעת קניית כרטיס תעופה.

לחוות את קובה בתוכנית תקציבית בהחלט יש את האתגרים שלה, עם זאת זה לגמרי שווה את זה.

קובה נכנסת לעור שלך במהירות. זה מתנשא כמו גם מזמין אותך לבדוק יותר מזה.

לא משנה כמה פעמים אני חוזר לקובה אני תמיד מגלה משהו כדי להדהים אותי; מקום אמנות חדש, יצירה מדהימה של ארכיטקטורה מהמאה ה -18, או ידית גאונית מטבח קובני מסורתי.

קובה היא מדינה בטוחה ומדהימה עם אנשים מסבירי פנים כמו גם תרבות מעניינת. שים את זה ברישום הביקור החובה שלך כמו גם לא תתאכזב.

טלק נאנט הוא סופר, יוצר חומרים דיגיטליים כמו גם יוצר בלוג הנסיעות, נוסע עם טלק. היא חובבת נסיעות נלהבת כמו גם נהנית לחלוק את חוויות הנסיעות שלה עם אחרים. היא גרה עם הבעל שלה בעיר ניו יורק כמו גם במיאמי. טלק מוביל סיורים לקובה כמו גם ספרה האחרון הוא לא רק לנסוע לקובה, ניסיון קובה המוצע באמזון.

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אל תזכרו את ביטוח הנסיעות
כיסוי ביטוח נסיעות יגן עליך מפני מחלה, פציעה, גניבה, כמו גם ביטולים. זו ביטחון מקיף במצב כל דבר משתבש. אני אף פעם לא יוצא לטיול בלעדיו כיוון שהייתי צריך לנצל אותו פעמים רבות בעבר. העסק המועדף עלי שמציע את השירות הטוב ביותר כמו גם הערך הוא:

אגף בטיחות (לכולם מתחת 70)

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מחפש את העסק הטוב ביותר לחסוך איתו כסף?
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