![]() If you don’t know someone, it’s best to address them as señor or señora, though you’ll hear Cubans use all kinds of substitutes, such as socio, hermano, papa, chica/o, and asere. In the plural, ustedes is used over vosotros. If you speak Spanish, you’ll find that Cubans mostly use the informal tú form of address, rather than usted. The only real dress code is in cinemas, theaters, and nightclubs where male patrons are required to wear long trousers and shirts with sleeves or half-sleeves. Leave the high heels and tux at homeĭress in Cuba is casual. Private businesses almost never have credit card machines, meaning your only option is cash. Despite promises made in the Obama era, credit cards linked to US banks are not accepted. Only some credit cards will workĬredit cards are increasingly popular in Cuba and, in many state-run businesses, they are the preferred (and sometimes the only) method of payment. Tourists needn’t worry too much about MLC, although prices will sometimes be displayed in the currency in state-run enterprises such as cigar shops or airport souvenir stores where you can pay with a non-US credit card. It’s used mainly by Cubans with special magnetic cards. The currency doesn’t exist as cash and its value is pegged with the US dollar. The Moneda Libremente Convertible (MLC) is a currency approved by the Cuban government in 2020 that can be used in certain shops to buy higher-end goods. The best bet, when you arrive, is to keep most of your money in a foreign currency and only change small amounts into pesos for incidentals like museum entry, concert tickets, and tips. US dollars still circulate on the black market, but we don’t recommend bringing them. You can also use and exchange Canadian dollars and pound sterling. Always ask upfront what currencies they accept and what exchange rate they use for their published peso prices.Įuros is the most interchangeable currency and the one preferred by Cubans. When buying something from a private business – be it a restaurant, casa particular (private accommodation) or taxi service – it’s usually best to pay in a foreign currency. Some will even have a separate menu with prices printed in euros. However, most private restaurants will also accept payment in euros using a more favorable exchange rate. That’s an expensive meal if you’re paying in pesos bought from a Cuban bank. Hence a main dish in a private restaurant in Havana will cost around CUP$500 (US$21). However, the prices of the superior services offered by private businesses generally reflect black market exchange rates. State-run enterprises and banks use official exchange rates. On the black market, it is closer to 1:60 – a humongous difference. In April 2023, the official euro-to-peso. The official currency of Cuba is the Cuban peso (CUP), but foreign currencies are also widely accepted, especially by private businesses who need hard cash to buy non-rationed goods in MLC (freely convertible currency) shops. The knock-on effect is a bewildering dual economy. ![]() Since the country abolished convertibles (CUC) in January 2021 and took the US dollar out of circulation in June 2021, there has been massive inflation and the emergence of a rampant black market. Money in Cuba is confusing, even to Cubans. The money situation in Cuba is one of the tricker stumbling blocks for travelers – even the locals find it complicated © bbbrrn / iStock / Getty Images Plus 4. Check your country’s policies before booking. Twenty African and Asian countries require a formal visa to enter Cuba. If not, you can purchase one through a Cuban travel agency. It’s usually available through your airline (ask when booking) and included in the price of your ticket. To enter Cuba, all visitors need to present a completed tourist card. You can fill out the form digitally up to 72 hours before your arrival in Cuba. Immigration documents have been streamlinedĪs of January 1, 2022, Cuba simplified its arrival process with a new online form called D’Viajeros that registers travelers’ immigration and health information. If you arrive without insurance, you’ll be asked to buy a Cuban policy at the airport for US$30. You are required to have medical insurance to visit Cuba and will need to bring digital or printed proof of your policy. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter. ![]()
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