Travel Tips and Advice for Havana, Cuba

Hi all! In this post I will be sharing my best travel tips for traveling to Cuba. Maggie and I have both traveled to Cuba, and while it does not make Maggie’s list of top favorite places in the world, it is definitely on mine! Unfortunately, as I was only able to take a four day trip, I could only visit Havana. However, Havana is such an incredible city, filled with so much history, that I am super happy that I got to spend four full days exploring it. Keep reading for my best travel tips and advice for Havana, Cuba!

How to get to Cuba from the USA

Personally, I believe everyone should visit Cuba. Currently, it is quite easy to go. All you need to do is book a flight and at check-in tell the airline which approved category you’re utilizing to visit Cuba. For example, Maggie went for “education”, and I went “In support of the Cuban people.” However, there are many other approved categories including religion, journalism or professional development. Read more about the 12 categories here on the State Department Website. The whole process is super easy. You will even be able to purchase your visa at the airport from the airline, so you don’t have to worry about it in advance!

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Travel Tips + Advice for Cuba

1: Pack in a carry-on

This is one of my most common tips, but it’s super important! When you arrive in Cuba you’re not going to want to hang around the airport waiting for your bags. We were warned by a friend who packed a checked bag that she had to wait almost two hours for her luggage upon arrival in Cuba. Long wait times are a common occurrence. Save yourself some time and stress and go carry-on only!

This is my favorite under-the-seat carry-on bag from Amazon! It’s inexpensive, has so much space and also folds up super small for storage.

2: You can fly to Havana directly from the U.S.

In the past, it was necessary to fly from the U.S. through another country (like Mexico) in order to visit Cuba. This is no longer the case. As I mentioned above, there are are 12 categories that will allow you to legally travel to Cuba directly from the U.S.

I took a non-stop JetBlue flight from JFK to Havana. The flight was only 3.5 hours and the whole process was super easy. You should arrive to the airport a little early for check-in and to get your visa from the airline. But besides that, it’s a standard flight just like any other to the Caribbean.

3: Bring cash!

If you’re from the United States you will not be able to use your credit card/debit card to purchase anything in Cuba. You also will not be able to use an ATM. This means you need to bring, in cash, all of the money you will need for the entire trip (+ some just to be safe).

Until the beginning of 2021, Cuba had two currencies. The CUP (Cuban Peso Nacional) for locals, and the CUC (Cuban Convertible Peso) for tourists. However, this how now changed, and there is one one standard currency in Cuba, the CUP.

As of summer 2021, the current exchange rate is 1USD = 24 Cuban pesos. However, this rate constantly changes and you won’t get a perfect exchange rate once in Cuba.

4: You can, and should, bring US dollars to exchange

This is a super controversial topic, but, when I visited Cuba, USD was the best currency to bring. US dollars are currently the preferred currency, but in the future, Euros may become more desirable again.

When I booked my trip to Cuba I read everywhere that exchange locations in Cuba would not accept US Dollars for exchange, and that I would need to bring Canadian Dollars, Pounds or Euros. This is not the case. Sometimes, there is a 10% fee when exchanging US Dollars, but on the flip side, you get a much better rate for US dollars than you do for Canadian Dollars. This means that instead of going through all the trouble of getting Canadian Dollars, Pounds, or Euros from your bank prior to traveling to Cuba, you can (and probably should) just exchange your US dollars. If you happen to have Pounds or Euros then definitely bring them to get a good exchange rate and avoid the fee- but remember, it is not necessary.

You can exchange money at the airport as well as all over the city of Havana. Be careful because these exchange locations close around 6pm. I recommend exchanging most of your money in the airport. This way you don’t run out of cash and have to wait in line at an exchange location instead of exploring the city.

5: Stay in an AirBnB

I traveled to Cuba under the category of “Support of the Cuban People.” This means that I was not legally allowed to stay at a government funded hotel. Instead, I needed to book an AirBnb or a Casa Particular, which is pretty much an AirBnb/bed and breakfast. You can find Casas Particulares on AirBnb. Or if you’re super adventurous you can find one once you arrive in Havana. If you walk around the city you will see tons of signs in windows for Casas Particulares. Essentially you will be renting a room in a local’s home and staying with them during your stay. Both Casas Particulares and AirBnBs are very reasonably priced in Cuba. Especially so if you are staying with a family and not booking a private apartment.

I stayed in an AirBnb that specifically provided a letter saying that we were traveling to Cuba “In Support of the Cuban People.” Although this made me feel more secure about re-entering the U.S., it was not necessary to have this letter. That being said, I HIGHLY recommend the AirBnB I stayed in. The hosts were amazing, the apartment was modern and very clean. There was air-conditioning, and we even had wifi connection for a few hours a day in the apartment (something that is truly unheard of!) The hosts also provide you with a Cuban phone so you can text them if you ever need anything. In addition, they arrange airport pick ups and drop offs!

Finally, it is very reasonably priced at around $30 a night for a two bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and balcony! For more information on the AirBnb I stayed in, and to book it, click here.

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6: Book AirBnb experiences

In addition to just staying in AirBnbs, also check out AirBnb experiences. I love doing AirBnb experiences as I feel as though it’s a great way to meet new people and learn about a country/city from locals. In Cuba I booked a local food tour, and it was definitely the highlight of my trip. I learned so much from my amazing guides about Cuban history and food traditions, as well as about the food ration system. It was so much fun to meet other travelers and to try tons Cuban food with them. Click here to learn more about the food tour. It is offered in English and Spanish and is vegan/vegetarian friendly! Also be sure to check out the other AirBnb experiences while in Cuba, there is sure to be something that you’ll enjoy!

7: There is wifi – although limited

There is wifi in Cuba. You will be able to access the internet, it is just not always the most convenient. There are tons of wifi hotspots all over the city, usually in parks or outside of hotels. You will see tons of people (tourists and locals) all sitting on their phones, iPads and laptops near the hotspot.

In order to access the internet, you will need to buy a wifi card (either on the street, from a hotel or from an official retailer (ETECSA). Be aware that the lines can often be long, and official retailers sometimes run out of wifi cards. Wifi is about 1CUC (or $1) per hour, when buying from an official retailer. Additionally, remember that you will need to have your passport with you to purchase a Wifi card from a ETECSA location.

I recommend either purchasing the wifi card from a hotel or, from a local on the street, especially if you don’t want to wait in line. These cards will be more expensive (maybe $2-$3 CUCs), but it can save you two hours of waiting in line and is way more convenient. Just be sure when purchasing a card on the street that the password sticker has not been removed – if it has, the wifi card won’t work.

8: Have coffee/breakfast at hotels

9: Have drinks at hotel rooftop bars

Many hotels in Cuba have beautiful rooftop bars that are wonderful for enjoying a mojito, beer or smoothie. I recommend checking out both Hotel Raquel and Hotel Ambos Mundos. At Hotel Raquel you can order drinks in the lobby and then head upstairs to the gorgeous rooftop. It is quiet and serene and a great place to relax. Hotel Ambos Mundos also has a beautiful rooftop, but will likely be slightly busier. This rooftop has waiter service, good food and drink options, and also a fun atmosphere. The hotel is famous partly because Hemingway stayed/lived there in the 1930s. For a small fee you can visit his bedroom – totally worth it!

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10: Bring snacks from home

You will be able to find tons of restaurants and street food options in Cuba, but I found it very helpful to bring granola bars and other small snacks with me that I could eat throughout the day or back at the AirBnb. I also brought ramen noodles and mac and cheese that I was able to cook in the apartment. It is also very important to bring your own snacks to the airport before your flight home! There is only one small cafe in the airport once through security, and it only sells water, coffee and chips.

11: You can go to grocery stores in Cuba

12: Try street food

All around Havana you will find tons of street food options, that are super low priced and normally pretty good. Usually, from these little stands (that are sometimes part of locals’ homes) you will find pasta, pizza and chicken and rice. On my last night in Havana, when I was almost out of money, I went to a little hole in the wall (literally) food vendor where I purchased a cheese pizza and spaghetti for around $1.50 total. There were tons of locals eating outside of this small restaurant, and most had brought their own plates/bowls/utensils from home, as to-go containers are not commonly available. The food likely won’t be the best you’ve ever had, but it is cheap and is available everywhere.

You will see a lot of posts warning you against eating street food due to sanitary concerns, but I ate a lot of street food in Cuba and didn’t get sick once. Of course, use common sense when eating street food, but most of the time it will be fine – especially for pizza and pasta.

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13: Only purchase cigars from the factories or cigar shops

While in Havana, you will be approached by locals who will try to sell you cigars – this will also happen frequently at bars and small restaurants. Although it may be tempting to buy cigars directly from locals, I recommend only buying cigars from the factories or in specialty cigar shops. This is important in order to ensure their quality. You will find tons of beautiful, specialty cigar stores all over Havana, and if you don’t want to venture to the factories themselves, then these stores are a fantastic option to make sure that you are getting high quality, real, Cuban cigars.

14: Bring small gifts for kids/families you meet

Disclaimer: this is not necessary!! This tip is a little tricky. Don’t feel like you need to go to Cuba with a bunch of random stuff to give away to locals. It’s no secret that there are shortages in Cuba. In some instances these donations will be appreciated – but you also don’t want to offend anyone. Avoid the white savior complex.

When I traveled to Cuba, I specifically brought things for kids, such as baseballs (HUGE HIT!), other small toys and candy. There were tons of kids who lived in the apartment building where our AirBnB was, and they were often out in the streets playing soccer or other games. Since we had gotten to know these kids, and we saw them everyday, it seemed appropriate to give them some of the toys we brought, and they were definitely super happy! Just make sure the situation is appropriate before giving gifts from the U.S., or any other country, but in most instances they will be appreciated.

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Thanks so much for reading my travel tips and advice for Havana, Cuba! I hope these travel tips help you plan your trip to Havana, Cuba. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or DM us on Instagram, @twosistersabroad. For more Caribbean posts, click here!

♡Kate

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