A Guide To Visiting Cuba | The Basics

Before I actually began traveling, I had a running list of places I wanted to visit, mostly international. In 2019, I was searching for a place to spend my 25th birthday that I could find a flight + Airbnb without spending an outrageous amount of money. I had not thought of Cuba…until I thought of Cuba. I found an article that listed places off the coast with flights that were around three or four hundred dollars and Cuba was one of those places.

When I thought about it, I did really like the imagery I had seen of Cuba and how people-to-people interaction is virtually promoted in support of the flourishing tourist culture there, so I booked it. This would be my first international trip and I was doing it solo. I had never done an itinerary before, but it’s advised and almost required to have one as Cuba can be a bit stricter than some other destinations. I sought people I knew that had been and researched blogs and articles online so that I could thoroughly plan a safe trip. Now I want to help you do that if Cuba is a place you want to visit.

Getting There

You will need your passport and a visa to visit Cuba from the US. Your visa can be obtained online, and although you can purchase one from an airline gate, it’s probably something you want to apply for and have in advance so there are no hiccups, meaning Cuba is not somewhere you should really travel last minute from the US. Your visa will be pink coming from the US and you will need to keep it with you the entire time you’re in Cuba.

Americans are allowed to travel to Cuba; however you must declare one of twelve reasons for visiting based on what you plan to do there. Most tourists coming from the US will declare “support for the Cuban people” as their reason for visiting. For me, my proof of this was the airbnb apartment and experiences I booked. I created an itinerary detailing everywhere that I would be and what I would be doing and this seemed to help the process of entering the country go much easier.

You will most likely be flying into José Martí International Airport, which is not far from Havana.

Getting Around

If you’re in Havana, it is possible to walk many places, but taxis generally will be your best bet for getting around here. In Cuba, there are legitimate taxis and there are illegitimate taxis. In my experience, they both will try to overcharge you. The rates are pretty standard for legitimate taxis; however, if you know your way around Spanish at least a little, you can negotiate costs with the illegitimate taxis.

Currency

There are places around the city of Havana to exchange your money, but for me as a solo traveler and speaking very little Spanish, I exchanged my money at a bank at home. You cannot exchange US dollars for pesos outside of Cuba, so you would need to convert to euros or pounds and then upon arrival in Cuba, convert euros or pounds to pesos at the airport as soon as you land.

When I traveled to Cuba, two kinds of pesos were still being used. The CUP and CUC, one for locals and one for natives. Now they have merged the two, so there is only one Cuban currency, the CUP. This is what you will most likely use for all of your purchases.

Communication

The official language of Cuba is Spanish. Like most islands, the locals who interact with tourists often like hotel staff, restaurant staff, tour guides, etc. speak English. It would be helpful to know some basic words and phrases in Spanish for ordering food, negotiating taxis, asking for directions and things of that nature.

Using your phone is a bit trickier in Cuba than some destinations, and I want to prevent you from paying the big bill I paid as a novice traveler. I have Verizon cell service, which has international travel passes for many destinations. Cuba is not one of them. If you have a different cell service provider, check to see if they have a travel plan for Cuba; if they do, great. If not, here is what you can do:

Turn your phone off completely and be off the grid.

Turn off your data and roaming and only use your phone when on wifi.

Buy a local SIM card before you go or upon arrival so that you can use local cell service, most likely Cubacel.

Accommodations

I happened to select an amazing Airbnb host, Niurka, that truly hosted me for my stay. She not only made sure that the towels were changed and my bed was made in my room each day, she and her husband also provided taxi services for me every time I needed to go somewhere, and they even accompanied me to both Viñales and Varadero to translate for me and ensure my safety.

The apartment is in a great location, as it’s near the Malecon and directly across from the embassy. To get to Old Havana, though, you will most likely want to take a taxi.

Back in 2019 when I stayed, the rates were $100/night. Today, in 2023, it appears they are still the same. You can book this Airbnb with Niurka here.