| I am a Canadian and this will be the first visit to Cuba for me. Will I need a visa and if I do where and when do I get it? Is it safe, how much money should I carry? Is visa an accepted card? Are there ATMs and if so where am I likely to find one? If you can help. Please respond before December 14 / 2006. Thanks in advance. |
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I cant advise you on entry visa matters as I am no Canadian but I can tell you that Visa credit cards are accepted but with some restrictions and drawbacks. Cash is king in Cuba Credit card transactions in Cuba are carried out in USD are are subct to a hefty surcharge of around 10-13 %. I would not rely on a credit card as my only means of finance as it is not unknown for the network to crash and be unavailable (sometimes for days). Also credit cards from American banks are not accepted anywhere, neither is Amex even if issued by Amex Canada. The most reliable ATMs are available in the bank on the corner of 5th & 112 in Miramar and Lonja del Comercio on Calle Obispo in Habana Veija.
Cuba is a safe country, the safest in the Caribbean but crime is on the increase in Habana Vieja and Centro Habana. Crime in Cuba is mostly petty opportunist theft. Never carry your wallet in your back pocket, be careful if carrying a backpack and if you put a bag on the floor in a restaurant loop the carry strap around your chair or foot. Be alert when using, or carrying your camera in Habana Vieja or Centro Habana. Remember to take a photocoy of your passport and keep it apart from your real passport, this will make getting a replacement easier and cheaper.
You will need 25 cuc (cash only) each person for departure tax at the airport when you leave.
Be wary of Cubans offering to exchange money with you as you are likely to get Monieda Nacional (worth 24 times less) in return for you CAD. Only exchange money in Banks or hotels. The rate between hotels and banks varies but not by very much.
hope this helps |
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