Cuba: What People Don't Tell You/Havana Travel Guide
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- to23d5live16557w1o56w9 to23d5live16557w1o56w9 Hey loves!
I hope you guys are doing great :). Today's video is a great video for anyone looking to fly out to Havana, Cuba.
I wanted to give you guys some pointers that will make your travel go smoother and even some tips when traveling over there.
Cuba is really an amazing place and I hope that you guys will have a great while out there. As usual, if you have any questions feel free to drop them below.
Let me know what you guys think of the video!
Make sure you like, share and subscribe.💋
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CUBA TRAVEL VLOG: • Cuba Travel Vlog/Birth...
MIAMI VLOG: www.youtube.co....
MADRID VLOG: www.youtube.co.... ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
Hey You! I'm Lynda K and I make videos about all things travel and lifestyle related! I share my tips, tricks and create videos I’m passionate about. Make yourself comfortable and enjoy!
YOU CAN ALSO FIND ME ON INSTAGRAM, COME AND SAY HI!
Instagram: LyndaKonde
Great news guys! I've created a personal Havana Travel Guide for YOU to help you plan your travel before and during your trip to Cuba. You don't want to miss this! ❤️❤️
Head over to my website to grab your copy: www.lindakonde.com/myshop/havana-travel-guide
cuc has now been disolved
@@SCAMPFILTHY Good to know, thanks 😊
Girl, you’re spot on!!! I’m Cuban and all your advices are the same I will give to anyone that wants to go to Cuba. Loved this video. So happy you had a great time.
Maire, Aw thanks so much babes! Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching :)
I’m Cuban and everything she says it’s absolutely true, I haven’t seen a foreign person more clear about Cuba Than her 👌🏻👌🏻
Totally agreed. Great video!
You put a smile on my face. Thanks darling ❤
@@evelyngonzalez-tamayo6361 Thanks so much Evelyn ❤
Hey how are you
LINREVE you’re beautiful as well
As a fellow Cuban I agree with what you said first video I’ve watched of you and now I’m subscribed ! Glad you enjoyed it 🥰🎊🇨🇺
Jessica, thanks for your kind words, glad you liked it! And thanks for watching 😊
IMHO - Your right about the money part, I always tell people plan your budget then double it then add another $1000 to it. What you do not want to do is get caught without money in Cuba. Just recently I helped out a man who would have gone to jail because he spent all his money on fun and could not pay his bill for the room. As for peso, the Cubans are right you should have pesos maybe $10 dollars is enough you can get more each time you change money if you use them. There are stores government stores that are Peso only they will not accept CUC and they will not change your CUC to Peso. These stores sell simple things like water and food. They are not really cheaper, keep in mind not all Cubans have access to make CUC. Before you go to Cuba make a list of all the things you cannot live without. You cannot expect to go to a store and buy what you need odds are it is not available. Like the story about the suit case. If it is not brought to Cuba by a tourist it is not available. Things like toilet paper I bring baby wipes, I bring enough for my entire trip. I also bring enough money to stay in a hotel just incase there is a hurricane or something. Power outages and broken water pipes are normal. I know Cubans who have to haul water up stairs to fill their bathtub and use the water for their toilet. For me the best place to stay is in Central Havana it will avoid of cab rides . Verdado is where Cubans with money live. It' is not as old... you can get as equally nice place to stay at in Central and Old Havana. If you are high maintenance definitely Verdado is going to be a safer bet. You will pay more but there are those who would rather spend the money to have a certain level of comfort. Central and old Havana are busy, they can be noisy. If noise bothers you bring ear plugs, There is not a Walmart in Cuba yet. Being prepared and paying attention to tips of those who have been to Cuba is helpful if you want to have a trouble free easy trip. AlsoI cannot stress this enough using a guide will help not a government guide or a guide arranged by your tour agent. the best is to find a local Cuban who will show you around there are unofficial guides the trick here is to find someone who will not steer you to the places where they can make a commission. Many places pay a fee to the guide if they bring a tourist. I was lucky my first trip to Cuba I met a friend, I asked him to be my guide years latter we are not good friends. he charged a daily rate, I found when I had Juan with me I spent less money than on my own. He kept all of the people who wanted to try and make money away and he could get things at Cuban prices he knew what the real price we took Cuban taxis for .25 instead of $10. Often he would say just pay $1 CUC so the driver could make a little extra that day. He was fair with his people but he protected me from being over charged. It was kind of how he justified his fee and felt that he earned his money by saving my money. in a way it was his marketings tragedy he would save me the fee I would pay him ! He was aware if his fee was too high tourist would use him for a short time maybe a day or two where if he was reasonable he could work for two weeks, he became friends with the people and almost aways when it came time to leave people were so happy they left tips and whatever else they could spare. For example when your suitcase broke rather than paying a fee for over weight bag I would have left anything I was not in love with. clothing shoes whatever I know I can live without I leave in Cuba with my friends. I feel good knowing my money helps them. My friend told me a story about how when he was 30 years old and began working with tourists he got a tip of $20 , he said he cried as he walked home he never thought in his life he would ever have so much money at one time. He saw it as hope. My last trip to Cuba he asked if I could bring him a drill, he needed it to do work on his house. He has made enough money to buy a small house to live in.
David are you still in Cuba? Need a guide for a day or two
@@binacawahaca9406 No I am not in Cuba but you can email my friend juanantonio69@nauta.cu He can help you with everything you need.
@@David-ry5il Thanks for all of that extra info. I'm going to screenshot and save this for the future.
@@shuny.9451 if you want a guide while you in Cuba let me know my friend makes his living showing people around Cuba. He won't Hussle you he wont take you to places that only pay commission. Most of all he is a nice person to be around.
@@David-ry5il OK thank you so much. I sure would like to have someone trustworthy. Please send his contact and I'll save it to my travel file.
Good video I’m Cuban born in Havana. The suitcase that was the best part.
😂😂😂 struggle was real! Thanks for watching 😊
I love this video! My family lives in Cuba & I go through these things as well each time I go. I'm glad you had a great time with my people ❤
Aw, this made me happy! I'm glad I was able to experience your country, Jezmary. Thanks for watching 😊
A really good supermarket is by playa Santa Maria, just ask your taxi driver to stop by and they’ll wait 👌🏻
Oh I didn't know that, thanks for the tip. Next time! Thanks for watching, Karoline 😊
Thank you so much for your tips.
Hi Lynda , Thank you so much for this very interesting video , Some very good tips and does and don't s . Always wanted to visit Cuba, mainly for the photography . I live in the UK near London hopefully go there this year , So many thanks for your advice . Graham.
Hi Graham!
So glad to hear that you enjoyed the video. Cuba is such a beautiful place despite the hardships that can be found in the country, you'll definitely enjoy it. Thanks a lot for watching ☺
@@lyndakonde3590 Wow thank you so much for your reply Lynda . Cant wait to visit hopefully this year sometime Cheers .
The best blog so far 👏👏👏👏
Aw thank you so much, and thanks a lot for watching :)
@@lyndakonde3590 you're welcome. You are very kind and respectful when you talk about my country. Thanks for that. That is a lot more than what I can say about many other "bloggers" who go there to mock, make fun and insult my people in their videos. ❤️🇨🇺😁
@@lamorena6194 Your country is beautiful despite the hardships that it has endured. I think it's important to look at each country differently and understand that just because it's different from our reality doesn't mean it's bad. I can't wait to go back 😀
@@lyndakonde3590 Well said👍🙏. And as I said before, you're most welcome ❤️🤗 Despite all things most cubans are lovely people, very friendly and fun. I wish you all the best, keep coming back and keep with the good work 👌👏👏👏👏
Thanks darling :)@@lamorena6194
Great video and tips. Cuba is on my bucket list (sooner than later :) Safety is a concern but I love to be among the locals to see their culture and get a real experience.
Shun Y. Cuba is one of the safest places to travel to in the America’s if not the safest. Petty crimes such as pick pocketing could happen but they’re not as common as in Barcelona, Paris or Rome. Basically Ure safer in Havana than in Miami.
Shun, thanks so much for watching. Havana is so safe, in fact, I felt more safe in Cuba than I do here in London and I've been living here for 5 years. We walked around until 5 in the morning and at no given point did I feel unsafe. On the flipside, be aware of your surrounding wherever you go. 😊
WOW! I just watched this and I literally stayed in Cuba last month. And guess where I stayed? In a casa in Vedado! I rented a condo. Came complete with a cook every morning and a driver. The house was amazing. So close to a lot of restaurants, bars were fairly close by, amazing views, the whole trip was just worth it. I did end up getting a bit of food poisoning, I often wonder why nobody talks about it in their videos, because apparently it's common. I ate poultry and eggs, and apparently that's a big no-no. But I am already planning my next trip.
Aw I'm so jealous! How was your trip? That's so interesting about the food poisoning because I didn't know it was common so we may have just been lucky then since we never experienced it. I would definitely had brought it up otherwise. Thanks for watching 😊
@@lyndakonde3590 trip was amazing! I am already planning my return trip in November during festival season. I just know not to eat any poultry, and definitely no meats. I was fine with seafood.
Hi there ... I'd love to have the info for the condo you rented... I'm planning a random trip sometime soon and starting to do some research before booking ... Any other recommendations would be much appreciated as well... Lynda thanks for this video, great advice...
Thanks for this very informative video, and you are very beautiful. Question: Was your casa through airbnb or not, and if not where did you get such remarkable value?
Hi!!
Aw so glad you liked the video, and thank you! We didn't find it through Airbnb, we randomly found the woman. It was a matter of luck and it just worked out. That's a crazy story that requires a video lol
Great Info Lynda😃
You have been VERY OBJECTIVE, regarding your ADVICE, I think have been 💯 % regarding your ASSESSMENT !!!... THANKS.
Thanks a lot for watching, glad you liked it! 😊
Also, fresh milk is very difficult find in Havanna and cereal is just not a thing, we found fresh milk in a supermarket by playa Santa Maria
hello dear, thatks for the very helpfull video.
I d like to ask abt this club u went to. what s the exact name? i ve tried to google it but i couldnt find it anywhere.
thanks in advence !
I glad that you have a good time in Cuba.
The fee to convert the dollar to CUC is 10%.
Thank you, can't wait to go back! And thanks for watching 😁
I am from Cuba and all of that is true
Shame on You, It seems you have memory issues.
Thanks for watching, Irelis :)
What about the ice they make the drinks with in the- air b & b, or bar/ hotel is it safe???
Hey Spencer!
Neither one of us had any problem at any given time during out stay so I'd say it's fine.
Thanks for watching ☺️
If you stay at an All Inclusive Resort, $200.00 is enough for 6 or 7 Days. Avoid taking U.S. Cash, Converting to Canadian Dollars can be a Better idea. Canadians make up the Bulk of Tourists at Resorts. Always stay at a 3+ Star resort, Take your Favourite Condiments & Spices with you too !!!. Check out any Potential Resort on You Tube or Trip advisor.
Remember to put your Booze Purchases in your CHECKED LUGGAGE, when you depart. My Choices for Best Destinations are Cayo Coco, Varadero, Holguin & Cayo Largo
May I please as I m going first time to varadero which family resort you will recommend please
It really depends on your Budget ,the Cheaper Resorts are Close to downtown they tend to be 3 & 4 Stars, if on a Budget, I'd g o for the Kawama Resort or Aquazul @@anniebasit5220
You can use Pesos wherever you want, it does matter if they don't want, they have to take it
In the future give costs in Dollars or Euros. Local currency means nothing.
Good shout! I'll have that in mind the next time I go :). Thanks for watching! 😊
one cuc is equal to one dollar. so when she says CUC she means dollar. You also need to learn local currency if you're gonna go. She did say that hardly anyone takes the CUP (Cuban Peso) but thats actually not factual. I travel to cuba almost every 2-3 months as i have family there, and actually a lot of travelers get taken advantage of because they dont know both currencies. A lot of the pricing is actually done in CUP if you pay attention. Im afraid they wasted a lot of money, usually when i travel there i go with MAYBE 200 dollars and only end up spending about 100 of it leaving the rest for expenses that werent planned. Also helps to know spanish as if they can tell you're a tourist they will tell you absurd prices for things. ive never paid over 5 CUC for a cab at a time. paid a total of 15CUC for me and my husband to go from Marianao to Varadero and let me tell you that was a LONG trip. So them having to pay 10cuc to go from vedado to old havana each time was a ripoff for a trip that is literally 12 minutes. specially because my husband and i usually have to pay 1 cuc and that takes care of both of us.
Did you guys speak Spanish? I wonder how difficult it is to go without speaking Spanish
2 of us speak VERY minimal Spanish but we managed to get our point across somehow all the time lol
Cubans are well educated and many speak rudimentary English. If you know some basic Spanish, it works out well.
A little goes a long way when it comes to Spanish
Very few people in Cuba are speaking English but you can get along quite well with a bit of Italian
Thanks, great video!
Can I travel only with a back pack?
It depends on how long you're planning on being away. If it's for a short visit like a week I will say no just because it gets very hot I Cuba meaning you will be sweating a lot. And unless you will have a washing machine available, you'll probably won't want to wear the same clothes all the time. Thanks for watching 😊
no problem to back pack in almost every casa you can get your clothes washed ..Cuban ppl are very very friendly but also very poor and do almost anything fore the chance to earn little money...when you getting out country side ppl are very poor some actully only make about 10 cuc in one month...so if you ask some one to wash your dirty laundry no problem ...little tips down loud.. Maps.me...before your travel it also works offline and are free to use also free to downloud...
Hotels are far too expensive these days in Havana so she’s right about staying at the “Casa”
Yeah the prices are ridiculous! Thanks for watching 😊
Really good review!
Jude, glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching :)
Great Video 😁
Thanks hun, glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by ❤
I had never really thought about bargaining that way.
Lol it happens to the best of us. Thanks for watching 😊
Very informative video,
Thanks so much! And thanks for watching ❤
Great vid
Thank you, and thanks for watching 😊
Great video
Rebecca Kidiosi maquillage en lingala Thank you darling 😊
I live in New York but i was born and raised in Cuba, I back this review 100% though I would recommend to carry a few Cuban pesos in case you want to experience the city bus which costs half of a Cuban peso
Lazaro, I'm always happy to hear when natives approve. Thanks so much for watching.😊
Lynda Konde i will share your review with my fellow New Yorkers that always ask me about Cuba 🇨🇺
@@LazaroAlejo Oh wow! Much appreciated, thanks so much ❤
Great info. Going to Cuba soon. Love your style. You are an absolutely beautiful woman.
^ inside and out
Aw thanks so much, and thanks for watching. I hope you enjoy Cuba, I can't wait to go back 😊
European cards will work though, it’s just American credit cards
The bargaining part has elevated you and your video to a higher level. It provides a glimpse of your kind heart. May God bless you girls. Cuban people have been wronged in more ways than one. We should support them really.
Dibakar, your comment put a smile on my face. Thanks so much for your compliment, and thanks for watching 😊
I feel the same way. I've been there 3 times and planning my 4th trip in Sept. The last time I went was directly after hurricane Irma. I saw the devastation and yet, the wonderful people NEVER, EVER complained. I went with the intention of tipping and spending freely. Can't wait for my next trip!
@@GreyRose333 So jealous, I can't wait until I get to visit again 😊
@@GreyRose333 i just went for the first time and wish to return!!
@@lotusssypringa I know how you feel!
You shared what is the reality Cubans live. Thank you
Thank you so much, means a lot. I'm glad you liked it ☺
About bargaining, I agree with you. It's a moral issue we are so lucky!
Tell me about it, but hey I guess everyone's mindset is different. Thanks a lot for watching :)
I disagree. Everyone is working to survive. When you come in from another more fortunate country throwing your money around that is actually more disrespectful and is disrupting the economy. That’s why Cuban doctors and engineers are no longer working in their professions and are driving taxis instead.
Travel to Viñales, Cuba and Pinar del Rio, Cuba. Up in the mountains do some horseback riding, eat fresh food from farm to table. Get the Guayabita Rum and visit the tobacco farms there.
I really wanted to go to Vinales once out there but we never got around to do it. Thanks for the tips, will try to do it when I go back to Cuba ☺. Thanks for watching 😊
I did that!!!! It was a fantastic excursion!!
You know what people do all over Latinamerica? They fix things. So, what I would do first is try to find someone who can fix the suitcase. And I would expect to be able to get it very well fixed.
Yeah that's a good advice, it's just that the way it broke I doubt it would be able to be fixed. Maybe if they changed the zipper. But thanks for the tip, and thanks for watching 😁
Yes they don't have consumerism
Great tip Xavier...Cubans don't throw away anything...it gets fixed. Beck in a pinch you could wrap a rope or some type of cord to shut the suutcase just to get it back home.
Lynda Konde Xavier is right hindsight is 20/20 but if they can keep a 56 Chevy running and pretty, they can fix anything.
Wish I could give you a big Cuban hug.
@@lyndakonde3590 Bring a roll of Gorilla Tape. (super strong duct tape fixes anything).
I was in Cuba in April 2018 and absolutely loved it!!! Cubans are amazing and despite the hardships that they invariably face they live life in a way that many who have 'more' don't...agree about toilet paper and toiletries. I'm from the UK and £'s are definitely better than Euros, dollars (US and Canadian) when exchanging currency. ❤
I'm glad to hear that you had such an awesome trip! Cuba really is a magical place, can't wait to go back. Thanks for watching ❤
Canadian dollars are easy to exchange for CUC. American dollars have a 10% additional fee put on the exchange.
I don't get it, the obsession with C.U.B.A. Do not try to tell me, I was BORN there, couldn't wait to get out and will never go back.
Ana Irene Martinez these people insensitive to human right abuse .They just want to see how the so called socialism work because that's their belief but they enjoy the monetary comfort of the US
Alison Julie hi Alison, I’m from the UK and going Cuba in May, what was the visa process like and did end up changing your money or using your card ? I don’t know if Monzo would be just as convenient to use
I think I found my new Hustle🤣😂. buy a bunch of suitcases and take them down to Cuba to sell them.💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲😂
😂😂😂😂 do your thing!
You won’t be able to sell them for much though, unless you only sell to tourists 😂
@@olivialinden10 it's okay I'll sell to tourists and if I don't make no money I'll still be enjoying Cuba
I love your comments about my country and my people. These things for us Cubans are an everyday thing but for a tourist that’s coming to visit it might not be that obvious. So thank you for spreading the word. Thanks for your kind words and I’m glad to see you had fun. We need more tourists like you hahaha new subscriber right here 💕 saludos!
LuisitoTV Que Dios te bendiga mi harmano
Oh wow! Such beautiful words. I'm glad I did your country some justice, truth be told, I loved it so much that there was no need to lie lol. Thanks so much for watching :)
Wonderful info! Yes, esp. with the bargaining suggestion. Remember that the average monthly wage for Cubans is $40 US a MONTH! 😟
My God! I didn't even realize it was that low! Yet they're such warm people despite their hardships. Thanks a lot for watching :)
not 40$, between 20 & 30
Well that's just extra cash. The government takes care of everything else.. food, shelter, medical, school, etc.
You need to look at the bigger picture. Sure they are relatively poor and have less access than us to many things. But they also have no worries for basic necessities. There is a benefit to every cost and cost to every benefit.
It's more like $25 for a professionals and $15 for domestic workers
This is great! I loved Cuba and only stayed in Casas too, no need to be in the bubble!
Kelly Keegan I so agree, you get to discover the real Cuba :)
Thanks for helping people with the video. Anyway some quotes:
- How to buy, for example, suitcase?
You definitely need help from a local. We buy almost everything from people to people. We use websites for this, I will not post urls to not be treated as spam or robot. And it is because, as you said, there are a lot of things cubans shops don't sell, and if sell, at a very high price.
- Currencies:
Yes, you can do almost everything with CUC (Cuban convertible), specially when you come as tourist and mainly plan to go to touristic places. But if you plan to stay more than a week or two, I strongly reccomend to have some CUP (Cuban pesos), sometimes are useful
- Location:
Since people wants more to sightsee Old Havana, I recommend to stay in Old Havana, and visit Vedado from time to time, you will save more in this case. Vedado is also full of interesting places and less tourists you are right, but it is considered a higher class living place than Old Havana, so its frecuently more expensive and fancy. Everywhere you find good and not good persons.
- Souvenirs:
A lot of people in Old Havana sell souvenirs. We have big places for it too and it is suposed to have the best things, the truth is souvenirs are mostly the same at the street places or at dedicated places. Anyway is good to see all when you are looking for something specific
- Bargain:
I understand why tourist do it. Some Cubans, mainly the ones who interact with tourist, think tourists are rich people, just because they can come and visit. And yes, most prices are overrated. While everyone do it to survive, most of them, not only want to survive, but also, get rich with min effort or work. In the end they are not rich anyway, but thanks to their incomes, prices rises considerably to everyone, and not all work with tourism, but the prices are the same for all. So we end up with a lot of things out of the reach of many people. Some tourists know this, and thats why they do it.
I hope this helps too
Eric, thanks for the tips! I'll deg keep that in mind next time I go back to Cuba. Thanks for watching 😊
I'll be visiting Cuba next month. Will you dm me the urls in case I need them?
@@superque4 revolico dot com is the most popular, also porlalivre dot com. Good luck .. consider that the prices there might be 2 - 3 times more than outside of cuba, some things are cheaper.
I WENT OUT THERE WITH 1500 LAST MONTH AND WAS FINE....100 WILL GET YOU 87.00 AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET SOMEONE TO DO IT FOR YOU FOR 90 IN THE STREETS,JUST MIX AND MINGLE...HOW YOU GONNA BARGAIN WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE?...JUST LIKE A SELFISH FOREIGNER..WHAT A SHAME...THE DRINKS WERE WEAK EVERYWHERE WE WENT...GOTTA GO TO THE LIQUOR STORE AND GET A BOTTLE OR TWO FOR 10.00...THE FOOD NEEDED SEASONING...OVERALL THIS WAS A COOL REVIEW BUT HONESTLY,I WOULD ADVISE PEOPLE NOT TO GO WITH A"TOURIST STATE OF MIND" AND GO WITH A PURPOSE TO LEARN FROM THEIR CULTURE....
Thanks for watching 😊
Lynda - thank you for the info, your honesty and your heart dealing with the locals on the island. What you said is true. Those people are fighting to survive. Yes we are all party, singing and dancing cuz that's the way Cubans are but at night they cry in silence and wonder about tomorrow. I know I remember that in my parents.
I was born there, I left in my pre-teens. The beach you went to is in the twon, Santa María del Mar, the namesake of a famed catholic church in the town is where I was baptized. It is very close to where I lived in El Cotorro.
Toilet paper? Lol where I lived we had a bidet but when we visited my aunt in Old Havana if I had to go #2 I took a shower afterwads. TP was rationed and at times non exiatant been that way in Cuba since the early to mid 60's. BTW my aunt lived on Empedrado Street half way between Bodeguita Del Medio and La Catedral.
Ed, it really goes to show that you just never know what people are going through. Do you ever go back to visit? I'm assuming you left.
Thanks so much for watching 😊
“Cuba has very beautiful people” well I bet you fit in very well!
You're making me blush. Thank you, and thanks for watching ☺
Thank you for the video. I started to watch for the info (I'm going in January), but instead got caught up in how beautiful you are. Thanks for rocking that sweater.
Thank you 😊. Will it be your first time going? I hope you enjoy it, I'm hoping to go back soon. Thanks for watching 😃
It’s so informative video, you explain very well Cuba and perfect tips we have now🙂
Thank you Lynda, loved your tips from my country. I'm so happy you had a great time in beautiful Cuba
Aw thanks so much for your words! I'm happy you liked the video. Thanks for watching :)
Loved it! Thx for all the tips especially the one about being cheap w the locals that struggle very much to survive and get food on their tables. Many tourists don’t realize it is a country w little to no economy and up to 45% unemployment rates. Thanks for sharing! ❤️
Eric, glad you enjoyed the video! I had such a great time and just wanted to share my experience. Thanks so much for watching ❤
45% unemployment rate??? Propaganda much? Everyone in Cuba has a job, healthcare, AND a house. Cuba is not some capitalist indentured servitude state like the USA, where if you can't survive the separatist, capitalist self-serving rat race society, it swallows you up and you go become homeless. Long Live the Revolution 🇨🇺✊🏾
RE: cash, USD will have a 13% fee while the CAD & EURO has a 3% fee. For U.S. peeps: check with your bank, they may be able to exchange for EURO for no fee if you have an account. When you get CUC you will have a better rate. The CUC follows the USD rate.
Cubans fix everything, I would have loved to see your bag repaired. Remember those old American cars have Russian engines inside. They cannot get American parts.
Thanks for watching Cindy 😊
Euros are higher than USD, so, it comes to the same? Canadian makes more sense.
Exchange rates do vary in Cuba for different currencies. So USD/EURO/CUC or USD/CAD/CUC would be pennies difference. Whichever you prefer.
God bless you for letting people know the reality, I was born there and I know how it is. I went back for the first time after 46 years and I came back depressed. Yes a beautiful country and beautiful people but is horrible. From a Cuban American , thank you for showing some truth. ✌️❤️🇨🇺🇺🇸
Abel, you put a smile on my face! Thank you for your kind words. Your country have definitely suffered throughout the years but I loved how everyone were just so warm and welcoming. Thanks a lot for watching ☺
I visited Cuba last year for three weeks and loved it. One thing I’d like to mention: I had several problems with places I booked using Booking.com. Some reservations got cancelled at the last minute and IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RESERVE WITH BOOKING.COM WHILE IN CUBA!! Only from another country. The contact numbers for Cuban hotels or casas listed on Booking.com are NOT Cuban numbers so it’s virtually impossible to contact them. I want to return to Cuba someday but will definitely NOT use Booking.com, as I do for most other countries.
Oh man, that sounds like a hassle! Sorry to hear you went through all of that! Be on the safer side and book an Airbnb next time 😊. Thanks so much for watching!
Too sad. People going to visit Cuba and have zero knowledge of the social economical problems the Cubans face on a day by day basis.
Cuban pesos is worth less than dollars, so Fidel Castro decided to invent (as in made the f up) CUC which among Cubans is also referred to as Chavitos as it is a reference to Hugo Chavez. The Chavitos was made up to force tourists and residents that have access to dollars to spend more money on the Island. For $100 dollars you get about $80 cuc. The rest goes to the government. Not for the hospitals with free healthcare, not for the education. For the government. The people of Cuba have to fight every day to make it and keep their families care for.
CUC is the government’s way of stealing money from those who have dollars to spend.
Cuban people have lived this way for many years and to a stranger without zero knowledge they will appear as having great life styles. But that isnt real. Cuban people have been living in dirt poverty no matter what career they have. Doctors, lawyers, judges... if they dont have the means to find CUC they have NOTHING. Thats why all Cubans want CUC rather than pesos.
I am a born and raised Cuban. Lived in the Island long enough to know the difference between bad quality of life and decent quality of live.
People want to visit Cuba and see what is like to live in a historical capsule, but they dont understand or they dont care their visit isnt helping anyone from there. The government gets richer, the people get poorer. Thats communism for ya.
What kind of paper work to enter cuba from USA is required
Hi Randy!
You need to apply for a Visa, when you do you'll have to state your reason for visiting on the visa application.
Thanks for watching ☺️
American people NEED to change there money to Canadian or something other because American money has 2 charges if you don't switch it over before going to Cuba..I've seen plenty of videos saying change your money to something other the American then change that money over to Cuba cash lol 😂
I’m a Cuban girl and just found your video and got interested about to listen some opinions about my country and everything u said is right just .... there is a rules ( that no one explained you as I can see) that pesos is for Cubans citizens... cuc or Cuban dollar how we said or divisa is for tourist coz we get our salary in pesos so just “we are allowed to use it )
Hope this information helps u to make something clear )
(Anyway how u said ... pesos is a 💩)
That’s why our situation ....
Hey Yanet! Yeah we didn't find out about the currencies once we got out there lol but it's all good, you live and learn. Thanks for watching 😊
Hi I’m Cuban American & it’s my goal & dream to see Cuba 🇨🇺. My mother was from Havana & like to see the places she was at. My family is all deceased except for my kids (thank God), this trip is homage for my family & hopefully my son can go. Thanks for the info very invaluable. Thank you again
the club that she mentioned is La Fabrica in english the factory. It was hard to understand. But she´s right , its the hottest place in habana right now
I talk too fast sometimes lol. Thanks for watching! 😊
I just got back 2 weeks ago. Some people (like the ones selling beer from their homes) only accepted pesos. Also, some prices were so tiny (like the sugar cane drink) that we did not CUC that small. Peso pennies helped out. Also, with the changes implemented by Trump,staying in hotels is not recommended. And finally, US dollars have a 10-20% exchange charge.
Another perspective to bargaining would be that it is not only about getting a lower price but it's a matter of principle. In my experience 90% of the time when locals in foreign countries outside of UK sell you their goods they overinflate the price to try and rip you off so why is it audacious to do the same?
You may consider 5 CUC cheap however if that's their starting price, chances are it's probably worth half that cost if that. People know this and that's why they start as low as possible, knowing that the majority of the time they won't get the first price and meet halfway. If the price is too low for them they can say no. This is business.
I haven't been to Cuba yet and maybe they're more honest than most people, however most tourists/foreigners will always see it that way because predominately that's how the world works.
Personally if the seller comes across friendly and very poor then I don't mind paying slightly higher price for their well being but I don't think it's at all disrespectful at all to cut the price 70/80% for example like other people would.
Like you say each to their own and to think that way clearly shows that you're a very kind and caring person.
Nice, very informative video and keep up the good work!
Thank's for sharing 🙏🏾 many Cuban Brothers and Sisters here in Puerto Rico ☝🏾 I would love visiting Cuba one day, appreciate the information 👍🏾
hi lynda,.very good video.ive been to cuba 15 times.havana,varadero,cayo largo,holguin.and evrything you say is right.if we can afford to go on vacation then we can afford to tip coz like you said they need it to survive.they have noting and they need help.they are the nicest people that you can find.also there are to many people that never tip at all.SHAME ON THEM..some people are so cheap.ciao lynda
Awesome video, thank you so much for visit my country, well Havana is not all Cuba, you mast come to the south part, is beautiful here!! So sorry for the suitcase.
So glad that you and your friends had a amazing time in Cuba. Hugs from Cuba
Very true, been there twice!!! Change US money to Canadian or Euros before you leave the US and then once you get there exchange a small amount for CUC at the airport, once you settle, find a bank.
One surprise we encountered is that the official money-changing counters and banks would not take the old British pounds we had leftover from a 2003 trip. "Too big," the clerks said. So probably Euros or US dollars or Canadian dollars are best. We found that street vendors and flea markets are willing to haggle but be reasonable. Demanding a 50 percent discount is greedy. We tipped generously and found that service was excellent -- above US standards.
Really? When did you visit? I had £20 pound notes that exchanged when I got to Havana but to be fair I went in 2017. I agree about comprising, if you're reasonable it's fine. Thanks a lot for watching 😊
Such an informative vid. thank you for sharing your experience. had to subscribe❤
Thanks sis for this video review. I'm a black woman like yourself and almost every review I 've seen with a person of color (black) they seem to complain about everything. One lady arrived on a Friday and I believe she said she left out on that Monday night all because she couldn't deal with the mosquitoes and and she couldn't get Wi-Fi when she wanted Wi-Fi. Again sis thank you and stay positive👍💥🇨🇺
Thanks sis! I mean I just feel like if you visit another country you need to be prepared for the differences that you'll find in the country. You should always try to stay positive :). Thanks for watching sis!!
What about Green Dot cards, can you use them
Hi Spencer!
I have no idea what a Green Dot Card is, sorry!
I've just come back from Cuba and I can tell you that you don't need to bring any toilet paper, we were there for 3 weeks and in every place where we sleep they had it, in many public toilets (which are really bad) there is a lady/guy who collects money (any coin is good, we didn't have any problem paying 0.05CUC) and you get a tissue from that person. Now, in many shops you can buy 4 rolls for less than 1 CUC. We didn't need CUP at all, even in rural villages we could buy sugar cane juice for 0.05 CUC instead of 1CUP. Same in other places that had prices only in CUP. The important thing is to bring any cosmetics that you might need for your skin (for moisturizing it or protecting from the sun) it was impossible to get it. 90% of cosmetics they have are shampoos, hair conditioners or shower gels .
sebkrol18
Because of the US embargo there are unpredictable shortages. Better to carry a bit of tp
Good Job! You really looked around like a traveler, rather than a tourist.
Hi Lynda loved loved the video thanks so much for sharing. Can I ask you what visa did you get and from where? I am British and traveling to Cuba from Miami for 4 days. I am a little confused about what to get and what reason to pick, people keep say 'to help the cubian people' is that what you ticked. Thanks in advance x
Hey Grace!
Glad you like the video! Omg, you're gonna love Cuba. There's no place like it. We got the visa at Miami airport but if you get it online it's like $20 cheaper. I can't remember what we picked but think we went for religious reasons. When are you going?
Thanks so much for watching 😊
A very informative video. Loved it.
Glad you shared some of those tips with everyone 😉
Lynda, let me tell you, I liked your video a lot! I'm originally from Cuba and I've lived there most of my life. Your video is very informative. You really captured the essence of the country. While I was listening to you I was thinking I wouldn't have said it better. Great video!
Are you doing more videos for other countries? You should.
Abel, that's such a beautiful compliment! Thanks for your kind words. I did a similar video for Beijing but I haven't done it for other locations. You just gave me an idea lol. Thanks a lot for watching 😊
Hello,
Thank you for the video! You presented truly essential information.
I’m performing at the International Jazz Festival in January. Also, I’ll be giving a lecture at the University of Havana during my visit.
I’m looking forward to visiting Cuba!
Hi! Aw thanks so much, glad you liked it. Cuba is such an amazing place. Will it be your first time? Thanks for watching!❤
Very informative and presented by a refreshing personality. Good job. Thanks.
Aw thanks so much, you put a smile on my face. Thanks for watching :)
@@lyndakonde3590 I think you put a smile on all our faces, too.
I'm sorry it's too complicated for me Cuba I'm headed to Puerto Rico
Enjoy!
I feel the same way
I want to go to Cuba but, I feel like if I slip up in anyway I could be in serious trouble. I think I'd rather just skip the inconveniences and visit another Latin American country like Mexico, Costa Rica or Panama.
Thank you so much for this! I am traveling to Cuba in two days and this is all I wanted to know!
Hi Nancy! So glad you liked the video, I really hope you get to enjoy Cuba. Let me know how you find it.
Thanks for watching 😊
I’ve always wanted to go to Cuba but it just sounds like too much of a hassle
I’m Cuban, I live in the US and I just wanted to say thank you for the way you explained everything. Very nice video.
Aw thanks so much, Alain! Thanks for watching ☺
I didnt really listen to what Lynda Konde was saying. I was too focused on her gorgeous face. I'm subscribing.😍😃
Lol you're making me blush. Thank you 😊
When you were there, how many CUC did you get for a dollar or a pound ?
Why are all the "know all about Cuba", Americans.They have only recently been allowed to go to Cuba.Get a different spokesman who knows what they are talking about.
Are you stupid? Listening is fundamental. Had you done that you would have heard me say "I'm Congolese from Sweden." So please enlighten me on how that makes me an American. Or is it the accent that throws you off because "all Swedish people have a stereotypical accent?" Since you know so much at your age, please explain to me and my viewers how I was recently allowed to travel to Cuba. This trip is based on my experience and if you're going to speak on it at least come with facts!
Thanks for that informative vlog! Love your style!
Thanks for watching Oliver, glad you liked it 😊
Is nice to see a foreign talking so kindly about my birth country. Thank you!
Aw thanks babes, I had a great time in your country so it was easy. Thanks for watching, Gabriela 😊
What you are telling us we already know. It is unfortunate that the US still embargos Cuba. It's time that let go of our hate and dislike for Cuba and its people.
Not everyone knows this, and the comments confirms that. You don't speak for everybody. Thanks for watching though!
Lynda , You imply that you are British but you have an American accent , no disrespect meant. ...but I'm curious .
Tempus, I've never implied that I'm British. In every video I release, I always state that I'm Congolese from Sweden living in London. I've had my American accent since I was a kid, many Swedish people do because of the movies and TVshows we watch. Thanks for watching!
Thank you! This is incredibly informative. Great job girl! 💪
Aw thanks so much, and thanks for watching ☺
LIKE YOUR STORY AND LEVEL OF INFORMATION SHARED
Aw, thanks a lot that means a lot. Thanks for watching 😊
10 cuc to viej Habana is the offical price
so how does it help, to tell us about your suitcase issues without an ANSWER? I should bring extra suitcase?
You do realise that you can't predict what will happen to you right? You do realise that it could have happened to you just about anywhere in the world?
You still don’t know everything,about The big city of La Havana.
At no point during this video did I claim to know everything about Havana.
3 currencies...us dollar,,cuc,,cup..if you only went to Havana only,,you really didn't go to Cuba..and yes I'm Cuban.
Next time :)
Dear Caribbean Queen. You are so gorgeous and I am grateful for your video. Thank you sooooo much! The part about bargaining I totally understand what you’re saying.
Aw thank you so much, thanks so much for watching 😀..and oh I'm Congolese 😄
Well, I don’t care what you are, you’re gorgeous!!!!
Toilet paper is GOLD!!! Also which Casa did you stay at?
😂 we randomly found her IRL, wasn't online
Great video good luck
Thanks a lot Mary, glad you liked it 😊