Seeing a 191% increase in searches, Havana, Cuba is the #1 trending destination in our 2017 Travel Hacker Guide. It’s easy to see why: eased restrictions, a fascinating culture, incredible architecture, legendary nightlife and year-round warm weather. What’s not so easy? Travelers getting useful information and tips on this isolated and emerging destination. Luckily we’re here to provide 7Havana Hacks that will make your trip to the trendiest of destinations, easier.
Download the Maps.Me app
Internet access in Havana is usually difficult and not worth the struggle. To help you get around, get the Maps.Me app and then download its Cuba map. You can bookmark locations, search for points of interest and get turn-by-turn directions all while it tracks your location. Best of all? It does all of that without needing to be connected to the internet.
Make Dinner Reservations
There are a lot of great restaurants in Havana but the influx of tourists means that many of them are fully booked in advance — so it’s best to make reservations. Some restaurants have booking available via their website. You may be able to request others via Facebook Messenger. If neither of those options work in advance of your trip, have your hotel or a local arrange reservations upon your arrival.
Bring snacks
Yes, there are a lot of great restaurants in Havana. But there are also a lot of not-so-great ones, too. Walking randomly into a restaurant can yield bad results. Breakfast in particular can be challenging to find outside of big hotels. Street food is surprisingly hard to find. And some of the most popular places for lunch require long waits. Best bet? Bring snacks such as energy bars and nuts to help out in a pinch.
Bring lots of cash (but not U.S. Dollars)
For visitors, most transactions are done in cash and in the form of the tourist currency the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC). U.S. citizens can’t use ATMs or credit cards in Cuba so you’ll need to estimate how much you plan to spend for the trip and bring that amount. Making this more complicated, U.S. Dollars are penalized 10% upon exchange in Cuba. To get the best rate, exchange U.S. Dollars for Canadian Dollars or Euro before you arrive in Cuba (ideally with your bank to avoid fees) and then convert those to CUC. Also, have a plan on where you’ll exchange money when you get to Cuba (ideally via a hotel, airport or local). There are often long lines at exchange places and you don’t want to spend precious time in line. Despite walking around with lots of cash on them, most visitors report feeling very safe and comfortable (although you should always keep your wits about you).
Negotiate taxis before you get in
Tourists seem to have more success if they name their price first versus asking how much it costs to go from point A to point B. Airport and nearby beach trips tend to run $20-25 while trips within Havana go for approximately $5-10. It’s nice to arrange a taxi from the airport before you arrive so don’t have to sort that out at the busy airport.
Be patient and leave extra time
Everything in Cuba seems to takes longer. Take a deep breath and chalk it up to being part of the experience. But plan accordingly. Thinking you’ll grab a quick 30-minute lunch before you catch that 2pm tour? You may want to reconsider.
Watch “The Cuba Libre Story” on Netflix
Watching this 8-part documentary before your trip will give you an incredible background on Cuba’s tumultuous past. Lots of places have great architecture, nightlife and weather but what sets Cuba apart is its unique, fascinating and often odd history – much of which can be felt today. Everywhere you go in Havana you’ll see images of Martí, Che, Castro and Cienfuegos – and you’ll have a much deeper appreciation for your trip if you know who they are and why they are everywhere.
Havana is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. A little preparation will go a long way in making your trip to this complicated place as easy as possible.
