Tips to enjoy a pleasant holiday in Cuba.

The arrival

First to enter Cuba need a valid passport and visa. The visa or "tourist card" is obtained in Cuba consulates abroad. If you could not manage it before your trip, you can do at the destination airport by 10? dólares.Puedes carry around up to two bottles of liquor, 200 cigarettes and a reasonable amount of cosmetics. Animal products are restricted. You are not allowed to introduce pornography, Cuban currency, firearms or narcotics without a prescription.

On commission, jineteros

After two weeks in Cuba you feel your best. Always helping, talking, giving advice - very friendly are the Cubans. But I'm not describing the normal Cuban, I'm thinking of a special kind of people. In the words of Cuban called "jineteras". In the next lines I want to devote myself to the explanation of who is a "jinetero" and I will give practical ideas to get away from them ...

The tour guides are not currently there is only the female form - means that only speaks of "prostitutes". Perhaps a gentle word the description and classification "prostitute." From the point of view we can say this meaning, since no other - as always heard that most of the prostitutes are not professionals and therefore are not called prostitutes. I really have to respect the large number of women who "support" one or two foreigners from two to four weeks a year to enjoy the remainder of life with errands that often then receive. But do not confuse a prostitute can also be quite professional ... But really the female end is not the subject of these lines as well as enough information about it online and I hope my page does not find any link with one of them. The next lines are going to deal with the "jinetero", the term male. One can understand that it is now the equivalent but the other sex. You may not deny that sometimes I can understand that. But really, in the daily life of Cubans jinetero understand how a person who is in business with tourists, say an intermediary.

These intermediaries are omnipresent in Cuba. They are able to accomplish and solve almost everything. Who does not know the words to speak something with a ...? "Where are you?", "What is your name?", "Looking tobacco / cigar / a private house / good taste / ron / girl ?"... Super. Yes, very nice. One mentions their needs, desires, and these guys take you to a certain place - not usually for asaltarte as in other Latin American countries but to please your desires ...

Good cigars are a 99% certidud not stolen in a factory as promised, are done in a particular place with any standard of quality comparable to the standard state-owned factories. Perhaps the labels, boxes are stolen from the factory but can also usually be made ​​"at home". Not that it does not sell smokeless tobacco in the street, sometimes bad, but nor are they sure that you do not have the product in their hands how they say the labels! But sometimes, if you have enough bad luck his Cohiba, Montecristo and so on., Not snuff fact, the invention is made ​​of palm leaves - in this case also does not know that tobacco is going to realize that Cuban snuff is smoking ... If you do not need to buy original cigar boxes that are sold on the street are usually a good memory, and if it is a snuff can be sure it is Cuban snuff. The boxes are sold at 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 CUC - the price does not depend on the brand or quality but on where you are and your face - finally come always cheaper than the originals of the state stores. It's a very interesting business and their reputation is also Cuban cigars enough demand. The cigars are sold in the cafeterias at 1 peso each, means that the 25 cigars have a value of one to two CUC. Perhaps the box and the labels are more valuable, it is ultimately a very good deal!
To avoid this: A advised fans not to buy tobacco on the street, you must go to one of the state stores. If you want to buy tobacco over how much memory and not for quality you can perhaps buy their boxes on the street. But do not pay no more that 20 to 25 CUC, is more than enough. (Note: The Cuban Duana supports exporting two boxes of cigars without receipt of a state store. If you want to export more than two boxes must be able to show proof of an official seller! - November 2, 2003 Attention: We plan a new law only allows to export 24 cigars per person without proof!)

Going into another topic I will say that rum can be bought on the street is more expensive than the store or were simply a source of poor quality with a winery or a shop that operates in Pesos state. The liter of rum in the cellar costs around 20 pesos to fill a bottle with a label side and some candy for a good color is original Basante. Please note, not the best tapas are a barrier to prevent counterfeiting. Perhaps you realize the quality of the product after the first drink or after opening the bottle, because the fakes usually lack the "click" when opening the bottle.
Also, the rum business is very lucrative but much less than that of tobacco.
To avoid this: Well, the prices were compared with other countries are cheaper and thus well advised to buy the rum is always in a state store operating in CUC.

Perhaps you're wondering what is the advantage for someone to be an intermediary in a private home or palate. The key word is called "Commission". This is a phenomenon present in Cuba. I repeat myself but I want to clarify once again the subject of the commission. If you go with a jinetero or just say if you go with "someone" to a private home you will pay more than what you'd pay if I had gone with an address in their hands or look for yourself.
The commission is for a fourth and one night about 5 CUC. To be paid 1 CUC breakfast, lunch and dinner about 2 CUC. The commission is normally charged when the guest is gone. The host that is not the least bit Cubanised not going to notice anything - he simply going to pay a higher price, because the commission is paid in addition to the regular price. It's the same situation with the palate, the food here can cost up to 5 CUC per person. It is logical that this is a good way to earn lucrative money. If one can function as an intermediary for a couple of tourists going to win at least 10 CUC per day, the salary of a Cuban worker a month ...
To avoid this, I suggest if possible travel directions, for example travelers or recommended course addresses individual-Cuba offers you (and I mean that Cuba-individual owner does not request any kind to any commission!)

I would ask the tourists and lovers of Cuba, most importantly, always try to be gentle in contact with people. Also with the hustlers even after receiving the offer number 20 to buy tobacco, rum etc. and so on. - Also because they usually ask in a gentle, and can answer you do not need anything in the same tone gentle.

You can buy a street Tobacco, for example, how to remember and a risk. But a private home alone or go seek counsel with directions. I think it's totally unfair that you can earn so much money for this. An employee who works more than 8 hours daily in the month earns about 10 CUC. While one can win this jinetero a few minutes a day working day. This possibility is seriously changing the ideas of some Cubans to work and also the need to study. So now there are few people who no longer working in a regular job but is totally dedicated to riders and this can not be the future of Cuba. I think we, the tourists, we must do everything not to help earn easy money and effort to help grow ALNO this mentality!

What is the best time to go to Cuba?

Cuba has twice a year a high tourist season. Once in winter, meaning half of December until the end of February. Are also high season months of July and August. In the winter months especially northern Europeans and Canadians are present, because one wants to leave the winter and looking for a little heat in the Caribbean or just one advantage of the days of Christmas and new year for a longer trip. In the summer months there are many Italians (holidays in August), Spanish and Latin American traveling in Cuba.

With respect to time from December to mid-March are pleasant to travel, although in recent months temperatures can drop considerably. There is a meteorological phenomenon in Cuba is known as "cold front". A cold front takes about 5 days and as the name says, brings low temperatures. The sky is usually clear but sometimes also makes sun. There is always a cold wind and temperatures do not exceed 18 or 20 ° C in the day. At night many times down to 12 ° C or less. With the high humidity of the air you feel with these very cold temperatures. Then in Cuba many times the windows did not close very well and then the sheets are also usually very thin. Not thinking about swimming in the sea ...

From mid-March or so no more cold fronts occur guarantee for warmer temperatures. In May and June begin high temperatures, sometimes it can rain a few days straight. In the months of July and August high temperatures you expect to travel with a backpack unpleasant for a few days on the beaches great. It is recommended Cuban-style suit and spend a few hours at sea super hot - while the sun is so strong that one has to protect very well from the sun. Sometimes it's an hour of rain, not so unpleasant high temperatures!

The heat continues in September and October. At this time of year again it can rain a few days without stopping, especially if a hurricane is approaching. Before and after a rain storm many days but it passes away. The month of November is a change. You can get lucky and enjoy nice weather, not hot but not cold and the sea still very hot. But begin again with the Cuban winter cold front, low temperatures and the water cools slowly. To travel to Cuba are ideal months March to May and then November. There is not pleasant temperatures and high tourist season, it is easier to find accommodation (and cheaper!) And to purchase tickets. If bathing and spending much time on the beaches is the main reason for the trip, then the months June, July and August are perfect. In June there is still a little tourism, it is again that the lodgings are cheaper and easier to find tickets.

Electricity

The electric current in most residential, commercial, offices and hotels is 110 V / 60 Hz, though some facilities already have 220 V / 60 Hz outlets are flat pins, but you can use converters.

Telephone Communications

The country's telephone infrastructure ensures direct telephone communications to any point within the territory or any part of the world.

To call Cuba from abroad:

* 1. Enter the code out of the country where you are.

* 2. Dial the code for Cuba: 53.

* 3. Dial the code for the province.

* 4. Dial the phone number.

To call from Cuba to another country must dial the prefix 119 and can be done from any hotel, from a call center or from a public phone (with international access).

Upon arrival in Cuba can also hire Cubacel for wireless, you can rent a phone or bring your own and activate it. The telephone customer service is the 118.

Internet access

In recent years the Internet and also e-mail function entered into the daily lives of people in many countries around the world. So people always ask me that this is the Internet and especially the ability to send electronic mail to Cuba!

Can be generalized to the Cuban people that the internet still does not have much use in everyday life. It's pretty rare to find individuals with access to the Internet at home. Also, if you have access often can speak of a theoretical access, then contact the interent provider number may be delayed if the end is achieved, then the connection speed is indisputable, it means that to load a page Free email such as Hotmail or Yahoo takes about 10 minutes ... In some universities or companies sometimes there are computers with web access. And often, the use of these computers is just a few people elected. For example, a doctor in a hospital must submit a paper with the questions you want to search through the web response. After a person with access to the information you are looking for. In short, we can say that Internet access for Cubans is scarce!

A little different is with access to e-mail account. At the moment there are some people who are working through your email account. Is also always offers the post office or other institutions which offer the service of receiving and sending e-mails. And often is given a letter and an employee's written by the computer and send it later. The service is too high for many Cubans, as it charged 50 US-Cents per page, to receive and send emails. What you always have to think, communicate in this way, perhaps the recipient is not the only one who will read what you wrote. It is therefore recommended not write many secrets ...

I dedicate myself to the question of how access to the Internet and email for tourists. In this case the situation is a little easier. Especially the larger hotels often offer Internet access service and the ability to send and receive e-mails. The speed of access to the Internet is a variation between very good and quite slow, expensive hotels, at least in Havana can almost always expect a fast connection. The tourists who are not staying in these hotels also have the chance to use the services offered, sometimes hotel guests have priority. Be aware that these services are not cheap, but the opposite. To walk an hour on the web frequently paid about 15 CUC. And sometimes they pay every 15 minutes, it is recommended then write your email with all ten fingers ... Is also occasionally other places where you can access the web, sometimes also a human price, for example between 5 and 10 CUC per hour. But hey, sometimes the quality is not equal, it means that one can deal with how I described access right now in private homes

Tips

In Cuba it is common to tip, all staff who provide a service expected to have a tip that in the case of restaurants and bars can be 10% and other services may be more than enough with 1.00 CUC.

Tipping is not mandatory.

Tips to save by booking your airfare

- The key to savings by booking tickets is in the planning of the trip with enough time. Buy your tickets early.

- If you plan your trip ahead of time then you can be flexible with dates and will have better chances of finding the best prices, the exact dates will not help to economise on flights.

- Fly midweek. The flights departing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are usually cheaper than the weekend.

- Fly with the same airline. You may need to do some scale, but always fly the same airline will surely be cheaper.

- Whenever you can sleep Saturday at his destination. Offers cheaper international flights require a Saturday night at the destination.

Healthy tips when traveling

On long trips and flights to Cuba from Spain or other European countries, and even on flights to Cuba from American countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile or other in which the travel time is several hours experts say that should take simple steps to reduce risk of DVT:

- Walk a bit at least every hour.
- Move ankles while seated on a rotating basis.
- Exercising the leg muscles getting on his toes several times.
- Elevate your legs whenever possible.
- Drink enough fluids.
- Avoid alcohol, which promotes fluid loss.
- Avoid crossing your legs for a long time.
- Wear loose, comfortable travel.
- No smoking.
- Do not stay motionless for hours.