Cuba - current situation?

[simwells]

I’m considering another trip in the coming months anyone heard much from on the ground how it is right now? I can’t say the militant crackdown on the protests and civil unrest makes me the most relaxed about a trip but it’s always so hard to find out the truth of Cuba news. Have food supplies in general returned to pre-pandemic levels?

I wouldn’t be going for the cigar festival but no one’s heard any indications of removing test requirements prior to travel for that have they? I’m hoping with the volume of tourists that may be when they relax a bit like we’ll likely see it across Europe for half term.


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[ha_banos]

Reading elsewhere theres also currency issues. The CUC is plummeting against the dollar. Tourist prices can be all over the place apparently https://wtvbam.com/2022/01/26/cuban-...st-the-dollar/

Seems like a very interesting time. I feel sorry for the common man over there from what news there is coming out.

[simwells]

It’s going to take me a while to get my head around this properly but it definitely looks less likely that this or coming years are the time for Cuba trips.

I’m not sure how mass inflation works with a currency supposedly directly linked to the USD value and government controlled valuations plus pesos which we’re supposedly not meant to have (but would almost definitely want if there and it’s not exactly difficult to get)

Prices for casas have fallen dramatically though but I’d rather be supporting those guys anyway


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[Hookmaker]

Just saw a FB thread by a Lebanese brother who’s been there this month. Judging from pics he shared, looks good. Quiet in streets, but nice food and drink pics + seemingly well stocked cigar stores😎


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[vanbobble]

I was going to go in April but they keep changing the entry requirements due to Covid. Also there seems to be less flights out there now. Tui were flying direct from Gatwick to Varadero last year but this year are not

Up until beginning of Jan you didn’t need a PCR as long as fully vaccinated now you do

[simwells]

General traffic is definitely down, I would be heading to Havana which doesn’t look massively changed via Amsterdam.

The entry requirements part is the frustration for me, hoping they might open up for the cigar festival but that’s getting very close now


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[Ryan]

I was in Cuba from November 16 -30, 2021 and have booked to go back on Feb 16 for two weeks, though I might postpone that.
There is no cuc anymore. That was eliminated on January 1st 2021.
CUP only. The official rate is 24/25 to 1 against the US dollar, and that is the rate you will get at the exchange offices. Unofficially, the rate is about 100:1
Daily updates of FX rates here.

https://eltoque.com/tasas-de-cambio-de-moneda-en-cuba-hoy

The Habanos festival is cancelled. It was announced on October 19, then cancelled by the end of November. Word officially came out of the cancellation about 3 weeks ago.

Don't bring GBP, bring EUR or USD. You can change GBP at the Cadecas (official FX offices) and banks. But if you want to change some money "unofficially", then bring EUR or USD.

Traffic is way down but so are the number of taxi drivers working. Don't stay in Havana unless you have friends there or are staying in one of the nicer hotels.
Mask wearing mandatory everywhere, including outdoors.

People are desperate, so opportunistic crime against tourists has risen. Not muggings or violence yet, but petty theft, padding restaurant bills etc.

In November, shops were very well stocked other than Cohiba. I have been hearing that they are a little less well stocked now.

PCR test required for entry now. Fill out this form before going, it will speed things up. This form is new and not well known yet.

https://www.dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/inicio

Unless you are planning on staying in an all-inclusive or a 4/5 star hotel in Havana or you have been to Havana a few times and have friends you trust there, I would advise not going until next year.

Cuba will have to re-introduce use of a hard currency (similar to a cuc tied to the USD or the US dollar itself) to try to stop runaway inflation. There is talk of that happening later this year.

[ha_banos]

Nice info!

Where do the MLC cards I've read about fit in?

[PeeJay]

Ryan great report although very sad to read

[Ryan]

Nice info!

Where do the MLC cards I've read about fit in?

MLC cards. Moneda Libremente Convertible, freely convertible currency.

Debit cards that are topped up by Cubans with a virtual balance equivalent to USD. used in specific stores for buying groceries or whatever else they need,
MLC stores will often have goods often not available in local currency (cup) shops or markets. Cooking oil, rice, beans, coffee, soap, beer etc.
MLC cards can also be used in cigar stores.

Generally no need for non-US tourists to get one as a credit card will work in those stores. That is, a credit card not issued by a US bank. You will be charged in USD.
I didn't buy one as I didn't need one, so I can't comment on what is involved for tourist to get one.

[vanbobble]

Maybe just go Spain instead

[simwells]

I was in Cuba from November 16 -30, 2021 and have booked to go back on Feb 16 for two weeks, though I might postpone that.
There is no cuc anymore. That was eliminated on January 1st 2021.
CUP only. The official rate is 24/25 to 1 against the US dollar, and that is the rate you will get at the exchange offices. Unofficially, the rate is about 100:1
Daily updates of FX rates here.

https://eltoque.com/tasas-de-cambio-de-moneda-en-cuba-hoy

The Habanos festival is cancelled. It was announced on October 19, then cancelled by the end of November. Word officially came out of the cancellation about 3 weeks ago.

Don't bring GBP, bring EUR or USD. You can change GBP at the Cadecas (official FX offices) and banks. But if you want to change some money "unofficially", then bring EUR or USD.

Traffic is way down but so are the number of taxi drivers working. Don't stay in Havana unless you have friends there or are staying in one of the nicer hotels.
Mask wearing mandatory everywhere, including outdoors.

People are desperate, so opportunistic crime against tourists has risen. Not muggings or violence yet, but petty theft, padding restaurant bills etc.

In November, shops were very well stocked other than Cohiba. I have been hearing that they are a little less well stocked now.

PCR test required for entry now. Fill out this form before going, it will speed things up. This form is new and not well known yet.

https://www.dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/inicio

Unless you are planning on staying in an all-inclusive or a 4/5 star hotel in Havana or you have been to Havana a few times and have friends you trust there, I would advise not going until next year.

Cuba will have to re-introduce use of a hard currency (similar to a cuc tied to the USD or the US dollar itself) to try to stop runaway inflation. There is talk of that happening later this year.

Why do you say not to stay in Havana, I would stay at a friends Casa for time there but would want to go back to Trinidad and likely Santiago but there’s no way I’d stay in hotels in Cuba so would be looking at Casa’s. If that doesn’t work I can’t see there being much sense in going to Cuba at all right now as cigars are just a bonus on top of the amazing country.


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[simwells]

Maybe just go Spain instead

If you’re going for cigars only yes for a holiday the only similarity is the language


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[vanbobble]

If you’re going for cigars only yes for a holiday the only similarity is the language


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Where do you like to stay? I nearly made it there NYE 2020 but we went into stage 4 lockdown

[simwells]

Where do you like to stay? I nearly made it there NYE 2020 but we went into stage 4 lockdown

I love Trinidad if you mean part of Cuba, it’s traditionally pretty easy to travel about so a good country to explore place to place


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