While there may be no place like home, especially when you have kids—even more so there’s no place like Cuba.
Cuba is the home of rum, cigars and old cars without seatbelts, which are all the things we try to keep our kids away from, but Cuba is also the home of some of the richest culture, art, architecture, beaches and fun in the sun for kids. Plus, Cubans taught me that kindness has no language barrier, so even though my kids did not speak Spanish, they understood the love and adoration that the beautiful people naturally had for them.
So before you grab the kiddies and run off to the Chevrolets from the ’50s, here are a few things you should know.
1) Cash is King!: Make sure you bring enough cash to Cuba for every single need. The exchange rate between American Dollars and CUCs (Cuban Pesos convertible for tourists is about $1 to .88 CUCs; so I just looked at every CUC spent as 1 dollar. So make sure you have enough CUCs to pay for your housing, transportation, food, tours, souvenirs and any other spending. You will have to exchange your currency right outside the airport; you’ll see the long line of tourists.
2) Transportation: I would recommend having a driver during your stay in Cuba. There are lots of taxis as well, but there are no subways or busses for tourists. You can also rent a ’50s car, but with all the American tourists coming into the country, they book very fast; plus I’m a New Yorker, and I wouldn’t even drive in Cuba.
3) Toiletries: There is not an abundance of toiletries (or toilet seats ) in the tourist areas of Cuba, so I would pack things like soap, wipes, sanitizer, and tissue in your bags. FYI: The house that we stayed at (Casa Ofelia in Miramar) had everything you needed, but while touring or even in some restaurants, this was not the case.
4) Markets: The markets are hit or miss with snacks, water, fruits, etc, but strangely there’s an abundance of rum, wine and other alcohol beverages at almost every store, but do keep in mind, they close early.
5) Your Cuban Visa Once you arrive in Cuba, the people in customs will not take a Visa that has any scratch outs or mistakes; so please take your time and fill out your visa properly or you will have to purchase another one. I bought my visas through Delta, they were $50 per person.
6) There is no Tax Fee to leave the country: I was told that there was a $25 per person tax fee to leave Cuba; that was not true when we left. So those are your must-knows!
Here are a few must-sees!
Old Havana: This is right along the coast, you’ll see tons of cars, boats, museums—and the square, which is packed with people, music, restaurants, art, souvenir shops and things to buy!
Central Havana: This is the bustling part of the city, here you’ll find the Capitol building, the world-famous ballet theater, galleries and restaurants; it’s walking distance to or from Old Havana!
La Playa: There are many beaches to choose from, I recommend Santa Maria beach, which is only 40 minutes from Old Havana because it’s beautiful and has beach chairs and tables for rent (2 CUCs) as well as a variety of food and beverages (don’t forget your fresh coconut)!
The Countryside: We went to Las Terrazas, about a 1 hour drive from Old Havana. It was full of adventures—from zip lining and horseback riding to just admiring Cuba’s beauty if full view. There are farm to table restaurants you’ll love!
