What to Pack: Comfortable attire is recommended for the flights. Be sure to pack “smart casual” clothes. On your Havana adventure, no suits or ties or formal wear are required! Casual dress is appropriate. Attire for our final night dinner will be evening casual. Comfortable shoes are recommended, as there are itinerary activities that require walking. Please note that shorts and flip-flops are not allowed at the evening venues, including the Tropicana Club.
Passports: Please be sure to have your passport ready for check-in at the airport. You cannot get on the plane without your passport. Your Cuban visas, affidavits, and airline tickets will be given to you before you board your flight.
Time Zone and Weather: Cuba is in the Eastern Time Zone and enjoys tropical weather conditions typical to its Caribbean location. CLICK HERE to have a look at current weather conditions.
Dress: As Havana is a Caribbean destination, resort casual clothing is appropriate for most venues. A few elegant casual or evening appropriate clothing options are ideal for the first and final night dinners. Comfortable walking shoes are advised.
Toiletries: The variety of choices typical to most destinations is not available in Havana, so it is advised that you pack ALL toiletries that you wish to use while in-country. Any medicines you will need should be carried in their original containers. The hotels do provide hair dryers in the guest rooms, as well as bath amenities.
Electricity: Electrical current in Cuba is 220 volts AC. A multi-adapter kit is necessary, which will ensure that you can plug in and charge any devices in your room. You will also need a power converter if your appliance or device doesn’t provide a range of currents such as 110-240v or 120-240v. Most smart phones and other portable devices have internal transformers that allow you to plug in the device in any country.
Internet and Cellular Service Access: Although you should have internet access in the hotel (for a fee), many public areas do not have Wi-Fi and travelers should plan for limited email correspondence and the use of print maps rather than GPS. It is best to tell friends and family that you are ‘off the grid’ during your stay in Cuba. However Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile offered service in Cuba as of last year. If one of these carriers is your cellular service provider you may be able to make calls back to the U.S. for approximately $3 per minute. For emergency situations please advise friends and family to contact your hotel and leave a message.
Emergency Contact: If anyone in the U.S. needs to reach you due to an emergency, please have them contact our office at 832-482-3950 or Casey Lazar at 281-704-3355 (after hours) and we will get a message to you.
Shopping: Changes to regulations now allow U.S. travelers to bring back an unlimited amount of tobacco and alcohol products for personal consumption, and up to $400 of other purchased goods. Works of art are exempt from the $400 limit, and you may bring back any amount of art or craft purchases that have the artisans stamp on them.
Money: Foreign currency, including US dollars, may not be used to make purchases in Cuba. Do not plan to use credit cards or debit cards. Travelers can bring U.S. dollars into the country and exchange them into convertible pesos (CUC). Plan to bring spending money for incidentals in cash including enough to purchase artwork, music, and gifts or for discretionary tipping. We recommend $400, but you might want to bring more if you are specifically looking to purchase art. U.S. dollars may be exchanged in the hotel lobby. Currently, the exchange rate plus tariff for U.S. dollars and CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos) 13%. If you exchange $100 USD you can expect about 87 CUC in return. On previous trips we were able to exchange unused CUC back into US dollars at the hotel prior to departure. Please confirm this is still the case when you make your exchange to CUC. Remember you will need to keep some extra CUC for the luggage fees at the Havana airport for departure.
Tipping: If you are traveling with us on an incentive program, tips have been included for drivers, guides, bell staff and wait staff for all activities listed in this itinerary. Plan to bring extra cash to distribute at your discretion, such as a tip for your hotel maid, donations or tips you may wish to give to musicians, dancers, or other performers you might encounter as you explore Havana.
Medical: Because U.S. medical insurance is not accepted in Cuba, Cuban-issued medical insurance is required for the length of stay and is provided with the purchase of an airline ticket. This allows you access to medical care while in Cuba. Some hotels have a nurse or doctor on call for minor illnesses and injuries. There are also several good tourist hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in Havana, including Cira Garcia Hospital in Havana’s Miramar neighborhood. There is a small charge for a doctor visit, with extra fees for lab work and medicine. Prescriptions written by a physician can be filled at a tourist or Cuban “peso” pharmacy.