Traveling to Cuba now easier, but isn't hassle free

Traveling to Cuba now easier, but isn't hassle free
By Marta Dhanis Published March 13, 2017 Fox News.com

The Cuba experience: This is what you get after all the exhaustive planning

Getting to the communist island after a 50-year hiatus is surprisingly
easy. There's still a couple challenges to overcome when planning your
trip, but if you follow some simple tips your ride will be smooth.
HAVANA – The number of Americans booking flights and accommodations to
Havana and other Cuban cities is already surpassing projections for
2017, according to tour operator insightCuba and others.

"[The market] is starting to find its new normal," insightCuba's
president Tom Popper told Fox News.

"While a small percentage of travelers are curious about what the Trump
administration might do regarding travel, they want to go before things
change," he said. "It's one of the safest countries in the hemisphere
as it relates to crime, unrest and terrorism."

Today, getting to the communist island after a 50-year hiatus is
surprisingly easy. There are still a few challenges to overcome when
planning your trip, but if you follow these tips, expect relatively
smooth sailing.

GIVE IT SOME TIME

Hotels in Havana and Varadero, but especially in smaller cities around
the island, are relatively scarce and can be expensive. A four-star
hotel will cost you about $200 to $300 a night — and chances are you may
be disappointed as accommodations will not be similar to what you would
expect in a similarly priced hotel in the U.S. An excellent alternative
is renting out a room in a private home, which will give you the added
benefit of meeting locals learning about Cuban culture. Through
Airbnb.com, for example, you can find rooms for about $30. Remember to
read the reviews carefully and reach out to several places for options.

BOOKING A FLIGHT

When it comes to booking air travel, note that some U.S. search engines
still can't show you results for Cuba for legal reasons. At the time of
purchase, you'll be asked your purpose of travel. You can't go as a
tourist, but that doesn't mean that you can't fit one of the 12
categories authorized by the U.S government. Most people opt for
educational activities/people-to people travel — after all, you are
going to educate yourself about Cuba, the Cold War and Fidel Castro's
regime.

How about a visa? Yes, you do need one, but now that there are
commercial flights from the U.S., the airlines take care of that for
you. Or rather, they make the consular services come to you at the gate.

At the airport, give yourself plenty of time to check-in (online options
won't be available) and lines may be long. Time saving tip? Have someone
save your spot while you go ahead and pay $50 (plus a $25 processing
fee) for your visa.

You'll also need a Cuban health insurance plan for the duration of your
trip but most U.S. airlines will include that in the price of your
ticket. Double check with your carrier before proceeding. Also, keep
your boarding pass with you during the duration of the stay because that
is your only proof of insurance.

CUBAN MONEY

The cash you take with you is the money you'll have available through
your entire journey … so bring plenty to avoid running out. Havana is
still pretty expensive for a developing country. If you have Euros or
any Latin American currency left from another trip, take it: You may get
a better rate. And remember, U.S. credit and debit cards do not yet work
in the country.

WIFI CONNECTION

Be prepared to literally disconnect from the world —Internet and phone
access in Cuba are that limited. Before traveling, check to see if your
cell phone carrier has service on the island since many already do-- but
it could be spotty. If that's the case, remember to activate your
roaming and disable your data service in order to avoid huge expenses.
If you need Internet access while in Cuba, it may soon be possible.

ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT

Cubans call Havana's José Martí International Airport airport a "bus
terminal" and it certainly feel like one because it's often overcrowded
and chaotic. Security lines may be long-- and getting through
immigration will take some time for U.S. travelers-- but as long as you
have your visa and follow customs guidelines, you should be fine, no
questions asked.

The next step is to exchange your dollars for CUC, the local currency
(just pronounce the letters CUC in English and they will understand).
You can do this at a booth next to the departures area. Get ready for
another line and high fees-- but that will likely be the case at any
Casa de Cambio (currency exchange kiosk) or hotel.

Keep in mind that there's a separate currency for Cuban citizens, and
it'called the CUP. The CUC is pegged to the dollar and it's worth 25
times as much as the CUP. Most Cubans are paid in CUP, but nearly all
consumer goods are priced in CUC within the country.

Carefully inspect your money before departing any exchange house so you
don't get scammed by receiving the wrong type of cash. Also, become
familiar with the differences between bills– CUC bills are much more
colorful.

One last thing before stepping out of the airport: buy (or at least try
to obtain) a Wi-Fi card at the ETECSA store. ETECSA is the state-owned
telecommunications company.
Just outside the airport, you'll find plenty of yellow taxis that
typically charge 25 CUC to get you to a central location in town.

But during your stay, watch out for the taxi drivers' mafia. Get a sense
from a friendly local or an experience tourist on how much you should
really be paying for a ride from A to B to avoid getting scammed. Not
all cabs have meters so it can be tricky to calculate. And don't
negotiate with the middlemen-- handle the transaction with the driver
directly.

Once you've settled into your hotel or home accommodations, go out and
explore, meet the locals, take in the historic architecture and sunbathe
on the beautiful beaches.

Marta Dhanis is a freelance reporter based in New York City. She can be
reached @MartaDhanis.

Source: Traveling to Cuba now easier, but isn't hassle free | Fox News -
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2017/03/13/traveling-to-cuba-is-now-quite-easier-but-still-challenging-journey.html