Frequently Asked Questions

These are privately owned accommodations that are found throughout Cuba, especially in rural areas. Being privately owned, any money received goes directly to the owners and is a great way of supporting the local economy. The properties equate to a B&B property found here in the UK, and in the past, rooms rented have shared a living area with the hosts, although they may well live on a separate floor, but nowadays, you can rent out entire former mansions or slick city apartments. The host can be on hand to offer great advice on where to explore or arrange unique excursions to local sights.

Cuba has one of the lowest crime rates in Latin America and is a safe destination to visit. As with anywhere in the world, you should exercise caution, especially after dark but on the whole, Cuba is safe, and you can explore off the beaten track as the Cuban people are famous for a warm and heartfelt welcome to visitors to the island.

The simple answer is YES, and we would advise that you take out your policy immediately after making your booking. All members of your party must have comprehensive medical and travel insurance, and you must make sure that your policy covers you for travel to Cuba, as some policies issued by an American company may not. Carry the documents in your hand luggage or store them on your phone, as you may be asked for proof of insurance coverage upon arrival in Cuba. Ensure that your policy covers any activities you plan to do in Cuba, such as cycling, scuba diving and horse riding.

A Cuban Visa or "Tourist Card" is required for all tourists and is valid for 90 days after arrival, which can be extended locally if required. The tourist visa is a paper document that will be sent by post normally two weeks before departure. All holidays booked through Simply Cuba include the visa cost with the package holiday or tour price. One visa per passenger (including children and infants) is required for each entry and exit. Upon entry to Cuba, immigration will tear along the perforated line on the visa, and you will retain the remaining half of the visa which you will present upon departure.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of your arrival home from Cuba, If your passport does not cover this period, then we would suggest renewing your passport well before your departure date. Names on your travel documents should match the name on your passport; therefore, please check all documentation you receive carefully.

We recommend taking light cotton/natural layers of clothing (and maybe some warmer layers if you are travelling from November to the end of February). During the rainy season (May to October), it is advisable to have a light raincoat or waterproof jacket. Relaxed informal attire is the norm in Cuba, but some restaurants, theatres, concert halls, etc., may require more formal clothing, such as long trousers and a long-sleeve shirt. If travelling on an air-conditioned bus, you might wish to take a light sweater. For excursions and tours, suitable walking shoes/boots may be required.

Plugs can be different in different hotels in Havana. It is usually 110V AC 60Hz, and some newer hotels 220V AC 60 Hz. Cuban power outlets are often suited for use with the US American two-flat pin electrical plugs; however, the more modern hotels have 2 round pins. As the electricity supply can vary depending on the age of the building, we strongly recommend taking a worldwide adaptor.

Visitors to Cuba should be updated with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK. These vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-polio, typhoid, and hepatitis A. Please get in touch with your GP and visit the following websites for the most up-to-date information.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cuba

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/locations/cuba/#General_information

Visitors can experience some problems when using the internet in Cuba due to slow download speeds, but things are changing, and several Wi-Fi hotspots can be found in cities like Havana. Internet access and Wi-Fi are still very tightly controlled, and whilst it is possible to obtain access to the Internet in most hotel lobbies, public areas and some hotel rooms, there is a cost to this access. Access can be prone to very slow speeds (downloads take a long time), and intermittent connection, dependent on where you are staying in Cuba.

The phone network in Cuba is mainly focussed on the main cities and resorts and coverage is normally very good, but there can be some connections issues, or no coverage at all especially in some rural areas, also stored numbers may not show, when a call is received. Speak to your mobile provider as calls, both outgoing and incoming, can be expensive so check for the best package that your provider can offer prior to departure.

Cuba is a year-round destination and as with many other destinations within the Caribbean the best time to travel is November through to April. Low season being May to October where the temperature can be very hot with the rainy season ending late October.

GMT minus 5 hours, there can be a difference of GMT minus 4 hours at certain times of the year when the UK time changes, and Cuba does not, and this overlap is for 7 days or so.

The national currency in Cuba is the Cuban Peso (CUP) which is a closed currency which means that you can only obtain Cuban Pesos within Cuba. You can exchange any unused currency at the airport prior to departure. The best currency to take is GBP or Euro's which can be exchanged at the airport upon arrival or at some hotels or at exchange houses (CADECA). Cuba is a “cash is king country” so please make sure that you take enough cash with you for the duration of your stay.

First thing to say is that tipping is not compulsory and is at your discretion, but a tip is always appreciated and with the economic hardships that the country is facing can go a long way in supporting hotel staff, taxi drivers and tour guides and their extended families. You will be amazed at the qualifications or previous roles that your porter or bar/waiting staff have done in the past if you get into conversations with them, and how important tourism is to the Cuban people.

There is a direct flight operated by TUI which departs from Manchester to the beach resort of Varadero that operates year-round. A number of airlines offer good connections of around 2 hours flying from their European hubs from several regional airports across the UK, these include Air Europa and Iberia via Madrid, Air France via Paris, and KLM via Amsterdam.

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, the main Island is about 1250km long, the country is made up of 1,600 islands, cays and inlets. Cuba's 3 most populous cities are, Havana, Cuba's capital city, which is home to 2.13 million people, Santiago De Cuba, and Camaguey. The population of Cuba currently stands at 11.5 million, with the majority of people living along the northern shores.