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Cuba Holidays, Flights & Travel Guide
Cuba travel guide - Cuba
holidays, holiday packages & Cuba hotels.
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Cuba Holidays, Cuba Holiday
Packages Overview
Cuba can portray itself as the
archetypal image of a Caribbean island with its sandy, palm-fringed
shores washed by crystal-clear waters and cooled by breezes
carrying the scent of frangipani, mango and guava. But Cuba has so
much more to offer those who venture away from her beaches; to the
towns and cities boasting Spanish colonial architecture and grand
plazas, where classic automobiles labour along streets and country
roads, and the hip-swaying sounds of salsa music fill the night
air. Together with cigar smoke and rum cocktails, baseball, and
everywhere visual references of the 1959 revolution, these
picture-postcard portraits of Cuba encompass a more complete
illustration of the largest island in the Caribbean.
Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba on his way back to
Spain after his second voyage to the New World in 1492 and was the
first European to remark on its beauty. Today, despite continued US
sanctions, the island state is starting to exploit its glorious
attractions and offers visitors an alternative Caribbean
holiday. Cuba is so large that it allegedly
confused Columbus, who thought he had discovered a continent and
not an island. It sits at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico; the main
island is 746 miles (1,200km) long with an irregular coastline that
offers hundreds of bays and beaches. The years of political
isolation have protected Cuba from mass tourism; the main towns and
villages retain a crumbling colonial charm and are generally devoid
of resorts that blight some of its neighbouring islands.
With its history and great choice of natural attractions
Cuba has much to offer. But most visitors agree that Cuba is a
country so individual and extraordinary, that to be truly
understood and appreciated it has to be experienced in
person.
Tourist Offices - Ministerio de Turismo, Havana: +53 (0)7
334 323 or www.cubatravel.cu
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Entry Requirements
for Cuba Holidays & Cuba Travel
A Tourist Visa Card, costing US$25 or
equivalent, may be issued by tour operators, travel agents or
airlines for a single holiday trip of up to 30 days, provided land
arrangements are pre-booked and paid. A return ticket or proof of
onward travel is required, as well as sufficient funds to cover
intended period of stay (US$50 or equivalent per day). Passports of
nationals with diplomatic representations in Cuba need to be valid
only at the moment of entry, but passports of nationals without
diplomatic representations in Cuba must be valid for two months
beyond date of entry.
- For Australians -
Australians must have a valid passport. A visa is also
required.
- New Zealand citizens must have a valid passport. A
visa is also required.
- US citizens must be licensed by the Department of
Treasury in order to travel to Cuba, but travel to the country is
strictly controlled and only select categories of travellers are
licensable. Tourist travel is officially impossible due to the US
Embargo and travel for business reasons is heavily restricted. US
citizens who are licensed require a passport valid for at least
three months and a visa for entry.
- US citizens must be licensed by the Department of
Treasury in order to travel to Cuba, but travel to the country is
strictly controlled and only select categories of travellers are
licensable. Tourist travel is officially impossible due to the US
Embargo and travel for business reasons is heavily restricted. US
citizens who are licensed require a passport valid for at least
three months and a visa for entry.
- British nationals must have a valid passport. A visa
is also required.
Cuba Holidays - Currency of Cuba
The official currency is the Cuban Peso (CUP),
divided into 100 centavos, but the 'tourist' currency is the Peso
Convertible (CUC), which replaces the US Dollar as currency in
tourist related establishments like hotels, restaurants and so
called 'dollar shops'. US Dollars are no longer accepted as
payment, and a 10% commission is charged to exchange them. The CUC
is almost equal in value to the US Dollar. Some places only accept
Cuban pesos and others only Pesos Convertible (usually tourist
related establishments). Money should only be changed at official
exchange bureaux or banks to avoid scams confusing the two
currencies. Visa and MasterCard are generally accepted in major
destinations as long as they haven't been issued by a US bank;
Diners Club has limited acceptance, and American Express is not
accepted anywhere on the island. Travellers cheques are less
readily accepted than credit cards, but all major currencies are
acceptable, except for US bank issued cheques. No US-issued credit
or debit cards will work in ATMs, but those holding other cards
issued in other countries should be able to get pesos at most major
tourist destinations. Euro or Sterling travellers cheques drawn on
UK banks are accepted at Cuban banks and Bureaux de
Change.
Cuba
Telephone Access Codes and Communications
The international access code for Cuba is
+53. The outgoing code is 119 followed by the relevant country code
(e.g. 11944 for the United Kingdom). The city code for Havana is
(0)7. Cellular phone companies have roaming agreements with many
international cell phone companies, but not the United States. A
GSM network covers most main towns, and cell phones are available
for rent. Public telephones are widely available for domestic as
well as international calls, but international calls are expensive.
Pre-paid phone cards are available. Internet cafes are located in
the main towns and cities.
Cuba
Duty Free Allowances & Restrictions
Travellers to Cuba over 18 years do not need to
pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco;
3 bottles of alcoholic beverages; gifts to the value of US$50; and
up to 10kg of medicine. Seeds, fresh animal or vegetable products,
narcotics and psychotropic substances; explosives, firearms and
ammunition; pornographic material; publications directed against
the public order and morality; electric appliances, and video
cassettes and related components are all prohibited. Strict
regulations govern the import or export of philatelic collections;
precious stones and metals; artistic, historical or cultural
artefacts; and books printed prior to 1940.
Cuba
Holidays & Packages- Tipping Information
A 10% tip is appreciated in restaurants and by
taxi drivers. Small amounts are appreciated by all service
staff.
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