Floridita Travel

The internet has enhanced the ease with which many travellers can book a holiday. In the past, people who wished to book a vacation were limited to using a specific travel agency. They were unable to compare a wide array of options and fares and were often coerced into vacationing at the specific resorts recommended by their agent. Travellers nowadays have easy access to a dizzying array of packages and options.

Here are some simple tips that will help you book an affordable, memorable holiday online.

Compare Prices
When you decide to book your vacation, look at a variety of different travel sites and find the one that offers the best deals on the hotel room, car, or vacation package that you desire. There can be a wide variation in the fares and prices offered from site to site so it really does pay to shop around.

Check out Customer Reviews
One helpful feature of using the internet to book your vacation is that there are many websites dedicated to travel that feature customer reviews. Make sure you go to several of these web-sites and read customer’s opinions of the hotel or resort you are considering staying at. Of course you shouldn’t base your opinion completely on these reviews since some people might have a very different experience than others. However, if several customers seem to have similar bad experiences at a resort, it might be worth considering booking elsewhere.

Read the Fine Print
Once you have decided upon a package and are considering booking it for your holiday, read the details carefully. Make sure you are aware of any cancellation policies at your resort and pay attention to check-in and check-out times to ensure they will work well with your transportation. After booking, print out any types of confirmation information and bring this with you on your holiday. If any miscommunication or errors occur, it will be helpful to have the details of exactly what you were promised readily available.

Research your Destination
Take advantage of the internet while you are home to make sure you have maps of your location and lists of recommended restaurants. You can make a note of where the nearest doctor and hospitals are located and whether there is a 24 hour chemist readily available. This is also a great time to see if there is a bank machine that will accept your debit card and make a note of its location.

 Rough Guide

1. Soak up Cuba’s cultural legacy before everyone gets there. Cuba’s era as an island caught in time could be drawing to a close as the United States looks to ease restrictions on the communist-run nation. Experience the motors, mojitos and music before the hordes arrive.

Tourists in Cuba should understand the basics of exchanging money in order to get the best exchange rate. It is important to understand there are two different currencies in Cuba, the Cuban Pesos (CUP) and the Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC). Before the end of 2004 the US dollar was widely circulated in Cuba. However, this is no longer the case so carrying US dollars is not recommended.

Tourists use CUC

The majority of tourists in Cuba will use the CUC. This is by far the easiest way to pay for your travel expenses including meals, hotels, taxis, alcohol, cigars, and the like. It is really easy to convert money to CUC and you will find plenty of casas de cambio, exchange houses, that will allow you to do so. Many hotels and other tourist locations have these casas de cambio to help with the exchange process. It is interesting to know that the CUC has a value 28 times greater than the CUP. Also, tourists should know they are legally allowed to import or export no more than 100 CUP Or 200 CUC.

The CUP is the national money and is called local pesos. The only things that will be purchased with CUP include items sold at street markets, agricultural vendors, and the lick. Since you can’t buy much with CUP other than fruit in the street and other similar items it is not recommended to exchange much money for the CUP.

US Dollars

If you choose to carry US dollars keep in mind that you will be required to pay a steep penalty to exchange these. In fact, you will pay at least a 10% penalty to exchange the US dollar and this could go up in the future. As a result, it is a good idea to avoid traveling with US dollars regardless of your nationality. Remember that this is a recent change and many guidebooks are out of date and they state to carry US dollars. This is outdated information and not good advice at all. So, before you leave your home country make sure you have some other currency that is easily exchangeable in Cuba. The most recommended are sterling, Euros, and Canadian dollars. However, if you are traveling with Swiss Francs, Mexican Pesos, Japanese Yen, or even Australian dollars you will have no problems with the exchange to CUC.

Exchange at the Bank

It is highly recommended to exchange your money at a bank, like the Banco Central de Cuba. Otherwise, you may be taken advantage of. Many street vendors will offer to exchange money for you but they will likely give you fake money or charge you a high exchange rate. By working with the bank you will get the best deal.

Many travelers feel safe carrying traveler’s checks. However, these are extremely difficult to exchange in Cuba, especially if the check is drawn on a US bank. To avoid hassle and delays you will prefer to carry cash. Also, keep in mind that ATMs are not common in Cuba like in other countries. In fact, there are just a few in Havana and they will not accept US issued cards. In addition, most of the ATMs do not have sufficient cash for large withdrawals, so keep this in mind. Visa and MasterCard are accepted in limited areas as long as they are not US issued.

As long as you keep this information in mind you will be able to travel to Cuba and have very few hiccups along the way!

Cuba is an amazing tourist destination because of its location in the Caribbean. However, although this is the biggest island in the Caribbean it is not as developed as some of the other islands like Aruba and the Bahamas. Nevertheless, Cuba can hold its own because of its old world charm and natural beauty. Many tourists planning a trip to Cuba are interested in their transportation options once they arrive. Most tourists choose to travel by bus, taxi, or a rental car. You should choose the option that will work best for you and your travel plans as well as your budget!

Buses

The major bus line in Cuba is the Viazul. As far as public transportation goes the Viazul is certainly one of the best options. The coaches are air-conditioned, which is a necessity in this hot country! The coaches also have televisions as well as bathrooms, so traveling is not such a hassle. Coaches run to all of the major tourist spots so making it to your destination won’t be difficult. The buses run on schedule, which is very nice and tourists can plan their trip around the bus departures. The Viazul website is a great resource for bus schedules. You may make advance reservations for the bus, but this is rarely necessary unless it is high season. If you try and make an online reservation on the Viazul website don’t be surprised if it doesn’t work. Showing up early to the bus station is really the best option. Also, be sure to carry some snacks because you may not care for the food at the highway restaurants. It is also a good idea to carry a blanket or a jacket because the air conditioning can be quite cold!

The Astro bus line is another option for tourists, but this one is a little more difficult to manage. That’s because the majority of seats on these buses are sold to Cubans and just a couple reserved for tourists. The rate is a little cheaper than Viazul, but not much, and there are no washrooms. If you plan on traveling on the Astro bus line it is very important to make reservations in advance.

Minibuses are a good option for tourists willing to spend a few extra dollars. These buses carry four or five people and are faster and more reliable. Not to mention, you can always ask the driver to stop to take photos, go to the restroom, or buy something to eat!

Taxi

Taxis are another option of travel and they are a really good option for traveling within cities or towns. However, plan on paying more for long distance travel in a taxi. If you are traveling with several people the fare may be split and offer substantial savings to each traveler while increasing their comfort level significantly.

You can find taxis pretty much anywhere, but if you are having a hard time look for one located in front of hotels or restaurants where they usually congregate.

Car Rentals

If you have a bigger budget for transportation once you arrive in Cuba then you may consider a car rental. The prices for a rental including insurance cost around CUC 65 a day. Deposits are required, although they are refundable. These cost around CUC 200. In general, you will find Cuban rental cars to be fairly new models and are usually Asian or European models. If you receive any traffic tickets while driving the rental these fees will be deducted from your deposit. Keep in mind that if an accident occurs and there is an injury or a death you will be detained in Cuba until things can be processed. This may take a few months. As a result, renting cars might not be the best option for foreigners simply because of the risk involved.