What currency to take to Cuba
Discussion
As above, take pounds. CUC's (the tourist currency) is tied to the US dollar and fairly well controlled by the government so exchange rates don't vary too much from the street to the hotels in my experience.
If you're going to the varadero area avoid drinking water other than bottled. It's "safe" to drink, but a lot of people we were there with got dodgy stomachs (from a variety of hotels as the excursions take a group from all the hotels in the area) and I have a suspicion it was the water on the tables. We were both ill, and couldn't keep food in, but it wasn't like other types of food poisoning I've had. There's a lot of limestone in the varadero area and I think this might be one of the causes. Probably goes the same for the ice cubes which are used to bulk up the all inclusive drinks. All wild speculation on my part though!
Enjoy yourself, it's a great country. Try to get around and at least to Havana, if you can to Club Tropicana. Great night out.
All the reps and (government paid) tour guides will tell you it's a very safe coutry to visit, which it is. Don't let your guard down completely though. The bus stop area along the port is rife with pickpockets (two people on our coach were hit and it's mentioned in the DK guide), don't leave anything valuble on the bus (large amount of cigars stolen just after we'd been to the cigar factory), and leave any valubles in the safe where possible. A drunk woman on our trip have four rings stolen off her fingers whislt dancing with a local in a little bar near Trinidad. She was slaughtered though.
It's basically safe, just don't think it's like rural England like they make out in the government spin. Consider the salary difference and take the same precautions you would in a market in the tourist areas of spain and you'll be fine.
If you're going to the varadero area avoid drinking water other than bottled. It's "safe" to drink, but a lot of people we were there with got dodgy stomachs (from a variety of hotels as the excursions take a group from all the hotels in the area) and I have a suspicion it was the water on the tables. We were both ill, and couldn't keep food in, but it wasn't like other types of food poisoning I've had. There's a lot of limestone in the varadero area and I think this might be one of the causes. Probably goes the same for the ice cubes which are used to bulk up the all inclusive drinks. All wild speculation on my part though!
Enjoy yourself, it's a great country. Try to get around and at least to Havana, if you can to Club Tropicana. Great night out.
All the reps and (government paid) tour guides will tell you it's a very safe coutry to visit, which it is. Don't let your guard down completely though. The bus stop area along the port is rife with pickpockets (two people on our coach were hit and it's mentioned in the DK guide), don't leave anything valuble on the bus (large amount of cigars stolen just after we'd been to the cigar factory), and leave any valubles in the safe where possible. A drunk woman on our trip have four rings stolen off her fingers whislt dancing with a local in a little bar near Trinidad. She was slaughtered though.
It's basically safe, just don't think it's like rural England like they make out in the government spin. Consider the salary difference and take the same precautions you would in a market in the tourist areas of spain and you'll be fine.
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