Cuba: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Cuba feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 63 written places.
Music from every window and improvisation as a way of life; two economies run in parallel.
✓ Considered polite
- Bring cash - euros or dollars - foreign cards from many banks simply do not work
- Stay in casas particulares - family guesthouses are the best food and stories
- Book vintage taxis and viazul buses ahead in high season
- Learn a little Spanish - it multiplies everything here
✗ Better avoided
- Rely on internet - connectivity is improving but plan offline
- Drink tap water
- Expect stocked shelves - shortages shape daily life; bring your own essentials
- Photograph police or military
Worth knowing
- Cash is king and change is scarce - small notes always
- Tipping matters - musicians, guides and casa hosts live on it
- Casa hosts can book the next casa down the road - the informal network works
- Classic cars are charming and pre-negotiated - agree price before the door closes
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Keep planning
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.