r/TravelCuba

Hi guys like the title says im looking to help the people. I saw a different YouTube small guys i cant remember his name he flew with a checked bag filled with baby formula and other things. Im curious if anyone has any tips and tricks for me to use for my stay like places to stay, do's and don'ts?

I know there are regulations and I have to stay at certain local own places not owned by the government so does anyone have any recommendations?

Also with anyone with family located in Cuba id love a list of things that would be good for me to bring to help the people.

Money currently isnt an issue for me so what people are in need of most that I can fly with id love to bring a stock pile.

If anyone has any connections for safe taxis as well or knows where I could even begin to start handing out things in a safe area when u arrive id much appreciate it!

kan ich als amerikana nach Kuba von den USA reisen

I lived in Cube from 2018-2020 but hadn't returned until December. This begins a 10 day series around the island, including when they had a nation wide black out.

We've got flight tickets to Cuba in July. Seeing what's happening there now with power cuts and fuel blockade it doesn't seem like a good idea anymore. How's life there now ? Is it still possible to travel around and enjoy the island ?

Para que entiendan el contexto, tengo un familiar encarcelado en Cuba y probablemente morirá pronto. Quería visitarlo antes de que eso sucediera. ¿Es seguro ir? ¿Están funcionando los aeropuertos ahora mismo?
Mi esposo vio todas las advertencias de viaje que decían que no fuéramos y se asustó mucho. Siendo realistas, ¿es posible visitar a Cuba desde Estados Unidos y regresar sin problemas? Y por último, qué tan seguro es? La última vez que fui tenía 6 años. Ahora que iría con mi esposo, está muy preocupado después de leer las páginas de los gobiernos 😆

Por cierto, no soy cubana. Soy latina y mi esposo europeo. Estaremos en Estados Unidos visitando y es una buena oportunidad para pasar por Cuba. Había leído que el gobierno americano pone problemas a sus ciudadanos para viajar a Cuba.

Agradecería cualquier información!

Hi anyone familiar with how to travel from Havana to Santiago? Or is it just better flying to Santiago directly.

Also is Santiago safe?

The first thing you notice is how quiet the airport is. Not many people coming into the country right now, so the energy is chill from the start. You mostly just follow the group you landed with toward immigration and baggage claim, there's not a lot of signage guiding you so the crowd is your best bet.

The heat hits you immediately, especially if you're coming from somewhere colder and right now as we're heading into summer.

Documents and immigration

Have everything printed or at least downloaded offline on your phone before you get there. You likely won't have internet until you're about to leave the airport and can buy a SIM, so don't count on pulling anything up on the spot. Depending on where you're from, you may also need to show proof of vaccination, so double-check that before you travel.

Immigration officers are professional and friendly, just not particularly chatty. They might ask a few basic questions about your trip but nothing crazy.

Baggage claim

Just be patient here. Carts are limited and go fast, especially when people are traveling with a lot of bags (which is common, many visitors bring gifts for family). Make sure your bag is easy to spot, a colored strap or luggage tag goes a long way.

Customs (Aduana)

Don't skip this step mentally. You'll need to declare certain tech items, high-value things, that kind of stuff. Just be straightforward and it's fine.

Getting out and getting around

Once you pass customs you enter the exit hall, and this is actually where things open up a bit. You can buy a SIM card here and exchange money, though honestly both of those are better handled through an agency when you arrive. The airport options work in a pinch but you're not getting the best rates or the most reliable setup. For context, the travelers I work with get their own personal SIM card with data already loaded and ready to use from the moment they land, and I help them exchange cash.

Same goes for transport. Your options at the airport are a $5 shuttle bus that drops you in Old Havana, Vedado or Playa, taxis right there (convenient but pricey and you don't really know who you're getting), or renting a car which I'd only recommend through a proper agency that can back you up if something goes wrong and can help with gasoline. If you pre-arranged a ride, your driver is already waiting outside. No negotiating, no guessing, someone already knows where you're going.

That's basically what I do, help people sort the logistics before they land so the arrival is simple. If you have questions about any of this or want to know what it looks like to have things set up in advance, let me know!