Cuba, any tips on tips?

[shed driver]

I'm not sure whether this should be here or in the council thread.

My partner and I have picked up a good deal for Varadero in Cuba at the beginning of next month.

We know it's going to be wet, humid and probably pretty grim, but it's warm and importantly not the NW of England in October.

Does anyone have any experience with tipping? USD I assume are the currency of choice, how much is "just about right?" I don't want to come across as tight, nor do I want to be splashing the cash and looking like an arrogant foreigner.

Any other tips or suggestions?

SD.

[Gary C]

We stuck to our standard 10% which seemed to go down ok, but they still had the dual currency when we were there.

[Aston Traveller]

shed driver said:

I'm not sure whether this should be here or in the council thread.

My partner and I have picked up a good deal for Varadero in Cuba at the beginning of next month.

We know it's going to be wet, humid and probably pretty grim, but it's warm and importantly not the NW of England in October.

Does anyone have any experience with tipping? USD I assume are the currency of choice, how much is "just about right?" I don't want to come across as tight, nor do I want to be splashing the cash and looking like an arrogant foreigner.

Any other tips or suggestions?

SD.

When I went there US dollars currency of choice. If you have to order dollar currency make sure you have plenty of one dollar bill. I took 100 of them! But was on a 2 weeks trip in Havana. If you use larger bills that require change (I know tipping doesn’t) you will always get the change in the local currency and be stuck with it. I don’t really like tipping as a culture like th US but didn’t mind in Cuba. If you tip too much you will not be seen as an arrogant foreigner but will make someone feel it is their lucky day. Enjoy the hols

[essayer]

I’d leave a few dollars each day in your hotel room for the cleaner

[douglasb]

Rather than leaving money as tips for the cleaner, how about leaving bars of soap, bottles of shampoo, etc.? These things are rationed and of poor quality for ordinary Cubans. They are likely to appreciate this much more than cash.

I did this when I was in Cuba and the owner of a casa particular where we stayed commented that he really appreciated these gifts as they showed that the quality of what they can buy in the shops is so poor (despite the Government telling them that they get the best of everything). He found these things useful to show to neighbours to let them see what the outside world takes for granted.

[Ezra]

Take a big wad of $1 bills and spread them around whenever you get good service. Don't expect loads of bars/restaurants outside of your hotel complex tho, we stayed at the Royalton Hicacos in Feb22...lovely place but nothing else around. Walked to the marina (about 1 hour in v hot/humid weather) and got served coffee made with sea-water Have low expectations of anything outside your hotel. Havana is different - do a trip there, deffo worth it. We stayed 3 days there - just right.

[Gary C]

Ezra said:

Take a big wad of $1 bills and spread them around whenever you get good service. Don't expect loads of bars/restaurants outside of your hotel complex tho, we stayed at the Royalton Hicacos in Feb22...lovely place but nothing else around. Walked to the marina (about 1 hour in v hot/humid weather) and got served coffee made with sea-water Have low expectations of anything outside your hotel. Havana is different - do a trip there, deffo worth it. We stayed 3 days there - just right.

We found the hotels outside of Havana better. The bullet holes from the revolution gave them character.



This place was nice



And so was this but cant remember where it was

Did a two week tour then a week at the Melia in Jardines Del Ray Cayo Coco which was a great way to end the holiday.

Edited by Gary C on Tuesday 19th September 17:04

Edited by Gary C on Tuesday 19th September 17:05

[HotJambalaya]

wish I'd been to cuba earlier. As a reminder if you've visited cuba any time after january 2021, you'll no longer be eligible for ESTA travel to the USA, and will need a visa...

Not quite sure how quick that kicks in after your visit, but might be a problem if your return flight is via the USA!

[Spevs]

I was there in Feb 22, no dual currency, they weren't interested in US Dollar but Euro & Pound were in great demand, from memory official exchange rate was in region of 45 Peso to UK pound, but on the street or beach was able to get near 100. In both Varadero & Havana it was easy to change money, the Hotel Lifeguards on Varadero Beach were best source, in Havana if you walk around they will find you, bigger notes get better rates. As for tipping the staff, they seemed very happy with local currency. Be aware that in the Hotel if a massage for example is priced at 3,600 Cuban Peso they won't let tourists pay with Peso, they make you pay in Euro or Pound at the official rate. One UK tourist who was there at the same time as us had brought £30 in coins with him for tipping, so don't be surprised if Hotel staff approach you with 5 UK pound coins asking for a £5 note. As mentioned above not much going on in Varadero outside of the Hotels. In Havana we found local restaurants were all happy to take local currency, so eating out was very reasonable. I'm sure you'll have a great time.