Last month I had an incredible 5 day adventure in Cuba.
It was the first time I was in the Caribbean since my Aruba trip in 2017, so the warm sun was a welcome sight!
One of the things people talk about in Cuba is the culture shock – of seeing a city (and nation) seemingly “stuck in time”.
But I had actually read up a lot about Cuba and I didn’t experience the level of culture shock most people do.
However, I still did learn some pretty cool things from my trip in Cuba.
Here are just some “cigar thoughts” about my trip.
Some of these are philosophical, some of these things are handy tips, and some of them are just fun jokes.
Here are 15 things I learned from visiting Cuba.
1. The History Is Incredible
Cuba has an incredibly fascinating history – from its time under Spanish control to the Cuban Revolution to more modern history.
I think part of the allure of Cuba is history.
It’s funny because when I was growing up, I didn’t like history class at all.
But now that I’m older and traveling a lot more, I find history to be incredible.
Where else can you go to learn about the Cuban Revolution than the Museum of the Revolution?
History is so much more interesting in person. I saw the tank Fidel Castro piloted to shoot at the Houston transport ship during the Bay of Pigs Invasion.
I saw the ship the yacht the Castro brothers and Che Guevara used to sail from Mexico back to Cuba to overthrow Batista.
There’s history all over Cuba. And if you talk to any of the locals, they have some interesting stories to share.
The history of part of what makes Cuba so unique – and not just a place to get a ride in a classic American car.
2. Internet Is Fast…If You Know Where To Go
In Cuba, the internet is restricted by the government.
To access the internet, you need to go to an internet hotspot.
Most high-end hotels will meet this requirement. But the quality of the internet varies.
But first things first. You need to buy access to the internet by purchasing an internet card.
Here’s what it looks like.
The internet card will give you 1 hour access to the internet.
All you need to do is scratch off the surface (like a lottery ticket) and get the password and username.
Now, I went to a few high end hotels to access their internet. And I think the fastest internet there was at the BelleVue Deauville Hotel.
I was able to access social media, send emails, and do most of my normal work while connected.
3. People Are Happy
One thing you’ll notice in Cuba is that people are generally happy (despite what you may hear in the news).
Lots of people wanted to talk to me. And sure, some of them were friendly because they wanted a tip or for me to give them cigarettes or something.
But many people just like talking to foreigners and to practice their English.
And many people seemed to be interested that I was a “chino.”
Anyways, you’ll see people dancing and singing in the streets at night – particularly at the Malecon.
The people in Cuba are super friendly and nice. Go and talk to strangers while you’re there. You won’t regret it.
4. Be Grateful For What You Have
I hate to sound so cliche, so let me explain myself.
I didn’t really experience much culture shock in Cuba. So, I knew exactly what I was getting myself into.
But at the same time, being in Cuba helped me realize something super important.
I was lucky to be born in the U.S.
I have a lot of freedoms most people would kill for.
For one, in the U.S. we have constant high speed internet and data service from our phones.
In Cuba, that right is restricted by the government.
In Cuba, it’s hard to make a living as a business. If you think starting a business is hard in the U.S., wait till you talk to a business owner in Cuba.
You haven’t experienced squat!
5. Yes, The Beaches Are THAT Good!
One of the things Cuba is known for (other than cigars and rum) is their beaches.
And there are plenty of beaches in Cuba.
I only had time to visit one beach, so I decided to do a day trip to Varadero. It was recently voted one of the best beaches in the world, so I was super excited to go.
The beaches in Cuba are amazing. They are super clean (almost no litter), which is a little surprising considering littering is a big problem in the city.
Anyways, the water is super clear and great to swim in.
There’s nothing quite like relaxing on the beach drinking a beer or mojito or rum.
Cuban beaches are the perfect place to unwind and relax.
6. Architecture is Amazing
One of my favorite parts of Cuba is the Architecture.
Sure, some parts of the city are literally falling apart (and people are still living in those buildings).
But, Cuba is home to some very unique (and colorful) architecture.
My favorite buildings were the Museum of the Revolution and the Capital Building – and the gardens (they reminded me of Versailles)
7. Crime Is Super Low
The amazing thing about Cuba is that the crime is super low.
I felt absolutely safe and had no issues at all.
In fact, when I went to Vinales for a cigar farm tour, I left my backpack with the family at their bar while I went horseback riding.
I forgot I had left some money inside my backpack, but it was still there when I came back – completely untouched.
Crime is super low in Cuba. In fact, the only “crime” you’ll experience is getting scammed at tourist traps with overpriced tours or liquor.
Cuba is 100% safe and A LOT safer than a large majority of U.S. cities like Baltimore, Saint Louise, and Detroit.
8. They Don’t Hate Americans
One thing I was prepared for in Cuba was a lukewarm response to being American.
After all, the government propaganda has been somewhat all over the place.
And if you go to the Museum of the Revolution, you’ll see some unsavory things about the U.S. Government – and some of those remarks are deservedly so.
But Cuban’s don’t hate Americans, in fact, they love us.
Besides, many of the Cubans I met didn’t even bring up my nationality. They just called me “Chino”.
9. Don’t walk too close to the sidewalks
This is super important. If you don’t want to get splashed by some “unknown” water, don’t walk too close to the sidewalks.
In Cuba, all of the homes on top of the streets have pipes that stick out. They dump excess water (from god knows where) at random times.
So if you are walking off the sidewalk (but still close to it), you can get sprayed.
So either walk on the sidewalk or in the middle of the street to avoid any unnecessary splash.
10. This Is A Cash Economy
No U.S. bank card will be accept in Cuba – this includes both credit cards and debit cards.
And even if they did work, almost no business takes them.
Cuba is largely a cash economy. And for people like me who like to earn credit card points, this can be a bummer.
But don’t worry, just try and book as much stuff as you can ahead of time and pay with credit cards – like hotels and tours.
11. They Have 2 Currencies
Alright, the Cuban currency system can be a little confusing for people, so I’m going to break it down as simple as possible.
There are 2 currencies in Cuba: one for tourists and one for locals.
The local currency is Cuban Peso Nacional (CUP)
The tourist currency is the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) – pronounced “kuk”
The CUC is pegged at a one to one ratio to the U.S. Dollar – meaning one dollar will get you one CUP.
Easy peasy, right?
12. Don’t exchange US Dollars
When you’re traveling to Cuba, DO NOT bring U.S. Dollars to exchange into the local currency (CUC).
The government charges an extra 10% fee (on top of the 3%) to exchange from US Dollars into Cuban Pesos.
So for every $100 dollars that you exchange, you’ll only get 87 pesos. That’s a big haircut.
Instead, convert your dollars into another currency (I exchanged into Mexican Pesos and Euros before I came).
They check your passport whenever you exchange currency, but the 10% fee is tied to the currency – not the nationality of your passport like what some people have reported.
13. BYOT
Bring your own toilet paper – if there’s only one thing you take away from this post, this should be it!
If you are going anywhere aside from a high end restaurant or hotel, there will be no toilet paper.
I remember going to the bathroom at a restaurant in Vinales.
I had just finished peeing and was looking to wash my hands, but there was no sink in the bathroom.
There was just an unmarked toilet and that was it.
I came outside when I saw it…
There was a bucket on the ground with some water inside. That’s where you wash your hands.
I encountered the same thing when I went to a restaurant in Varadero (one of the best beaches in Cuba).
The bathrooms had sinks this time (thank god), but they didn’t have any toilet paper in the stalls.
So if you need to use the bathroom, bring some toilet paper!
14. Haggle
The one thing that frustrated me about Cuba is you never know if you’re getting the best price.
Everything is negotiable.
A cab ride? Negotiable.
That little souvenir you want to buy? Completely Negotiable.
I have learned to never settle for the first price someone quotes you (it’s usually 30%+ more than what it’s worth).
Negotiating is just part of your role as a tourist. And if you’ve never done it before, you might feel uncomfortable.
15. Get Ready To Meet Some Russians!
One thing I didn’t expect to see was so many Russians in Cuba.
Sure, I knew that Cuba and Russia always had close relationships (no need to bring up the Cuban Missile Crisis here).
But I was surprised to see so many Russians (and Eastern Europeans) living and traveling in the city.
In fact, the Casa Particular I rented from was owned by a Russian! He has been living there for decades now and married a local woman.
Things I Learned From Visiting Cuba
Overall, Cuba is an amazing place to visit. I only spent 5 days there, but had the time of my life.
If you want a tropical beach destination filled with beautiful architecture, incredible history, and friendly locals, then Cuba is just for you!
Have any of you been to Cuba? What surprised you the most about this island paradise? Let me know in the comments!