Non-U.S. tourists see big change in Cuba already

One reason for the surge in European visitors is they believe that Cuba will not be the same after the US visitors arrive in numbers.

Cuba is the most religious country I've ever been to.

Just the sight of the Pope on TV brings the Cubans to a standstill.

And the use of over-tipping by Americans will create a division like it has in the Dominican Republic. Where only the high tippers get a service at peak times.

Remember - one US Dollar is equal to a days pay in Cuba - 24 Cuban Peso.

Nice photo!

The whole question of "not the same" is an interesting one. That's certainly the impression of friends of mine who broke the travel ban in the 1960s and saw a vision of what Cuba might have hoped for, had it not become a pawn between the Cold War interests of the U.S. and Soviet Union. 

I'm sure the transition ahead is as worrying to many Cubans who believe they have built something unique that is threatened with change, as it is to the tourism industry.

I'll certainly have my eyes wide open when I visit!

One thing that unites the Cuban people is that they are mostly poor.

The past few years have seen an elitist group of affluent hotel workers becoming very rich - by local standards.

Their income far exceeds the Doctors and University Graduates of Cuba.

I've seen the Maids who clean the room getting $1 Dollar from each room they clean. Since then I've also seen the Maids Supervisor come into my room and take the tip off the bed before the maid gets there.

I've seen the stores where the Hotel workers take their gifts from the tourists.

Then they trade the "new dress for my 2 year old little girl" for cash.

There are a now a few very rich people in Cuba. And so the division starts again.

Incidentally, Claire Boobbyer, the author of the Skift report, is also the author of the just-published and quite excellent Frommer's EasyGuide to Cuba. I'm reading it, and I'm impressed...

We're off to Cuba in 3 weeks "to see it before it changes"... Please Gurus - what is the best currency to take, especially for tips? Any advice is welcome. 

Hi Mac. You need to take clean, unmarked £20 notes.

You will exchange them within your Hotel where the currency is at a fixed rate.

You will receive Tourist Pesos in return. You wont use the local currency.

The Peso you will use is a CUC. Cuban Convertible Peso.

Its equal to $1 US.

Ask for small denominations'.  No one has change of a 20 CUC note.

Ask for 20 CUC in 1 CUC coins. For tips. She'll understand why.

Tourists call the currency C - U - Cs or KUKS.

A tip of 1CUC is about 60p UK or a US dollar. A days wage in Cuba.

Give the barman a 1 CUC when you arrive at the bar. He should serve you well.

Maybe another 1 at the end of the session if he's been attentive.

Also 1 a day for the maid who will make animals from your towels.

Maybe give 1 to the  gardener and ask him for a fresh cut Mango. Delicious.

Nothing like a store bought Mango. 

(No side effects - like plums)

Just to add to GarryRF's note on currency: U.S. dollars are subject to a 10% surcharge in the exchange, so Euros or pounds is definitely the choice for Americans traveling.

Canadian Dollars are welcome too.

There was a ban on using US Bank Cards when I was there in June.

Maybe someone has the latest on the situation.

It was still illegal for Cubans to have US$ currency.

They will take US$ as a tip - but they risk jail - a day per dollar !

U.S. government restrictions on U.S. credit and debit cards have been removed, and the MasterCard and Visa people have set up arrangements, but as of 12 Dec. 2015, the U.S. Embassy in Havana is noting that ATM and credit cards do not work yet.

One Florida bank has just announced agreement on a MasterCard branded debit card that will work when issued.

Thanks Gurus!! Good useful info for our trip :-)