7 things you need to know before going to Cuba

1. WiFi is VERY limited
But if you find yourself struggling to stay offline, WiFi is available in fancy hotel lobbies for a pricey fee. Buy a WiFi access card (it costs approx. 2CUC per hour) and use the log-in details to sign in to WiFi access points around town.

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2. Avoid tap water
Cuba is still a developing nation so stick to bottled water or you'll risk getting an upset tummy. I drank juices and ate salads and was fine BUT the restaurants I bought them from were high-quality and used bottle water to prepare the food. When in doubt, ask the waiter.

3. Barely any locals speak English
Brush up on some basic Spanish and it will be infinitely easier for you to get around. Tourists are still a novelty for Cubans (particularly in Havana) so you can expect to be stopped at every corner and asked about anything and everything!

4. Give donations instead of tipping
Pack your suitcase with gifts to hand out to helpful locals. Little items that mean nothing to us (toys, toothbrushes - even dried fruit) aren't so easily accessible in Cuba but the locals will be forever grateful to you.

5. You need to organise a tourist card before entering the country
The easiest (and cheapest way) to do this is by purchasing the card as you check in for the flight to Cuba (most people come via Mexico so there are counters you can purchase the tourist card from at the airport). The Cuban Embassy in Canberra offers a special "tourist visa" for Aussies, but this is costly and unnecessary.

6. You'll need a print-out of your travel insurance to show when you land
My contact for Cuba (who's a local) could not emphasise this enough. The Cuban government announced earlier this year tourists need proof they have organised adequate medical coverage BEFORE landing so make sure you carry it with you.

7. There are two different currencies in Cuba
Cuban Convertibles (CUC) are for tourists while Cuban pesos are for the locals. $1CUC is equivalent to around US$1 (you can expect to pay around $5-10 for a meal). You can exchange money (Canadian dollars, euros or pounds are the most common) at the airport (FYI, CUCs are not traded internationally so you can't get the currency before you arrive). It's best to carry around enough cash with you to last for the duration of the trip (you'll find large queues at banks and it's extremely rare to come across places that will accept a bank card) so make sure to budget enough for that time.

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