The question arises often as to which type of traveler's
check are accepted in Cuba. Most who offer a response are
aware that American Express TC's are not accepted. Most
suggest VISA or Mastercard.
Very few travelers seem to be aware that travelers check
issued by banks in the United States are acceptable. I have
encountered no problems whatsoever in cashing VISA TC's in
Havana. Perhaps they could present a problem in smaller
cities, but not in Havana. That was the situation in
1996-97-98-99.
A passport was never needed for identification. I always
used a driver's license issued by a southern state.
Identification will also be needed when purchasing with a
$50 or $100 dollar bill.
The bank or the store will also ask for your local address
and make note of it for the records. I have not seen a
guidebook to Cuba that is aware of the fact that traveler's
check issued by U.S. banks are now acceptable in Cuba.
That is a bit of misinformaiton that will take time to
correct.
The national banks in Havana will charge 2% to cash the
checks, and the international benks will charge 3%. An
example of each can be found on linea street one block apart
near the Malecon. One can also go to the bank in the Havana
Libre Hotel on avenue L.
The national bank on the corner of linea and avenue M seldom
has a line. The international bank one block further down
usually does. The tellers will ask you what denominations
you want for the bills. They will not ask whether you want
dollars or pesos. You will receive dollars, which is the
currency of choice in Cuba.
The traveler should take as much cash as he feels is safe,
and also have an ample supply of VISA or Mastercard
travelers checks.
The traveler should also be aware that the rules have
changed greatly in Cuba in recent months. Things are now
illegal which were acceptable until late in the year in
1998.
Dr. Castro made a speech in January 1999 inwhich he outlined
many of the proposed changes. These changes are referred to
in the media and on the internet as the 'crackdown in
Cuba'.
One of the most noticeable changes is that interaction by
Cubans with foreigners has been curtailed greatly. The
visitor will find that friends whom he has known for years
may now be reluctant to be seen in public with him.
The Cuban friend who happens to be a female will be
considered a jinetera (prostitute), specially if she happens
to be attractive.
The Cuban friends who are males will be considered hustlers
who may be attempting to sell cigars, find you a taxi, or
get you an apartment. Some Cubans who are young may be
considered jineteros (male prostitutes) because of their
appearance, behavior, or actions.
The proposed changes have enormous consequences for the
Cubans. Hustlers who are considered pimps are subject to a
prison sentence of up to 20 years. The death sentence has
been proposed for those found guilty of corrupting the
morals of a person under the age of 16.
The Cubans who rent an apartment without having a state
license can be subject to a fine of $1,000. The person also
risks the loss of the apartment. Repeat offenses will find
the state confiscating the apartment.
The apartment owner who allows the apartment to be used for
prostitution can also lose it. This could be a situation
inwhich the foreigner who rents the apartment returns at
night with a female without the knowledge of the owner. The
police or a member of the neighborhood watch committe could
assume it was prostitution. It would be difficult for the
owner to prove otherwise.
Any type of interaction on a personal level has been greatly
limited. Many Cubans are reluctant to risk a fine,
interrogation, or a prison sentence for talking with or
being seen with a foreigner.
These changes should be considered when making travel plans
for Cuba. The country is still a wonderful place to visit,
but the traveler who hopes to meet, talk with, visit and get
to know the locals will find his task a bit more difficult.
Such interaction can be unpleasant or even dangerous for the
Cubans.
Those who are traveling to Cuba as part of a tour group may
find the changes much for the better. The Cuban government
is promoting the changes under the guise of making Cuba
safer for the tourists.
The changes could mean fewer purse snatching, less petty
theft, and fewer hustlers wanting to sell cigars to the
tourists. It could and has had an obvious impact on the
number of females who appear to be jineteras on the street
of Havana. Apparently the same thing has happened in most
cities in Cuba.
The members of tour groups will most llikely not be pestered
as often byhustlers, panhandlers, beggers, and other
offering their services. Some will find this more to their
liking as they listen to the canned speeches of their tour
guides.
Others will long for the time when they could meet, listen
to, and talk freely with the Cubans. This becomes very
important for those doing any type of research, and even
more important for those doing any media coverage of the
country.
Cuba is a whole new ballgame, but it is still a great game!!
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Correct, American checks ARE quite easy too cash in Habana.
They are cashed through Mexican banks. HOWEVER, and its a
big however, if they are stolen, like mine were (Visa and
Amex), you cannot have them replaced until you leave Cuba,
which can be, believe me, a major headache. Thomas Cook has
an office in Habana...use Thomas Cook checks.
The law was not meant to discourage relations between Cubans
and Tourists but was aimed against prostitution.
It is the third at least.
My girlfriend in Habana will spend two weeks vacations with
me in a LEGAL Casa Particular,with a document provided by
her nearest police station stating that she is an honest
working woman.
That's it
I certainly hope things work out well for you, Pierre. I
have heard of the document to which you refer. I was in Cuba
for three weeks in February and March, 1999, and a good
friend from Canada was also there. He told me about the
certificate and indicated that it would cost $150. He and a
group of investors are in the process of establishing a
multi-million dollar business in Cuba.
A few days after telling me about the certificte, he
returned to my apartment. He had talked with the Canadian
ambassador to Cuba, or at least with someone in that office,
and had received bad news.
The proposal for this certificate had received a very
hostile reception from the Cuban authorities. They accused
the Canadian representative of attempting to abet and
facilitate prostitution.
My friend was prepared to pay the $150 for the license or
certificate but was not able to do so. During the remainder
of his stay in Cuba, he was limited to being with his
girlfriend during the day and a limited amount of time at
the club where she is employed as a dancer.
My friend's girlfriend was afraid of being seen with him on
the streets, in stores and shops, or at restaurants. Their
relationship is an ongoing one of more than two years
standing.
The information that I have about the license is second-hand
information. I have no personal experience with it, but I
trust my friend, and I have complete confidence in the
source of his information.
I offer my best wishes that you will find that your
information is completely valid and that mine was in error.
Do you know someone who has actually received such a
license?
The information came from my girlfriend in Habana not a
young lady but a woman of 37 years old.
A document costing $150 US???Never heard of such but a
statement from the nearest police station that she is an
honest woman on her vacation from work.
Do not forget that I travel at the end of June when Cubans
are starting to take their vacations.
There are 11 millions of them...Police included....
I could not reached her today by telephone but her aunt
(Canadian) is presently in Cuba and will provide me more
info...next week end
Meanwhile,I will verify with the Cuban Consulate in Montreal
to reassure myself that she is on safe ground.
Your comments also surprise me because last February some
friends of mine were bringing along a package for a young
doctor(female) aand she was accepted in the hotel lobby.
I sincerely think that Cuba or Dr Castro,is not against good
relations but Cubans after the Tourists for their $.
This law as well as 2 before is also a way to show to other
Caribean Countries which deals economicaly with Cuba and
looses tourists to Cuba,that the latest is taken measures
against prostitution.
May I correct you on 2 statements?
A Cuban jinetera (prostitute) ends up in prison for 2 years.
A Cuban owner of an illegal Casa Particular where
prostitution was encouraged,looses his house and ends up in
jail for 20 years...
I have been travelling to Cuba since 1994 and
honestly,nothing changes on permanent basis on these
matters.
As per Travellers Cheques,Credit Cards issued by US
Banks,you have to understand that the Embargo is from US not
from Cuba.
I cannot recommend the use of such.Some tourists may end up
without money.
If ever a traveller cheque or a credit card invoice is
refused by a US Bank,other tourists will have problems.
In US,Thomas Cook may be the solution but many Canadians
uses only Visa Travellers cheques or Master Card issued by a
Canadian Bank.
Considering the commission requested by Cuban Banks,I
personnaly prefer to transfer my money to a Banco Popular in
Cuba that I recuperate when I get there.
After a few phone calls,heard that my girlfriend obtained
such a document and will be waiting at the airport.
Apparently my name is also included on the document...the
price......have not heard of it but if one definitively in
pesos for administration fees.
Going to our rented apartment is also not a problem and
eating a few meals at hotels,none either.
As for Canadian Investors who where requested to pay $150...
Put it this way.They were not the first trying to pull a
trick and trying to get away with it...
Cuba is a country of rumors and believe me or not,only by
going there,you will know the veracity of rumors.
The document my girlfriend will be carrying with her is not
issued by police but her neighborhood CDR,and there is no
cost to it.
Cuban authorities have nothing against Love and
Friendship.They make $ with that.
Some friends of mine married Cuban women in Cuba and do you
know how much thay had to pay for a 45 minutes ceremony?
$ 750.00 US while 2 Cubans will manage the same with 50
pesos ($2.50 US),will receive 24 beers,a bottle of Rum and a
huge cake....
As for those Canadians,they should have asked their
girlfriends to get the proper document,not their ambassy.If
the latest could not or would not,well,there is a reason for
it
You say that two Cubans can get married for 50 pesos ($2.50)
and will receive 24 beers, a bottle of rum, and a huge cake
Jean Pierre? You are totally full of SHIT!!!! Beer costs
sixty five cents (mayabe) or severnty five cents (buccanero
negro) and seven year Havana Club rum $6.40 at the grocery
store. And for $2.50 those Cubans are going to get all of
that plus a huge cake. I hope no one out there is dumb
enough to believe that stupid shit from you. First you say
that the police are going to give you a paper saying your
girlfriend is an honest woman. How in the world are they
going to know she is an honest woman? Does she have a
birthmark that tells them this? I bet you can look at people
in a department store and tell which one is honest and which
one is a thief. You next tell us that the paper comes from
the CDR, not the police. You need to get with the program
pierre if you want us to believe that you know so much about
Cuba.
You say that Cuba is not against good relations but Cubans
after the tourists for their dollars. Both statements are
full of shit. Cuba has not shown any regard for good
relations. And you're going to have to look long and hard to
find a Cuban who is not after the tourist dollar. it is
obvious you don't know much about Cuba.