Cuba

As you know, I’m a pretty good little planner. I like having my ducks in a row when I travel. Not every moment of every trip planned, just documents ready, arrangements made and bags packed in Tetris-like fashion.

Cuba is probably the one country I’ve traveled to that having that planner personality is key. Except, of course, this the one time I haven’t exactly donned my Type-A hat.

Crap.

It’s been a crazy Q4 at work, absolutely the busiest, most exhausting time I’ve had at my job in the last 4 years. Combine that with traveling to see the hubster, family, a wedding and well…Cuba took a back seat.

Xanax, now please.

The following is an except from my brain currently:

Since our American credit and debit cards will not work in Cuba, we needed to figure out just how much cash to bring in order to exchange it. It took a lot of back and forth between the 4 of us on what we felt comfortable with based on conflicting information from friends and online. We didn’t want to be without cash (duh) but too much and it we’d be left with CUCs and no place to exchange them back.

You have to remember, Cuba is a third world country that still has sanctions against it from the US. Information seemingly changes weekly.

We knew we needed a tourist card (visa) that we could get at our boarding gate, but we heard just yesterday that we also needed medical insurance. Some places said to buy it separately and some places said to check your airline. Literally within the last 3 months, airlines now include your medical insurance fee with the cost of your flight. So as long as you have your boarding pass with you in Cuba, it serves as proof of medical insurance. Phew.

I still need to buy extra travel insurance, for my electronic valuables.

Which reminds me, I need to back up all my stuff: computer, iphone, photos, etc.

Which reminds me, I need to activate my SIM card.

But shit, AT&T still hasn’t sent me confirmation they’ve unlocked my phone!

SEE! I’m leaving in 2 days and still finalizing stuff for CUBA. This would be slightly better if I were heading to Japan or even Mexico, but Cuba feels like so much more because so little is known about American tourists there.

AH.

<insert Xanax now>

Do I pack that extra dress? (NO!)

Will my SIM work, will I have service in case of an emergency?

I heard the taxi drivers were on strike. How much would a taxi even cost?

I need to pack my protein bars so I don’t get hangry in case the customs line takes 2 hours like I’ve heard. Protecting my marriage and preventing hanger, go hand-in-hand.

Feliz Año Neuvo.

Feliz Año Neuvo.

Feliz Año Neuvo.

I promise myself I’m going to say Happy New Year in Spanish to someone while I’m there. Gotta talk myself into it.

I’ve printed enough maps and restaurants and monuments and emergency phone numbers to kill at least 3 trees.

We all got upgraded on our flight to Havana, so that’s exciting. I’m sure we’ll annoy half of first class with our giddy antics, but whatever, those people need to loosen up their bluetooth ear pieces anyway.

If we get upgraded on the way back, how will I know? No wi-fi. Do I have to wait in line at the airport. THE HORROR.

Girlfriends fly in today. Hubster flies in tomorrow. Nail appts made for tomorrow. Prosecco is ready in the fridge.

I think I’m good, right?

Right.

Oh, I haven’t seen the hubster in over a month. This is the longest we’ve ever gone without seeing each other.

Must make time for major make-out session. 

Adios, mis amigos!

You may remember, I contemplated going to Cuba last year on my first solo trip. While the US-Cuba traveling restrictions certainly improved, things were still a bit too unpredictable at that point with getting into Cuba that I didn’t feel confident in it. I knew it would ease up soon, but not soon enough for that trip.

So when we saw the regulations essentially lifted and US carriers now have the ability to fly to Cuba, I jumped at the chance to go with my two numbnut-travel gal pals AND the hubster. Yes, this timed perfectly with one of his few weeks off of work as a first year ER resident. Boo-yah.

So what do we do in the land of mojitos?

I have no idea.

Lies.

Travel Docs

Prior to boarding our flight, we must obtain a tourist card (should cost $25-50USD) which will specify what our itinerary is for the length of the stay and allow us to choose one of 12 reasons why we’re going. While I hear it’s not totally stringent, authority scares me, soooo I’ll be abiding by the rules. I need to carry my passport and tourist card with me at all times. The tourist card also serves as proof we have medical insurance too, since it is included in the fee to get one. We have a tour planned for nearly every day and an idea of what were doing for the days we’re not. This sort of stipulation doesn’t intimidate me much. When I traveled on a student visa while interning in the UK, there were similar obligations that needed to be met so I could stay longer than the normal 30-day tourist visa.

Accommodations

It’s a quick trip—5 days, 4 nights. I booked our flights through Delta. Yup, again, American carriers can now fly there. It’s a quick flight from where I live—1.5 hours to Cuban cigars and classic cars. We’re staying in Havana the whole time and doing a day trip to Las Terrazas for one morning and afternoon. I booked our stay through AirBnb because all decent hotels were already booked for New Years.

Oh yeah.

Minor detail. I’m going over New Years! We’ll say PISS OFF to 2016 and wholeheartedly welcome in 2017 on an island we were forbidden to be on as Americans a little less than 2 years ago.

Money

American credit cards still won’t work there, so you need to exchange money on arrival and pay for everything in Cuban Convertible Peso or CUC. Exchanging US Dollars incurs a lot more fees than other currencies, so we’ll be exchanging Euros to avoid those penalties. Ah, the benefits of having friends who travel for work all the time and are currently in Czech Republic.

Internet

From what I hear, there is very little internet, let alone Wi-Fi. So while the hubster is looking forward to disconnecting, I’m having a minor panic attack.

But how do I prove I’m in Cuba if I can’t check-in on Facebook!?

We actually need to print out maps or use that funny service we pay for called AAA and get maps! I need to make sure I have all the phone numbers I need because I can’t Google on the spot. My phone will be on roaming, so I’ll try to avoid it.

Actually, I’m sure it will be refreshing. I want to share with you how we booked our flights and landed our sweet AirBnb penthouse, but I’d like to actually get there and explore our laid-out itinerary before I offer it up as the best advice.

Can you pick up what I’m throwing down?

 

What are you most interested in seeing from a land that has not been overrun by American tourists yet?