What currency is preferred in Cuba? Heading to Cayo Santa Maria on January 20th and want to make sure we have the proper currency. Also any tips? First time to Cuba.
Thanks

I’m going to the same place on the 21st. From what I’ve read there is 2 kinds of currency. A tourist currency and a local currency and you can only get it in the airport.

they will not take american. You can exchange at banks, there are no atms and no wifi , cuban currency

You can only purchase the currency while there. It is the convertible peso I believe. You can't bring it home either. No USD due to the embargo reinstated by Trump. Make sure your trip includes the departure tax. If it doesn't, set $ aside in your safe right away so you have it ready when you leave.

They will take American 1 dollar bills for tips and every hotel got bank there it’s better to change money there airport will rip u off

We exchanged at our resort for their currency exchange rate was decent, if you take the money home it cannot be converted so don’t exchange more than you need . We tipped in Canadian .

Kim it's illegal to take Cuban currency out of the country

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Kim totally illegal!

We just got back and each resorts have a bank they you can exchange Canadian money or do it at the airport they know what currency to use. Same rate we got both times.

We went to cayo santa maria about 1.5 years ago and we used both american and cuban. The atms gave cuban so thats mostly what we used.

Why would a Canadian take US money to Cuba??

Terra Bryks Posyluzny because some countries don’t take Canadian money so people bring American

Terra Bryks Posyluzny I likes Canadian money

Terra Bryks Posyluzny it used to be an official currency. USD and CUC were official for visitors. As well they had Cuban pesos for people who lived there and tourists were not allowed to use it

Many vendors in foreign countries won’t take Canadian currency.

Terra Bryks Posyluzny I didn’t miss the point. She wasn’t sure what currency you take so she asked a question. They used to only accept us currency. Trying to find an answer online still has mixed answers.

i was there Nov 30. They will take CDN, US(tips) or Cuban Peso which you can buy at the hotel or the airport. I took CDN and exchanged it at the hotel exchange office. Beautiful beach but take bug spray as the mosquitoes are nasty at night

Take CDN. Exchange at your hotel.

Just got back from Cayo Santa Maria before Xmas. They will accept CDN$ or US$ at the resorts and at duty free on the way home (no Cuban cash accepted after clearing security on the way home). Don't bother changing to US$, then getting Cuban pesos...just take CDN$. They will change CDN$ for pesos at the resorts to be used off resort. Take the excursion to Santa Clara and Remedios...very good look at Cuban history and every day life in Cuba.

Bill what about electricity, do I need a converter so I can charge things?

220 volts, but N American plug outlets at the resort I stayed at, Angsana Resort. My laptop and camera battery charger can handle 110 or 220.

Amanda hair straighteners are direct mains, they run on ac not dc just like hairdryers hence your fried a 110v device on 220. Basically check the label or engraving on everything to ensure its 110-240v compatible.

This one I brought it home I was going to return it because pretty sure it should not have fried

Bill you do not need a converter. If there is a tv in your room there is a normal plug

You can exchange money at the airport there, too.

USD

Bring Canadian and you’ll have to exchange to Cuban Convertible pesos while there.

Or just use your Canadian credit card.

Bring canadian and exchange to the convertible peso when you get there. Dont waste your money converting to USD then to the peso.

Bring Canadian dollars there and exchange for CUC at the resort. If you're exchanging large amounts than go to a bank in Cuba to save around 2% in exchange. If you're staying at an all inclusive, we didn't spend a lot of money, other than tips. If you booked with a travel company like west jet or sunwing they will have an agent that comes to meet with you who can book excursions with a credit card.
We tipped the gardener $5 for a coconut to drink out of the first day and he offered us one every day after with a big smile and a hello! Also never had to wait in line to get a drink but only tipped a buck.

Withdraw from ATM on credit card and pay it off as soon as you get home. You cannot get a better exchange rate than from the ATM. All the tourist info says to swap cad cash at the airport exchange when you arrive but their exchange rate is terrible, the hotels aren't much better and the bank is bad too, atm doesn't have a human trying to rip you off so it's the actual exchange rate (the cuc is 1 usd so it should be 1.3 etc)

Alex Load your credit card with cash then withdraw as you need it without charge!

I prefer to take Canadian dollars and exchange at the hotel. It is mostly for the tips and I always like to tip the gardeners. If you are booking an excursion you can always use your credit card.

Canadian

On a side note, you can take money out from the banks but not the ATMs. You must have your passport to do so. Don't take any credit card associated with US banks. This includes Costco Capital One

Rick yes you can take money out of ATMs, did it last time.

Take Canadian and exchange it at the airport. Bring ketchup (if you like it) and hot sauce, mrs dash is also good. Ask them to cook your meat very good because they generally under cook it. Don't drink the tap water! Be prepared for no toilet seats and no flushing of toilet paper, especially cayo santa maria as all of the sewage travels through the pipes built along the cause way (you'll see when you drive over it). If you can bring some small items (deodorant, body wash etc). for anyone working at the hotel they appreciate it alot as for them it's super expensive there. You'll absolutely love it the beaches are second to none! What resort are you staying at? We're heading back on Feb 4th for a week, go to Cayo Santa Maria every year

Jenn one thing to add I know when we were in Cayo coco they usually ran out of water or the truck was late ... chicken fingers fries etc also leave a note with items stating they can take them in case when they are leaving they get caught with it we were told by our your guide how they get checked on the way to and from work most beautiful beaches I have ever seen nicest people most bland food lol

Jenn we are stayin at the Grand Ashton

We've never had an issue with running out of water which is odd that it would happen in cayo coco. Cayo Santa maria your an hour and a half from any town etc. But yes, the food does change and there can be shortages especially with the embargos right now. I would suggest taking medications with you (benadryl, gravol, advil, immodium, hydralyte etc). should anyone get ill as it is a long drive to town

Mandy

Reece Seeeeee, told ya

Just returned from Santa Maria
Take Canadian currency& exchange st your resort
Exchange rate 2 weeks ago was 35%

American they want

Jeannett do not take American...

Mexico yes! Cuba No. I made this mistake my first time to Cuba. Lost money at my bank trading to American and than in Cuba trading to CUC. Canadian gets a better exchange in Cuba than US dollars.

Do not take USD. Idk why anyone would. The exchange is insane as they don’t want American money. Up until 2014 Americans weren’t even allowed in Cuba...now there are restrictions again. If you tip in USD you may as well just throw the tip in the trash. The rate they have to pay to exchange is very high.

Best beaches this was Cayo coco at pestana resort

Cucs

They have a bank tight there at resort

Get peso's when you get there.

Don’t take US waste of time and $

Exchange it here but most bank you will have to order it ahead of time. There is an exchange place in. Chinook mall

Bev lol you can't exchange CUC at any bank outside Cuba

Bev can't get cuban peso's outside of cuba.

Flew with sunwing. Beer stand in the airport parking lot and then beer cooler on the shuttle bus to the resort both took CDN$ and gave change in CDN$.

Bill mmm beer

US$ Didn't find anyplace that didn't take it

Jim why would you pay to exchange money into U S dollars and then pay a 10 % tax on converting it to cuc's. The Cuban government does not want u s $'a and charges a 10% exchange.

Did not see any Cuban money anywhere there. Locals like the US for the black market. Not going to debate it, loved it and will go again. Take whatever currency u want

Take Canadian but FYI You cant use CUCS at the airport anymore so before you go through security change them back to CAD!

The food is generally bland and flavourless. Take some spices with you! We do every time we go.

Lianewick heard that. My GF already has the condiments packed! Lol

Aishwarya Dev Pendyala Read the thread....

You pay a premium exchanging US dollars. Bring canadian.

Take CANADIAN money to exchange there. You cannot buy their currency here.

We stayed at the Pullman in Cayo Coco where both us and Canadian were accepted for exchange. But youre better off exchanging in Canadian if you dont have american because you'll lose exchanging here and there. Our hotel had great seasoned food so we didn't need spices or hot sauce. Cubans prefer American tips but Canadian is also appreciated. They also live chocolate because it's so expensive there and many Cuban employees have families so that's always a treat.
Ps- you might still find chocolate on clearance from Christmas clearance!

Bring Canadian cash this what we did it was he easiest they exchanged it all in Cuba super easy . Pack some spices you defiantly don't go for the food lol we also brought down tons of gifts especially feminine products and male products they can't get things down there like weekend like adult diapers pads tampons they were so grateful when we brought those down men's deodorant toothbrushes we literally went to the dollar store and spent $100 we even got stuff for the kids like colouring books and stuff. Best vacation ever lol I love Cuba

cuban pesos, and canadian dollars. Best resort Melia at cayo, coco cuba

Isn’t there a 25$ American fee to leave Cuba ?

Cab 3 years ago the Travel Agencies started to include the tax in the total price. Ask the agency rep in the resort.

Shannon Woodward

Peter Canadian funds only , they do use the usd as the rate exchange however ( which is ridiculous but they do) do not exchange at the hotel try to find a bank ( if you are by the Royalton there is one close)

Teri thanks! Canadian is what I am taking just to be safe.

I live in Cuba 6 months a year, bring Canadian an make your exchange at a cadeca ....casa de cambio ... Hoteles Will charge you more. If you have roaming or s Cuba line .... Type 8888 in your text ,and write CAMBIO for the exchange rate

Canadian $ work, and exchange in Cuba, as its best to tip in local Cuban $. You can exchange at the airport too. If you have US currency that’s accepted as well

The rule of thumb for money exchange in Cuba:
-best rate at the bank (don’t forget to take your passport with you!);
-reasonably in the resort, but counting the money you receive it’s a very good idea;
-worst rate at the airport.
You can get around with Canadian money (loonies or toonies for tips) until you have the chance to exchange Can$ for CUCs.