Hi everyone, I have a couple of questions about currency for our trip to Cuba. Would it be better to bring $ Canadian and convert once there or should I buy $ US here and then convert? And should I buy pesos at the airport once arrived or wait until we get to the resort? One more thing... we're staying in Cayo Santa Maria and I'm wondering if anyone knows of worthwhile excursions in that area? Your help is much appreciated...

2/3 places i went to in cuba charged a premium when exchanging us money to pesos (and now you're paying around 1.19 competitively for us dollars so its definitely not worth it, plus the cuc is about 1.13ish right now). Depending on the resort you are staying at (i stayed at the royalton in cayo santa maria) there was a bank about a 2 min walk in the mini village within the resorts that were attached/near the royalton. so if the line up in too long at the airport and you may miss your bus don't fret.

It's better to trade your canadian money at the resort (which this one will do, or at least it did 4 years ago when I was there) we did one excursion to the sugar cane factory but it also included seeing cigar rolling and an old fashion steam engine took you a few km which was pretty neat- if it still exists I would recommend that excursion. Have fun!

Exchange Cdn currency at the airport. I went to Cayo Santa Maria 2 years ago and the dolphin excursion was amazing! We spent the day on a catamaran, went snorkeling, swam with the Dolphins, had a lobster lunch and then got dropped off on an island for a few hours to swim! Book it through your travel provider at the hotel and don't be afraid to ask for a deal if there's a group of you going - we got all 4 kids with us free and a discount on the 8 adults who went.
FYI - Be prepared - it's a long bus ride from the airport to the resort.

Hi Lisa. We were at the Memories in October and going back for New Years. The resort has a bank to exchange Canadian but you can tip in Canadian as well so no rush to exchange. We paid for excursions by credit card also. We did the Speed boats ( 2 person speed boats then a snorkelling excursion). Super fun. We also did the all day Catamaran -we sailed to a private island, then stopped for snorkelling and then also went to pet the dolphins. Another worthwhile adventure. This time we are going to do the jeep safari. Cayo Santa Maria is beautiful and people are amazing. A tip goes a long way!

Airport! Count your money at counter

Our resort took Cuban or American $ we did Havana / tropicana excursion arrived home late. But so with it. Don't miss it.

Also had currency exchange on premises

Wouldn't recommend taking US because it is very difficult for the Cuban people to exchange it and they get charged a premium for it. When we were in Santa Maria last year we were often approached by resort staff (and event the airline rep at the airport when we left) asking if we would exchange their US dollars for Canadian dollars as the US dollars were no good to them. And we bought our pesos at the airport when we landed. Our resort supposedly had a bank on site but they never had any money and we saw people lined up for hours in the hotel lobby waiting around for the bank. Enjoy your vacation!

take Canadian and have hotel convert. It is very difficult for them to convert US (for now)

I stayed at Melia Cayo Santa Maria and purchased my CUCs at the airport and hotel with no issues. I took the catamaran trip and had a really nice time. There are excursions available don't convert to US because they don't use US.

Take canadian to convert. The hotels have money exchange onsite and remember to always take ur passport with u when u exchange. I'm telling u because I don't want u to be in a hurry to get ur money and once u get to the counter she denies u and u have to run back to get ur passport. They can also take cash advances on Canadian Visa like TD (must be from a Canadian bank). I know dolphin swim, there r ppl who arrange these things on the side and r cheaper but u take the tour with everyone else. Cayo Santa maria is very isolated. Thank goodness for that pseudo village that kept us from going stir crazy

Also remember when using a credit card you will be charged in USD$ which will then be converted to CAD by the credit card company make sure credit card is issued by a Canadian bank , no capital one or Amex accepted !!

Go visit the santa clara where Che Guevara has a big mausoleum if you are interested by History. We discuss with a cab driver and were able to have a full day of visit outside the touristic flow for 40$. He brought us to a small factory of rhum, we visited a church that was closed etc. It depends what you are looking for but it was another way to see the city. We stayed at the melia santa maria. And hotel has an exchange bureau so take your bus and relax your way to the hotel without rushing looking for a bureau de change.

Definitely Canadian money. U.S. has a penalty attached to it as someone else mentioned. We stayed in Varadero, but the rate at our hotel was as good as the airport and so much more convenient. If you hold up your bus because you are getting money, you will get some evil eyes as you board!

I would bring Canadian with you to Cuba and get them changed to the Cuban Convertable Peso ( CSU ) The CSU runs at the same exchange rate as the USD. There is a 10% penalty for exchanging USD in Cuba ( Im not sure if the recent agreement changed that but I doubt it ) http://www.tripadvisor.ca/.../Cuba:Caribbean:Money...

The Coin & Currency exchange in Mississauga stocks Cuban Pesos and has a good rate 905-949-2646

Excursions - jeep safari and do a trip to Havana. Once Cuba becomes Americanized, it will never be the same again

I was just there and exchanged my CDN at the airport for CUC. The bus will wait for you. My friend didn't exchange enough and we ended up at a bank, which was by far the cheapest rate, but we stopped there as a favor on the way to an excursion, otherwise you may have to pay for a cab. The hotel was the least cost effective but not that bad. DONT tip in CDN. The banks won't change CDN change, only bills so you stick the workers with having to save up and then harass tourists to change it. Enjoy your trip!

Do not bother coverting into USD. Buying Cupes with Canadian is preferable. The hotel should have an exchange bar.

exchange at the airport, when I was there last year the hotel ran out of money on the second day and a lot of people had problems, also a lot of the staff has Canadian money as tips and were trying to convert it with other travelers..they prefer CUC..and I exchanged Cdn$ why pay for two conversions..doesn't make sense..

Like everyone has said, convert your Canadian at the airport or your hotel. One thing, make sure your Cdn currency is clean with nothing written on it and not ripped otherwise they won't accept it. Their bank is very picky and they may not be able to exchange any damaged currency.

A lot of places (exchanges) in Cuba wouldn't accept the USD because of the embargo. Now that there are talks going on perhaps they will, but I wouldn't chance it. The Convertible Peso is usually on par with the USD.

Thank you everybody for your great advice. All I need to do now is pack...

Bring bug spray, mosquitoes can be bad.

yes, and should I bring something to spray the room with? Or maybe I'll just roll up a towel for the bottom of the door. I'm also wondering if anyone has been to Guadalacarva (sp) and if it's worth the trip?

Just bring those coils and keep your doors and windows closed, it should be fine. Some people on another website recommended something you can buy in Cuba that seems to work well called "Repel"...not sure if it's still available, the posts are from 2011 http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g670039-i12236...

Why are mosquitos so prevalent there, I wonder? I've never had a problem anywhere else south in my travels.

The Cayos are a series of keys or quays (linked islands) that are swampy...I was in Cayo Coco and got quite a few bites. I saw people come up from the beach at dusk and they were covered in mosquitoes just feeding on them (I don't think they realized it as they were drunk and went for a night time swim). Just be careful at dawn and dusk. Once the sun is high in the sky and everything dries out they go away and at night after dusk they go away too, but are still there. If you have a good breeze it will keep them away...but it's still swamp land, so be prepared. Don't eat at dusk except in an enclosed restaurant or spray yourself liberally and then shower it off before you go to bed. If you do eat at an outside restaurant, maybe bring a couple coils with you and balance them in beer bottles around the bottom of the table. It sounds bothersome, but everything about the Cayos are so beautiful you won't regret it...just bring mosquito stuff. I also found this ointment that heals the bites fast and takes away the itch. It's called Calmospetine, it has calmine in it, but is not runny like calmine. You can get it at any drugstore in Canada (it's in a tube and you may have to ask the pharmacist for it), it was originally intended for severe diaper rash but works like a charm. I used it in the Cayo's and in Thailand, saved my life.

Thanks for the good advice Bonnie. My ex is freaking out about my boys getting bitten and cholera, but I don't think they've really had a problem with that since 2012. I will definitely bring some coils as well and that ointment if I can find it.

Bring Canadians $$

I wouldn't worry about cholera. A 24 hour bug is more likely, just drink bottled water and avoid the usual stuff that you shouldn't eat when travelling, anything rinsed in local water and not cooked (salads, fruits cut up). My doctor recommended a probiotic called Align that's pretty good. I use it only when I travel and haven't gotten sick since I started using it. It's kind of expensive, about $39 for a blister pack of 28, but you can get it on sale for $29. Doesn't need refrigeration so you can keep it in your luggage.

Make sure you brush your teeth with bottled water too! My Mom brushed her teeth with the tap water and got sick for 24 hours.

I've been to a travel health clinic and they weren't concerned about cholera. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/.../notices-avis-eng.php...

I'm wondering if it was malaria that Lisa was referring to? Cholera is more a 3rd world problem, Cuba is not really considered 3rd world. No problems with malaria either. It's kind of like going to Florida, without the Americans (for now...)

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/.../country-pays-eng.php...

just returnded from that resort area begining of Dec Cubans have to pay a levy on the US dollar,they really appreciate Canadian, but unfortunately Not coin. i did not see the exchange bank until enroute home, but the difference from airport peso-hotel pesco was very little difference. perhaps 1-2 pesco difference. dont waste your time exchanging, most places take Cuban pesco/canadian dollar. buddy on bus ride to island has beer 2/$5; pesco or Canadian... Not much to do on island as is 50km to mainland,nobody to bug you on beach-so nice.
enjoy your trip- really loved the area.

The money exchange in the Cayo Coco airport is right outside the doors from where you collect your luggage (on the way to your resort bus or van) to your left, Go there right away and send your kids and husband to the bus to make sure the bus waits for you.

I didn't realize there might be a problem with their water and fruit there...
I thought it was ok there, but pretty much what to expect in Mexico. In any case, thanks so much to everybody for your kind advice. It's been a great help.

I would be careful with any water or raw vegetables or fruit that are rinsed in water anywhere in the world. It's not so much a problem just that we're not used to the bacteria in their water, just as Cubans might have a problem with our water because it would contain bacteria they're not used to. Better to drink and brush teeth with bottled then risk a 24 hour bug. There will be plenty of bottled water provided at the resort, no worries. They may tell you that the water is treated, but I wouldn't risk it.

Go to a travel medical clinic and they will advise you of any concerns, plus advise you if any medical issues/medication your on will cause a problem. I've never been sick any time I've traveled. Spending $$ on a trip isn't worth the risk of getting sick.

I didn't know there was such a thing. I don't know if one exists around my area (Niagara) but I'll look into it. Thank you.

Bonnie not everywhere in the world has water that will make you sick, just certain countries/areas have the bacteria that will do it (Mexico being a big one).

Yes I know, North America is good, most of Europe is good. I've travelled in Thailand and Thai's won't even drink their tap water, same in Morocco. Just to be safe I always drink bottled...don't want to end up with a 24 hour bug. Lots of people only drink bottled, even in Canada.

I do

https://www.niagararegion.ca/.../travel/appointments.aspx

I am not sure if Cayo Santa Maria is a lot different from Varadero (I assume it is) as we were able to drink the tap water there. We did use bottled because it was stocked in our fridge, but no issues regarding brushing teeth. As well, there were no mosquitos when we went in November. I think it makes a big difference if you are going in rainy season or not. My parents travel to Cuba often, to all of the resort areas and they are super cautious people... they have never worried about any of the things that are mentioned above. Don't panic, just go and have a great time!

Just got back from the same resort, you will have a blast. Drink and brush with bottled water and you should be fine. We weren't bothered by mosquitoes but some of us were bitten by no see ums. All the beds have mosquito netting around them if you want to use it. Relax and have fun.

Exchange at the hotel bank .. Airport money exchange is always more from my experience. Don't bother with American because they can't exchange it to their currency ..

do not buy an exvcurison but ask at the hotel about dolphin and seal show, it costs only 5$ per person and taxi to there is around 5$ also. great experiance. also if you want to go to santa clara dont buy the tour ask a staff at the hotel for a taxi that does that tour, you start your jounrey later when you want and finish earlier and its cheaper, we paid 100 $ for 2 instead of 75$ each left at 10:30 instead of 7:30 and arrived an hour earlier than the bus.. a must