Just booked last-minute A/I trip Monday to Varadero at the 5* Melia Marina. Seems like a pretty decent resort. Our first time to Cuba (have done Cancun/Maya a couple times). Not overly experienced traveller here lol.
Wondering if anyone could share any experiences in Cuba and tips for things to do and ways to not overpay for them. What is there to do outside the resort?
Given is a day trip to Havana perhaps with a private tour guide which we've been quoted $100 cdn ea.
Where else would we want to visit within a half day/day of the area? Zip line? Hiking? Snorkelling? Is it ok to rent a car/jeep to tour around or stick to a scooter to Varadero?
Also, is better to use cdn $,
CUC or a combination of both? Where would be the best rate for exchanging cdn to CUC?
Any tips or info on this resort, the practice of gifting and anything else that helpful would be appreciated!
Thank you!

Use cuc and exchange at the airport,is way cheaper there,I've stayed there before,if you want message me for some tricks

Bring lots of Ibuprofen and give it to a church or other organization for non black market distribution. They have very little and are so darn happy for the gift.

we did a jeep trip that took us to more rural areas as well as a farm. It was great

Is it easy to rent a car/jeep there, less sketchy than México? I've heard rumours...

Rob I wouldn't drive in Cuba. Maybe rent a scooter to travel into varadero but I would hire out a driver to take you anywhere.

Definitely do a day trip to Havana. We did a boat ride just outside of town (by the tall bridge) that was cool.
I wasn't a fan of the jeep trip. Did that last time I was there.
Go snorkelling in the bay of pigs area if you can. It's stunning.
Glass bottom boat in varadero was good as well.

Don't rent a vehicle. Hire drivers. Remember it's still a Communist country.

Rob we went with a group organized thru air canada or such. A ton of fun - full day, went snorkeling, swimming in a cave, boat trip down a river, drove thru backroads, went to farm, great lunch there, stopped and bought fresh mangoes at a road side stand, drove thru backstreets in a village etc.
we also went to Havana - would go back in a heart beat but not with a group - go private so you can spend time wandering. Really interesting city. If you have a chance, stop on the road to Havana for pina colada in a pineapple and ask for 7yr rum rather than standard 3yr. Absolute heaven!

We were told that if you are driving a vehicle and hurt a citizen of Cuba you are required to support that persons family for the time they are unable to make a living. Not sure how true that is but why take the chance, hire a local person to be your guide, sit back and enjoy seeing the country!

Go to the Tropicana show in Havana, it's fantastic!!

I loved the Jolly Roger katamaran trip. They cook fresh lobster on board.

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Go to the Beatles restaurant/bar in Varadero it's great! The bands are fantastic. I did the jeep safari it was a great way to see the country side. (someone in your group drives - but you play follow the leader). I did Zip lining, snorkelling, Havana, & the Market in Varadero by myself. Alcohol & cigars are pretty much the same price anywhere ( if not bootleg). Cuba is safe, the people are friendly.
I usually bring an extra suitcase with me filled with gum, tooth paste, ibuprofen, crank flashlights. One thing I was ask for a few times was headsets/ear buds for music. No school supplies are required as the government gives them plenty for schooling.
As for over spending comment, Remember where you are they have way less than us. They are given food stamps that don't provide milk etc. They are told where to shop for groceries.
Hopefully this helped

Yes, the Beatles restaurant is great. It actually had the best food in Varadero. My daughter and I stayed at Beny's B&B which was a block from the beach and two from Beatles. We did a tour of a cenote, another town (forget which name) and a couple of restaurants. We went to Havana but didn't like it. If you have hotel shampoos, etc., they are great for tipping. Their stores don't have much in them.

Just came back from varadero - did the jeep safari and booked it through air canada at the resort - it was fun to be able to drive around and not be stuck in a bus ... You're in a "caravan" of jeeps so I never once felt unsafe. When we were driving through the towns or rural areas there were lots of kids waving and some People in our group slowly drove by to pass out small gifts like pens, kids items soap etc or even feminine hygiene products.... Stuff that's expensive or hard to get in Cuba. They seemed to appreciate it
Bring your own toilet paper if you're travelling outside of your resort and some stomach relief meds (Pepto, immodium etc).
I changed both cdn and usd at the resort and they gave a better rate for cdn.
Varadero was nice, but I found it to be really a tourist town... Same gift shops all over. But the food in town was much better than the resort.
Have fun!

Yes bring little pkg of Kleenex because the public areas may not have tissue or you pay for a few squares. I brought Kleenex pkg & hand sanitizer

Havana a must see city

We just came back from our first trip to Cuba 8 weeks ago. We stayed at the Melia Marina. You just have to realize that the star ratings of resorts there are higher than what we would rate them here. Our best bet was to hire a Taxi (English speaking driver
) and have them take you on a tour. It cost us $40, for a 4 hour trip to Havanna, and the driver was more than willing to show us lots about the culture, and historic information, and hidden gems. He would also drop us off for shopping and then come back and pick us up at a selected time. It was awesome.

This is what we did the first time to Cuba, took a cab to Havana and the driver acted as our tour guide. Even waited while we did some shopping. Second time we rented a car and cruised around on our own, which is what I usually do on trips. I prefer that as you can go at your own pace and go anywhere you want.

Janet Freear where did you rent a car and where did you drive around with it? Was it expensive?

We rented it from the resort. They had a rental booth in the lobby. It was a bit expensive, yes, roughly $90/ day (with insurance) but to us it was well worth it.

We were at Cayo Santa Maria this last time so didn't make it to Havana as it was too far but we drove onto the main island and went to a few small towns and just drove around randomly. It was eye opening and very humbling to see the real Cuba, not the touristy Cuba.

Janet Freear and you felt safe driving around? Not worried about the police/thieves?

Not at all. Even the towns we stopped at in the middle of nowhere, never felt worried at all. People were always very nice and friendly. Had no issues with police as we didn't come across any. Definitely felt safer driving around Cuba than any time I rented one in mexico.

Just be sure and take the Taxi that is yellow
The staff at the Melia assisted us in getting one that was ....I guess, monitored by the government. But we also saw and talked to people who took the awesome old cars, and felt very safe and had a great time.

Don't tip with Canadian coins. The staff can not use them. They accept American dollars if your looking for easy tip money. We have been there 4 times and would help friends out by trading their coins to bills so they could take to the bank.

Are you sure you're not thinking of Mexico? I've never been able to use American dollars for tipping in Cuba. Cubans only except the CUC unless it's changed?

Nope our family only went to Cuba it was our favourite place. We always thought it was funny they wanted usd when they had nothing to do with the us. CUC is always good but many try to tip with Canadian dollars which they can't use in coin form

Do the jeep trip...well worth the cost...also take little trinkets to hand out to kids along the way

We also did the jeep trip and loved it! Although we were told to give things to the hotel staff for their families but not the kids on the jeep trip as it encourages the parents to pull the kids out of school to beg (and look cute). This was told to us by local friends who work and live there. Just the information we collected over 4 trips.

I have been to Cuba a couple of times and I would recommend taking things for your room cleaner for each day and just leave on the bed. Suggestions could be hair products, pads of paper, pens, or anything as they can be traded as well. People are extremely poor but very nice. The hotel tours to Havana are great and worth the money. I scuba dove off the Bay of Pigs and it was great if you are interested in that- booked thru hotel.

Bring toilet paper where ever you go

I used an amazing private taxi and tour guide (old school car, English speaking guide). They were both in their thirties and it felt just like hanging out with your Cuban friends for the day. That way we could make our Havana day our own, and a bit less typical! Can forward you info if you want!

If you don't mind we would appreciate that information for ourselves also. Please pm. Thank you

I love the info as well please! I'm headed there tomorrow as well haha

I would love this information as well. Can you pm me? Thank you.

Yes please!

Krystal same resort? See you on the plane lol

Krystal maybe we can share a private car to Havana?

No actually, I'm staying at Iberostar playa Alameda

Rob Pm me! I'm just about to leave for work! But yes, let's figure something out!

His name is Darien Paez Rodriguez. I just emailed him to check and see if he's around, but his email is: <[email protected]
He was super nice, very casual.

Cuban pesos for tipping.

Toilet paper, sadly even in the resort bathrooms too.

Oh and ketchup/mustard/mayo id you like those things, we could not find that stuff anywhere and with all the fries and hotdogs they serve.... Cubans like their baseball foods
sup r nice people.

Also I was told not to rent a vehicle but to get a driver. Cuba is not like Mexico and some things are very different. There are not a ton of tourist attractions. The medical system and the people are great but they are quite poor.

I've rented a car there and had zero issues other than the car was pretty beat up lol I do this on all my trips and have never had problems. I prefer it that way as I can do and go wherever I want, on my own time.

when we were there someone was arrested for getting in an accident and they were stuck in jail. It is a different world so people need to be aware before renting. I am sure that many do so and are just fine but awareness is important

I've been twice. When I was I. Varadero we got to know our entertainment staff and we got the host of the entertainment crew to take us on a tour of Old Havana. WOW!. What an experience. there were 6 of us and we paid $140 for all of us all day. I didn't use anything but the Cuban dollar. I also brought things with me like toiletries/ colouring books etc.. dollar store is great for that stuff. Really try and get to know the people and you will be shown a lot of the cool local things to do

We love Cuba! Take the double decker bus to Varadero. Fun to sit up top and go into all the resorts. Definately do the day trip to Havana and Tropicana show. Long day but soo worth it. Best catamaran trip to Cayo Blanco! A must do! Take your bubba keg for drinks. Pringles and chocolate bars for snacks! We have even take. Clamato juice if you like ceasers
. Best pins coladas. Best rum and cigars. Beautiful beach and amazing people. Have always felt soo safe. They love kids clothes, shoes, work gloves, hats, sunglasses, feminine products, razors. They have to pool their tip $. But gifts are theirs to keep and trade as they like. Have a great trip! Take Heinz ketchup and Frank's hot sauce!

I heard going to a baseball game is awesome if like that kind of event. Just hire a driver from your resort. We went snorkeling at bay of pigs. The drive across the island is very interesting as get to see lots of the country side. We just booked private excursion through our hotel.

JEEP TOUR FOR SURE.....HAVANA NOT REALLY WORTH IT LONG TRIP TO ME WAISTED DAY BUT SNORKLING TOUR IS FUN BUT SEARCH ONCE THERE TAKE BUS DOWNTOWN AND ASK LOCALS ALWAYS BARGEN . AND BRING A CASE OF COKE OR PEPSI CUZ THERES DOESNT TASTE THE SAME.LOL

Their coke is different because it is made in Mexico and they use different sugar additives

The resort food is very bland. Take salt, ketchup, hot sauce. The town of Varadero is really small, so definitely go to Havana. I wish I would have spent more than a day there. However the Beatles bar in Varadero is really fun. As mentioned before, do not tip in Canadian coins as the staff are not able to use them/exchange them. USD dollars are okay to tip with, but each person has a limit in how much currency they are allowed to exchange per month. They best rate I found for concerting was at a Scotia Bank in Havana. Be sure to bring photo ID (not photocopies) to be able to get into the bank. The beaches are gorgeous there and the sand is so soft.

I enjoyed the Havana trip. The tour guide answered questions about anything and everything on the way there and back. Was eye opening. Bring Ketchup, mustard and maybe some Mrs Dash. Food was very bland.

Take Dukoral before you go and enjoy!

We rented a car for the month that we were in Cuba and travels all over Havana bay of pigs and all the smaller towns between and we had no issues at all . Would do it again .

How much does it work out to per day?

I have no idea Rob .

Bev thx

For tours from the Veradero area I highly recommend Josel from http://ilovecuba.webs.com A great guy that's very knowledgeable with excellent English.
ILOVECUBA.WEBS.COM
I LOVE CUBA: Tours

Only issue is he's like $350 for 2 people for a day tour

Following

Thanks everyone for the invaluable tips and information and Chris Myden for making this forum possible!

Melia marina is the WORST I've ever stayed at. It is so far away from the centre of town (takes like 45 each way by bus to get anywhere). The service is awful. If you can switch, do it. And skip varadero. Just go straight to Havana

That's first negative comment I've heard about this resort. Pretty sure not going to switch on the way there!

Rob maybe they have gotten better in the last 2 years ... but when I went. Awful experience