What is the best currency to bring to Cuba?

Canadian dollars

Us dollars are charged a surcharge in Cuba but noit Canadian dollars. You will lose on the exchange to US dollars then again when you convert to Cuban Convertible pesos.

That's not what I found when I was there.

I'd disagree about USD.
Especially in cayo santa Maria .
Canadian was preferred.
There is not a whole lot of shopping to do there anyways.
Take Canadian and only change currency once.

They have a charge on CND and USD..... best to get a few CUC AT The airport then find an International Bank....

CDN$

Canadian dollars: exchange at the airport + be prepared to line up at banks. Also remember that you can't take CUC out of the country with you when you leave (or at least, have it converted outside Cuba). Here's a good link: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/.../Cuba:Caribbean:Money...
TRIPADVISOR.CA
Cuba: Money Misconceptions - tripadvisor

Great article!!!

Euros. There is no surcharge for using US dollars but i did find that it got you further.

Euros or CDN dollars. We found that there were several places that would accept Canadian money if we didn't have enough CUC, but they were less welcoming to US dollars.

Also, when you get to the airport - you'll notice there's an exhange teller right when you walk outside. But if you keep walking a little farther to the right - there's another one that has a bit of a shorter lineup.

Which airport?

Oh shoot - I should have mentioned Varadero.

Canadian

Don't tip with Cdn coins. They cannot easily exchange coins for Cuban currency. If you don't have cuc's, this is probably the only time to use US bills.....At least they can exchange US dollars.

I had a bartender on the beach that had a loonie and she was looking to trade it. It's no good to them

At the airport currency exchange has a very high penalty on cnd. What i found useful is use the bank machine. At the end your getting charge in usd on the conversion rate.

My husband's business partner was just there, and he said people were avoiding USD tips like the plague. One guy was trying to get rid of $1 and couldn't.

Thx to Trump

Krueggerand

I brought about 40 $1.00 bills & about $300 cash (US currency) & the rest, you can throw on Visa

This is. Probably just in a resort and in Varadero. Other parts of Cuba isnt really that card friendly besides Havana.

Only a visa not associated with a US bank.

Following going to Cayo Santa Maria in 2 weeks.

Where are you staying?

At the Dhawa Santa Maria

We were in santa Maria in January .
Bring Canadian and exchange at the airport.
The hotel should exchange as well.

Ok thanks, did u tip in cuc?

Tip in CUC if you can.

Thanks

Lynnette I did as much as I could. The bank at the hotel ran out of CUC for two days. WE then tried to go to the market and the bank closed at 230pm there. So i did tip at my al a carts with the few $5.oo can bills I had. I also had a few US bills I had. It was that or no tipping until we got more. I am going back in April and will exchange all I need at the airport so I know i have it.

Excursions are cheaper to purchase on the plane and you don't need to pick a day for them. They are charged in Canadian on the plane as well so there is that savings. At the hotel they are charged in USD ( which i find odd) . We tipped about $150 for the week and spent about $50 on trinkets rum and cigars.

Thanks so much for all the info, it's been 20+ yrs since I've been to Cuba. I've been to Varadero, Havana, Cayo coco but it's my first time to Santa Maria but my bf first time to Cuba, is there any where or any one excursion that would be recommended or is there something that is a must see in that area??

There is not really a lot in the area per say. We did the sugar, rum, cigar tour. It was a good day but longer than it needed to be. You visit a part of the town you drive through on your way to the resort.
I think I would pay for a private car to take me back to the airport and explore on my way back. (The car would have to stay with us with our luggage)
If you look up excursions here it will give you an idea
http://www.cayosantamaria.info/excursions.html
CAYOSANTAMARIA.INFO
Tours & Excursions ! Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba

Ok thanks I'll look and see. Once again thanks for all the info. We looked at maybe going to Santa Clara or Trinidad for a day but we'll see maybe could get a private car and tour.

I think Trinidad would be good.

It's really easy to travel around Cuba, it's an amazing country! Trinidad was gorgeous! Ask about TAXI Colectivos - they are private cars that are shared with other tourists

Thank you, would I ask about the Taxi Colectivos at the hotel?

We found ours either in town, or by asking locals (but I speak Spanish) I'm sure your hotel will be able to help you out!

The hotel usually will also change $ for you in not too large a denomination

I spent 50$ Canadian when I went to Cuba(not much shopping). No one would take usd but that was 5 years ago.

Spent 2000 cnd for 3 weeks there but did not stay at an all inclusive. Was also travelling around

Canadian, then you have to exchange it there.

Be careful with credit cards. The us bank affiliation ones don't work. Check with your bank

Canadian to Cuban at airport or hotels or.
Banks. (Passport ID required. Very few debit machines . Tip I'm Cuban . Sell left over at airport for Canadian

CUC

Bring Canadian and exchange at a bank for CUCs. It is easy and the banks are everywhere.

Canadian, you have to buy CUC's (Cuban convertible peso's) while you are there. You can exchange at the airport or the hotels usually have a bank that will do the exchange

Canadian $ easier to exchange or tips

Just got back from Cuba, and I work in a bank.... The cost of buying CUC'S with your Canadian is the same as buying US here. It costs about 1.30 Canadian to buy one CUC. Don't bother taking USD. You will end up losing with all the conversions... Also, we didn't stay in any resorts, and nobody accepted credit cards.. I withdrew once from an ATM and it cost a fortune.