Edit: Closing the AMA since I am pretty close to concluding my trip and therefore will be posting pictures/reflections which will give more opportunity to ask more questions!
You probably remembered my post earlier asking about places that I need to visit while in Cuba and as I am close to concluding my trip and a few days away to fly back home, I’d like to give everyone an opportunity to ask any questions that they might have about Cuba. I’ll post photos as well as my own thoughts/reflections when I’m back home so until then feel free to ask any questions. As for proof (if it’s needed), Mods could check the IP I’m posting from as I’m currently on Cubacel. I wish I could post a photo as proof but the internet infrastructure here is 3G and therefore would consume a lot of data just from me posting a picture.
I really, really, really wanna visit Cuba.
How do you recommend travelling to Cuba? Did you get a guide or just solo? Someone to help with the travel, booking, lodging etc. plus with places to visit, things to see/do?
Is it okay if you only know English? Should I spend some time beforehand on Duolingo?
Anything to be wary of? Scams, dangerous areas, overcharging?
Thanks!
So I went solo and did almost a lot of booking beforehand such as airbnb for my casa particular and getting my SIM card/viazul bus tickets booked in advance in the US. However, there’s a lot that’s going on in Cuba that honestly it’s probably best to go with someone knows Spanish very well (unless you know a lot of Spanish yourself). I was a pretty clueless traveler so there were certain things I didn’t understand in Cuba and combine that with my broken Spanish. Can be hard to go through some of the bureaucratic stuff. But that said I don’t regret going solo.
It’s good to know some level of Spanish because most Cubans except like jineteros only speak Spanish.
Cuba is really really safe and I would even argue it’s safer than US. But petty theft is sometimes a problem. Of course be aware of any jineteros that try to offer you things such as prostitution. Overcharging is pretty common if you’re a tourist but personally I don’t mind paying a little extra especially since it’s dire times for Cubans.
Oh yeah, definitely.
Thanks for the tips! I don't know a lot of Spanish so maybe I'll spend some time learning or look into travelling with a group.
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