Why Cuba? How It Started
Okay, so I decided Cuba needed to happen this year. Heard so many wild stories – old cars, salsa, cigars, the whole deal. Started digging online for travel tips and… damn. Info was either outdated or made it sound like mission impossible. Flights? Accommodation? Money stuff? Total headache. Said screw it, I’ll figure this out myself and dump it all here.
The Actual Chaos – Step By Step
First – flights and visa nightmare. Booked Miami to Havana through a third-party site. Big mistake. Airline website showed nothing but errors. Ended up calling their Spanish helpline at 2AM. Spent an hour arguing about my passport expiry date. Finally got the ticket after threatening a chargeback. For the visa? Went with an online agency. Filled the form, paid $85, got this flimsy pink paper in mail. Almost spilled coffee on it – would’ve been game over.
Then – cash madness. Withdrew a fat stack of euros before leaving. Got to Havana airport, exchanged half. Rate sucked – felt robbed immediately. Tried ATMs later: either broken or ate my card after 5 minutes of angry beeping. Cuban pesos for street food? Sure. Euros for hotels? Yep. Dollars? Nope – they slap 10% penalty. Juggled three currencies daily like some circus act.
Survival Mode on The Ground
Where I crashed:
- Casa particular in Havana: Booked via text message – lady sent voice notes in rapid Spanish. Found a concrete block building with blue doors. Room had AC but shower spat brown water first day. $25/night though.
- Viñales farmstay: No booking. Just showed up sweaty after bus ride. Farmer charged $15, threw a rooster at me. Woke up at 5AM to that bastard screaming.
Getting around:
- Tried official taxis – got quoted $30 for 2km.
- Flagged down a ’57 Chevy with no door handles. Dude charged $5. Engine sounded like a dying tractor.
- Bus from Havana to Trinidad? “Sold out” at station. Paid a guy with a minivan full of chickens $12.
Things That Actually Worked
After eating sketchy street pizza and dodging jineteros all week, figured out some winners:
- Offline maps saved me: Downloaded entire Cuba on *. Found hidden paladars and cigar farms no tours go to.
- Mosquito spray chemical warfare: Used 99% DEET stuff. Smelled like poison. Zero bites.
- Old men domino strategy: Sat at Havana park with locals. Brought rum. They taught me domino rules. Won 10 pesos. Felt like a champ.
What You Gotta Know
If you wanna avoid my screw-ups:
- Print EVERYTHING: Hotel confirms, flight tickets, visa copies. One hostel asked for email proof – no wifi zone. Had it crumpled in my pocket.
- Pack meds like a pharmacy: Diarrhea pills? Check. Antibiotics? Check. Saw a tourist crying at farmacia over stomach cramps.
- Communicate like it’s 1995: Got a Cubacel SIM card. Half the time calls dropped. WhatsApp messages? Delivered 5 hours later.
- Bribe budget: Cops pulled us over for “speeding” on empty road. Handed $20. Gone in 60 seconds.
How It Ended
Missed my Havana flight because taxi broke down. Stuck on highway smoking last cigar. Hitchhiked in truck bed with cabbages. Made check-in by 3 minutes. Customs guy searched my bag for rum – hid bottles in socks. Worth every stupid struggle.
