Comments on: Casa Particular: the alternative to hotels & resorts in Cuba

By: Ashray

Ashray — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 07:48:02 +0000

You could call the airline at the airport and confirm with them. The worst thing to happen is that on the day of your flight you might not have enough time to discuss this with them. Prior confirmation will help a lot.

By: Vipul Deshpande

Vipul Deshpande — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 20:54:59 +0000

Thank you for the quick response. I just wanted to be sure so that I don’t return from Montreal airport without boarding the flight. Great work, guys. You both are giving people around the world some serious travel goals.

By: Ashray

Ashray — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 19:08:14 +0000

Please read our Cuba visa article. There are many posts in the comments section from Indians who have traveled successfully with tourist cards bought at airline counters. The Cuban consulates are giving incorrect info and have been doing this since at least 2011.

By: Vipul Deshpande

Vipul Deshpande — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 18:58:26 +0000

Hi, I am an Indian passport holder, living in Canada on a student visa. I tried getting Info on visa requirements and procedures. Every website has different answers. I went to the Cuban embassy and they gave me a list of documents and told me to pay $128 for the visa. Could you please confirm if I can get on arrival travel card?

By: Brij Punj

Brij Punj — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 17:20:37 +0000

Foreign currency (US$)declared at Cuba customs?
Are unused US$ allowed to be taken out of Cuba while departing?

By: 2012 Piggy Awards | Backpack Me

2012 Piggy Awards | Backpack Me — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 15:10:49 +0000

[...] Ramiro, our host in Havana, Cuba, was pretty particular himself: basically he was a racist sucker who would only talk to me and COMPLETELY ignore Ashray! One might think it’s because I talk Spanish and Ashray didn’t back then, but Ramiro happened to be an English professor at college, so nope!… it wasn’t a language issue! When I questioned him about this behavior (after he offered me butter and, once again, ignored Ashray) he simply said “I don’t like people questioning me in my own house”. So we paid and moved out. [...]

By: Zara

Zara — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 23:27:37 +0000

Hi Adrienne!
I find it weird that they don’t allow Cubans in hotels as you mention… what if people are married or in a relationship with a local, would they discriminate them?! I have heard of people getting involved with locals during their stays in Cuba and I guess they would go to hotels… but I don’t know of any case myself.
About the casas particulares, it’s a matter of you asking the owners. I don’t think there should be a problem in general… but if it doesn’t work in a casa I am sure there would be others happy to host you and whoever who have with you.
I saw an hourly room by mistake… and no, it doesn’t make for the most romantic of places! ;)

By: Adrienne Todd

Adrienne Todd — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 19:51:22 +0000

Hi Zara, I met a Cuban man on my recent trip to Cuba. We were told locals are not allowed in the hotels. If I return and stay in a casa particular, do you know if he would be allowed to stay with me, even for a night or two? Don’t think I would like the idea of a seedy hourly room there any more than in the US.

By: Matthew Sellar

Matthew Sellar — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:13:48 +0000

Hiya there, nice article and am digging your suggestion of staying in casas instead of hotels. Effectively, casas are cheaper, have better customer service, the money goes straight into the community, and casa owners put a lot of effort into refurbishing their properties. If you want a more authentic Cuban experience, as you mention, stay in a casa! From what you guys say in your article, I thought you might be interested in this website: http://www.cubacasa.co.uk
All the best, keep up the good work!

By: Zara

Zara — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:10:28 +0000

Also, in some casas, people might speak English or other languages. For example, the infamous Ramiro we mention above, is an English Professor in college…

By: Zara

Zara — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:08:58 +0000

Good point! You can still stay in a Casa even if you don’t speak Spanish. Most people staying around don’t actually speak Spanish, or not much at least. Renting the room in English is possible – everybody understands each other when in need! Obviously this will make your communication with your host more limited during the stay, but still, I think a person can manage quite alright.

By: Anita Catita

Anita Catita — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:34:14 +0000

Great tips here! But for people who don’t speak Spanish (not me, of course, ahem!) is that viable? Do people in the “Casas Particulares” speak English or other languages?