If you are planning to go to Cuba, and I recommend it, what sorts of things do you need to think about? The situation changes continually but this advice is current and appropriate early in 2016.

US dollars and US credit cards cannot be used in Cuba, but those from other countries are welcome. It is useful to have a range of options for accessing money including some cash, a debit card and credit card from your bank,  and a travel card (another form of debit card). The latter cannot be used in Cuba (as it does not have the owner´s name on it) but can be useful elsewhere, like in Mexico or Panama on the way. I suggest having the cash in euros, as these are easily changed throughout Cuba, but put US dollars on the travel card – because this will only be useful in Mexico or other Latin American countries. You can change some cash or use your debit card on arrival at the airport, and receive CUCs (“divisa”, Cuban convertible currency, pegged to the US dollar). If withdrawing from a bank, you need to present your passport with your debit or credit card (note: there are less charges to pay at home if you use your debit card). However, there are many ATMs around Havana and other main cities where you just use your card and your PIN number. You may also decide to have another backup by carrying some traveller´s cheques in euros… but I have stopped doing that, as it has never been necessary. Where you see the sign “CADECA” you can change you CUCs into moneda nacional. One CUC (=one US dollar) equals 25 Cuban pesos moneda nacional. I recommend keeping both currencies on you – because you can use the moneda nacional to go to a movie (2 pesos mn) or catch a “maquina” , old US car acting as a taxi-bus (for 10 pesos mn); and fresh bread rolls (10 for 10 pesos mn).

In many, or most situations, you will have to use CUCs. For example a coffee or mojito at the Hotel Nacional will cost you about 3 or 4 CUC, and a can of beer from the supermarket will cost 1 CUC. A nice bottle of Havana Club rum from the liquor store will cost about 7 CUC, while a bottle of Spanish red wine will cost about 10 CUC. Entry to the new FAC (Cuban Art Factory) will cost 2 CUC. The taxi from the airport to Havana costs 25 CUC.

Increasingly the government is trying to bring the two currencies together and at many supermarkets you can pay in either “divisa” or “moneda nacional”.

One last warning for the unsuspecting – a peso refers to moneda nacional, but Cubans also call one CUC, a peso. So when you ask for a beer and are told “one peso” , you have to know that is too cheap to be in moneda nacional, it means one CUC. And while on beer, there are two main brands of Cuban beer, Cristal and Bucanero, both excellent and costing the same. There are also other brands of lesser quality beer, but quite good to drink which cost less and are found in local Cuban bars rather than upmarket tourist bars – such as Mayabe and Hatuey. You will also find imported beers such as Corona and Heinekens.