WHEN TO GO
Obviously, if you can go in the off season, rental cars and hotels in
particular will be easier to find and about 20% less expensive.
The rainy season lasts from June to October but is really not too much
of a bother. In general, it rains very hard in the late afternoon, but
the rain doesn't last long at all.
Gifts
If you would like to give presents to the locals, you might want to think
about bringing extra bathroom supplies (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, perfume,
etc.), toys and school supplies(pens, pencils, notebooks, etc.) for children
and bicycle tire repair kits for the countless bicycles that ride the
streets of Cuba. If, by chance, you have any Lada auto parts, you could
make someone really happy!
Most of these products are available in Cuba, and it might be better for
you to spend your foreign currency there.
However, don't be afraid to fill your bags with various medications for
head and stomach aches (antibiotics, paracetamol, diarrhea medication,
yeast, mercurochrome, aspirin...) and most importantly of all syringes
and sterile gloves for hospitals, as these products do not exist in Cuba.
When you leave the island, think about leaving behind the clothes and
bathroom supplies you used while you were on holiday. The locals could
use them.
What to pack
For your holiday, you will need a big stack of dollars, one and five
dollar bills, but no fifties or hundreds. A map of the island, sunglasses,
a first aid kit, insect repellent, sun cream, a Swiss army knife (in your
checked baggage), a small flash light, and pencils.
Remember to bring the sales receipt for your camera as well as 100 ASA
film.
A Visa card, a good guide book, and good walking shoes are indispensable
if you want to see a lot of the country. As far as clothes are concerned,
try to bring as little as possible, because you can wash and dry your
clothes quickly due to the hot temperatures in Cuba.
Before you leave, go through your bag and leave behind whatever you can
really do without. Think about what the Cubans might need... which is
just about everything. |
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