Are you thinking of going to Cuba for the first time? Perhaps you have a limited time and want ideas on where to visit, where to stay and what to see. Are you making travel arrangements and can't find specific answers to your questions? Well, try sending them to us.

Do I need a visa to go to Cuba?

Yes you do. You need a current passport and a visa (or tourist card) to go to Cuba. You must acquire the visa before arriving in Cuba, preferably in your home country or the country you are arriving from. You need to allow time for the processing of the visa, so it is recommended that you organise it about 3 weeks or a month before departure date. Visas can be obtained from the nearest Cuban Embassy, which in New Zealand, is in Wellington.

Travcour is also a company which can organise your visa for you. In Auckland, they can be found on the ground floor at 191 Queen Street. When organising your visa, you will be required to take your passport and proof of purchase of plane tickets showing intended arrival and departure dates. You also need to give the address of a hotel or licensed casa particular where you will be staying for the first night.

In order to renew your visa in Cuba, you must go to the immigration office which deals with the affairs of tourists. Previously it was located near the Square of Independence, but to date, it can be found close to the port. You must take your passport and they will want to see a new ticket and receipts from the casa paticular or accommodation where you are staying. You will also need to get stamps with receipts from the bank. It is essential to keep the receipts as without them, the stamps are not valid. You will need 25 CUC. It is necessary to arrive early at the immigration office as often you will have to wait around.

Do I need medical insurance when I go to Cuba?

As of May 1st, 2010, all travellers to Cuba, including Cubans living abroad, will be required by Cuban law to have travel insurance and it is imperative that this includes medical cover.An insurance policy should be organized in your country of residence but only certain companies are acceptable.( The Cuban National Insurance Company has a list of the contracted insurance companies and at the moment Everall, I am trying to find out who the company in New Zealand is going to be. I will let you know as soon as I have the answer.) Travellers in other countries may have to contact their nearest Cuban Embassy or Consulate to find out which insurance company they will need to use.
Travellers arriving in Cuba without a travel insurance policy will have to acquire one at Cuba's airport if they are to enter the country. The insurance company at the airport is ASISTUR and the price varies from 2 CUC /day -3 CUC/day for each traveller depending on the type of cover needed.

Can I use my mobile phone in Cuba?

Yes you can. However mobile phone use will be expensive and coverage can be patchy, especially in rural areas. You will need a tri or quadband phone and you can get a sim card in Cuba. You will also need to take an adaptor. Reports from different network users have varied with vodafone users generally having more success than orange users. The network users that have had the most consistent success are O2 network users who have reported few problems.

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