Need cash when I land, best place in Cuba? Airport or places in the city?
From my experience, Cuban airport exchange points have high fees and bad rates. Better to exchange cash at CADECA kiosks in Havana city areas like Centro Habana or Miramar, where rates are fairer and service friendlier. ATMs are scarce and often don’t work with foreign cards. Bring some euros or Canadian dollars to exchange for pesos locally for best value.
If you want to save money, avoid those airport counters in Cuba. The CADECA offices downtown, especially near Parque Central, gave me closer to real exchange rates without extra fees. Many travelers suggest carrying euros or Canadian dollars for exchange instead of USD due to Cuba’s banking policies. Also, airport ATMs rarely accept foreign cards, so plan to get cash in the city.
Airport exchange counters in Cuba are convenient but ripoffs. I got better rates at official CADECA exchange centers in Vedado or Old Havana. Bring euros or Canadian dollars if possible, as USD has extra fees. Watch out for long queues at airport counters. Also, Havana’s Banco Metropolitano has ATMs, but many cards won’t work, so plan ahead with cash.
When I landed in Havana, I skipped the airport currency exchange counter because the rates were awful and fees high. Instead, I took a taxi to the city center and used exchange houses like CADECA around Obispo Street, which offered better rates and faster service. ATMs are rare and often don’t accept foreign cards, so cash is king. Cuban pesos (CUP) or convertible pesos (CUC) can be exchanged there, but check the rates daily as they fluctuate.