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TRAVELLER's NOTES*: You
actually land in Santa Clara at an active Air Force
Base, which the first time seemed a little daunting
but they are all actually really nice. As these
islands are off the main land there is less than hour and
a half drive to Cayo Ensenachos. You step off the
plane and walk across the tarmac while enjoying
the tropic warm breeze and into the air conditioned
terminal. First you will enter one by one into customs
booth. Past customs you’ll go through security
and x-ray, then off to pick up your luggage that
is sniffed one by one by their contraband sniffing
dog joyfully running on top off the conveyer belt.
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While
we are waiting for the luggage, the wives are outside
exchanging the our hard earned Canadian dollars into
Convertible Cuban Pesos (CUC) at the exchange booth
outside to your right. You
can make purchases with Canadian Credit cards and be
billed in US dollars at duty free shops or for excursions.
As we pick up our luggage and dash outside into chinese
built air conditioned buses to pick a seat, then
off the bus we walk to nearby beer tent to pick up
beer and pop to bring aboard on our 80-minute journey
to the resort.
From the airport you'll drive through Santa Clara region,
Camajuani, Remedios, and Caibarien, then onto The Causeway
(Pedraplen). If you are lucky enough to be on an early
flight the scenery and villages that you will drive through
are so interesting, as you see the way of life in Cuba,
the time will seem insignificant. It is like getting
a free excursion. Aboard the bus, Gaviota rep will tell
you the stories along the way. Feel free to ask anything
and please tip him and the driver.
The Santa Clara airport construction has been completed
and VIP Lounge has been added in departures area, for $20 CUC per person, allows you
to bypass the long line at check-in upon return to Canada
and takes you straight to VIP lounge, this lounge admission
includes hot food and snacks, alcohol and drinks in an
air conditioned lazy-boy lounge plus you board the plane
first, at the same time don't forget to carry extra $25
CUC per person for airport tax payable after checking
in luggage and before you go through immigration and
security.
The new duty free shop is larger than in 2006, and has
extensive alcohol selection. Cigars are also available,
but Royal Hideaway Cigar Shop has the best selection
in a climate controlled room. Alcohol is abit cheaper
and more selection at the airport but cigars are competitive. Also
make sure that your luggage is not overweight as they
really are going to make you pay for excess in Cuba.
GENERAL INFORMATION
NOTE CUC EXCHANGE RATE: As of January
1, 2010, the rate was 1.1727 and you'll get $85.27 CUC for $100 CDN. See Cuban
Currency Converter.
For example, if you use your credit card to make a purchase
of 100CUC, on your credit card statement you will see
$134.31. That is calculated as follows: 100CUC, changed
to $111.USD X the daily exchange rate between the US$ & the
Cdn$ (today’s rate). Depending on which bank plan
you have, your bank may charge a small fee for foreign
transactions, usually not more than 2.5%. Also, there
may be a slight deviation given that the exchange rate
may change a bit from the day you actually made the purchase
to the day that it gets charged on your card.
If you paid CUC cash, the cost would be 100CUC, exchanged at 1.3461 or $134.61
Canadian. Hope that clarifies as it is better to make purchases with credit card
and tip with CUC cash.
Airport Departure Tax: When leaving Cuba,
every person must pay $25 CUC departure tax. Put that amount per person aside
when you first exchange money.
Credit Cards issued
by American financial institutions are NOT
accepted in
Cuba (ie. American Express, CitiBank VISA, CapitalOne,
HSBC, etc.). If you exchange US Dollars you will be charged
another 10% surcharge on top of exchange rate. Credit
cards from Canadian banks accepted are VISA, MasterCard,
Diners, you can obtain cash advances from these credit
cards. Thomas Cook or Canadian Visa Traveler’s
checks are acceptable.
Duty-Free Items: Articles
for personal use and personal baggage are allowed free
of duty as well as one carton of cigarettes and two bottles
of alcoholic drinks. Importing new goods worth between
$51 CUC and $1,000 CUC will be charged 100% duty. No
duty is payable on goods valued under $50 CUC. You may
bring up to 10kg of medicine. You cannot bring in fresh
fruit and vegetables. Click here for cuba customs.
To take out works of art you must have permission
from the “Registro
Nacional de Bienes Culturales” from “Dirección
de Patrimonio del Ministerio de Cultura”.
Cuban Cigars
Cuban customs authorities have increased the control of Cuban cigars leaving the country with the introduction of a new resolution. The new law states that the 50 cigars travelers are currently allowed to take out of the country without a receipt must be in sealed and stamped genuine cigar boxes with an official hologram sticker. The new regulation was passed on July 10, 2009 and comes into effect on October 10, 2009. It replaces a 2007 regulation that allowed travelers to have up to 50 cigars either in boxes or loose without any receipt. The new regulations also allows for up to 20 cigars (a box usually has 25) without a receipt or any other requirement. For amounts above 50 cigars, a guarantee of origin slip is required.
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TOP
5 THINGS WE LOVED
1. Fast customs clearance
2. Clean new airport
3. New baggage carousel
4. New duty free store
5. VIP Lounge |
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