Page 125 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

Practical Information ❮❮ 123

country. For more specific in Cuba. Most tourist DIRECTORY
details, it is better to hotels have satellite TV
contact independent showing CNN and a LOCAL TOURIST
agencies. US citizens selection of English- OFFICES
planning a visit should language news stations, Infotur
contact the Cubatur although Cuban homes § 7204 0624
office in Canada. receive only local state- ∑ infotur.cu
Cuban websites are all run stations.
state-run, and care should TRAVEL SAFETY
ADVICE
be taken if booking online. Maps and Guides
US websites are now Australia
permitted to accept A few bookstores in Department of Foreign
bookings for trips to Havana and some shops Affairs and Trade
∑ dfat.gov.au/
Cuba. La Habana is an in large tourist hotels sell ∑ smartraveller.gov.au/
online magazine with a limited range of maps,
a monthly “What’s On” books, and other travel- UK
downloadable brochure. related literature. There Foreign and
Commonwealth Office
Infotur tourist offices are very few outlets ∑ gov.uk/foreign-travel-
are scattered throughout elsewhere. A second- advice
major tourist centers, but hand book sale is held US
few have the resources to daily on Havana’s Plaza US Department of State
answer more than the de Armas (see p72). ∑ travel.state.gov/
most basic questions. There are several good
Cuba’s larger tour maps of the country; the WEBSITES AND
operators can provide best are the National BOOKSTORES
information on specific Geographic Adventure La Habana
regions and activities, Maps. In Cuba, tourist ∑ lahabana.com
but their knowledge outlets sell a tourist map Libreria La Moderna
is often limited and of Havana published by Poesia
unreliable. It is better Ediciones Geo, and Guía MAP V5 • Calle Obíspo
to seek out smaller de Carreteras, an 525, La Habana Vieja
operators who can offer excellent road atlas. § 7861 6640
more specialized tours. EMBASSIES AND
Government-run tour Currency CONSULATES
operators can provide
guides, and many taxi The Cuban national peso Canada
drivers also act as driver- (CUP) is made of 100 MAP D2 • Calle 30 518,
Havana § 7204 2516
guides. Car-rental centavos. The peso is used
agencies will provide a mostly by Cubans; there UK
driver-guide on request. are very few places where MAP D2 • Calle 34 702,
Many individuals offer tourists will be able, or Havana § 7214 2200
legal freelance services, wish, to use pesos except US
but exercise caution when local buses, baseball MAP T1 • Calzada & L,
hiring them. stadiums, and food Havana § 7839 4100
stalls on the street. MAJOR PUBLIC
TV, Radio, and All tourist transactions HOLIDAYS
Newspapers and major purchases Jan 1
are conducted in Cuban Liberation Day
All branches of Cuban Convertible Pesos (pesos
media are state controlled. convertibles), designated Jan 2
Victory Day
The govern ment’s official as CUC$, with bills of 1, 3,
newspaper, Granma, is 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. Jul 26
published in English and The value is pegged at National Revolution Day
distributed at hotels. There US$1.00 and CUP24. Oct 10
are two other newspapers, However, it has no value Independence Day
Juventud Rebelde and outside Cuba. Euros can Dec 25
Trabajadores. Foreign be used in Varadero, Cayo Christmas Day
publications are not sold Coco, and Cayo Largo.

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