Page 300 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba
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298 SUR VIV AL GUIDE
Banking and Local Currency DIRECTORY
Cuba’s currency is the peso cubano (CUP), but most visitors Banks and Bureaux
de Change
primarily use the peso convertible (CUC), or convertible peso.
You can buy and pay for everything in convertible pesos. Banco de Crédito y
The US dollar was valid in Cuba until 2004 when the law Comercio
changed, and it is now the least desirable major currency to Amargura 158, e/ Aguiar y Cuba
La Habana Vieja, Havana.
bring to the country as, although exchangeable in banks, it is Tel 7860 4911.
subject to a 10 per cent surcharge. Credit cards and travellers’
cheques issued by US banks are not accepted anywhere in Banco Financiero
Cuba. Euros are now widely accepted in hotels in Varadero, Internacional
5ta Ave. no.9009, esq. 92, Miramar,
Jardines del Rey, Holguín, Santa Lucía and Cayo Largo del Sur. Playa, Havana.
Tel 7267 5000.
Banks and Bureaux withdrawn using a credit or CADECA Casa de Cambio
de Change Aeropuerto José Martí, Terminal
debit card (VISA or Mastercard),
Banks are usually open from but check with your bank and let 3, Havana.
8am to 3pm from Monday them know of your travel plans Tel 7642 0293.
Open 24 hours daily.
to Friday. Among those that to avoid any issues. Most
carry out foreign currency Automated Teller Machines CADECA Casa de Cambio
transactions the best prepared (ATMs) accept foreign cards, and Aeropuerto de Varadero.
are the Banco de Crédito y can be easily found in cities and
Comercio (BANDEC) and near popular tourist destinations.
the Banco Financiero CADECA Casa de Cambio
Hotel Nacional, Calle 0, e/ 23 y
Internacional (BFI), with 19, Vedado, Havana.
branches in the major Credit Cards Open 8am–7pm daily.
tourist resorts and The vast majority of
provincial capitals. hotels, some restau CADECA Casa de Cambio
Bank commissions on rants and many Obispo no.257, e/ Aguiar y Cuba,
travellers’ cheques is convertible peso La Habana Vieja, Havana.
2 or 3 per cent and charging shops accept Open 8am–8pm daily.
more at weekends. credit cards, though
Bureaux de The logo of the Banco only those issued by
change, especially Financiero Internacional nonUS banks and Credit Cards
those located in never American
hotels, have longer opening Express. If you encounter a Centro de Tarjetas de
hours than banks. The problem using a credit card, Crédito
commission for cashing contact the Centro de Tarjetas Calle 23 (La Rampa), e/ L y M,
Vedado, Havana.
travellers’ cheques is around de Crédito in Havana. Tel 7835 6444.
4 per cent. The CADECA Casas In many small towns, and
de Cambio, often located near even in some remote tourist
shops or markets, are the only resorts, credit cards will be
places to buy pesos cubanos. useless, so it is wise to carry cash common terms to differentiate
Rates at hotel exchange desks with you (this is essential outside them are “moneda nacional” or
are higher than those on the of the major cities and tourist CUP for the peso cubano, and
high street. Money can also be resorts). Wherever you are, cash “divisa” or CUC for the
will be needed for tips convertible peso.
and small purchases. There are currently 24 pesos
cubanos to the convertible
peso. Visitors will use the
Currency convertible peso almost
The dual economy of exclusively, while the peso
the peso cubano and cubano is used mostly just
the peso convertible by Cubans. However, it is the
(convertible peso) only valid currency on local
can be confusing, buses, at cinemas and sports
especially as both stadiums, so it may be
currencies are often a good idea to carry a small
referred to as pesos. amount with you. Plans to
Even the symbol ($) abolish the dual currency have
The handsome Neo-Classical façade of a used to denote them been announced but no
bank in Santa Clara is the same. The most timeline has been published.
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