Page 307 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  305

Number Plates and even cyclists, whose per driver per day. A car may be
bicycles are rarely equipped dropped off at a different office
Cuban car number plates have with front lights and from the one where it was hired,
changed from the collectable rear reflectors. but there will be a surcharge.
colour-coded ones to long, At any time of day, A penalty will also have to be
thin white ones with a letter take extra care after paid if the contract for car
system to denote the type of rainy weather, because hire is lost. There are two
ownership. Those beginning road surfaces may kinds of optional insur-
with A belong to the state; become flooded (see ance for hire cars. Plan
T for tourist car; C, D and E for p293). In mountain
diplomats; F for the military; and A covers accidents
M for the Ministry of the Interior. areas there may be but not theft, and
The rest of the private vehicles some danger of Plan B covers all
are identified with the other falling rocks. risks except for
letters of the alphabet. Tourists on a scooter loss of a tyre. In the
event of an accident
Car Hire
you must obtain a copy of the
In order to hire a car in Cuba police report that states that
visitors must have a valid driver’s you are not culpable (if you are
licence from their own country not); this should then be handed
or an international licence, be over to the car hire company.
over 21 years of age, and have For exploring certain parts
a valid passport to show to the of the island, including the
car rental company. The three extreme west and far east,
Recently-issued number plate main agencies are Havanautos, it may be best to hire a
Cubacar and Vía Rent a Car. four-wheel drive (off-roader)
Cars from Havanautos and to negotiate the pitted roads.
Road Safety Cubacar can be booked through Larger groups of visitors can
The most serious danger on the website of Transtur. Chauffer- rent a minibus from Transtur.
Cuban roads is posed, in fact, driven cars are available from Rex. It is also possible to hire scooters.
by slow, unlit vehicles: carts and These have their own offices, and
carriages, tractors and cyclists a number of branch offices in DIRECTORY
tend to occupy the middle of hotels throughout the island and
the road, and before overtaking in Servi-Cupet service stations. Road Maps
them it is a good idea to sound Cars can also be picked up
the horn. and dropped off at most of the Infotur
It is also a good rule of thumb airports, but it is advisable to book Obispo 524, e/ Bernazay Villegas,
to sound the horn before them well in advance, especially Havana. Map 4 D2.
making a sharp turn or when in high season, when the Tel 7866 3333.
passing a lorry (they often do smaller and cheaper models ∑ infotur.cu
not have rear-view mirrors). are very much in demand. Note
It is forbidden to keep your that cars with automatic trans- Car Hire
car lights on during the day, mission cost more than those
unless there is heavy fog. It is with manual transmission. Cubacar
advisable not to drive outside Payment is made in advance, Calle 3rd y Paseo, Vedado,
town at night unless absolutely and you must either leave a cash Havana. Tel 7833 2164.
necessary, because of poor deposit (which is refunded)
visibility and lack of road signs. or leave an imprint of your Havanautos
Roads are not lit and you may credit card. You must also pay a Hotel Sevilla, Prado e/ Animas y
run into animals, pedestrians minimum of CUC$10 insurance Trocadero, La Habana Vieja,
Havana. Tel 7866 8956.
Rex
5 ta Avenida y 92 , Playa.
Tel 7204 2214.
Transtur
3 y Paseo, Vedado, Havana.
Tel 7833 2164.
∑ transturcarrental.com
Vía Rent a Car
(Transgaviota)
Calle 98 e/ 9na y 11.
Tel 7206 9935.
A hired four-wheel drive: a good choice of vehicle for the road conditions in Cuba

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