Tips and info to travel to Holguin City -Cuba

National Bank of Cuba (BNC-Banco Nacional de Cuba)

Address: Calle Arias entre Maceo y Libertad (in front of south side of San Jose Church)

Note: In this bank you can open a bank account in US Dollars for a love one living there and transfer money to them from your country directly into their account. There is not monthly fees and they can withdraw any amount in US Dollars.

This is also the bank that sells stamps in US Dollars, mainly used for legal and immigration procedures.

Bank of Credit and Commerce (BANDEC-Banco de Crédito y Comercio)

Address: Airport Frank País

Note: This banks is authorized to do functions of a commercial or multiple service bank, focusing its activity on the entrepreneurial sector.

Popular Bank of Savings (BPA-Banco Popular de Ahorro)

Address: Calle Aguilera # 237 esquina Maceo

Note: It holds the bank leadership among the natural clients in national currency as well as in freely convertible currency. It is the bank where you should exchange any freely convertible currency into US Dollars, free of charge.

International Financial Bank (BFI-Banco Financiero Internacional)

Address: Calle Libertad entre Frexes y Aguilera

Note: It gives credit services to enterprises and does transactions with a wide banking network abroad.

You can wire money to this bank, for any friend or loved one in Holguin, from your country. To do so you have to give to your bank abroad the complete name of the recipient (first and last two names), complete address, phone number, and if it is possible his/her ID card number.

Cadeca-Exchange House (Casa de Cambio)

Address: Calle Libertad # 205 (south of Pico Cristal restaurant)

Currencies used in Cuba

What currencies and credit cards are accepted in Cuba?

In the international tourism facilities the accepted currencies are U.S. and Canadian dollars; French, Swiss and Belgium marks; sterling pounds; German and Finish marks; Japanese yens; Mexican pesos, Spanish pesetas; Italian liras; Swedish, Danish and Norwegian crowns; Austrian schillings; Dutch florins and Portuguese escudos.
Since prices are fixed in U.S. dollars, it is recommended to pay with that currency to expedite the process.
The credit cards that can be used in Cuba, as long as they are not issued by any American bank, are: MasterCard, Visa International and Cabal.
Travelers' checks are also accepted.

Moneda Nacional or peso Cubano (This is the national currency)

Cuban pesos are mainly used by Cubans to buy rationed groceries and other essentials, to pay for public transportation and to buy medications that might be available. There are also some private pizza places and small food kiosks that sell homemade foods, sweets and drinks that accept pesos. Local restaurants called Paladares also accept pesos, although they prefer to be paid with dollars.

CUC - Peso Convertible (This is a currency equivalent to one US dollar, but only valid in Cuba, you need to pay for services and accommodations with this currency)

US Dollar

This is the only foreign currency that can be used freely in the country, and it is the only one accepted in all the tourist places and shops. It is also the currency used to pay for your rooms in the accommodations offered in our web site. Be aware that a 10% fee is charged to the exchange outside the international tourist facilities.

Credit Cards and Traveler Cheques

They are accepted in many places in Cuba. Cards issued in the United States may not be used and are not accepted. The only currency used in Cuba for all services is US dollars. This applies to all visitors worldwide. As all non-US citizens can use credit cards and travelers checks. US Citizens can only use cash. The most accepted credit cards are Visa and MasterCard.

You can get cash advance on your Visa-card in the bank (if it is not issued in the US). You only pay commission to your own bank. In major cities, you'll find ATM's too.

Please note that the Official Exchange rate is one peso for one US dollar in all the banks, so if you want to have some pesos never exchange in a bank.

Cadeca, which is also run by the government, give you a better deal...22 pesos for one US Dollar. This rate goes up and down depending on the economy of Cuba. You only have to tell the teller how many dollars you want to sell. One advise...do not exchange to much, although you can buy dollars back, the rate is lower. Another advise...never exchange on the streets...it is illegal!

There is usually a line of people in front of Cadeca but they are buying dollars. For selling dollars there is not line. Go straight to the security guard at the door and tell him/her that you want to sell.

The exchange between all the foreign currencies is the same as the International Currency Exchange Rates and you can do it at any bank.

CUBAPOST You can access the Internet and check your e-mail here.

Address: Calle Máximo Gómez # 99 entre Arias y Aguilera.

Tel: 42-3755 Fax: 42-4607

E-mail: eccdir@esihl.colombus.cu

The information we have gathered from some tourists is that the connection is slow, so it is better to check only your mail. Regarding the e-mail most of the people check their Yahoo mail with no problem but they can not access their Hotmail accounts (Probably because Microsoft respects the embargo law against Cuba)

The rates are between $1.00 to $5.00 USD/hour and it is mandatory to show your passport.

Another services that they offer are:

pre-paid phone cards
fax
post-cards
stamps
express mail

CITMA They also offer internet access with the same characteristics and rates.

Address: Calle 18 esquina Maceo (a few blocks away from the base of Loma de la Cruz-The Hill of the Cross)

Contact: Lic. María Rosa de Zayas Pérez

HOTELS All the hotels have internet cafes where you can browse and check your mail.

Hotel Pernik

Tel: (24) 46 8522

Fax: (24) 41 9022

E-mail: cubacel@cubacel.com

Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (Mon-Fri), 9:00 am to Noon (Sat)

You can use your cell phone while in the island with a temporal package. Services can be pre-paid with VISA or Mastercard.

Daily activation fee: $3.00 USD

Incoming calls:

Daytime: $0.70/min

Night time: $0.56/min

Outgoing calls:

Daytime: $0.66/min

Night time: $0.52/min

Pre-deposit: $50.00 USD (you have to renew when the deposit is used and if you do not use all of it they will reimburse you)

International Roaming

MEXICO

TELCEL

Tel: 52-5-625-3736

Fax: 52-5-625-3739

PORTATEL

Tel: 52-99-812000 ext.2600

Fax: 52-99-814773

ARGENTINA

TELECOM PERSONAL

Tel: 54-351-4267426

Fax: 54-351-4269345

E-mail: roamin@telecompersonal.com.ar

UNIFON

Tel: 54-11-43233473

Fax: 54-11-43233461

ESPAÑA

TELEFONICA SERVICIOS MOVILES (Dpto Serv. América)

Tel: 34-630-004884

Fax: 34-630-007823

E-mail: Servicio_America_Crc_Madrid@tsm.es

PERU

TELEFONICA DEL PERU A.C.R.

Tel: 511-210-6933

Fax: 511-221-5144

PANAMA

RENTACEL

Tel: 507-223-6088

Fax: 507-213-0346

CANADA

TELUS MOBILITY

Tel: 1-403-530-1599

Fax: 1-403-272-4866

BELL MOBILITY

Teléfono: 1-905-282-4258

Fax: 1-905-282-3046

MT&T

Tel: 1-902-481-2352

Fax: 1-902-455-3371

NEWTEL

Tel: 1-709-758-6440

Fax: 1-709-739-3613

CELL EXPRESS

Tel: 1-514-3270216

Fax: 1-514-3276487

ITALIA

TELECOM ITALIA MOBILE

Tel: 39-06-39009955

Fax: 39-06-39009950

E-mail: worldintouch@ail.tim.it

RUSIA

NORTH WEST-GSM

Tel: 7-812-3294727

Fax: 7-812-3294729

E-mail: roaming@nwgsm.com

Health

Cuba's health system is said to have one of the world's most complete programs of primary attention, the lowest of infantile mortality rate in Latin América and free services for all the residentes in the country.

There is no need to be vaccinated to come to Cuba. Most hotels provide 24-hours health care services with specialists and nurses. There are specialized clinics for tourists in the main cities

Though tap water is drinkable, we advise you to drink bottled water to avoid tropical illnesses.

There are only restrictive sanitary regulations for visitors coming from countries where yellow fever and endemic cholera exist or have been declared infection areas by the World Health Organization. In such cases, an International Vaccination Certificate is demanded.



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