Hurricane Predictions for 2009

Please note that predictions are just that – predictions. While utmost care will be taken to provide accurate and up to date information, there is no way I could forecast the occurrence of a hurricane in any given day, week or month of the 2009 with 100% accuracy. If you are visiting Cuba or elsewhere in the Caribbean anytime between June 1st and November 30th, chances of encountering a hurricane exist. Nobody can guarantee you that you will have an entirely hurricane free vacation. But it can easily be hurricane free. These freaks of natures are not under control of men and this page will strictly focus on providing information collected from reliable sources to help you determine your chances of having a hurricane during your trip. If you want to be 100% safe, reschedule your trip so it takes place anytime between December 1st and May 30th. Hurricanes can form quickly and strike the area within days.

Hurricanes Names

When a storm is bad enough or reaches the magnitude of a hurricane, it is given a name. Names for the hurricanes for each particular year are predetermined up front by the World Meteorological Organization. There are six lists of names each used once every six years and each contains names starting with one letter of the alphabet. So first storm that is named in that given year would be given a name from current list starting with letter A, second storm would get a name starting with letter B, and so on. Sometimes a name is removed from a list and is never used again – this happens when a hurricane is remarkably destructive. For example Hurricane Katrina from 2005 was so devastating that no other hurricane will be given that name. Six years from 2005, when the list which formerly contained name Katrina is used for naming the hurricanes again, there will be no Katrina on it. Instead Katrina has been replaced with a new name starting with letter K – Katia.

Hurricanes 2008 Recapitulation

2008 was a bad year for the hurricanes. 16 named tropical storms formed in the Atlantic and another 16 in the Eastern Pacific. Tropical Storm Arthur started off the hurricane season on May 30 and claimed lives of 5 people. Belize suffered damages exceeding $78 million as result of this tropical storm. Hurricane Paloma then closed the hurricane season by being the last named hurricane of 2008. When Paloma reached Cuba, it was a Category 4 Hurricane, making it the second most destructive hurricane ever recorded in November.

2008 also holds the record for the longest lived tropical storm in the Atlantic ever – Hurricane Bertha. Four of the hurricanes that struck in 2008 were deadly enough to have their names retired – Alma, Gustav (hit US state Louisiana, killed 112 people, most of them in Haiti), Ike (most devastating hurricane of 2008), and Paloma (devastated Cuba in November).

Hurricane Outlooks for 2009

National Hurricane Centre predicts that 2009 will see more “normal” summer as far as hurricanes are involved. Predicted numbers of tropical storms which will be given names in 2009 is lower than what we have seen in past 5 years. Good news is that there hasn’t been any major tropical storm related disaster in 2009 so far but August and September, two months when hurricane activity reaches its peak are yet to come.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States Department of Commerce predicts that in 2009 there is a 70% chance of the following:

• Named Storms: 9-14
• Hurricanes: 4-7
• Major Hurricanes: 1-3

Colorado State University narrowed down these predictions to specific numbers, rather than ranges of numbers and predicts that 2009 will experience the following:

• Named Storms: 12
• Hurricanes: 6
• Major Hurricanes: 2

So far there has been only one named storm in 2009. Usually by this time of year there would be at least three named storms. Hurricane Andres formed in Eastern Pacific (on the western shores of Mexico, hence far away from Cuba or any other Caribbean country) on June 21, 2009 and dissipated on June 24, 2009 by which time the winds reached speed of 75 mph. One person died as result of Hurricane Andres – Mexican fisherman from Tecpán de Galeana, in southern Mexican state of Guerrero drowned after he was engulfed by waves.

All in all, 2009 hurricane season is off to a very slow start. Especially in the Caribbean so all visitors to Cuba have been safe from hurricanes so far. Hopefully this will not mean that the hurricanes which are yet to come will make up for it. Rather let’s hope the rest of 2009 continues in the safe fashion as the beginning of hurricane season so we can all enjoy our vacations without mayhem.

Latest Hurricane Update: July 23, 2009

There is currently no hurricane watch and no warnings. The area of the Atlantic north and north-east of the Bahamas is currently engulfed in disorganized cloudiness with thunderstorms. There is a very small chance – less than 30% of this system becoming a tropical or subtropical storm. There are no signs of a surface circulation and conditions are likely to make developments of this disturbance less favorable.

Hurricane Watch and Warnings for the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico as of July 23, 2009:
There are no tropical cyclones in this area at this time.

Hurricane Watch and Warnings for the Eastern Pacific Ocean as of July 23, 2009:
There are no tropical cyclones at this time.

Latest Hurricane Update: July 24, 2009

There was only a very, very small chance of that mini disturbance north of the Bahamas developing into something more serious, but likelihood of it going away within 24 hours seemed far more likely. It’s now 24 hours later and the cloudiness dissipated leaving entire area completely free of any chance of developing into a cyclone. The prediction for following 48 hours? No tropical cyclone activity is expected.

Both Atlantic and Eastern Pacific are free from any formations that have a chance of developing into a tropical storm. Everyone who’s vacationing in the Caribbean right now is enjoying beautiful weather. There are some clouds over Cuba, but Dominican Republic has cloudless sky and so does most of the rest of the Caribbean. Western shores of Central America are experiencing beautiful weather as well with occasional clouds shielding the summer sun, but otherwise nice and hot all over the place. There are no indications of any storm activity within next 48 hours anywhere in the region. Enjoy beautiful weather if you’re on a vacation right now.

Latest Hurricane Update: July 25, 2009

I can’t believe I’m in Canada writing this. Entire Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic as well as Eastern Pacific are cloudless with beautiful sunny weather and absolutely no signs of cyclone activity forming in next 48 hours (remember, you can’t predict hurricane activity for more than 48 hours in advance. A Hurricane could form within 48 hours from nothing, hence predictions further ahead of a 48 hour period are just guesses). All of you who are in the Caribbean are having time of their life while I’m stuck here in (albeit also hot and sunny) Canada. Beautiful weather in Cuba as well as the clouds cleared up leaving clear, sunny skies above everyone’s heads. Great timing on your part if your vacation is taking place in the Caribbean right now. Enjoy the best weather ever.

Latest Hurricane Update: July 26, 2009

Gorgeous weather in the Caribbean continues. It’s sunny all over the place with no clouds obstructing the sun on most islands. Cuba is entirely cloudless, so are Dominican Republic, Haiti, Most islands of the Bahamas have clear skies with only a couple in north west having clouds (Grand Bahamas, Nassau, Andros, Little Abaco, Great Abaco), Jamaica has clear, sunny skies, Turks and Caicos have clear skies, Puerto Rico completely clear, US Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands have clear skies, the following small islands are all cloudless: Cayman Islands, Anguilla, Yieques and Culebra, St. Martin, St. Bart’s, Barbuda, Antigua, Saba, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserat, Guadeloupe, Marie Galante, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Bequia, Barbados, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Tortuga, Blanquilla and Margarita. There are a few scattered clouds on following islands in the south eastern corner of the Caribbean: Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago.

The weather is awesomely tropical with no signs of any disturbances. Tropical cyclones are NOT expected anywhere in the area in next 48 hours (includes both Atlantic and Eastern Pacific sides of Central America). This is perfect holiday weather and it will stay this way for at least following few days. I will provide latest update when it changes. Enjoy beautiful weather if you’re in the Caribbean.

Latest Hurricane Update: July 29, 2009

All countries in the Caribbean continue to experience beautiful weather with predominantly clear skies at any given time of day. No weather disturbances, no signs of any cyclones or hurricanes and none are expected to form in the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific had two stormy areas one at the south-western corner of Mexian Baja Peninsula and one about 1000 km from the shore further into the Pacific Ocean. These was a very small chance (less than 30%) of these forming into a tropical cyclone but conditions were more favorable towards dissipation which is exactly what occurred a few hours later. At present time these disturbances diminished so the area is considered clear with no tropical cyclones expected in the next 48 hours. Weather in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and The North Atlantic is much nicer than in Eastern Pacific. All people vacationing on the Caribbean islands are for the win. West Coast of Mexico, not so much. Both sides free from hurricanes with no warnings and predictions that it’ll stay that way for a minimum of the following two days.

Latest Hurricane Update: July 31, 2009 – Tropical Storm LANA

Tropical Storm Lana Public Advisory #5 has been issued for the Central Pacific. Lana has formed south of Hawaii after thunderstorms that formed 1,045 miles south east of Hilo strengthened and reached sustained winds of 40 mph. Lana is currently moving westwards and will probably miss Hawaii, even though some areas on the south may experience heavy rain.

Caribbean as well as Eastern Pacific remain free from warnings. Beautiful weather continues and no tropical cyclones are expected in the next 48 hours.

Latest Hurricane Update: August 03, 2009 – Tropical Storm ENRIQUE

Tropical Storm Enrique Public Advisory #2 has been issued for the Eastern Pacific. Enrique has formed west of Mexico to become the fifth named storm of the 2009 hurricane season in the area. Tropical Storm Enrique is currently about 715 miles south-west of the Baja California peninsula and is moving away from the land at speed of 14 miles per hour so it may not affect inhabited areas. The tropical storm reached sustained winds of 40 miles per hour which qualified Enrique to obtain this name.

A little further into the sea, about 1,135 miles south-west of Mexico’s Baja California, another depression has formed earlier today. It is only known as Tropical Depression Eight-E and has sustained winds of 35 miles per hour. It is expected to strengthen in which case it will be upgraded to a Tropical Storm and will be given the name.

Entire Caribbean is free from hurricanes, cyclones or tropical storms. Beautiful weather continues and no cyclone formation is expected in the next 48 hours. It’s just plain fabulous in the Caribbean right now.

Latest Hurricane Update: August 07, 2009 – Hurricane FELICIA

Tropical Storm Enrique that formed several hundred miles off the western coast of Mexico weakened and dissipated. It is no longer classified as tropical storm and there are no more warnings or advisories regarding Enrique. It formed far away from land and only moved within the Pacific Ocean, hence no material damages or life loses.

In the meantime, a Hurricane formed 1200 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii. Named Hurricane Felicia, during its peak reached sustained winds of over 139 miles per hour. Ravaging hurricane, but luckily for people of Hawaii it stayed in the ocean and weakened. The winds of Hurricane Felicia are currently reaching sustained speed of 100 miles per hour and are expected to further weaken. National Hurricane Centre forecasts that Hurricane Felicia will be downgraded to Tropical Storm within 24 to 48 hours. Given its itinerary, speed and direction, it is expected that Felicia will reach Big Island of Hawaii and will affect the area on Monday and Tuesday next week. By that time it will be further downgraded to a Tropical Depression. As it turns out, Big Island is experiencing severe drought so they are actually looking forward to some rain. Vacationers currently in Hawaii may not be as impressed, though.

As for the Caribbean – Cuba and other islands of this part of the Atlantic, including Gulf of Mexico remain Hurricane free. No signs of any hurricanes and none are expected in next 48 hours. So far it’s been perfect summer in Cuba and it will remain so for at least next few days. Gorgeous weather, lots of sun, only occasional cloud that clears up quickly – what a beautiful summer. Keep enjoying it. No tropical cyclones are expected in the next 48 hours.

Latest Hurricane Update: August 07, 2009 – Hurricane Bill, Hurricane Ana, Hurricane Claudette

2009 hurricane season was off to a very, very slow start but it was only a question of time before first hurricane hits the shores of Caribbean islands. August and September are the worst months for hurricanes and given that we’re in the middle of August, one good hurricane is overdue. And here they come. Tropical Depression Ana is just south east of the Dominican Republic and is moving north west – towards Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, The Bahamas and other small islands in that area. The winds of Ana currently reach sustained speed of 30 mph.

Hurricane Bill is currently far away from the land – just between the Caribbean Sea and African continent. Bill is heading west towards the Caribbean and has winds with sustained speed of 90 mph.

Tropical Depression Claudette has reached the US mainland and is weakening. Final advisory has been issued, floods are expected.

In order to provide better and more organized hurricane updates, I have started a website that will be entirely dedicated to hurricane predictions and warnings. It will contain more information on each weather disturbance and each will have its page for better navigability and searchability. Please go to Caribbean Hurricane Belo [dot] com for latest hurricane news. I will be updating that site, instead of this page so Cuba Tourism website can remain about Cuba. Thank you for your understanding

Mark

Related Posts

• Cuba Hurricane Season Information
• Havana Weather

CUP Value – How Much is it Worth?

1 CUC = 24 CUP

If you have Cuban Convertible Pesos and would like to exchange them for Cuban National Pesos, you will get 24 CUP for each 1 CUC. If on the other hand you would like to sell Cuban National Pesos and get Cuban Convertible Pesos, you will get 1 CUC for 25 CUP.

Cuban Pesos Exchange Rate

Note – you can not exchange foreign currency for Cuban Pesos. Only Cuban Convertible pesos. Te check out exchange rate for Cuban Convertible Pesos, go to CUC Page.

Do Tourists use Cuban Pesos?

Generally no. As a tourist you will most likely never encounter CUP currency, nor you will have to deal with it. However if you decide to explore a little bit more of Cuba and get off the beaten path, having Cuban Pesos could be beneficial. For example if you were to take a public transport bus in Havana, the charge for that ride is $1 CUP – if you don’t have Cuban Pesos, you will have to pay in Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) which ends up being much more. Also, if wander into small towns that are not touristy, you will have small pizza places that charge as little as $5 CUP per pizza. That’s an equivalent of one Canadian quarter.

Places that accept CUP will also accept CUC, so even if you don’t have any Cuban Pesos you will still be able to pay for their items. However you always end up overpaying so having CUP readily available could be beneficial. One can easily get by with CUC only, even off the beaten tourist path.

Cuban Pesos Scams

While most visitors to Cuba will not encounter any problems, it is essential to get familiar with both currencies as it is a common practice among Cuban conmen to accept payment in Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) and give change in Cuban National Pesos (CUP). You will be getting face value, but actual value of CUP is mere 1/24th of CUC so you will get ripped off big time. Get familiar with Cuban money to avoid this scam.

Where to Buy Cuban Pesos?

Just as it is with Cuban Convertible Pesos, you can only purchase Cuban Pesos in Cuba. This currency is not recognized in any other country and is not available in any other country. In order to buy CUP, you need to visit one of the banks (Banco Metropolitano) or exchange offices (Cadeca) in Cuba.

It is worth finding up front whether location you are at does exchange CUC for CUP as not all of them do, but employees will gladly tell you which location does this exchange. Exchange offices that do exchange Cuban Convertible Pesos into CUP are typically very busy with long line of people waiting to be served. Cuba is notorious for that. You will often see big crowds of people in front of banks and Cadeca exchange offices that do CUC to CUP conversions are just the same. Locals compete in earning business from tourists and get paid in CUC. They keep some of this (it’s a hard currency for them and many articles are only available in CUC) and exchange the rest to have for basic items and services (all goods and services available in CUP are much cheaper).

Pictures of Cuban Pesos

Front and Back of Cuban Pesos - $3 CUP, Photo by Pppjoker, Wikipedia

More pictures of other denominations coming soon

CUP Coins

CUP coins are available in following denominations:

Centavos (cents):
1, 5, 10, 25 and 50

Pesos:
1 and 5

CUP Banknotes

CUP banknotes are available in following denominations (in pesos):

1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos

Further Reading:

• Cuba Currency Complete Guide
• CUC – Cuban Convertible Peso

Related Posts

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• Trade Relations Between Canada and Cuba
• Cuba Questions? We Got Answers
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CUC History – Why Cuban Convertible Peso Exists

History of CUC reaches as far back as 1994. Cuban government introduced it back then but it was used on a very small scale – just as some form of experimental currency system. US dollar was still preferred currency of choice used by most tourism related establishments. As many as four currencies were widely accepted throughout Cuba at the time (CUP – Cuban National Peso, CUC – Cuban Convertible Peso, US Dollars and Euro), which was causing confusion. In order to put entire monetary system of Cuba back in order, Cuban government decided put a stop on wide acceptance of foreign currencies and made CUC the only currency accepted in establishments where US dollars and Euros were previously used.

CUC – Cuban Convertible Peso became the only official currency accepted by tourism and luxury items related businesses on November 8, 2004. Cuban financial institutions also ceased to accept US dollars entirely on that day. It was still possible to exchange US dollars for CUC, but an exchange rate would incur additional 10% charge.

Cuban Convertible Peso is informally called “chavito”.

Value of CUC – Cuban Convertible Peso

Cuban Convertible Peso is pegged to US dollar and has been at $1.08 US since 2005. That means value of CUC is 8% above value of US dollar. When Cuban Convertible Pesos were officially introduced as primary “tourism and luxury” currency, value of CUC $1 was US $1 but it was increased by 8% on March 24, 2005 by the central bank.

CUC – Cuban Convertible Peso Exchange Rates

Here’s a list of sample exchange rates (Valid January 2009):

1.00 EUR = 1.22177 CUC (Euro)
1.00 CAD = 0.756105 CUC (Canadian Dollar)
1.00 CHF = 0.812825 CUC (Switzerland Francs)
1.00 GBP = 1.30107 CUC (British Pound Sterling)
1.00 JPY = 0.0103551 CUC (Japanese Yen)
1.00 RUB = 0.0282358 CUC (Russian Ruble)
1.00 USD = 0.925900 CUC (US Dollar, subject to additional 10% Cuban tax on top of this exchange rate)

Cuban Convertible Pesos Scams

There have been cases of tourists getting scammed by Cubans on mix of currencies. The scam consists on accepting CUC – Cuban Convertible Pesos but giving change in CUP – Cuban National Peso. CUP are much lower in value than CUC (1 CUC = 24 CUP). It is advisable for every traveller to Cuba to get familiar with the way their money looks so as to avoid such scams. See below for pictures of CUC – Cuban Convertible Pesos

Pictures of Cuban Convertible Pesos

Picture of Front Sides of Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) at $3, $10 and $20 Nominal Values. Photo by Chaymation, Flickr

Picture of Back Sides of Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) at $3, $10 and $20 Nominal Values. Photo by Chaymation, Flickr

CUC Coins

CUC coins are available in following denominations:

Centavos (cents):
5, 10, 25 and 50

Pesos:
1 and 5 (5 Pesos coin exists, but is very rare though)

CUC Banknotes

CUC banknotes are available in following denominations (in pesos):

1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos.

Further Reading

• Cuba Currency Complete Guide
• CUC – Cuban Convertible Peso

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• Tipping in Havana
• Havana Price Guide
• Cuba Entry Requirements
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Jineteros – Cubans Making Their Living Through Commissions

Jineteros are a Cuban name for someone we would refer to as “hustler”. They are basically locals who can recognize tourists immediately; they approach tourists and enquire about what service or product that tourist could be interested in. Whether you as a tourist need a casa particular, a taxi, or need to be recommended a restaurant or where the best place to dive is – Jineteros have the answer.

They are familiar with all services offered by available providers and whatever it is you as a tourist to Cuba may be interested in, they will deliver you there – simply because you will end up paying that company and Jineteros will get the commission.

This is nothing unusual. It’s totally normal and 99% of all money spent in Cuba by tourists is through someone’s referral. You may not know about it, but those people will get their commission for “recommending” something that could be of interest to you. By “recommending” it to you, what they actually do is bring business to that company. That earns them commission.

Somebody Always Ends Up Getting Commission

Even taxi drivers get their commission if they take you to a particular restaurant. Casa Particular owner who recommended you a casa in another town will his/her commission paid for that too. The commission system works like clockwork in Cuba whether you realize it or not.

You Don’t Have To Look For It, It Will Find You

An obvious advantage to such deep commission system is that you don’t have to look for anything – it will find you. Whatever it is you may happen to need, you virtually don’t have to do anything about it – it will find you. You come to a new town, before you start looking for a casa particular, someone will approach you and ask you if you needed a casa to stay overnight.

If you have accommodation lined up already, they’re gonna ask if there is anything else you might need. Most tourists do. Nobody knows the area better than locals and being a tourist, you don’t know where to go. It’s natural to ask. Each time you go to a new town, you’re going there for a particular purpose. Maybe you want to visit a beach or you’ve heard they sell great cigar there. Jibeneros have all the answers for you – simply because they’re gonna earn commission from an actual provider they take you too.

It works pretty well. You as a tourist will never be left stranded with a “deer in a headlight” kind of stare on your face unsure what to do next. Someone will be right there willing to help you. Providers are happy, cause they got the business and Jibeneros are happy cause they got their commission. Everyone wins.

Also Check Out:

• CUP – Cuban Peso
• I Booked Casa Particular but Reservation was Dropped
• Casa Particular Checklist – List of Things You Need
• Illegal Casas Particulares
• Cuba Change is Imminent, Get Tips to Plan Your Travel Here
• Casa Particular Cuba – Complete Guide
• CUC – Cuban Convertible Peso
• Getting to Havana via Varadero = Cheaper
• Trade Relations Between Canada and Cuba
• Cuba Currency Explained – Complete Guide

What Could Happen if You Stay at an Illegal Casa Particular

Cuba has officers who are especially appointed to bust illegal Casas Particulares. If you get caught sleeping in an illegal casa particular, you could get kicked out in the middle of the night. That’s about it for you.

Cubans who are running an illegal Casa Particular could lose their house.

All Casas Particulares in Varadero Are Illegal

Keep in mind that certain tourist resorts, such as Varadero don’t have any legal casas particulares at all. You can only stay in a hotel in Varadero. Any casa you could get offered in Varadero will be illegal.

Varadero - Casas Particulares are Illegal to Protect Interests of Hotels, such as Harredura in this Picture. Photo: karolajnat, Flickr

How To Tell if a Casa Particular is Illegal

All legal casas particulares have signs on their font door or other highly visible place. If a casa doesn’t have it, it’s likely illegal. All legal casas pay high fees for their license and a sign and wear it proudly and visibly. The sign is their front line advertising that attracts people from the street. Every legal casa will strive to have it as visible as possible. If you can’t see it, chances are good that casa particular is illegal.

Related Posts

• Legal Casa Particular? This Sign Helps You Recognize (pic)
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• Casa Particular Checklist – List of Things You Need
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Sometimes it happens that you make a reservation with a particular Casa Particular (funny how these words worked out), you show up and find out that your reservation has not been honored. The room has been rented to somebody else who showed up earlier that day. It gets you kind of stranded and doesn’t speak much of professionalism of that casa owner. Why do these things happen?

Why Has My Advance Casa Particular Reservation Not Been Honored?

Because of the license fees set this high (some owners must pay as much as $300 CUC a month) which have to be paid every month regardless of number of bookings, Casa Particular owners really need to have paying guests in their rooms most of the month – preferably ever day. This type of pressure makes booking casas in advance a little bit tricky as owners sometimes decide to rent the room to a tourist who is presently there with money in hand than wait for someone who made an advance reservation and could possibly flake out.

Tourists Don’t Honor Their Part of the Deal

Booking a casa doesn’t require a tourist to put any money down or make any advance payments. This lead to a high number of cases where tourists make reservations and don’t show up, leaving owners of casas stranded. If such owner rejected another tourist who showed up at their doorstep with money, they’re gonna think twice next time around about turning someone away.

Tourists are truly to blame for occasional cases of what appears as “reservation not honored”. If tourists weren’t flaking on casa owners who desperately need to have their rooms full every day, owners would not be forced to take whoever pays the money rather than whoever makes a promise on paying when they come.

Other Tourists Stealing Your Casa Particular Reservation

Many other times it’s other tourists who simply steal your reservation for themselves. Those are the tourists who failed to make proper arrangements and want a casa in a particular location but most are already full (happens in busy season).

What some tourists do in such cases, is that they bribe their way into a casa with no respect to other tourists who made advance reservation. Cubans are very friendly and hospitable and many westerners are slimy douchebags who play victims and pull cry-baby stories making casa owners feel guilty for them not having a place to be so they force their way into a casa that was reserved by somebody else.

Alternative Casa Always Available

If you do happen to get into such situation that you make reservation for a specific casa Particular and find the reservation not honored because somebody else is in the room you were supposed to get, the owners of the casa will go out of their way to make alternative arrangements. Most of the time it will be a casa that’s of a higher value than the one you have made reservation for so you will get more for less.

Cubans are extremely hospitable and friendly. They will never leave you stranded. You will be looked after, one way or another. Even if you haven’t made any advanced booking, if a casa you walk into is full up, they will phone around until they find you a place.

What To Do To Avoid Getting Stranded

Call one day in advance. Confirm the owner that you are coming 100% so they don’t rent the room out to walk ins. It’s as simple as that.

Closing Statement

Don’t be that douchbag tourist from a few paragraphs up…

Related Posts

• Illegal Casas Particulares
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• Casa Particular Standards

Fidel Castro rescued island’s economy in 1994 by opening Cuba to foreign vacation companies making tourism primary source of foreign currency. In 1997, Castro allowed for private sector to make extra income from booming tourism by operating Casas Particulares and renting rooms to foreigners.

It may seem shocking, but average Cuban makes as much a month, as a tourist pays for a night in a Casa Particular. Yet for a tourist, Casas Particulares are very reasonably priced and allow for inexpensive vacation on a beautiful island in the Caribbean.

Logically, Cubans who don’t operate Casas Particulares would be heavily disadvantaged if Casa owners were able to retain most of the income from rentals to tourists. Most products and services offered to Cubans are very cheap. Public transport, food, etc are all priced at a level so Cubans can afford it despite what may seem to a foreigner as very low monthly salary.

Prices that tourists pay for casas are normal for tourists. Cuban government used to operate or tourism related services and establishments. By allowing private sector to run Casas Particulares, Cuban government basically gave part of their income to the citizens but they came with the fee schedule that makes operating Casas Particulares a competitive business that makes owners motivated, while still bringing a lot of money to the government that desperately needs foreign currency to keep the country running and capable of attracting more tourists (who in turn bring more income to owners of casas who are then capable to pay government fees for running casas, and it just goes on like that. Fidel Castro deserves the title of “Best Leader of out time” hands down).

Casa Particular License Fees

Owners of Casas Particulares can charge per night what average Cuban makes in a month and it will be still priced at the level that’s very attractive to tourists. For the privilege to operate Casas Particulares, owners must pay the government following license fees:

CUC$ 50 a month for legal Casa Particular sign
CUC$ 100 – 250 a month per room tax

Tax per room varies and is dependent on location. Some locations, such as Havana are more popular and casa owners get more business there.

This being said, above mentioned license fees are what Cubans must pay every month whether they get enough business or not. Needless to say – every Cuban will try really hard to make sure they offer quality of service that would attract lots of tourists and will try to fill in their schedule as much as they can.

During high season they often make more and save up so they can still pay the fees during low season when there are not as many tourists around to rent rooms in their casas.

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Casa Particular Price Guide

Cities are listed in alphabetical order and prices are in Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) – official Cuban currency for tourists and a currency you will need to use in order to pay for your stay in a Casa Particular:

Baracoa: CUC$ 15 – 20
Cardenas: CUC$ 25
Cienfuegos: CUC$ 20 – 30
Havana: CUC$ 25 – 35
Holguin: CUC$ 15 – 25
Santiago: CUC$ 20 – 30
Santa Clara: CUC$ 20
Trinidad: CUC$ 20 – 25
Vinales: CUC$ 15 – 20

Several factors influence the price of a Casa Particular. Location of a casa, views it offers as well as what type of casa it is determine the price. All casas I know of have air conditioned rooms. I don’t know of any that doesn’t. I would think there isn’t any such… Also every casa particular I have stayed in had warm water in the shower, even if by just having that small boiler mounted on the sprinkler.

Price Guide for Meals in a Casa Particular

Also note – meals are not included in price, unless specifically stated. It’s not expensive to pay casa owner for meals – breakfast is on average CUC$ 3 and supper CUC$ 7. Again, price will vary depending on which city you’re in. Breakfast I had in one Casa Particular Havana was not really worth it and cost $5 CUC. The worst thing however was that the same very breakfast was served each morning (I stayed there for 3 nights). This is something I didn’t know (paid for accommodation and breakfast up front) and since then I’d always asked what was for breakfast and if it was the same thing every morning.

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Casa Particular Sign - Notice Another One on the Wall which says Arrendador Divisa. Photo: Barry Cornelius, Flickr

Casa Particular License

In order for a Cuban to run a Casa Particular, they must apply for a license with the government. Cuban government regulates Casas Particulares and issues licenses only if a room rented meets the standards. Cuban officials want to make sure that every tourist has an enjoyable experience regardless of whether they opt for staying in a hotel or in a Casa Particular.

Cubans who obtained a license to operate a Casa Particular can rent up to two rooms in their house to foreigners. The license is issued with a Casa Particular sign that owners put on their house to make it recognizable as legal Casa Particular.

Legal Casa Particular Sign

Cubans licensed to operate legal Casas Particulares must post a specially designed sign on their front doors. This signs help anyone recognize legal Casas Particulares from the streets.

The sign has two blue roofs placed against each other and at the bottom it says “Arrendador Divisa”.

Legal Casa Particular will Always Have a Sign by the Entrance or Where Otherwise Highly Visible. Photo: Barry Cornelius, Flickr

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Passport

Basically all you need is a valid passport. You need to provide it to the owner of the Casa Particular you will be staying at. Owners are required by Cuban government to provide these details to Cuban immigration authorities.

It would be disrespectful to try to dispute this request as they’re asking for your passport because it’s their obligation and a government requirement.

Casa Particular Receipt Book

Owners of Casas Particulares have special receipt book (it has yellow pages) that you will need to sign. It’s your receipt that you have paid for stay in a Casa Particular.

How To Pay for Casa Particular

The only method of payment for a Casa Particular is by cash. Remember that Casas Particulares are owned primarily by actual Cuban families. They don’t have the means to process credit cards or to exchange travellers’ checks. Make sure you have enough cash available and don’t pay in foreign currency. It is extremely difficult for Cuban’s to exchange foreign currency for their domestic pesos. Be a nice tourist, exchange your home currency for Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) and pay the owner of a Casa Particular where you have stayed in CUC cash.

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