All things Havana
Havana was such a spontaneous trip for me. I was so nervous to plan this trip not only because I was going alone but because I was going somewhere with limited internet access. Many of us depend on our phones to get around everywhere, so the thought of not having that capability made me a bit nervous. I decided to do research on alternate tools, so I’ve got you guys covered! I did a very detailed search of everything I wanted to do in Cuba and had them all listed in my Google drive which I later on printed out and had with me throughout my entire trip. On the itinerary I had the address to my Airbnb and streets they were nearby just in case and the phone numbers of my Airbnb hosts for emergencies. This is something I advise you to have on every trip and not only this one
Arriving in Cuba
The first thing you want to do upon arrival into Cuba after getting through customs is exchanging your Euros or pounds to Cuban CUC. Pre-download the Google translate app at home before you leave and include Spanish in your offline downloads so you can translate to the locals. Cubans are extremely kind so don’t be afraid to try your best. They’ll direct you to where you need to change your money whether it’s with the machine or with the people in the booth.
The cab ride from the airport to Old Havana is about 45 minutes so they charge about 30 CUC ($30). I didn’t bother to negotiate because I thought about my Uber to LaGuardia airport and it was almost double that. Since cash is only accepted in Cuba, I would create an itinerary with everything you want to do in order to budget your expenses properly.
Planning a trip to a new destination is exciting but can also sometimes be stressful and overwhelming. Thinking about what to see, what to do, where to eat but still going with the flow of things so the trip doesn’t get too overwhelming. Prior to my trip to Havana, I read a lot of travel blogs, watched a lot of vlogs and read tons of articles to make sure I was 100% ready for this exciting new adventure. It was important that I had this all planned out & typed because getting internet access in Cuba is quite challenging
What to do:
Social media helps tremendously when looking for inspiration for your travels. I looked at the pages of other travel bloggers for the “must see” in Havana, Cuba. When I got settled into my Airbnb in Havana, I went out to familiarize myself with the neighborhood that I was in, so I knew how to navigate my way to and from wherever I’d be. My Airbnb was located right in the center of Old Havana which made it much more convenient. Havana is extremely safe, so you don’t have to worry about walking home late at night. I did research on this to make sure I was okay as a solo traveler like I do with all my travels.
Right in the center of Old Havana is the “Capitol” building which resembles the United States Capitol building. A few steps away are all the main hotels like “Hotel Inglaterra" and “Hotel Plaza” which are both great for drinks during down time. If you’ve ever been to Spain, you’ll begin to notice how much of a tremendous resemblance Old Havana has to a lot of cities in Spain since it was colonized by the Spaniards.
Downloading an offline map of Havana on Apps like Google maps, “Here we go” app & Maps.me app will help with getting around easier. Another good idea would be to stop by the lobby of one of the hotels and purchasing a WIFI card (which costs $1 for 1 hour) to download the next destination.
Plaza Vieja is located in Old Havana. Here you’ll see the old chapel that dates back centuries, a sand mural that mirrors what’s exactly in front of it and many other tourist attractions and restaurants.
On my last full day, I decided to rent one of the old cars for an hour ride around Havana! All the cars are typically parked in front of the hotels since that’s where tourists usually reside on their holidays. Always negotiate prices in Cuba! They try to get more money out of tourists, but I didn’t fall for their sales tactics. The driver began our negotiation at $100. I couldn’t help but laugh when he said that price to me. After going back and forth we both came to an agreement of $25 for an hour ride around Havana.
Where to eat:
Finding good spots for food is actually a bit tricky in Havana due to how rationed ingredients are. Going to the really touristy restaurants that are on TripAdvisor for once, isn’t such a bad idea. I had a lot of good luck with the restaurants I researched. The first restaurant I had lunch in was LaGuarida. The atmosphere and ambiance of this iconic restaurant was absolutely astonishing. Perfect location for amazing food & photo opportunities! I ordered the lobster ceviche, grilled red snapper fish and a side of sweet plantains. Of course, I paired my meal with Cuba’s classic mojitos and frozen Daiquiris. The food was so flavorful, and the drinks were extremely refreshing.
For dinner, I went to O’Reilly 304 and had a fish ceviche appetizer paired with bread crackers. For my entrée, I had grilled red snapper fish with a medley of sautéed vegetables and fried plantains. It was absolutely delicious! I have a love for seafood, and everything prepared tasted so fresh and seasoned to perfection.
Sometimes it’s nice to just wander around and look for another restaurant that isn’t on your itinerary, which is exactly what I did. I came across a restaurant “Teniente Rey” for lunch because the menu displayed on the outside looked so delicious. I ordered the mixed seafood dish which contained lobster, shrimp, and octopus, paired with sides of sautéed vegetables & brown rice with beans. I was so wowed that I decided to head back for dinner but by the time I got there, unfortunately, it was closed! I was upset when I saw that it was closed but it gave me the will power to walk around and search for something new.
I found a local hole in the wall restaurant “República de Cuba” to have dinner. It was a bit stressful because I’ve been trying to avoid meat and stick with more seafood dishes which this restaurant did not have unfortunately but it was still fine, one cheat day won’t hurt right? Right!
I had the pork dish, which looked just like a plate of fajitas. It was paired with sweet plantains and brown rice with beans which I wasn’t so fond of, to be honest. The meat was very flavorful which made it less painful to eat since it wasn’t seafood.
Go with the flow
I used my time in Cuba to disconnect from the world of social media and just go with the flow. I would walk the Malecon, which is the main highway that stretches along the coast of Havana. Here you’ll see the Cuban locals hanging out, dancing and enjoying each other’s company. Going to Cuba feels like going back in time to the 1950s. On the Malecon, you’ll get a great view of all the classic cars and taxis driving on the highway.
During the day I also got lost in Havana Vieja and ended up doing a tour of “Palacio de Los Capitanes Generales” which was the former official residence of the governor’s captain. A woman that worked there only spoke Spanish, so she gave me the tour of the entire mansion in Spanish, which I surprisingly understood! It was an absolutely beautiful and humbling experience to witness some of Cuba’s history.
Conclusion
Going to Cuba on my own was definitely an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. To travel alone you have to possess confidence, knowledge, and an open mind. Go with the flow, don’t be afraid to mingle with the locals and just enjoy! For any further questions/advice on a trip to Havana feel free to reach out. tetteymartin@gmail.com enjoy!
