Rickshaw Travel

ABTAATOL Protected

  • Destinations
  • Family holidays
  • Travel guides
  • About us
  • Blog
My Travel Plan
Loading...

Your travel plan is empty!

Add your favourite trips or an itinerary to your travel plan. Click on 'My Travel Plan' to see what you've added and send it to us. Our travel specialists will piece your holiday together (including transport & accommodation) and send you a quote within one working day.

Get started!

Added so far...

We'll create your dream holiday

    Next, review & send us your travel plan for your quote

    Request your quote

    Or view/email a copy of your travel plan

    View your travel plan
     Your next steps

    1. Add your favourite trips or an itinerary to your travel plan
    2. Click the Request your quote button to send it over to us
    3. Our travel specialists will piece your holiday together (including transport & accommodation) and send you a quote within one working day

     Your next steps

    1. Add your favourite trips or an itinerary to your travel plan
    2. Click the Request your quote button to send it over to us
    3. Our travel specialists will piece your holiday together (including transport & accommodation) and send you a quote within one working day

    • Destinations
      • Asia
        • Bhutan
        • China
        • India
        • Japan
        • Nepal
        • Sri Lanka
        • Tibet
      • South East Asia
        • Borneo
        • Cambodia
        • Indonesia
        • Laos
        • Malaysia
        • Myanmar
        • Thailand
        • Vietnam
      • North America
        • Canada
      • Central America
        • Belize
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
        • Guatemala
        • Mexico
        • Nicaragua
        • Panama
      • South America
        • Argentina
        • Bolivia
        • Brazil
        • Chile
        • Ecuador & Galapagos
        • Peru
      • View all destinations
    • Family holidays
      • Asia
        • India
        • Sri Lanka
      • South East Asia
        • Borneo
        • Cambodia
        • Indonesia
        • Thailand
        • Vietnam
      • North America
        • Canada
        • USA
      • Central America
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
      • South America
        • Peru
    • Travel guides
      • Travel guides by destination
        • Borneo
        • Canada
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
        • Ecuador
        • Galapagos
        • India
        • Indonesia
        • Japan
        • Peru
        • Sri Lanka
        • Vietnam
      • Family Holiday Guides
        • Borneo
        • Canada
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
        • India
        • Indonesia
        • Malaysia
        • Peru
        • Sri Lanka
        • Thailand
        • USA
        • Vietnam
      • Inspiration
        • Beaches
        • City stopovers
        • Diving and snorkelling
        • Food & drink
        • Honeymoons
        • Self drive
        • Trekking
        • Unique experiences
        • Wildlife & safari
      • Where to Go When
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
    • About us
      • Discover more
        • Our values
        • Meet the team
        • How we work
        • Work with us
        • Customer reviews
        • In the news
        • Contact us
      • Responsible travel
        • Responsible travel
        • Animal welfare
        • Local projects
        • Our Responsible Travel Policy
        • How to be a responsible traveller
      • Travel Advice
        • Accommodation
        • Covid-19
        • Flights
        • Honeymoon Gift Service
        • LGBTQ+ travellers
        • Refer a Friend
        • Travel insurance
        • Visas & passports
    • Blog
    AsiaSouth East AsiaNorth AmericaCentral AmericaSouth AmericaView all destinations
    BhutanChinaIndiaJapanNepalSri LankaTibet
    BorneoCambodiaIndonesiaLaosMalaysiaMyanmarThailandVietnam
    Canada
    BelizeCosta RicaCubaGuatemalaMexicoNicaraguaPanama
    ArgentinaBoliviaBrazilChileEcuador & GalapagosPeru
     
     
    AsiaSouth East AsiaNorth AmericaCentral AmericaSouth America
    IndiaSri Lanka
     
    BorneoCambodiaIndonesiaThailandVietnam
     
    CanadaUSA
     
    Costa RicaCuba
     
    Peru
     
    Travel guides by destinationFamily Holiday GuidesInspirationWhere to Go When
    • Borneo
    • Canada
    • Costa Rica
    • Cuba
    • Ecuador
    • Galapagos
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Japan
    • Peru
    • Sri Lanka
    • Vietnam
    • Borneo
    • Canada
    • Costa Rica
    • Cuba
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Malaysia
    • Peru
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
    • USA
    BeachesCity stopoversDiving and snorkellingFood & drinkHoneymoonsSelf driveTrekkingUnique experiencesWildlife & safari
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
    Discover moreResponsible travelTravel Advice
    Our valuesMeet the teamHow we workWork with usCustomer reviewsIn the newsContact us
    Responsible travelAnimal welfareLocal projectsOur Responsible Travel PolicyHow to be a responsible traveller
    AccommodationCovid-19FlightsHoneymoon Gift ServiceLGBTQ+ travellersRefer a FriendTravel insuranceVisas & passports

    Rickshaw Ramblings

    • Browse by Destination
    • Argentina
    • Bhutan
    • Bolivia
    • Borneo
    • Borneo for Families
    • Brazil
    • Brighton
    • Cambodia
    • Cambodia for Families
    • Canada
    • Canada for Families
    • Chile
    • China
    • Costa Rica
    • Costa Rica for Families
    • Cuba
    • Ecuador & Galapagos
    • Family
    • India
    • Indochina
    • Indonesia
    • Indonesia for Families
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Malaysia
    • Mexico
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Nicaragua
    • Panama
    • Peru
    • Sri Lanka
    • Sri Lanka for Families
    • Thailand
    • Tibet
    • USA for families
    • Vietnam
    • Vietnam for Families
    • Browse by Theme
    • 24 hours in...
    • Competition
    • Cultural
    • Customers stories
    • Family travel
    • Food and drink
    • Friends of Rickshaw
    • History
    • Responsible travel
    • Top tips
    • Wellness
    • Wildlife

    30th September 2016 by Blanca • 5 min read

    5 tips to help you meaningfully explore Cuba

    MeaningfulTravel Responsible travel pin Cuba

    Share:

    Ross with penguin

    Speak to our Cuba specialist

    Enquire now

    At Rickshaw, meaningful travel means having one of a kind experiences that bring you closer to the places you’re visiting. It’s all about getting to know the locals whilst preserving their communities, traditions and way of life. We try our best to make our trips as authentic, sustainable and responsible as they can be. Here are our top tips to help you explore the island of Cuba in a meaningful way. Enjoy!

    Start getting to know the soul of Cuba now

    Don’t wait until your plane touches down to start learning about the country’s history, to understand modern Cuba you need to look to its eventful past. Fidel Castro’s revolution has many interesting books written about it but we suggest two cinematic gems; Francis Ford Coppola’s “Godfather 2” and the Russian made “Soy Cuba”. The later’s title translates as “I am Cuba” and is a beautiful film that reveals the soul of Cuba and the hardships that lead to the revolution.

    cuba-havana-che-street-customer-photo

    Understand the difference your loose change can make

    Cuba is a two tier economy with tourists using Cuban convertible pesos (CUC) and locals using Cuban Pesos (CUP). This difference leads to what we would consider a modest tip being the equivalent to a week’s wages for a doctor. It is no surprise then that locals often see tourist money as a way to improve their current situation and are not shy in asking for tips. As the country opens up and the internet shines a light onto the outside world, the determination to acquire tourist currency will only increase.

    dancing in cuba

    Pack things that you’d never normally take on holiday

    We always love to hear from our customers when they return from their adventures, especially when they pass on their advice for future travellers. Rickshaw Ramblers Tanya and Stephen loved Cuba and recommend you take a selection of useful things including clothes pegs, lots of tissues and toothpaste. Don’t just take soaps for you to use, they are gratefully received gifts for locals. Simple things like tea bags, paracetamol and a tupperware for uneaten food become essential on the road in Cuba. A compass and torch made blackouts and lack of road signs manageable so don’t forget them. Some people find the local food a little plain so take some pepper or even bottle of hot sauce to keep things interesting.

    cuba-havana-locals-street-haircut-by-vicky

    Aprende un poco de español – Learn some Spanish

    Lots of visitors to Cuba have told us just how useful even a little Spanish can be as many people don’t speak English. Cubans are a very friendly bunch and will appreciate your efforts even if they can’t completely understand  every word. If you’re travelling around Cuba by car it is quite common to get stopped by the police, don’t worry, they just want to check who is in the car. On Cuba’s sometimes confusing roads being stopped by the police can actually be really useful as they are often really helpful with directions, you needn’t feel threatened or unsafe. Some of our customers picked up hitchhikers along the way, they had no problems at all and often got useful directions from them when getting lost. You’ll also find most prices in shops are negotiable.

    authentic street view in trinidad

    Leave some space in your suitcase for the way home

    One our our favourite tips to pass on is all about shopping: make sure you have space to take things home so that when you see a piece of art you like you can buy it! If you want to buy cigars visit the tobacco fields and buy direct from the farmers, you will not get better quality or price and you will be directly benefiting the local people. One way to ensure space for souvenirs is to take some gifts to give away during your trip, as well as toiletries mentioned before we’ve heard that nylon guitar strings go down a storm with musicians and that a humble pen is particularly popular with locals in Havana.

    Some final tips

    Download a GPS app and offline maps for your phone before you go, you can’t take a standalone GPS into the country but having some help getting around is invaluable. There is no longer a need to keep 25 Covertable Pesos per person for the airport, the exit tax has been abolished now. And one final thing… take a rubber sink plug with you!

    Get the latest travel goss!

    Discover more top tips, handy hints & travel inspiration by signing up to our newsletter.

     Sign up to our newsletter
    Authentic cubaCubaLocal experience cubaMeaningful travelResponsible travelTop tipsWhy go to cuba
    Image of Blanca

    Written by Blanca

    Blanca is a passionate explorer - keen to discover new hidden places, meet new people and understand new cultures.

    Comments

    Next Article

    A foodie's guide to eating in China

    Previous Article

    Too old to travel at 70? | John's India Adventure with Rickshaw Travel

    Other articles you may like

    Food and drink

    9 TV shows for travel enthusiasts

    20th June 2019 by Scarlet

    TV inspires us to open our minds to new experiences. We've picked our top 9 programmes that will get you ready for your next adventure.

    6 min read

    Read More - 9 TV shows for travel enthusiasts

    Top tips

    Shaken, not stirred | Our Top 5 favourite Bond locations

    2nd November 2015 by Jennifer

    007's latest quest in 'Spectre' sees the famous spy travel through Morocco by train. But what other destinations has he visited? Here's our top 5 Bond locations

    4 min read

    Read More - Shaken, not stirred | Our Top 5 favourite Bond locations

    Top tips

    5 things we love about India (plus a few cautionary tales...)

    6th March 2013 by Friends of Rickshaw

    India is a land of extremes, which is what makes it so fascinating! Here are things we love about India, as well as some things to be aware of while there.

    10 min read

    Read More - 5 things we love about India (plus a few cautionary tales...)
    Back up

    As featured in

    • the guardian logo
    • wanderlust logo red
    • Lonely Planet
    • National Geographic Traveler
    • Psychologies
    • The Daily Telegraph

    Information

    • Contact us
    • Booking conditions
    • Financial protection
    • Health and safety
    • Your Package Holiday
    • FCDO travel advice
    • Blog
    • Coronavirus updates

    Get in touch

    We're a friendly bunch and always ready for a chat so feel free to get in touch.

    Call us: 01273 322 398

    Email us: hello@rickshawtravel.co.uk

    Contact us

    Connect with us

    FacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubePinterest
    ATOL Protected ABTA Travelife

    © 2008 - 2021 | Rickshaw Travel

    Privacy Policy  |  Cookie Policy  |  Sitemap

    Call us Phone us

    Please give us your consent to use cookies

    We use cookies to ensure our website works, to give you an enhanced experience while browsing, and to enable us to use 3rd party tools that are connected to us. Read our Cookie Policy for more information.

    What are your holiday plans?

    • Our travel specialists know everything there is to know about your chosen destination. Please tell us what you're looking for below and we’ll get back to you very soon (usually within 24 hours).

    • This field is only shown to Rickshaw Admins, and is used for routing the form to the correct destination inbox
    • This field is only shown to Rickshaw Admins, and is used for routing the form to the correct destination inbox
    • If you'd prefer us to call you, please enter your phone number here
    • If you can, please share with us how many people are travelling, when you’d like to go, what you’d really like to experience, what you love doing on holidays, your rough budget, and when's best to contact you.
      By signing up to the email newsletter you consent to receive promotional emails from us. You can unsubscribe at any time. We genuinely care about you and treat your data securely and respectfully. We tell you all about it in our Privacy Policy.
    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.