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Traveling to Cuba for 3months

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Can I find a job there ? Is it safe for me to travel 3 months in Cuba? Will I be okay ?
7 years ago, September 19th 2016 No: 1 Msg: #198113  
Well first off, I've been to Cuba twice but in resorts. The thing is that I rented a car both times and travelled the country to habana, Santa Clara, Trinidad, Spiritus Sanctus ... I loved it. I couldn't stay in the resorts so I drove away and met amazing people. I pretty fell in love with the people there. I started taking spanish lessons (I can read most spanish but very slow at speaking it).

I decided that I wanted to travel there for 3 months (I'm canadian and the visa granted is 3 months). I was wondering if I could find a job ... I don't know...

I will have some money on me but I kinda rely on making a little bit of pesos lol.

I'm a woman in her mid twenties.

I don't know if I should do it. I'm a bit scared. Where can I stay , i know there are casas particulares. I know there is almost no internet.

I'm not even sure what kind of answer I'm looking for. Reply to this

7 years ago, September 21st 2016 No: 2 Msg: #198152  
B Posts: 11.5K
Hi Marianna,

Welcome to the TravelBlog community!

I stayed in casa particulares last year, and will do so again when I'm back there in November. You should be able to get each host to organise the next casa particular for you.
Internet is available in all the places you mentioned above, but I wouldn't rely on being able to get work. Reply to this

7 years ago, October 5th 2016 No: 3 Msg: #198286  
B Posts: 289
Hey fellow Canadian! I travelled through Cuba for 6 weeks and lived with Cubans in their homes from Baracoa to Maria la Gorda. It was a wonderful experience. (And Tonight Praying for my friends and the people on the eastern coast as hurricane Matthew bears down on them.)

I've never set foot on a resort but Cuba is so much more! I know exactly how you are feeling. It is enchanting and the people are amazing! I too wanted to live there.

But as far as work goes, it might be difficult, Seeing that trained doctors and lawyers work as taxi drivers because they earn more money and get tips from the tourists in CUCs. Also, Have you checked the laws on foreigners working in Cuba? If you try illegally while on a 3 month tourist visa you may find yourself in hot water, or jail with no embassy assistance.

Why don't you just go back and stay with Cubans in casa particulars and enjoy them and their lifestyle for fairly cheap. I think I paid $4 a day for bed and breakfast in the smaller towns. Street food is like .25 for a slice of pizza in pesos. Buses are super cheap between towns and hitchhiking even better, as all vehicles are obliged to pick up. Good thing about staying with the locals is they can suggest things and help you network the old fashion way. It was great. I was able to go to parties, concerts, family events and see some of the most coolest things all around Cuba that no tourist ever sees. Your Spanish will improve quickly too. Buena suerte! Reply to this

7 years ago, October 8th 2016 No: 4 Msg: #198311  
Hi marianna! I agree with all above. I have been to Cuba on Easter and it is very safe. No need to worry about it. I stayed in casa particulares in havana and trinidad. They are cheaper, you get to meet locals and you feel the cuban vibe. However we stayed only 8 days so we had to pay drivers to take us from one city to another i.e varadero, cienfuego, vinales, trinidad and that was quit expensive. In terms of work it might be a bit hard because you need to know spanish...not all people knew english. At least those we met. But if you meet locals you never know they might help you. Cuba is beautiful good for you for going and explore. Hope God help them now with mathew hurricane. Reply to this

7 years ago, October 13th 2016 No: 5 Msg: #198357  
Hi Marianna,

Cuba is one of my favourite countries - there is a vibe and an energy that is like nowhere else and the country has everything from lively cities to beautiful beaches and so much more.

But I must warn you that getting around and generally getting things done is really hard work. I spent a month travelling around and I loved the first two weeks but was over it by the second two. Note also that I speak reasonable Spanish and still found things to be a bit of a struggle - but knowing at least some will definitely make things a lot easier.
Internet is only available in public squares and then you need to purchase cards to use it which are US$2-US$3 an hour.
You should be able to live quite cheaply there food-wise if you go to places where all the locals go (although this can actually be quite difficult) and make sure to have plenty of local moneda nacional as opposed to CUCs. I'm guessing you will probably stand out as a tourist there so watch out for people trying to rip you off. You'll need to withdraw CUCs from the ATMs and then change them at a Cadeca for moneda nacional. You can change Canadian dollars too. Make sure you have a Visa though as I knew of loads of people who couldn't withdraw cash with Mastercards.
Accommodation might be a struggle - I generally paid US$15-US$25 a night for a room in a casa particular although I don't know what is expensive for you. If you can find someone to share rooms with you, then you can obviously save a bit of money that way. Most rooms will have at least two beds. Getting around can be expensive too depending on where and how far you go - you will almost definitely be forced to take tourist transport which is either the Viazul buses or taxis.
And most of all - be prepared to queue. For EVERYTHING.

As for finding work, that would be your biggest challenge. Cuba is not like most countries because there are very few private enterprises and certainly there would be even fewer big enough to be able to give you a paying job. And if there are jobs, they will most definitely go to Cubans. And I doubt you'd be able to work for the government. Even if you find work, there would probably be a mountain of paperwork to fill out and several hoops to jump through if you wanted to do it legally. And like Andrea said above, Cuban authorities would probably take a dim view of anyone working in Cuba illegally.

Like you said, there is so much more to Cuba than the resorts so good on you for wanting to explore the island more fully. Although everyone is different, my advice would be to travel around for a month; that is enough time to see most of the island. I'm not sure you'd be able to afford to stay there for three months without work - which will be difficult if not impossible to find. If you want to stay longer, perhaps there might be some sort of volunteering programme that you could join?

Anyway, that is my two cents. Hope it helps.

Cheers,
Derek
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7 years ago, October 14th 2016 No: 6 Msg: #198371  
Hey thank you Derek for your wise advices ! I will look into in. Maybe just go there for one or two months. Reply to this

7 years ago, December 28th 2016 No: 7 Msg: #199157  
1. Can I find a job there ?

Depends from your nationality.

2. Is it safe for me to travel 3 months in Cuba?

Yes. My friends was there. Don't do anything against local people,and you are safe.

3. Will I be okay ?

Yes. Just be friendlt and that's it. it is quite there...but still,be carefull - no interent and phones. 😉 Reply to this

6 years ago, December 3rd 2017 No: 8 Msg: #203288  
S Posts: 5
Entry Requirements. Travel to Cuba for tourist activities remains prohibited by statute. However, the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued general licenses for 12 categories of travel

<snip>
[Edited: 2017 Dec 04 05:24 - traveltalesofawoollymammoth:258356 - No URL's allowed]
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