Hi Edith,
To answer your question, no, the economic situation isn’t TOO much of a problem. The country remains diverse, warm, welcoming, and lively. My last visit was in 1999—since then, you can now dine in private restaurants (much nicer) and stay in *casas* instead of state-run hotels, where the service leaves a lot to be desired. Otherwise, things have deteriorated a lot in recent years, according to locals and tourists, with shortages worsening due to embargos against Cuban leaders and local agricultural policies.
Protests are reportedly severely repressed.
Havana is less affected, while the eastern part of the island is hit harder.
The fuel shortage leads to frequent power outages—beyond the 1- to 3-day blackouts reported in the media, there are also very frequent but shorter local outages. In big cities, try to book *casas* near public buildings, especially hospitals, which are spared. Otherwise, bring headlamps or flashlights for getting back after dark.
Plan to eat dinner with a light—cooking with charcoal takes longer (sometimes an hour for one dish), and since there are no fridges or cold storage, the menu is very limited. You’ll adjust quickly, though—chicken, pork, and fish (PPP) are still available. No fuel also means no garbage trucks. Be prepared, as this also means fewer gas stations or 3- to 4-hour waits for a fill-up. No ATMs either, so bring euros in small bills (5, 10, 20) and some USD. Banks have long lines because, to cope with shortages, an underground private economy has emerged, and it runs on cash—so banks are short on bills. On top of that, the official exchange rate is 1 € = 120 pesos, but in your *casa*, it’s 1 € = 320/330 pesos.
Shortages to anticipate: medication (bring your prescription with extra and a first-aid kit).
In the provinces, especially in the eastern part, bottled water can be scarce—keep a reserve of a 6-pack of 1.5L bottles in the car. It’s all manageable, though.
Nothing is too much of a hassle if you adapt—if one dish isn’t available, you pick another. Yes, sometimes prep time is very long (charcoal) because gas is also scarce.
If you’re driving on your own, I’d be wary of fill-ups. We opted for a car with a driver because these companies are army-owned, and you can guess the perks… priority access.
You can look up "shortages in Cuba" online, but the country’s beauty and the warmth of its people (you know this already) make you forget the minor inconveniences, which you can ease by planning ahead a little.
The current political regime seems less economically effective than the Castro brothers’ even at their worst. Fortunately, it turns a blind eye to the underground economy—as long as it stays underground.
Have a great trip and enjoy it to the fullest. Such a beautiful island, and it remains a wonderful memory.
Eric
HENON Eric
