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At the beginning of 2015, the United States announced a major shift towards their policies in Cuba. As a result, travelers would be allowed more leeway in visiting the once-isolated island nation. Even though the Cuban Embargo has not been completely eliminated, travelers now have more options and opportunities to immerse themselves in the local culture.
As a result, American travel companies have been looking for ways to start working their way into the Cuban travel industry.
From the travel insurance world to tour providers, everyone has been looking for a way to become involved in American travel to the island nation. The first of company to make a formal play into the Cuban space is Airbnb, allowing Cuban visitors to book peer-to-peer rooms and subsequently immerse themselves in the local community.
While sharing a space with a local can result in a lot of great memories and local immersion, it can also end with dangerous and catastrophic results. Is staying at an Airbnb the right move for your first visit to Cuba? It may be – but only if you do your research first.
Become comfortable with the host before you book
No matter where you plan to book your Airbnb, travelers always have the opportunity to get to know the host before they stay with them. This allows the traveler to understand more about the place they are renting, their responsibilities, and what is included from their host.
Before making any booking or agreement at a privately rented accommodation, be sure to contact the host and ask any questions about their space.
If they give an off-base answer, or if you read something into their answer that does not seem right, then move on. In this situation, trusting your instincts can mean the difference between a great trip and a great nightmare.
Understand what parts of the city to stay at, and what to avoid
As a major city with a very deep and diverse history, Havana offers travelers a very unique culture that is often welcoming to guests. However, as with any part of the world, Havana also has dangerous parts that should be avoided by tourists as well.
A 1999 analysis by the University of Havana discovered as many as three percent of those living in Havana live in poor conditions and are concentrated around inner-city districts, such as the Regla district. Before booking an accommodation, be sure to understand where your location is in the city, in order to avoid being in a bad part of town where you could be seen as a target for crime.
Understand what services are included, and which are not
Finally, while booking an Airbnb can allow travelers to get a very intimate look at their host city, it may also come with downsides as well. Because private properties are not hotels, services that are normally available to guests may not be easily accessible by staying at an Airbnb hotel.
Guests who wish to exchange their money for the tourist currency, the Cuban Convertible Peso, need to do so at the official government exchange office: the Cadeca. While Cadeca offices are usually available at hotels and resorts, you may not necessarily be able to find them nearby an Airbnb location. This can become quite the inconvenience if you end up running low on cash.
Subsequently, Airbnb accommodations may be difficult to explain while going through customs. Previous customs requirements forced travelers to provide proof of hotel reservations at a local hotel. While that requirement has been removed from the current tourist card, customs officials may still ask about your reservations while staying in Cuba, in addition to proof of travel insurance. Be sure to understand the local regulations, and if it can result in problems down the line.
While travelers can experience Cuba in a whole new light with Airbnb, it can also lead to trouble. Before making a final booking decision, be sure to understand what is and is not included in your Airbnb Cuba rental, in order to determine if it is the right decision for your visit.
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