5 Cuba Scams And How To Avoid Them

The island nation of Cuba is famous for its beaches, rum, salsa, rumba, communism, and SCAMS! There are countless stories of tourists being ripped off while holidaying in Cuba. But that's probably because they didn't read this article before going there, so read on to find out how to avoid these scams before you go.

You shouldn't think Cuba is unsafe because it isn't. Cuba feels very safe, but people selling fake cigars, short-changing you, people asking you for clothes and people taking you to unofficial Airbnbs are some types of petty crime you may encounter while in Cuba.

1. Paying extra for your meal in Cuba is more common than you might expect. Cuba has some good options when it comes to food, but these are occasionally few and far between. In most restaurants, the menus aren't vast, and as a result of years of US embargo and communism, you'll probably end up having less than satisfactory meals. Just imagine you do end up in one of those restaurants where every bite of food tastes like soviet Russia in 1980: bland, not pleasing to the eye and 'vague'. You get the idea, but what if, on top of this 'culinary' experience, they also decide to be sneaky and overcharge you? To avoid this, check the menu and decide on what you're having. Add up the prices of the different menu items, and that's it. You know what you'll be charged in the end and avoid unpleasant surprises.

2. Regardless of whether you're a smoker or not, there's no denying Cuban cigars look sexy. Maybe it's the lifestyle associated with these beauties, or maybe it's just the memories of a bygone era, but many travellers will probably want to buy the famous Cuban cigars. There are obviously other countries where cigars are also manufactured, but the Cuban ones are arguably some of the best quality smokes in the world. With these in high demand, there is an opportunity for tourists to take advantage of unaware tourists. Virtually everywhere, but especially in Havana, you'll be approached on the street and will be offered cigars for a too-good-to-be-true price. The cigars will either be counterfeit or stolen, so don't buy them. The genuine ones are only available in state-owned shops, hotels or cigar factories, some of which you can also visit.

3. Being short-changed in Cuba is more common than you think. The culprit is usually Cuban money, or its two forms, CUPs and CUCs, the first one meant to be used only by locals and the second by visitors. When paying for things, be very careful when you receive all of your change back, as they may have sneaked in some CUPs, which are worth way less. A clever way to avoid this issue is to always have your phone with you, as you can easily download an app that will check the different conversion rates for you.

4. The much talked about jineteros/jineteras are these characters which you'll find all over Cuba which make a living tricking tourists. Expect to be offered fake cigars, as previously mentioned, but also fake goods, fake souvenirs, fake tickets, sex and illicit substances. If random people offer you tours to famous attractions, just politely decline, as it will be a scam. The same goes for people being overly friendly and preying on you when you appear lost or, worse, hungry. They'll take you to a local restaurant where you'll have to pay for your lunch and their,s and it won't come cheap.

5. The fake Airbnbs (casas particulares) is a real issue. My advice is book your accommodation before you go. You can try to rough it and just book your room once you reach your destination, as there will be plenty of people advertising their houses once you get off your bus/rental car/taxi. There are, however, countless stories of people being taken to places which don't match the actual photos of the rooms advertised, or even booking a room online and then being taken to a completely different property by people who offer to help you find your accommodation. To avoid these unpleasant situations, always check the identity of your host by calling them and checking their name/photo on Airbnb to see if it matches the person you have in front of you. Cuba is a safe country, no need to be over paranoid but as in everywhere you'll visit unfortunately there are always other people who will try to swindle you so a little caution goes a long way.

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