Cpelk

I am taking a tour to Cuba in December/January 2016/17.
I'm from the US.

Can anyone give me any info on cell phone service and wif availability in Cuba?

It isn't a necessity for me, but it is handy to have. I'm more interested in wifi than the cell service.

Thanks for any help.

Cindy
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janerichardson4004

Cell phone service is difficult, although I heard Verizon has roaming in Cuba, very expensive.
Internet access is very limited you can buy nauta cards, ETECSA, the Cuban phone company, sells WIFI access cards (Tarjeta de Navegacion) for 2 CUC/hr. You will be able to access internet at some points in Havana, Viñales and Trinidad at any of the WIFI access points. You ask locals for advise.
I traveled with guides and they helped us finding wifi access points in Cuba.

annhig

Cpelk - you can buy a wifi card from an ETECSA office [you can usually spot them by the queues outside] for CUC5 for 30 mins, and CUC10 for 5 hours. You will need a passport to buy one.

Wifi points are easily spotted by the number of people with tablets and lap-tops nearby; as most are quite limited in capacity it's a good idea to try to log on when everyone else is at work during the day; evening connection is very difficult.

outside Havana Wifi points are usually in a main square or some other central point; in Havana most of the hotels have them and you can see lots of young people crowded round the backs of hotels trying to log on [probably for free!]

We didn't use our mobile phones for calling people at all but we did use text [sms] a lot and that was a very good way of communicating with casa owners about our times of arrival, meeting places, etc. as it only cost us 50p a time.

Delishbajansauce

My friends business relies on having internet access and during a trip to Cuba , it was available at the hotel for a fee , and it was available at some social areas visited as well but beyond that we hard a hard time getting any sort of wi-fi .

annhig

Strangely, delish, we had that problem in Havana but not really elsewhere, once we'd got the hang of the system.

and if it's for business, I would have thought that it was worth paying the hotel for it.

Cpelk

Thanks for the info annhig and jane.

I use Verizon for my cell, but don't plan on getting their package, if they have one, for Cuba.

Wifi will do for me, and I hope to not need that often. To be honest, it usually isn't a matter of need for me, more like habit. Going without the internet on vacation should be good for me, avoid the drama always going on back home.

Do I understand it correctly that 5 hours of wifi is only twice the amount of 30 minutes on the ETESCO card?

Cindy

annhig

Do I understand it correctly that 5 hours of wifi is only twice the amount of 30 minutes on the ETESCO card? >>

yes,Cpelk, I thought that was weird too, but them's the rules. apart from that it was easy.

Cpelk

Well I guess the 5 hours of Wifi card is pretty much a no brainer then!

Thanks so much.

Cindy

annhig

when and where are you going Cindy?

Cpelk

Annhig, we are leaving 12-26. We will be in Punta Gorda Trinidad, Havana. Will be in Havana for New Year eve.

Its a pretty active trip including a couple locations for hiking, snorkeling.

annhig

interesting you're going to Punta Gorda - I had to look up where it is!

presumably that's for the hiking and snorkelling? not sure what else there is there.

I'm sure that you will love Havana on NYE - a great place to be then I should think and Trinidad is pretty vibrant too - dancing every night at the casa de Musica plus bands in every restaurant.

sounds like a terrific trip.

NGail

Bookmarking for February!