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You
have to overthink a few things before you decide driving
in Cuba.
Be
in time if you want to make a reservation on forehand.
Cuba does not have enough cars during high season (Dec/Jan/Feb
and July/August) besides this, most car rental agencies
have to ask availability in Cuba by email which takes
time, sometimes even weeks, it all depends what kind
of car and from which company you want to rent.
BUT
... since July 2006 Cuba-Junky also offers direct car
rental online and give you confirmation in a minute.
Cuba-Junky.com has selected the best offers for car
hire in Cuba, for now: REX Cars, Palco and Transtur/Cubacar
Below
you can select your car and make a reservation, with
the possibility of collecting and returning your car
in rental offices throughout Cuba.
Renting
a car in Cuba is expensive but the other side is you
can stop where you wanna stop and have all the time
for your own, its well worth the money.
What
and where do have to pay what?
When making a reservation at home:
Mostly you only pay the bare rental price at home to
your agent or online reservation.
The insurance, drop off and refundable deposit in Cuba.
All this can be paid by creditcard or cash. All prices
depends, of course, on the type of car you want to rent.
How
works a deposit?
The
car rental company on location will take a blanco cheque
from your creditcard with your signature on it. By the
time you drop off the car and didn't make any damage
they will destroy the blanco cheque.
If you are from the USA, take enough cash with you to
pay this part in cash.
Do
I need a 4X4?
No! Sometimes a 4X4 is handy when you intend to go to
small towns in the middle of nowhere but 95% of the
tourists do not need a 4X4 in Cuba
"Tigers
and Bears!"
Below this paragraph the most common "Tigers
and Bears" in case of car rental in Cuba. It is
not to frighten you but to help you be aware of scams
and other nasty situations you might get.
Cuba-Junky absolutely recommend hiring a car in Cuba,
it is the best way to see the country.
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Check
the car before you leave the office!
You
will receive a copy of your contract, at this
copy the already existed damages are marked. Check
this and even better, when you have a digital
camera take pictures of the car from all 4 sides,
front, back, left and right. This in specific
when you drop off the car at the airport right
before your departure home at the airport ... |
If
there is something wrong with your car, and you
drop it off at the qirport, you do not have the
time to discuss this with all parties, and you will,
OR miss your flight OR have to pay for damages which
are probably not yours. With pictures you have proof.
Remind, Cubans are poor and some try to get fulas
(Cuban slang for money) out of your pocket. The
above is a very common scam for car rental agencies
in Cuba |
I
want my money back!
If you hire, a car be sure you want to rent it all the
time you reserved it. Most International agencies only
refund money at a rightfull complain, in combination
with a copy of your rental contract, which you get from
the car rental company in Cuba.
Be sure when you think you have a rightfull complain,
contact directly the agency from whom
you have made your reservation with. Ask your agent
if they have someone on location to help you when things
do not go as smoothly as you want them to go. Good agencies
do have at least one host in Cuba to help you solving
the "problem"
Cuba-Junky's reservation and help department is located
in Havana, when having problems you can always contact
them.
Map:
Take a good road map with you, "Guia de Carreteras"
is the best.
There are almost no signs at the autopista and in the
inlands you will even find none! Guia de Carreteras
is for sale in Cuba (Havana) at Calle Obispo #521 at
a store called Infotur and costs for about 8 CUC
Speaking Spanish is best, in that case you can ask where
to go. On every corner are Cubans who will point you
in the right direction. If you don't speak Spanish,
no problem, Cubans are very patient and love to help
you ...
Some tourists take Cuban hitch-hikers, nice and fun
and a good way to let a Cuban show you the way but beware
... don't leave anything out of sight in the car. Cubans
are poor and some are eager to help you get rid of your
belongings. Don't trust any Cuban you do not know very
well.
-
Map of Cuba, BUY ONLINE >>
Gas
and Gas Stations:
Cupet-Cimex and Oro Negro, are the regular gas stations,
at good Cuban road maps, these stations are marked.
Take good notice of this, because the autopista is not
overwelmed with Cupets Gas Stations!
Fill up your tank FULL
with gas if you are intended to drive a long
distance, do not think there will be another gas station
within the next 50 km.
A good roadmap like the Guia Carretera shows all the
gas stations along the road, but even then, don't count
on it.
Roads
The Central Highway (Carretera Central) is the most
important communication axis of the country. It joins
the main urban centers all along and to the center of
the Isle and it is connected with other main ways such
as the National Freeway, the Monimental, Via Blanca,
La Farola, etc. It is a narrow way with two lanes and
it was built in the thirties
The
National Highway, even more modern, connects the western
part of the country, all along the Isle to Ciego de
Avila, located in the center of the country and near
the eastern part of the country. It is most rapid, modern
and wide way, provided with several lanes. However,
it doesn't get to the eastern provinces of the country.
It extends all through the south center of the island.
It is a wide way, with 6 and 8 lanes and it was built
in the seventies
And
once again ...
Don't forget that Cuba is about 1200 km (745 miles)
long!
La Isla Grande remember ...
Usefull
links
-
Car rental homepage
-
Terms and Conditions
- Car rental offices
- Gas
Stations in Cuba
-
Routes around Cuba
- Itineraries
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