Donations To Cuba

[Bai-Leigh]

aww this is so nice of you. I know there is a covergirl deal at WM Eyeshadow was on sale for 2.47 with the 2.00 off coupon it makes it only .47 I got alot of them last week! Dont know what else. But this is so great of you, you are so kind!

[ssbean]

I have been to Cuba many times. The people there are wonderful. We often travel to smaller villages. If we see a small school we always stop. They will stop the class to say hi and we bring chicklets (the little packages from Halloween), pencils and paper for the kids. If you bring pencils a few sharpeners would also be a good idea. We like to leave a few packages of pads/tampons at the school for the older girls. They would love the packaging of U by Kotex. They seem to appreciate anything you give them. I love bringing things to give the kids. They love those little bottles of bubbles. You will need to show them how to blow them. The ladies love perfume samples and cosmetics. Have a great trip!

[ClayLex]

Hello, I used to do that, until we got to spend some time with a Cuban family. Yes, they don't make a lot of $, they have a huge underground trade system. A lot of family's have a person or two who work in the hotels and around tourists. The family we stayed with, the wife worked in a hotel. Under her whole bed was FILLED with stuff from the tourists they dont use. They trade for other things, but when most of the family's are trading the same stuff, it doesn't work very well. We met a few of their neighbors.. same thing.

The dangerous part is they had a huge bag of medicine they didnt know what it was or what it was for. We sat there and went through a bunch of it to try and explain what it was for and what the dosage was etc. In talking to them, things that they could use were things they could use to make an income...little tool sets, fishing line, lures, and they LOVED the bike locks.. most get around by bike and most dont have a bike lock.
I also brought sawran wrap they thought that was the neatest thing ever! just a fun thing we brought.

Anyway that has been MY experience. Our friend says they are always polite when they get the make up, toothpaste hair stuff etc.. but it goes in the box.....

Have a great trip to Cuba!!! Its my happy place! Going back to visit in Feb, can't wait!!

Wow, very interesting!
Thanks for the tips everyone!

[Mssavvycanadian]

My mom went to Cuba twice this past year for nursing courses and she said common items like toothpase is rediculously expensive, so that would be something to give that I'm sure they would appreshiate!

[PenniePincher]

Make sure you go to GT or Dollarama and get yourself some of the puffs paks to carry with you. Public toilets do NOT have tp...found that out the icky way!

Lots and lots of sunscreen, start out with your SPF 30+ and work your way down and it will surprise you the amount of it you will use! I went through 3 bottles in 7 days but I am a sun worshiper and spent most days on the beach.

The food is not great, even at the 'better' resorts. If you are a picky eater take some snacks with you as you will want/need a taste of home.

DO NOT exchange your money at the restort!!! You will pay much more than at a bank. There is an exchange place right in the airport although you don't have a lot of time before jumping on the bus to head to your resort. One of you could go change money while the other waited for your luggage.

Stay off of the beach at night!!! Yes, I know it is romantic BUT there are sand fleas that come out at night when the sun goes down and the sand cools off and you will end up with big swollen painfull bites from your knees down. Bug repellant does not work on these nasty beasts!! I thought of taking flea collars and wrapping them around my ankles but decided to just stay off of the beach at night instead.

Learn a few greetings and basic mannerly words in Spanish...the effort is appreciated

Cuba is a wonderful place in this world of ours. The people are very warm and friendly, you will enjoy yourself and I am sooooo jealous!!! I guess I will have to wait until Spring to go again....boo!

As far as gifts...honestly, a peso goes a long way and I will not bother lugging stuff down again as most of the resorts require staff to turn in the goodies they receive from well meaning vacationers before they leave work for the day (they have to try to smuggle it out)...could not really get a straight answer as to where the goods went after confiscated. Don't forget your luggage weight restrictions!!!

And one last thing....Cuban rum is a WONDERFUL thing!

[hollyquaiscer]

Just watch your weight, my DH and I go every year, the 28 peso is actually about 3.10, but they don't pay that for shampoo or anything else, they get it all subsidized. Having said that, they love our brands especially clothing as they don't get any US products there currently. You are very nice to do this, just watch the weight, I had to pay an extra $72 the first time I did this. Now I am much more aware , LOL. WTG!!!

[$avvy$hopper]

so kind of you and lots of great tips here. all the best with your trip! looking forward to hearing your update when you get back

[suzynrob]

Very nice and thoughtful of you....that being said I've been to Cuba twice and the cleaning ladies do leave with HUGE bags full of stuff. The first time I went to Cuba I was a bit shy but the second time I asked more questions. Did you know that there are two kinds of pesos in Cuba. The pesos that tourists buy and the peso that Cubans have. Our tourist pesos is worth so much more than theirs, so when you tip 1 peso you are actually giving then a huge tip. One gentleman on the beach who traded our clothes for seashells said that sunscreen is something that they do not have. You will notice a lot of workers with long sleeve shirts and long pants it is because of the lack of sunscreen. Our maid did all of our braids and she made a killing in tips.....good reason I geuss for her wearing nikes and talking on a cell phone :} Anyways, she said that they use balloons to tie braids as they last longer, in Dominican I was told they liked tinfoil for the ends - the maid in Cuba never heard of tin foil....something to thing about. Lots of people asked for sunglasses as a trade. I think next time I go I will be bringing sunscreen, sunglasses, work gloves (those poor gardeners have the worst gloves), and more practical things like that. Oh and regarding toilets seats and why there are none.....on a tour we were told that a toilet seat costs more than a months worth of wages. Wow....this was a long reply, have a great time in Cuba!!

[sandra_p400]

I brought shaving creams that are presurized in a plane before NOTHING HAPPENS and my trips are halfway around the world. layovers etc. ... just make sure you buy packing tape and use it on the caps of all bottles, then also bag them in grocery bags (plastic) so if they do spill your clothes will be fine.

[pinkwhiskers]

This is such a great idea! I'm going to Cuba in October and I generally just leave clothing - didn't even think to bring some of my coupon stuff! Thanks for the great idea.

[ClayLex]

Make sure you go to GT or Dollarama and get yourself some of the puffs paks to carry with you. Public toilets do NOT have tp...found that out the icky way!

Lots and lots of sunscreen, start out with your SPF 30+ and work your way down and it will surprise you the amount of it you will use! I went through 3 bottles in 7 days but I am a sun worshiper and spent most days on the beach.

The food is not great, even at the 'better' resorts. If you are a picky eater take some snacks with you as you will want/need a taste of home.

DO NOT exchange your money at the restort!!! You will pay much more than at a bank. There is an exchange place right in the airport although you don't have a lot of time before jumping on the bus to head to your resort. One of you could go change money while the other waited for your luggage.

Stay off of the beach at night!!! Yes, I know it is romantic BUT there are sand fleas that come out at night when the sun goes down and the sand cools off and you will end up with big swollen painfull bites from your knees down. Bug repellant does not work on these nasty beasts!! I thought of taking flea collars and wrapping them around my ankles but decided to just stay off of the beach at night instead.

Learn a few greetings and basic mannerly words in Spanish...the effort is appreciated

Cuba is a wonderful place in this world of ours. The people are very warm and friendly, you will enjoy yourself and I am sooooo jealous!!! I guess I will have to wait until Spring to go again....boo!

As far as gifts...honestly, a peso goes a long way and I will not bother lugging stuff down again as most of the resorts require staff to turn in the goodies they receive from well meaning vacationers before they leave work for the day (they have to try to smuggle it out)...could not really get a straight answer as to where the goods went after confiscated. Don't forget your luggage weight restrictions!!!

And one last thing....Cuban rum is a WONDERFUL thing!

Thank you for the wonderful tips! I actually discovered today charmin basic to go!!! Its travel size toilet paper, had to use up my $1.25 wub 2 and bought a bunch! Travel size toilet seat covers too. Hopefully I can score some more dollarama sunscreen for when I go! Thanks for the airport tip as well never would have thought about that, also I am fluent in Spanish, thank god! That will certainly come in handy! Our resort is actually giving us a bottle of free cuban rum! I plan on tipping afew pesos each day and giving acouple items, I will talk to the maid in Spanish hopefully she tells me if shes allowed

[MelSprag]

I was there in November and did the same thing.
A big must is Razors(dollarama's work fine)
Tampons for the dancers
Make-up
SunScreen
Panty Hose for the waitresses
Baby supplies( bibs, pacifiers, cloths)
and remeber your housekeeper receives a duffel bag of freebies each day in all the rooms she cleans so no need to tip her everyday, the waitresses, dancers and lifeguards are often left out.
Have fun and enjoy.

BTW Westjet lets you take 50lbs of humanitarian supplies.

[ClayLex]

Thanks, never thought of the lifeguards, gardeners eetc!