Currency
In tourist facilities and other service units, prices are set in Cuban Convertible Pesos CUC. In Varadero, Cayo Largo del Sur, Jardines del Rey Coco and Guillermo Keys, Santa LucÃa Beach, Covarrubias Beach, and HolguÃn province, you can also pay in euros.Credit Cards except those issued by US banks or their branches in other countries can be used in most Varadaro shops but it is more useful to take cash CUCs to the markets.
Currency Exchange
In Cuba , there are two different currencies: Cuban Convertible Pesos CUC and Cuban Pesos CUP. 1 CUC=24 CUP.
You may exchange Euros, Canadian dollars, Pounds, Swiss francs, and others for Cuban Convertible Pesos. The exchange rates for those currencies are set in accord with the exchange rates on the international market. You can acquire 'pesos convertibles' at the airport, banks and at the Money Exchange Offices, called "CADECA" you can find these offices everywhere in the country. You can obtain Cuban Pesos also in the CADECAs or at any local bank or at the front desk of your resort.
Make sure you count your change at CADECA before leaving the booth. The exchange booth at the Varadero Airport is known to short-change tourists by trimming it to the nearest 10CUC, which is never a practise throughout the country as they're supposed to give change to the nearest 5 centavos 0.05 CUC.
Shopping
Beach Vendors are abundant on the beaches bracketing the resorts. Their "carts" are built up from a bicycle with many shelves and hooks to display their wares while easily rolling along the beach. Haggling is not as common in Cuba as it is in the Dominican but it can be done.
The usual items that people shop for in Cuba are rum, cigars, coffee and jewelry.
Rum is best purchased at the Casa de Ron, this shop has the best selection. Though other small grocery stores and hotel gift shops stock the favorites.
Across the street from the Casa de Ron is the cigar shop. Again, the selection is enormous and the prices are better than in some of the hotel gift shops.
