A young Spanish woman known on TikTok as @juditgm96 shared a new video on the platform about her experience during a trip to Cuba, in which she warned other travelers about the main scams they might encounter on the island.
"I'm going to talk about the main scams you might encounter when traveling to Cuba," says Judit Gómez at the beginning of the video, where she lists several situations she experienced or witnessed on the streets of Havana. Among them, she highlights currency exchange on the street, the sale of fake cigars, unsolicited restaurant recommendations from strangers, and unlicensed taxis with no established fares.
Although Judit assures that she never felt unsafe during her stay, she warns that it is common for people to approach and even accompany tourists for a few blocks to offer services or products. She recommends exchanging money only at local businesses and not in public spaces. “Ask how much the exchange rate is before making any purchases, and if you’re interested, go ahead. They will give you your change in pesos, which is a safe way to obtain pesos,” she explains.
It also suggests avoiding the purchase of cigars on the street as they may be of low quality or counterfeit. Regarding restaurants, it warns that some locals approach visitors to take them to certain establishments with which they have arrangements, which can result in a mediocre experience and inflated prices. Concerning taxis, it advises bargaining and making the price clear before starting the ride.
Judit clarifies that she is not trying to convince anyone and does not consider herself a source of absolute truth. "Don't pay attention to me if you don't want to; I am a person with my own subjectivity. Use your common sense," she asserts. "I have the golden rule: don't do abroad what you wouldn't do in your own country."
This new video adds to other content published by Judit Gómez about her trip to Cuba, including one where she spoke about the "cons" of visiting the island, which included comments on shortages, deteriorating infrastructure, and the restrictions a traveler may face later if they wish to enter the United States after visiting Cuba. Her reflections on that occasion earned her a barrage of criticism, both for overlooking the regime's responsibility in the crisis plaguing the island and for instead blaming the American "blockade," which in turn sparked a wave of comments pointing out that the correct term is 'embargo' and not the one used by official propaganda.
Judit is part of a growing list of tourists who have documented on social media the contradictions they experience while visiting the island: the gap between the comfort of tourist areas and the harsh reality of the average Cuban. Similar testimonies have been shared by other content creators such as the Chilean @fannycosas and the Spanish Carolina Márquez, who also expressed their shock at the precarious conditions, the collapsed healthcare system, and the scarcity of basic products.
Meanwhile, the Cuban regime continues to bet on the development of tourist infrastructures, even amid a deep economic crisis that affects all sectors of the country.
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