Payment Methods and Russian Cards in Cuba: what actually matters to know
Short answer
Book Meliá hotels via Russian aggregators or by using a VPN set to a non-US location, as payment can often be made in cash upon arrival. For Turkish Airlines flights, purchase tickets separately or visit their physical offices in Moscow or St. Petersburg to use Russian cards.
From real experience
Users from Russia may experience difficulties booking Meliá hotels in Cuba via their official website or application.
This can manifest as an inability to complete the booking process or blocked access. Possible solutions include:
* Booking through Russian travel intermediaries and aggregators (e.g., Ozon.travel, Tinkoff Travel, Tutu.ru).
* Attempting to book via VPN, potentially trying different server locations, as some users reported success with VPN.
* Be aware that some local factors or network issues might also cause website inaccessibility.
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To successfully book Melia hotels in Cuba with a 'cash on arrival' payment option, use the Melia website or mobile application.
It is recommended to connect via a VPN set to a non-US country. Initial reservation does not require credit card details, and confirmation is sent via email. Payment upon arrival can be made in USD cash, which is often considered more advantageous. Be aware that the booking system might still request card information as a guarantee against last-minute cancellations (e.g., within one week of arrival).
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Turkish Airlines has ceased selling single transit tickets to Havana via Panama (previously codeshared with Copa Airlines).
Travelers must now book flights to Panama directly and purchase the Panama-to-Havana segment separately. Payments using Russian MIR cards on the Turkish Airlines website and mobile app are only allowed if the flight departs from the Russian Federation. Alternatively, tickets can be paid for with Russian cards at physical Turkish Airlines offices in Moscow (near Dobryninskaya metro station or Vnukovo airport) and St. Petersburg (Nevsky Prospekt, 19).
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If a travel booking website for Cuba fails during payment, it is likely due to IP filtering.
Users accessing from US-based VPN nodes may face errors. Advise switching the VPN location to a non-US country.