Factfile
Seven things to tell clients about driving in Cuba
Outside of Havana the roads are empty and in reasonably good repair
Forget your fantasies about cruising around in a 1950s Cadillac. Reputable car companies like Havanautos have a modern fleet of vehicles.
Petrol shortage is not an issue for tourists who have dollars in their pocket. There is a good network of Servi-Cupet stations along all major routes.
Invest in a good map before you go – signposting is haphazard
A little bit of Spanish goes a long way
Cuba is a very big island – don’t try to cover too much ground. You could easily spend seven-10 days touring the western part of the island
There are no Little Chefs or motorway service stations so be sure to take plenty of water and snacks if you are planning a longer drive.