Credit Card in Cuba

[bellagio]

This time in Cuba I needed to draw some cash on my credit card when it became clear that because of the state of the roads I would need to stay overnight in Baracoa.
 
 Here is the math of the transaction in a Cadeca in Baracoa.
 
 200 CUC @ 111.92 = $223.84
 
 When I arrived home I checked my credit card statement on line and these were the charges.
 
           
 02Oct CASH CADECA BARACOA GUANTANAMO CU      
         223.84 USD @ 1.8339 = £122.06    
 CASH ADVANCE HANDLING CHARGE     3.05  
 INTEREST                         0.42    
 TOTAL CHARGE                  £125.53
 
 That equates to an exchange rate of 1.5932 whereas the rate for GBP cash was 1.6635.
 
 The transaction cost me £5.30 extra to draw the cash on my credit card than it would have by using cash.  
 
 I agree the bulk of the difference was the Cash Handling Charge and the Interest but I felt I should point out that using your British credit card to draw cash is not the way to go.    To buy goods or to pay for trips and car hire the difference is not so great, but it is still slightly more expensive.