There are 3 things you need to know before traveling to Cuba — and it will make or break your trip

While every country is unique, Cuba has an idiosyncratic culture influenced by decades of US embargo (known locally as El Bloqueo) and rule by the Communist Party.

Tourists have been visiting the country for years, but it is only recently that Americans have joined the fray thanks to the reopening of diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba in 2014.

With Trump threatening to undo the Obama-initiated re-opening of Cuba, I visited the island last year.

By the end of my 10-day stay, I found that a few tips that I picked up both before leaving and while in the country were the difference between an excellent vacation and a travel disaster.

1. Be prepared to wait for everything

If there's one thing that Cuban culture might best be known for — aside from salsa music and cigars — it's long lines.

There are lines for everything: A line for a customs, a line for the bank, a line to buy internet, a line to use the bathroom, a line for the bus. Most things that you want or need to do in Cuba require waiting, particularly if it involves the government.

And rather than get frustrated by the inevitability of long wait times, plan for it.

If you don't, you might end up like I did one afternoon in Viñales, a small town in western Cuba.

Though I had been warned about Cuba's interminable lines — and experienced a few already — I arrived a little too close to closing time at the

2. Bring cash, lots of it, preferably in euros

Unless you want to end up begging on the streets of Havana, bring cash on your vacation. And lots of it.

Credit cards and debit cards issued by American banks on the island. Let me repeat that: American credit and debit cards are not accepted anywhere.

If you're coming from Europe or elsewhere, there's a good chance that the ATMs at the airport and major tourist destinations will accept your card, but it's best to doublecheck with your bank before traveling. Beware that ATMs in Cuba have massive fees.

Some hotels, car rental agencies, and instutitutions run by the government accept credit cards (again, non-American), but it's best not to count on it. None of the paladares (small family-run restaurants), casa particulares (home-stays), or small tourism businesses accept credit card.

ATMs and credit card machines are notoriously finicky in Cuba and you don't want to be stuck with $100 for a two-week vacation.

The best plan is to carefully budget how much money you think you will spend on your trip and add 10% — just in case anything goes wrong.

While Cuban currency is pegged to the U.S. dollar, the government charges a 10% penalty when converting dollars to pesos.

3. Traveling to Cuba is not that cheap

Most travelers heading to Cuba might be expecting a dirt-cheap vacation, given the island nation's long-troubled economy.

Think again.

Cuba has a two-tiered currency system: moneda libremente convertiblemoneda nacional

Bonus: Don't sweat the small stuff

This one isn't so much of a tip as a reccomendation of disposition.

While Cuba is undoubtedly a safe country to travel to, there are a seemingly endless amount of scams that some locals use to fleece foreigners out of as much money as possible.

These scams, which run the gamut from something as innocuous as demanding a "finder's fee" for reccomending a restaurant or homestay to as brazen as giving you change in CUP instead of CUC, are everywhere. Most will hardly break the bank.

While you should do your research beforehand on the most common grifts and remain vigilant, if you happen to be on the losing end, try not to let it ruin your day. You likely have far more money than any average Cuban, and, unless you are outright robbed, it's unlikely anyone will help you.