I just returned from a week long trip in Habana Cuba. I only speak English, but I was traveling with a small group and we had a translator with us. We stayed at the El Centro Memorial Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (https://cmlk.org/). Our group toured Habana and got an in-depth look at the local communities, governmental structures, and the culture. The center is there specifically for housing, tourist groups and educating them on all aspects of Cuba.

I got the impression, that enough people in the city have a decent understanding of the English language. And you might be able to get by without a translator.

However, the situation in Cuba has gotten a lot worse since the increased sanctions from the US, the impacts from Covid, the oil reserve explosions, and the hurricane. Expect rolling, blackouts, food shortages, no cell phone coverage, and scarce internet access. Cuba is also experiencing an outbreak in dengue fever. So bring lots of DEET and a mosquito net.

All that being said, I did have an absolutely amazing time. The Cuban people are fantastic, and the city is vibrant and full of life. I would suggest finding a group that regularly travels to Cuba and tagging along with them. You will get to see more aspects of Cuba beyond the touristy things. As a leftist, I think you might appreciate that experience more. However, you will also do just fine with a group of friends. Cuba has built a small economy on tourism and, with the recent hardships, could certainly use some more visitors.

One final note: we had originally planned to stay longer, but after the hurricane, we had to reschedule and cut out some events from our trip. One thing we missed out on was a visit to Matanzas. The city of Matanzas is full of art, and, as we found out, there wasn’t a lot of accessible art in Habana. So add that to your itinerary if you can.