bellagio - And a 500 Euro bill, do you think there will be any trouble?

No idea on that one. Personally I don't think I'd risk that.

You must show your passport to exchange larger bills, that I learnt the hard way...back to the room to open the safe...back down to the lobby...back to the room to put away passport...

Get my drift?

Cheers

I have never once had to show a passport to exchange $100 bills anywhere in Cuba. What hotel was asking this?

I wouldn't risk the 500 euro. They are hard enough to exchange in europe.

The only time I have had to show my passport to exchange cash is at the bank....but never at the hotel exchange..........

puritos:

True. I don't need to show my passport when I exchange money in a Cadeca in a town in Cuba. I do have to show it though at a Bank., as you correctly say.

Had to show our passports at Sol Cayo Largo a couple of years ago to exchange anything bigger than a 50 bill, the first week. The second week they were good with us...

Funny, in my neighbourhood, there is hardly anywhere we can spend a $100 bill, but in Cuba...go for broke. Amusing.