maggie21083

This past Tuesday a group of U.S. senators and various supporters debuted a bill that would lift the 47-year old travel ban between the United States and Cuba. President Barack Obama has stated on more than one occasion that he would like to see a new relationship built between the two countries.

Article continues at http://www.TheBrooklynNomad.com

What do you people think? Good idea? Bad idea? I for one would love to visit Cuba...but that is just me and my travel addiction. =)

Rastaguytoday

This probably should be in the Fodorite Lounge.

However, why not lift the ban?

We're NATO pals with Russia, sort of, so why not lift the ban on a poor, small nation.

I'm looking forward to having a legal Havana Cigar.

wally34949

I have spoken with many Europeans who have vacationed in Cuba, which makes flying a U.S. airline to Florida and switching to another plane very difficult right now. This could encourage more people to do a stopover in the United States before or after visiting Cuba.

AAFrequentFlyer

http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...-be-lifted.cfm

alanRow

<<< I have spoken with many Europeans who have vacationed in Cuba, which makes flying a U.S. airline to Florida and switching to another plane very difficult right now. This could encourage more people to do a stopover in the United States before or after visiting Cuba. >>>

Most people would prefer to be on a home built raft than having to deal with Miasma International

AnthonyGA

I think it's a good idea.

Giovanna

<I for one would love to visit Cuba.>

So would we. We've talked about the logistics and taking a chance, but were never brave enough to try it. As I noted on another thread, I'm at a loss to understand why communist China is afforded favored nation status, but communist Cuba is ostracized and has been for far too many years.

kybourbon

Cuba has been near the top of my travel list for quite a few years. Can't wait!

P_M

"...flying a U.S. airline to Florida and switching to another plane very difficult right now."

It's not difficult, it's completely impossible. There are no flights from the US to Cuba. If a person were to to go from the US to Cuba, they would have to fly to another country such as Mexico or Canada then purchase a completely seperate ticket to Cuba. But you do make a good point that opening up Cuba would enable Europeans to come through the US.

AAFrequentFlyer

<i>It's not difficult, it's completely impossible. There are no flights from the US to Cuba.</i>,

AFAIK, AA, CO and DL fly regularly from US to Cuba. When in MIA or JFK look at the "Departure" board.

P_M

AAFF, is this new? I had always heard you can only get to Cuba via another country.

P_M

I just went to AA.com, expedia and kayak and tried to look up flights from MIA to HAV. All 3 said there were no tix to Cuba.

AAFrequentFlyer

The flights are "charter" flights, but they are there, available to anybody that has the Department of Treasury's Exemption. You can't book the flights on line. It has to be done through a TA and you do need the exemption cert before you can board the flight, so it's not like the flights are for everybody, but they do exist. There is a regular air service between US and Cuba but they are restricted.

It is fun seeing on the departure or arrival boards.

rkkwan

There are lots of flights between US and HAV, but AA/American Eagle is the only "major" US airline that flies there regularly.

http://flightaware.com/live/airport/MUHA/arrivals

P_M

Interesting, thanks AAFF.