How do you get to Cuba?

Old Jan 27th, 2005, 08:04 AM
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How do you get to Cuba?

Hello,
My family of 4 (2teenage girls)are considering a week in Cuba in March. But how does one get there? We live in Oregon. I assume we get a ticket to Canada and then fly down? Maybe it is too far and hard to do and we should go back to Mexico. We like non-resorts but interesting places and fun things to do.
Thanks,
Denise
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Old Jan 27th, 2005, 10:20 AM
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You could go to Vancouver and fly from there

However, if you are American citizens, and you are bringing two teenage daughters - I would urge you to reconsider respecting the American Law on Cuba for their sake (this is not the forum to debate this law right/wrong - only to state the Law exists)

May I suggest delightful Costa Rica as an alternative (direct flights to Liberia Costa Rica from Vancouver)
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Old Jan 27th, 2005, 10:29 AM
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Now, I've never actually traveled there and don't claim to be an expert, but I'm pretty sure that it is not illegal per se for US citizens to travel to Cuba. From a coworker of mine who traveled there last year, I understand you need to travel there with some idea of cultural participation--that's stating it badly, but in other words, traveling with a stated purpose to study (loosely) the architecture or musis, for example. Perhaps traveling with a group is required--I'm not sure about that. I do know that the person I know traveled there with a small group from the National Writers Union. Two years ago our local NPR station put together a trip to Cuba. I'm also pretty sure that National Geographic does small, personalized tours. So, there are definitely legal ways for Americans to get there--and more power to those who make the effort to go, in my opinion.
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Old Jan 27th, 2005, 02:26 PM
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I'd love to go to Cuba, but unfortunately our government doesn't make it very easy (nor do they want you to at this point). I'd be interested to read others thoughts on this topic.
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Old Jan 27th, 2005, 03:30 PM
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U.S. citizens used to be able to travel to Cuba with a licensed "educational" group. We went for a week in 2001.

The current administration changed the rules and decided not to renew the licenses of these groups. My understanding now is that it is difficult for a U.S. citizen to travel to Cuba legally.

I know people who travel to Cuba through Canada, but U.S. immigration has become stricter recently, stepping up enforcement.

I, too, would be interested on any new information on the topic.

Costa Rica sounds like a good alternative.
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Old Jan 28th, 2005, 01:49 PM
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Well I've been to Cuba 7 times now and I simply love the country and it's people.

And before you jump all over me, let me also say that I don't support their political system or Castro. But to me, it's simply no different than visiting the states and not being a supporter of Bush or the Republicans. I visit the people, and my friends... period!

Cuba is unique in it's culture. A blend of Spanish, African and Caribbean. Music, architecture and food. I've always had an amazing time.

I fly direct from Toronto to Havana via Cubana Airlines or I also use Lacsa, a Costa Rica Airline that also routes Toronto, Havana, San Jose.

There are many package tours available from Canada and any Canadian travel agent in Vancouver could help you arrange a trip. There are even direct flights from Vancouver.

Enjoy Cuba.
Steve
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Old Jan 28th, 2005, 03:53 PM
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Steve.....but you're a Canadian!!
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Old Jan 28th, 2005, 06:08 PM
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Oh good grief, instead of advice on getting you there you get all the crap of the pitfalls of a US citizen going there but then again flying from Canada you must be Canadian. There are flights from Toronto, check those out. You can also fly to various places, such as Bahamas, Belize and some others and connect there, check it out.
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Old Jan 28th, 2005, 06:20 PM
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The O.P. lives in Oregon .....
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Old Jan 28th, 2005, 07:19 PM
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There is a travel agent form NYC called Marazul specializing for Americans getting to Cuba. There are some other ones.....I dunno if it's for Cuban-AMericans visiting relatives only. cuba allows for this - special bureaucratic papers screening for 'agitators'...I am sure as a bearer of american passport, the official will be suspicious...Even, Non-Americans can catch a bureaucrat's suspicion - photocopy your passport/your postcards take awhile to arrive to the u.s. as I find out when i sent one to a relative in California a month or two later than my city-bound postcards....biracial person who doesn't speak spanish can be subjected to a lookover by airport officials....

but on the whole, cubans are friendly and talk about family abroad...i met one guy who lived in miami and got homesick and returned.

ALso, the officials at Cuban airport ASK if you want a stamp on your passport....It's meant for AMericans so they won't get in trouble once home.

Also Mexico is usually the other gateway to Cuba for Americans. Believe me, it's done..not just for journalists and artists on special status...
BTW, American dollars no longer priveleged currency there- you lose 10% of currency but if you have Euros and CDn dollars it's a mere 2%.

Good luck!
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Old Jan 29th, 2005, 04:36 AM
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My husband (professor) had a chance to take a group of college students to Cuba last spring. He did not go because I was not allowed to go. We were told the restrictions were very tight. I even agreed to sign up for the course (pay tuition). They refused.
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Old Jan 29th, 2005, 05:19 AM
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Also, keep in mind that you cannot use American based credit cards in Cuba. If you are really determined to go, then you can fly direct from Grand Cayman.
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Old Jan 29th, 2005, 07:16 AM
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I was perusing through Gap adventures south america and found out they offer colonial cuban tours.... www.gapadventures.com is an American company. They go there under the Humanitarian guise of Bicycles Crossing Borders -a bike workshop for locals repair bikes.

maybe they cna help for bureaucratic handling. safer for your daughter.

I remembered in that book 1000 places to see before you die- that besteller- the author an american has the Marazul and other agencies info in there for fellow Americans.Joint them down.

Here is info from roughguides.com site under Basics - getting there- entry requirements...they give you the elgal route and the third-country option....
good luck!wow, your daughter must have an openmind to see it for herself.

Since the United States continues to maintain a trade embargo with Cuba US citizens are not allowed, by their own government, to travel there freely and must instead apply for a licence. If you think you have a case for being granted permission to travel, perhaps as a journalist, student or as part of a humanitarian mission, contact the Licensing Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control, US Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20220 (tel 202/622-2480, www.treas.gov/ofac. You can also get information from the Cuban government through the Cuban Interests Section, 2630 16th St NW, Washington DC 20009 (tel 202/797-8609 or 797-8518). For most US nationals who want to visit Cuba for other reasons less acceptable to the US government, like tourism, travel involves catching a flight from a third country. The following are sample APEX fares for round-trip travel from Mexican and Caribbean cities to Havana: Mexico City (US$400); Cancún (US$280); Kingston or Montego Bay (US$226); Nassau (US$179).

Canadians of course are not directly affected by the US embargo and are free to travel to Cuba. Cubana has regular flights from Toronto and Montreal to Havana, as do a number of charter carriers. In low season, APEX fares for this route can be as little as US$210.

There are no direct flights to Cuba from Australasia. The cheapest and most straightforward route is via Tokyo to Mexico City, from where there are frequent flights to Havana; Japan Airlines offer flights for around A$2499 in low season. Otherwise, Canadian Airlines has six flights each week from Sydney to Toronto, from where you can take connections to Havana via Mexico City. FromNew Zealand, Air New Zealand flies from Auckland to Mexico City, with connections on to Havana, starting from NZ$2578.

American citizens can travel to Cuba on tourist cards purchased in Canada, Mexico or other countries, and the Cuban authorities will on request stamp the card instead of your passport when you enter and leave Cuba.

Note than you will pass through customs much more smoothly if you have entered the name of a state hotel on your tourist form as your destination. If you don't have an address you may have to pay on the spot for three nights' accommodation in a hotel of the state's choosing.

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Old Jan 29th, 2005, 11:37 AM
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thanks for all the interesting conversation about Cuba. Too bad it is so difficult to get there but that makes it seems more appealing and exotic. Someday it will open up and be ruined with tourists! For now, because of time, we will just head down to Mexico.
Happy travels
Denise
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Old Jan 29th, 2005, 05:42 PM
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Interesting comment Denise47 when you wrote....
"Someday it will open up and be ruined with tourists!"

Well just an F.Y.I., Cuba is open to tourists from countries all over the world.... EXCEPT American tourists.

Over 2 million tourists from all other countries of the world enjoyed great vacations in Cuba last year (2004)and sampled the wonderful hospitality and culture of this unique destination. Some American visitors who chose to find out for themselves about Cuba also chose to visit via 3rd countries.

Too bad you feel that it will be ruined if it's opened up to more Americans. It would indeed be a shame to see it ruined.

Steve
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Old Jan 29th, 2005, 06:29 PM
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Denise, I think you have made a wise decision to pass on Cuba for now. I would like to visit Cuba someday, but I will not risk getting into any trouble with the US government in order to do so. I am told that if an American does go to Cuba and has any type of trouble while in Cuba, you will get NO HELP from the US government. There are plenty of other nice places to visit where you take no such risks.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2005, 09:09 AM
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I also live in Oregon and would love to visit Cuba--if I'm understanding corrently if I head north to Vancouver I can, without any trouble (?) hop a flight to Cuba?

What are the criteria--passport, paperwork, etc. needed?
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Old Feb 2nd, 2005, 09:18 AM
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You say "without any trouble." That's a tricky question. If the INS never finds out about your trip, then I suppose you won't have any trouble. If you don't have any problems while in Cuba and need help from the US government, then you won't have any trouble. But these things are never a guarantee.
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Old Feb 25th, 2005, 09:04 PM
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Cuba is a great family destination, but you would really want a resort area as there isn't much to offer a outside a resort as far as typical vacation activities. You can always take a tour to the historical sites and places away from the tourist areas to see the "real Cuba". We rented a car and hired one of the hotel staff on his day off to act as our tour guide. We had the best day and we saw 3 of the recommended excoursions from the hotel without incurring more cost other than a couple of dollars to feed some cuban alligators. We also visited a market, drank some cane juice and ate in typical cuban restaurants - one in a hotel and one in a neighbourhood in the back yard of a house. Food was good and fresh - they had to run down to the market to purchase the meat for us. Total cost for lunch for 3 + about 8 beers was $28 US but the best meal we had in 2 weeks. We also visited a popular lake location (translated to Milk Lake) where the locals liked to picnic and take their holidays - not on the hotel list! Car rental was about $100 US/day, including insurance but each excursion was at least $35 and there were 3 adults in our party so it really was a bargain.

Take lots of US money, 'cause Castro is rebuilding Cuba with it. The only currency visitors can use but you can take credit cards like MasterCard, as long as they are attached to a Canadian Bank, not an American one.

More and more Americans each year, they just don't have their passports stamped and travel out of Canada (direct flights) or Mexico. Oh yes - Coca Cola sold everywhere so some US corporate citizens are also ignoring the embargo!

(Pretty funny when a US Senator wanted to impose sanctions against Canada for doing business with Cuba, against American interests and yet the Americans couldn't even control their own corporations but wanted to control another sovereign nation!)

We stayed on the north coast twice - Cayo Cocoa and Cayo Guillermo (Melia 5*) and the Melia stay was one of the best vacations we ever took! Looking forward to returning soon!

Hope you enjoy Cuba!
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Old Feb 27th, 2005, 08:23 AM
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I was really surprised seeing SO MANY AMERICANS at the tripadvisor.com Havana hotels reviews. Reviewers from California, NJ,NY ,Virginia, Tennessee...People who go to Cuba often!!!!!!They don't have qualms about it.See it for yourself. It's mindblowing!
There is a way. Don't let the fearmongerers get in your way! Even Oprah magazine had a feature.
Next year...
I bet Cuban exiles are conflicted - see tehir native land, support the government via tourism or support its people.One cna judge on for oneself with one's eyes.
Good Luck. Mexico is safer and has better food.
I bet you meant by that comment 'ruined by tourists '- you mean own compatriots or fastfood chains like circus that Cancun has turned into...since some places already ruined by toruists from all over the world from Brazil, Israel,Chile,Germany, England, Finland, Italy and Canadians.
The guy didn't stamp my passport and I pleaded him to do it.So you'll be safe.
Just a rush from being a renegade.
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