Elizabeth

I am interested in a visit to Cuba. Are there
any travel bans/restrictions ?
What is the situation for Americans?
Can anyone recommend an area...lodging...and
dive sights?
Thanks.
Elizabeth
[email protected]

ilisa

American journalists, people with family in Cuba, and academicians with a purpose for being there may travel to Cuba on a waiver from the Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control. While there, they are restricted to spending no more than $100 per day, including food and lodging. Yes, you can do what many suggest and enter Cuba from another country, such as Canada. However, if you are caught, it will be assumed that you are in violation of the economic restrictions since you are not on a waiver, and will be subject to very steep fines. Also, if for some reason you are arrested in Cuba, you will have little recourse since the U.S. government will have little power to assist you. You must evaluate your personal situation and what you are willing to risk. For example, my husband works for the federal government, and I know that if we were to travel to Cuba and were caught, there would be dire consequences.

debbie

Hi1 We are Canadians planning to go to Cuba in February (husband is a diver). Suggest you pick up the Lonely Planet book (ho offense Fodor's people) for CUBA as it patiently describes how Americans can go to Cuba (one of them being to book & travel through a Canadian travel agency - one of the unsaid advantage s of this is that you would pay in Canadian dollars and with the exchange rate being what it is you will be paying next to nothing for your trip!). The book also mentions that the Cubans won't even stamp your passport 'so Uncle Sam' will be none the wiser.
Secondly, the book also provides excellent detail on diving in Cuba - although the diving is apparently better on the south side around the island of Juventa (or something like that), the all-inclusive resorts are on the north side. However, we did write to the Cuba Board of Tourism and they sent us some excellent information describing each of the dive sites around the island. We ended up choosing a place in the Guardalava area - a Spanish run resort all inclusive that has a dive shop on it's sister property next door and there is a huge coral reef in the vicinity that provides some good diving.
Anyhow, either pick up the book or email me direct if you want more info.

David Stanley

If you want to read up on all the absurd restrictions Americans are subjected to by their own government, click in http://www.destinationcuba.com. Is this supposed to be the "land of the free"? Come on....

Joe Raphael

Elizabeth, the lady from Canada, Debbie, tells it like it is.