I'm reposting as I did not post in the correct thread:
Looking to book a trip for my Husband and myself to Cuba for the Xmas/New Years holiday. We live in NYC and I would rather not fly north to Canada to take a flight. Where else can we catch a flight to Cuba?

Can someone recommend a really good travel agent?
Thanks!!!

If you're a US citizen, it is illegal for you to travel to Cuba.

http://travel.state.gov/cuba.html

Well ChristieP, I hate to tell you, but it is a total fallicy that it is illegal for US citizens to travel to Cuba. What it is, is against US Treasury Department Rules to spend money in Cuba. But both the US Senate, and the US House of Rep. have forbidden the US Treasury Dept from spending any funds to enforce this.
I would highly suggest that if you want the true, no BS facts, that you check out the following website.

http://www.nlg.org/

It is the National Lawyers Guild in New York City and on the lower right hand side of the main page, there is a special section on the legalities, fallicies, and stuff on Americans travelling to Cuba. It clearly spells out your rights under the US Constitution as a US citizen to travel. You really do owe it to yourself to be fully informed on this issue and not just listen to US government rhetoric on this issue.
A well informed citizen checks out all the facts.
Steve

2 years ago we went from LaGuardia to Nassau to Havana. There are other caribbean gateways, and I believe that there are some direct flights from JFK and Miami to Havana.

Are you looking for an all inclusive type package? If you are then going from Canada would probibly be best. From TO or Montreal you could catch a direct nonstop flight to Varadero, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Hoguin, Santa Lucia, and probibly more. These packages would have air, transfers and hotels inlcuded. Check out Air Transat Holidays or World of Vacations.

From NYC it is only 1 hour flight to either TO or Montreal, and then like a 3 1/2 hour flight down.

The only legal way for a US citizen to travel and spend money in Cuba is through a US Treasury legally sanctioned trip. Those include, but are not limited to University courses, (with schools that are set up to offer courses in Cuba), cultural excursions (with museums, religious groups), and/or diplomatic and journalistic affiliations. Beyond these I don't know. Cuba is a fascinating place, but I wouldn't recommend going there illegally.

you can fly through the bahamas and cancun, and there are in fact direct flights from miami and i think even new york for those going under license or to visit family, etc. it is not too difficult to go to cuba legally, although restrictions have gotten tighter and licenses harder to obtain in the past year or so. you should contact global exchange (www.globalexchange.org)--they organize trips under treasury license. Also, if you can find a family to host you, you can go legally via the not spending money route. The first time I went, we used a travel agency (whose name escapes me right now) that was pretty much the only one operating under license at the time. Now, if you do a google search for "cuba travel agency" you will get lots of choices... just make sure to do your research first. you will not be sorry. traveling to cuba is an amazing experience you will never forget. good luck!