DISQUS

Christine · 10 months ago

NOTE TO COMMENTERS:

Normally, I never moderate comments. You can say whatever you want here, and I'll let it stand. On this post I'm making an exception, because it's too easy for a few people to ruin an honest conversation. So while I'm traveling, I'm putting my husband, Drew in charge of moderating comments here. That means he can delete or modify anything he doesn't like without warning or explanation. (Have fun, honey!)

Thanks,

Christine

K.Rae · 10 months ago

Let's hope with the new administration, soon Americans will no longer have to jump through so many hoops to see Cuba. Until then...nice guide.

<abbr>K.Rae´s last blog post..Keep Walking</abbr>

Olga · 10 months ago

Poor Americans! I'm certainly glad Canadians can travel in and out of Cuba without any issues. I wish I could tell you how Americans go to Cuba through Canada, but I don't rightly know. All I know is that it does happen--quite a bit!

Julie · 10 months ago

I've written a couple of articles on this topic as well, which can be found here:

How to Travel to Cuba:

http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-t...

and

How to Travel to Cuba & Why You Should Do It Now: http://matadortravel.com/travel-writing/cuba/tr...

<abbr>Julie´s last blog post..New York Times Travel Show</abbr>

Julie · 10 months ago

Also-- just wanted to mention that it's pretty unusual to have to wait for a day for the tourist visa. I've always been able to walk into the airport (whether in Mexico or the Bahamas) and buy it right along with the ticket at the same time (and have generally done so with a three hour or so window before the flight).

<abbr>Julie´s last blog post..New York Times Travel Show</abbr>

Mark H · 10 months ago

In 2009, this whole approach to Cuba does seem anachronistic to me. What does it really achieve today? Surely there are nastier and more reprehensible governments in the world today (the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe leaps to mind as one) than Cuba. I guess the whole situation makes it appealing to travel to for Americans.

<abbr>Mark H´s last blog post..Travel Website with a Difference - Travel Blog Exchange</abbr>

chris · 10 months ago

I love the covert operations Christine. Whilst this doesn't effect me as a UK citizen, I did hear that you could have problems getting in to the US if you had visited Cuba. I'll have to look in to this, but Cuba is high on my list so will be interesting to know.

Sounds like a great place!

<abbr>chris´s last blog post..Where I’ve Been</abbr>

Stevo | China Travel · 10 months ago

Great post, Christine! Fight the power!

I hope the new president quashes this uber-silly trade embargo, if only for the cigars.

<abbr>Stevo | China Travel´s last blog post..Chiang Mai Shoulder Power</abbr>

Drew · 10 months ago

Hey Mark, I'm sure I speak for Christine (as well as myself) when I say that I don't think we are in disagreement with the notion that this whole ban is an outdated notion that needs to go away. Hell, in 2004 the republican led govt nearly repealed the ban, so there's definitely a growing notion that the ban will end soon. Personally, I wouldn't necessarily agree that the ban makes it a more appealing trip for most people. If we assume that the number of Americans who make travel a priority and get out into the world is fairly small in proportion to the number of people here, then you take that amount and could probably cut that to 10-20% (based on some super scientific number crunching I just made up for this response) of those travelers are that truly emboldened at the challenge of making the trip to Cuba and don't view it as just one more headache when all they want to do is lay on a beach. Yes, for that small subset there is the allure of challenging the system, but I would definitely consider it to not be an overall motivator to Joe Vacationer.

Not sure if my point was made somewhere in there. I am not known for being very succinct :)

Scribetrotter · 10 months ago

Getting to Cuba from Canada is easy - Cuba is a favoured Canadian destination so there are direct flights not only to Havana but to a number of other Cuban cities from several Canadian cities. Most common departure points are Montreal and Toronto, with plenty of flights, including Air Canada, Cubana, and a number of charters that ferry holiday-makers back and forth for cheap. So... all you have to do is buy your tickets online to Montreal, Toronto or another destination - and then buy a SEPARATE ticket to Cuba (you don't want to hand your digression to US authorities on a platter, do you?)

The embargo is indeed overdone and various people at various times have tried desperately to lift it. Unfortunately, there is a very strong anti-Cuba lobby in Florida, made up of Cuban exiles who want to make sure every vestige of Castro's Cuba is erased before travel resumes.

<abbr>Scribetrotter´s last blog post..Solo Travel for Women</abbr>

Greg Wesson · 10 months ago

As far as I know, tip # 5 applies to everyone - bring cash. Foreign ATM cards and Visa cards rarely work in Cuba.

Chris - no need to worry about being disallowed into the USA if you have previously travelled to Cuba. They probably won't know, and if they do they probably won't care. Millions of Canadians (including myself) have done it in the past.

<abbr>Greg Wesson´s last blog post..Ecuadorian birds and The Ten Pound Note</abbr>

Andrew · 10 months ago

I’ve also heard that people don’t get fined, they get “Letters of Intent to Fine” which is basically like a big warning. And I’ve heard that this hasn’t been tested in court, seeing as Americans we have a right to travel where ever we want, and I’m sure the ACLU would have a field day if they actually got serious about fining people. For now the threat of action has been enough to keep most American’s away from Cuba, which was the desired result.

This surprises me. I worked for a Canadian hydrogeologist who was told either stop working on humanitarian projects in Cuba or face massive fines and lose all contracts in the US. These were private and State contracts, mind, not Federal gov't. The contracts got pulled and given to Americans anyway, so it may just have been a tactic. Still, I didn't think very highly of a government that would block humanitarian aid.

Nomadic Matt · 10 months ago

Remember the fight club rule- you do not talk about fight club. It's sort of like cuba. you don't talk about going to cuba :)

That said- I am insanely jealous and wish I was there. I agree with steve, i hope obama kills this embargo

<abbr>Nomadic Matt´s last blog post..The Weekly Photo: Seville</abbr>

Anthony · 10 months ago

I want to go because James Bond can go.

<abbr>Anthony´s last blog post..Don't Call It a Comeback</abbr>

Andy Graham of HoboTraveler.co · 10 months ago

I have been thinking about going to Cuba for year, the minute I mention it all the lurkers and trolls on my Travel Blog say they are calling the USA government. I heard an interesting reason why the ban has not been dropped. Castro took a lot of money and land from the Mafia, as long as he is alive it will look bad if we reestablish relationship with Cuba. Technically there is a need to make good to teh Mafia, and this is the dirty laundry situation. I do not think Obama will change anything, this is just naive understanding of how the USA government works.

Truly going to Cuba for a normal tourist is easy, it the press that has the problem, being my Blog is huge, I may have a problem.

<abbr>Andy Graham of HoboTraveler.com´s last blog post..What Goes Around Comes Around</abbr>

backpacker accommodation austr · 10 months ago

Wow America sure knows how to hold a grudge, I wonder if the embargo will ever be lifted?

Keith · 10 months ago

>> I did hear that you could have problems getting in to the US if you had visited Cuba.<<

Could it be they do the same as the Israelis did back in the 60s/70s? A lot of Arab states wouldn't let you in if you had Israeli entry/exit stamps in your passport. So, if you asked, the Israelis would put your stamps on a separate piece of paper, which you could discard as soon as you'd left Israel.

<abbr>Keith´s last blog post..Snow Slide Show</abbr>