Thinking about a vacation trip to Cuba and... (restrictions, hotel, regulations)

[sugarmaple]

Has anyone gone to Cuba for a vacation? I have also heard that this all-inclusive hotel/resort is a good one:
Iberostar Varadero

Anyone gone there? Experiences?

[FlyMIA]

If you are a U.S. citizen you need a reason to travel to Cuba legally. It can be visiting family, religious organization, education, charity etc.. You can't really just go there for vacation but while you are there I guess you can stay are a resort just can't use any credit cards. If you have a passport from another country you have no problem just have to catch a flight from another country like the Bahamas or Canada. But again no U.S. credit cards.

[sugarmaple]

If you are a U.S. citizen you need a reason to travel to Cuba legally. It can be visiting family, religious organization, education, charity etc.. You can't really just go there for vacation but while you are there I guess you can stay are a resort just can't use any credit cards. If you have a passport from another country you have no problem just have to catch a flight from another country like the Bahamas or Canada. But again no U.S. credit cards

I am not so sure that it so at this time -- I know a few people who have taken trips to Cuba fairly recently as vacations; I was recently in the Bahamas and met a woman there who said she had been to Cuba x2 for vacation; that it was both interesting and reasonable, price wise and that the country was trying to promote a vacation destination there.

Based on what she had said, and the pluses of the island, I thought it would be an interesting trip.

[FlyMIA]

Sure you can catch a flight from the Bahamas and illegally visit without the correct documentation.

There are many flights a day between the U.S. and Cuba especially from Miami. These flights are ran by special travel agencies with government approval. Every person on those flights has permission from the U.S. government to travel to Cuba and be on those aircraft. If you want to try to get the paper work by saying all you want to do is spend you money and give it to Catro's government maybe you can get it.

But if you plan to legally enter Cuba by air on a plane leaving the United States you will need to have government papers allowing you to visit.

Again people do go there without it you just need to fly from a different country like the Bahamas or Mexico.

The problem is not going to Cuba it is spending money in Cuba that is illegal. So to enter the country the U.S. government gives you permission to spend money there.
See this link:
FAQ's

This only applies to U.S. citizens who only have a U.S. passport. If you have a passport from another country you can travel there all you want. Bahamians, Mexicans, Canadians, Spanish etc.. They are travel to Cuba with no restrictions.

[phxgreenfire]

Originally Posted by sugarmaple

I am not so sure that it so at this time -- I know a few people who have taken trips to Cuba fairly recently as vacations; I was recently in the Bahamas and met a woman there who said she had been to Cuba x2 for vacation; that it was both interesting and reasonable, price wise and that the country was trying to promote a vacation destination there.

Based on what she had said, and the pluses of the island, I thought it would be an interesting trip.

It is so: Cuba

The U.S. Department of the Treasury enforces the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, which apply to all U.S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, all people and organizations physically located in the United States, and branches and subsidiaries of U.S. organizations throughout the world. The regulations require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed in order to engage in any travel-related transactions pursuant to travel to, from, and within Cuba. Transactions related to travel for tourist activities are not licensable. This restriction also prohibits tourist travel to Cuba from or through a third country such as Mexico or Canada. U.S. law enforcement authorities enforce these regulations at U.S. airports and pre-clearance facilities in third countries. Travelers who fail to comply with Department of the Treasury regulations could face civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States.

You can theoretically go, but it is against the law and you would have to be extra careful to cover your tracks. It appears fines for violating the embargo are pretty steep too.

[sugarmaple]

Holy Moly! How have other people managed to travel there - and come back?
Dam**, I really wanted to go on vacation there; guess have to go back to the drawing board and think about another place.

[robertpolyglot]

I've heard about the Canada thing, but I'd be boarding the aircraft with a U.S. passport. Not! I don't think Air Canada will board you on a flight to Havana with an American passport.

I'll wait for it to open up. However, that will really CHANGE Cuba and I think the old world quaintness will go away.

For now, if I want to hear a Cuban enough accent or eat Cuban food, I would be more than happy to go to Gran Canaria of the Canary Islands, and be on Spanish soil in the process. (I need to get around to the other islands in the Canaries but don't know when I'll get back that way).

[tablemtn]

Most Americans I know who travel to Cuba without Treasury Department permission fly through airports without US Customs stationed at the facility, due to concerns over local data-sharing. That includes airports like Simón Bolívar (CCS) near Caracas, or Sandino airport (MGA) near Managua.

Americans do fly out of Mexico, though there are a lot of rumors about passenger information sharing between Mexico and the US. To evade suspicion, it's probably safer to fly through Venezuela.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by tablemtn

Americans do fly out of Mexico, though there are a lot of rumors about passenger information sharing between Mexico and the US. To evade suspicion, it's probably safer to fly through Venezuela.

I'll just wait. Until the connection is at MIA airport or there is a high-speed hydrofoil, or whatever, from the Keys.

As for the OP, Canadians I have spoken to about Cuba like it. They say it's funky, it's cheap, the people are nice, and the food is good. They don't rave about it. It sounds like they're giving it a "B."

[FlyMIA]

If you want Cuban food and Cuban accents go to Miami.

Anyway there are charity groups and educational groups out there that make trips to Cuba. Just don't expect to be relaxing on a beach drinking cold drinks. All the money goes to the communist government from the resorts.