[roxelle]

I have been told by the US consulate and the gov. travel advisory info that it is illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba, even going through a third country such as Canada or Mexico. I also know that Americans have gone to Cuba so I was wondering if someone could share how this might be done without getting the State Dept. involved.

[FeelinGroovy]

roxelle, on 09 March 2010 - 03:40 PM, said:

I have been told by the US consulate and the gov. travel advisory info that it is illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba, even going through a third country such as Canada or Mexico. I also know that Americans have gone to Cuba so I was wondering if someone could share how this might be done without getting the State Dept. involved.

They don't stamp your passport.

[Curmudgeon]

roxelle, on 09 March 2010 - 03:40 PM, said:

I have been told by the US consulate and the gov. travel advisory info that it is illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba, even going through a third country such as Canada or Mexico. I also know that Americans have gone to Cuba so I was wondering if someone could share how this might be done without getting the State Dept. involved.

I assume you are in Mexico. If so, go to your travel agent and get a visa. Then fly to Havana with your U.S. passport. Cuban immigration will not stamp your passport (they understand the problem). They say "welcome to Cuba", take half the visa, stamp the other half, then take that when you leave.

Last time I went, the flight from Guadalajara stopped in Cancun on the way, where the Mexicans got off and the plane filled up with Americans ....

[roxelle]

Curmudgeon, on 09 March 2010 - 05:14 PM, said:

I assume you are in Mexico. If so, go to your travel agent and get a visa. Then fly to Havana with your U.S. passport. Cuban immigration will not stamp your passport (they understand the problem). They say "welcome to Cuba", take half the visa, stamp the other half, then take that when you leave.

Last time I went, the flight from Guadalajara stopped in Cancun on the way, where the Mexicans got off and the plane filled up with Americans ....

Thanks!!!

[grm]

How do you think this will effect Americans traveling to Cuba?
All visitors requred to buy health insurance

[Zardoz]

Be aware just because they don't stamp your passport does not mean they don't know you went to Cuba. Under new
terrorism laws countries will transfer such information as who is on that flight to US government BUT I can't
believe Obama administration would care anymore but don't assume governments don't know you went there. The legal
way to go to Cuba is get a permit from US State Department and usually it is only for journalists or humanitarian
efforts. Have fun and good luck. I want to go to Cuba and see what all the Canadians are talking about.

[solajijic]

I thought the only restriction in reality, legally, that is imposed is an economic one meaning you can't spend US dollars there. that is against the law. Without going into the legislation effectively prohibiting travel there suffice it to say that as a US citizen you are allowed to go there you just can't spend US dollars doing it. The legislation assumes that people do not have a source for non-Us and foreign generated funds. We had friends in Ohio who went regularly on flights out of Windsor but they used money withdrawn in Canada from accounts they had in Latvia. They are two generations removed from Latvian citizenship but just happen to have property and bank accounts in the "old" country.

I am wondering if this long-arm effect from US funds is still necessary?

[FeelinGroovy]

Zardoz, on 09 March 2010 - 06:45 PM, said:

Be aware just because they don't stamp your passport does not mean they don't know you went to Cuba. Under new
terrorism laws countries will transfer such information as who is on that flight to US government BUT I can't
believe Obama administration would care anymore but don't assume governments don't know you went there. The legal
way to go to Cuba is get a permit from US State Department and usually it is only for journalists or humanitarian
efforts. Have fun and good luck. I want to go to Cuba and see what all the Canadians are talking about.

Are you saying that airlines are required to tell the US "government" who is on ANY plane or all planes going to Cuba or what?

[Intercasa]

The US government will only know you went to Cuba if you fly from Canada as they would need to give the US government a list of everyone flying over US airspace. This is a non issue going from Mexico.

True, it isn't illegal to go to Cuba but it is illegal to spend money there. There is a rebuttable presumption you spent money if you go there. The law used to never be enforced and then it was and who knows now. Chances of getting caught are slim and none and even then you pay a fine.

[FeelinGroovy]

Intercasa, on 09 March 2010 - 08:16 PM, said:

The US government will only know you went to Cuba if you fly from Canada as they would need to give the US government a list of everyone flying over US airspace. This is a non issue going from Mexico.

True, it isn't illegal to go to Cuba but it is illegal to spend money there. There is a rebuttable presumption you spent money if you go there. The law used to never be enforced and then it was and who knows now. Chances of getting caught are slim and none and even then you pay a fine.

Thanks, that makes more sense.

If I'm not doing something the U.S. "government" objects to then I must be doing something wrong.

[roxelle]

FeelinGroovy, on 09 March 2010 - 09:19 PM, said:

Thanks, that makes more sense.

If I'm not doing something the U.S. "government" objects to then I must be doing something wrong.

It appears to be illegal to go since there are penalties...


ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS, TRAVEL TRANSACTION LIMITATIONS: The Cuban Assets Control Regulations are enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and affect all U.S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, all people and organizations physically located in the United States, and all 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 tourist travel are not licensable. This restriction includes 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.

[Zardoz]

FeelinGroovy, on 09 March 2010 - 09:10 PM, said:

Are you saying that airlines are required to tell the US "government" who is on ANY plane or all planes going to Cuba or what?

No I am saying the US government gets it from other governments to help track down folks who are terrorists and
most countries will share information. I do not know if Mexico does this or not but they are working with the
US to track Narco crime so I imagine the US government and Mexican governments share information at least the
secret parts of the governments. Since 911 not as easy to hide anymore. Not sure anybody cares if you go to
Cuba but I bet they would know.

[Poeta]

There are agencies in NY and no doubt elsewhere in the US that plan and successfully conduct trips to Cuba. I have friends in NY who've gone many times! The GROUP gets a visa, flies to Jamaica, and then to Havana. No problem at all. Google Cuba trips to find out more.

BTW, the trips were fabulous so I've been told. They have different themes: education, music, government, the arts. Good luck!!

Poeta

[bollox]

I have visited Cuba many times both by boat and airline. I always insist that the authorities stamp my European
passport just to pee off the Americans every time I pass through.

[FeelinGroovy]

I know several Americans who have traveled to Cuba from Mexico with no issues. I hope to make the trip before it becomes legal.

[Peter]

My wife and I went a couple of years ago. We were supposed to go with a group but that fell apart so I made all my own arrangements, except for the plane tickets which we went through a travel agent for so she could take care of any paperwork, such as a Vias. We flew from Guad to Mexico City and then on to Cuba with Mexicana. On the internet, I booked a hotel in Havana and then at a 5 star all-inclusive at Veradero Beach including transportation to and from Havana. No problems at all. All the Cuban government did was stamp a piece of paper, which we were to keep in our passports, and which they collected at the airport when we were leaving.

As for money, the person that put the original group together told us to take Mexican pesos to exchange instead of US dollars. Supposedly, the exchange rate was better. That information was incorrect as the US dollar is welcome there and we lost about 20% on the exchange using pesos.

Cuba, especially Havana, is expensive. The Cuban money is based on whatever value, at the time, that Fidel wanted to put on it. When we went, the value supposedly was higher than the Euro. A hamburger at our hotel, with fries, was about $12.00 US. There are these tiny restaurants, mostly in people's homes, where the average meal was $15 to $25 US. We ate a lot in China Town where meals were more reasonable. Be prepared to pay $100 to $125 a person to see the show at the Tropicana. That does include a half small bottle of cheap rum.

Havana is also a real disappointment. The mansions and beautiful homes shown in the movies of Havana in the 40's and 50's are still there but they are run down, full of plaster that has fallen off, last saw paint in the 40's or 50's, etc. While some of the buildings in the historic district have been restored, most have not. Beggars are everywhere and you cannot walk a few feet without someone asking you for money. We were really pleased to leave that city.

There were two things that really impressed us. The old cars from the 40's to 60's all looked like they just came off the showroom floor and were in mint condition in looks and the way they ran. These cars were all over the place and they were amazing. The other was the all inclusive at Veradero. It was great.

My advice is to skip Cuba and go to a really nice all-inclusive here in Mexico. You won't miss much not seeing Havana, will save on the plane tickets, will save on a ridiculous exchange rate, and probably have a better time.

[Intercasa]

Pesos are better as there is a tax to exchange US dollars. Prices are not fixed and most places you go will have 2 to 3 different menus with different prices. If you haggle then you can get the lower menu but if you don't know then you'll assume that the prices are high. You can get 50 cent hamburgers in the street and 2 pizzas for a dollar although honestly I wasn't sure if the burgers were 100% meat or some cardboard combination and the pizzas could have had stuff added but I'm alive.

[solajijic]

A trip to Cuba is in our plans precisely for the reasons Peter found Havana uncomfortable. I want to see it as it has been, not when it is restored. I enjoy looking at old buildings and imagining what they could be. Did that in the 80s in what is now South Beach. I recall sitting and looking at buildings there for hours, walking into day hotel lobbys and seeing fabulous tile on the floors and old light fixtures that were gorgeous. Then returning during the early and mid-gentrification of the area and being thrilled at what was happening. Now its gone over the top and is too glitzy and has lost its charm. I would do the same in Havana, see it now, see it after Cuba opens and the gentrification. There are developers who have combed every inch of Havana, making maps, taking photos, measuring and planning their assault on the place. When it happens it will happen fast. I want to see it before its messed with and open to the onslaught.

[LaChula]

If anyone from Lakeside is going to Cuba and wants to meet some "real" Cubans, not the ones tourists usually come in contact with, please PM me.
Anyone going to Cuba would be encouraged to bring used clothing, cosmetics, meds no longer needed, vitamins, tins of sardines, underarm deodorant, shoes, tampax, etc. to give away as the working people in Cuba consider most of those as luxuries they have to save up for. At least a couple of years ago, the average worker makes $12 a month, and a doctor $19 or $20. You will meet waiters, maids, taxi drivers who were former doctors. In order to get a job with tourists, the family chips in to pay the government to get that job. Life is quite tough for the average Cuban.

[desertdave]

If you are a US citizen living here at Lakeside and you want to go to Cuba, contact Lupita @ Viajes Ajijic Travel- 766-0575. She will make all the arrangements! Been There and Loved it!