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Do you know of a reputable local travel service or website that can make travel arrangements to Cuba? If you or friends have made the trip, any suggestions, recommendations, cautionary tales would be appreciated. I plan to travel in January 2012 but would like to set the plans in motion.
With passport ready,
Jan
I have never been to Cuba. But I've known people who went with the Venceremos Brigades back in the eighties and early nineties. My understanding is that it is illegal in the U.S. for Americans to travel to Cuba, unless you have family members there and that requires some kind of special permission, or visa.
What Americans (U.S.) do is to travel to Mexico City, or any other foreign capital with direct flights to Havana and they get a visa there at the Cuban consulate. I even understand that as a courtesy the Cubans do not stamp U.S. passports. Perhaps visas are available upon landing, but I do not know and I would confirm that ahead of time if I were considering a visit.
That's all pretty vague memory on my part, I could be wrong. About the visa availability and not stamping passports, that is. I am sure it is still illegal and the normal route is through Mexico City. It's also one of those crimes that isn't prosecuted, unless one gives the Feds extra reasons to pay attention to you.
I'm not a fan of the Cuban government, but I traveled in China where I have similar qualms, so it's not a big moral issue for me. But keep in mind that when you pay a visa fee, you're helping prop up a one-party military dictatorship which only pays lip service to democracy and democratic values. Of course, the same might be said about travel to the U.S., except that we claim to have two political parties.
I hear the Cuban people are very nice and eager for outside contact. I love their culture, food, music, art, etc. Have considered visiting myself some day, except that sunny, tropical climes aren't especially my cup of tea, especially when it's hot and muggy.
The creepiest thing I know about Cuba is that I read some ten years or so ago about how it has become a travel destination for older European and American men who want to use their relative wealth (relative to the impoverished Cuban economy) to arrange "relationships" with very young (as young as 14-15 years old, possibly younger) Cuban girls. Arrangements in which the girl's family is complicit since the income can support all of them. This is sick, I don't know if it is still going on, but I haven't heard any news that there's been push back, either officially or socially, against such practices. Just another contradiction between the Socialist values that Cuba supposedly represents, and the political, cultural and economic reality there. End The Blockade!
Lest anyone think I am a total critic of Cuba, I recognize the advances they have made under Castro's form of "Socialism" in the fields of health and education/literacy. Those accomplishments are remarkable and far beyond what has happened in most other Latin American and Caribbean nations.
(With perhaps some exceptions in some of the Caribbean countries that are former colonies of Britain, France, Holland and the U.S.. But I haven't researched this, it's just an impression.)
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Posted in reply to the post by "Mad" Miles:
I made arrangements in Mexico City for a visa to Cuba. Neither Cuba or Mexico stamped the passport. There is as much or perhaps more democracy in Cuba on a local level then in the US. It is not a police state as the US gov. would like us to believe. Attended a huge concert event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Revolution at Anti-Imperialist Plaza. There were no cops in riot gear. Hardly any cops at all. Went back to the hotel and on International CNN watched the police murder of Oscar Grant. Where is the police state?!
We also experienced the health care system because I was coming down with strep throat while in Mexico and went to a clinic in Cuba where I got treated and given antibiotic. We watched people come in, show an ID card and be seen by a doctor. No long wait. Education through University is free so there are many doctors. Yes, it is a poor country but it shouldn't be compared with US gluttonous standards where we consume a disproportionate amount of the world's resources -- much of it stolen from other people's lands at gunpoint.
In my experience the people were very open and friendly. We walked down dark streets late at night without fear. There appears to be a sense of community -- looking out for each other -- on a grander scale throughout the society. People we talked with would like for Cuba to trade with the US but want to remain autonomous. In general people seem grateful that Castro was successful in breaking free from US domination -- making real Jose Marti's vision of an independent Cuba.
There are two currencies in Cuba: local, and international pesos which you have to purchase there. Some places will accept Euros but not Dollars. The question to ask: why is it that US, a "free country," restricts travel to certain nations? The Latin American Working Group is working to get the US to lift the travel ban -- see, https://www.lawg.org/ Global Exchange conducts Reality Tours to Cuba and other countries. See, https://globalexchange.org/tours/byCountry.html#2 Also a resource for travelers: https://cuba-junky.com/
Go there. Enjoy the culture and another perspective on the world.
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talk to the people at Marin interfaith. https://www.mitfamericas.org/. I worked in Cuba in the 70s. You won't regret going. Bush made it almost impossible. I don't know whether O' B. eased up. You can go through Vancouver or Montreal or Merida but the State Dept. used to hang out at the latter and threaten people.
Hi Jan,
I have been traveling to Cuba on a regular basis for the past 10 years producing cultural videos.
https://www.boogalu.com
I also consult with folks about Cuba travel: making travel arraignments, options for lodging, coaching on how best to operate in the country and what pitfalls to avoid.
https://www.boogalu-travel.com
For flights to Havana I use Nash Travel a Canadian company.
https://www.nashtravel.com/ 800-818-2004 ext. 221
Give a call at 707 823-0369 if you want to talk further.
Philip
I went there a few years back. Flew to Cancun, got a Visa, flew to Havana, stayed at the Tropicana hotel, built by the Mob in 1958. The old part of the city and the grand boulevard, the Malecon, is buguiling, almost stuck in a time warp. Lots of buildings have been maintained or restored but not much new has been built. Lots of old churches, plazas, cafes, restaurants, great music, its a great tourist experience. When I was there in 2003 the currency in the tourist area of Havana was the US dollar. You paid in cash and received dollars in change, The Cuban peso is in use in non-tourist areas. I have heard that with the decline of the dollar the currency in use now is the euro. For 60 miles along the coast east of Havana there is one lavish tourist resort after another catering to Europeans, Canadians, and the occasional American. The tourist trade is the lifeblood of Cuba, bringing hard currency in since the Cuban peso is a worthless accoutrement of communism. The people are friendly and forthcoming, though they quickly change the subject if they were asked about Fidel. He is referred to by many wordlessly, they just stroke their imaginary beard and you know. The plain fact is there is not much freedom of speech and we were cautioned about this and received that notion back from the people when the subject was changed. One of our taxi drivers was an engineer who had 2 university degrees, spoke good English, and said he has to do what he does because he has a family and makes more money (hard currency) than he can as a engineer. Although I knew the answer I asked why doesn't he leave. He looked at me sadly and said if he could he would but since the government forbids it he drives a taxi. Although most tourists stay downtown or in the resorts along the beach we went for a drive through some of the rest of Havana. Some places have had some maintenance, and there are some big government buildings and a big square where Fidel used to give his 4 hour speeches to half a million people, but there are countless houses that haven't had a coat of paint or maintenance since 1959. They literally are falling in on themselves.Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by zenekar:
The people seem content, but aside from the music there seems to be little overt joy. They have a very high level of education, their health care is provided. They are proud to be Cuban and I believe they support the revolution and recognize the uniqueness of Cuba, they know they do well compared to the rest of the Caribbean and remember the days of Batista and the mob. There is virtually no crime because it simply isn't tolerated. But there's something missing. There is a craft market on the Malecon where vendors sell books, art, clothes, revolutionary posters, Che T-shirts, and so on. I thought I would buy a memento of Cuba but was totally surprised at the lack of anything appealing. The folk art was mass produced, or cheap, or uninspired, just something joyful missing. In Guatemala the folk art blows your mind, in Cuba it puts you to sleep.
By all means go if you can. Make sure you tip the Mexican customs guy when you re-enter Mexico, it was $5 then (he says under his breath "tip, tip? while looking down at your paperwork) but you don't want a stamp that may raise an eyebrow when you re-enter US. The Cubans just wave you in and out of the country with your visa, they don't touch your passport, after all it's all about your dinero, not you.