The last info you have about Cuba is from 2004.
My husband and I are planning to be in Mexico in the spring of 2009 and would love to spend a few days in Havana. As Americans, I don't think our passports can be stamped. How can we find out about making this happen?


Any other suggestions and/or recommendations would be great!

Muchas gracias.
Edna

Officially it is illegal for an American citizen to spend money in Cuba to buy goods (example: meals) and services (example: hotel rooms). Potentially you will be questioned heavily upon return and you may also receive a notice from the Department of Justice asking for details of your spending.

Here is a brief article on travel to Cuba from Peter Greenburg. Here are two more pages on travel to Cuba and this page. One way to travel is to go with a group doing humanitarian travel.

I did know someone who traveled to Cuba via a Canadian humanitarian group. He went twice in the late '90s with no problems. But after his third trip in 2001, he was contacted by the Justice Department and had a lot of hassle regarding his trip including needing getting a lawyer. He has not returned to Cuba.

Personally, until the laws change, I would not recommend going.

Thanks for this informative post, Marta.

I've been wanting to go to Cuba, but understood the only way to travel there legally (as an American) was with an "educational" or humanitarian group. Interesting article by Peter Greenberg - it sounds like even those may not be smart ...

We've decided that it is not wise to try. Your passport does not get stamped going into Cuba but it will get stamped returning to Mexico. Since it will be originally stamped upon first entry the time frame would definitely be questioned.

Oh well!

Thanks for the info.

My daughter went to Cuba in May.
She flew into Mexico City from LA, had a few days there then flew to Cuba.
On her way back they flew to Cancun then on to New York.
The travel agent organized the tickets - the main Australia to Mexico - Mexico to NY and Australia on one ticket. Another ticket, Mexico - Cuba - Mexico.
When entering USA from Mexico there was no indication that she had been in Cuba.

Another friend went on a small group tour and did the same with her ticketing.

Jill

I have several friends who have flown to Cuba via Mexico City from the US without any trouble. It can be done.

Another way to get there is with journalist credentials. My brother is a newspaper publisher and has traveled there several times.
He has taken his girlfriend to whom he gave a letter stating she was a "free-lance" reporter.
Maybe your local community newspaper would like you to write an article about your visit in exchange for a letter claiming you as a reporter?

Yes, it can be done and a neighbor of ours did it. However, it does come with risk. If anything happens to you while you are there, you are on your own and your own pocket.

It is just another Caribbean island there are a lot of other choices which we CAN travel to legally so why not opt for one of those?

I'm only 90 miles to it from Key West and there are still loads of people who risk their lives to try to get here with small rafts and some of the most unique boats you've ever seen. Why go if so many want to leave?

BTW... this lack of travel to Cuba applies to US citizens only.

quote:

Originally posted by Doug S & Judith G:
...It is just another Caribbean island there are a lot of other choices which we CAN travel to legally so why not opt for one of those?...

The attraction for me was to see the Cuba of The Buena Vista Social Club (movie) before the country changes. And you know it will with Fidel Castro playing a lesser political role. Not getting into politics here, just saying I wanted to visit before it turned into "another Caribbean island" ...

Around 1998, my older daughter went to Cuba via Costa Rica with her club soccer team. Sarah was more than impressed with the real Cuba, both the charm of old Havana and the abject poverty. Her team played a "friendly" game with Cuba's Women's National team. At the end of the game she and her teammates stripped down, literally and left all sorts of uniform pieces, from cleats to shinguards to practice tees and shorts with the other team. Whoever made the arrangements did arrange for some travel outside the city, but they were never free to travel about on their own; as a worried parent, I think that was a good thing.

I am not exactly sure how they managed their re-entry into the US, but I think that they did not have their passports stamped in Cuba. But things are different now, and I am not sure we would let her make that trip today (if she were still a teenager in our home).

It was a memorable experience, and part of the trip ended up in a college admissions essay a few years later.

Like Colleen, I would like to see Cuba, but I think you need to go through channels right now.

I recently got my dual citizenship with Ireland and the passport is next. I'll travel to Cuba with the Irish passport, of course. One of the perks of having an Irish Grandmother.

Colleen, I saw the remaining members of the Buena Vista Social Club perform live in Antigua, Guatemala in January! They fled to Guatemala and now live there. They were a real pleasure to see in person.

If you want to get a taste of Cuba on film pre and post Fidel Castro I'd recommended Lost City a labor of love starring Andy Garcia. I thought it was beautifully done.

quote:

I saw the remaining members of the Buena Vista Social Club perform live in Antigua, Guatemala in January!

What a treat! I fell a little bit in love with those charming musicians...

Thanks for the movie tip. I notice that hottie Nestor Carbonell is in it, too.

Kathy,

Thanks for the movie rec from another Cuba fan.

Yes, it is indeed a perk of having an Irish grandmother but it really doesn't matter when it comes to travel to Cuba because there's no restriction from the Cuban end toward American travelers, so one could just as easily travel there with an American passport, although practically, having to pay 10% duty to exchange USD to CUC is a PITA.

To OP, the US passports are not stamped by the Cuban immigration.

I could go on, but I won't

Steve

If it's "just another Caribbean island", why can't Americans go there??

Charity

Maybe we will be able to visit some day in the future - but for now, we won't go into the reasons since we'll probably end up over the political line.

Great article about finding "Old Havana" in New York City: "Time Travel to Cuba without leaving the US"

Colleen,

Visit "Calle Ocho" in Miami. They call it "Little Havana" and, as it's part of my sales area, you wonder when you crossed a border as nothing; and I mean NOTHING, is in English.