Traveling to Cuba

 

In January of 2015, for the first time since the Cuban missile crisis, United States citizens were permitted to travel to Cuba with few restrictions. Of course, due to still tense political relations, travel is still difficult, but there are ways to make it easier. 

The first step you will want to take when planning your trip to Cuba is to budget your trip. Before you decide where in Cuba you want to go and how much you want to spend, you need to understand that obtaining Cuban currency can be difficult for United States citizens. Before you step foot on the island, you must have every dollar you plan to spend in cash. It is impossible to use your bank card in Cuba, you will not be able to access your funds in the United States. Because of this, it would be best for you to plan all your costs and add a few hundred dollars in case of an emergency. Hide it somewhere in your luggage, and do not hide it all in one place. Another issue to keep in mind is that when

obtaining Cuban money, you will want to avoid using USD. The USD is subject to a 10% tax when it is used for currency conversion. Instead, you will want to have your money either as Euros or CAD, which are not given an extra tax. 

So, by now, you have a budget in place for your trip and you are ready to start booking hotels and tours. STOP. Before you make any plans, you need to be aware that while traveling to Cuba is allowed, The United States State Department has a list of Cuban businesses that United States citizens are banned from because of connections to the Cuban Government and military. The list can be found here. 

Now with all the legalities out of the way, we can finally plan our trip to Cuba. With the Covid-19 crisis
still in effect, Thanksgiving in Cuba just does not seem feasible, so I will plan my trip for spring break 2021, and the prices I use will reflect those dates. 

First step to visiting Cuba is to find a flight, most flights will range from $300-$400. My flight ended up being $370 on American Airlines with a two-hour layover in Miami. (Though rumor has it the United States Government will sometimes give out free flights to Guantanamo Bay! Great for budget travelers!) 

Hotels are a bit more difficult. Many hotels are blocked by the United States Government because of links with the Cuban Government, for this reason, I turned to Airbnb. I found a great apartment located

in central Old Havana, just a few blocks from anything really, the nearest art museum is less than half a mile away, all for just $52 a night, less than some traditional hotels! 

There are great museums in Old Havana, including The National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana, and the Museum of the Revolution. Other attractions

include The Cathedral of Havana, the Great Theater of Havana, and the National Capital. 

Just a few Reminders before I finish this. Keep your receipts, the government could require them upon your return to the United States. Buy an international sim card, if you lose your money somehow, you will need someone to wire money to you via Western Union. And finally, avoid shady looking areas, you are a foreigner and that can make you a target for crimes. If you use Airbnb, speak with your host, they can give you an idea of places to go to and what parts of town to avoid. Have fun in Cuba and do not forget your passport. 

References 

Badal June 23, Kelly Philips. “American Travel in Cuba: A Timeline.” Travel + Leisure, 23 June 2015, www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/american-travel-cuba-timeline.

“List of Restricted Entities and Subentities Associated With Cuba Effective as of November 19, 2019 - United States Department of State.” U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, 19 Nov. 2019, www.state.gov/cuba-sanctions/cuba-restricted-list/list-of-restricted-entities-and-subentities-associated-with-cuba-effective-as-of-november-19-2019/.

“Vacation Rentals, Homes, Experiences & Places.” Airbnb, Aug. 2016, www.airbnb.com/rooms/16000446?check_in=2021-04-04.