How to Travel to Cuba If You Are an American
Traveling to Cuba for American citizens has been a back-and-forth
battle in recent decades and, as of November 2017, more stringent restrictions
have been placed on travelers and tourists hoping to visit this island in
Carribean.
Travelers must now declare
themselves to make a journey that falls within one of the 12 travel categories.
This means that tourists can no longer travel to Cuba in the category of
"people to people, "and those who travel to Cuba are no longer
allowed to support companies that help finance the Cuban army.
To book a flight, accommodation or ferry to Cuba, you must now declare which
category of journey you will make first, and as Americans are still unable to
book a flight to Cuba, most of the United States. Citizens will travel with a
travel agency in Cuba with an official US licence. State Department, such as
Insight Cuba and Holidays Central.
Images
New
Legislation and Getting a Visa: Who Can Travel?
Legal individual travel has always required that
citizens fall under one of the 12 permitted categories of travel to Cuba, a
rule already in place before the November 2017 edict of Trump. However, the
requirement is now legally binding and you must document your activities to
demonstrate that you were there for legitimate reasons. (other than tourism).
According to the U.S. Embassy in
Cuba's official website, trips may be completed
for:
·
Family visits
·
Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and
certain intergovernmental organizations
·
Journalistic activity
·
Professional research and professional meetings
·
Educational activities
·
Religious activities
·
Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other
competitions, and exhibitions
·
Support for the Cuban people
·
Humanitarian projects
·
Activities of private foundations or research or educational
institutes
·
Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or
information materials
·
Certain export transactions that may be considered for
authorization under existing regulations and guidelines
In order to get a travel visa to Cuba, neither
the U.S. Embassy in Havana nor the U.S Department of State in Washington, D.C.
process applications, so you'll instead need to apply through the Cuban Embassy
in D.C.
Booking Hotels and Logistics of Visiting Cuba
Because the Trump administration bans American
support for military-funded establishments, coupled with hurricanes that
ravaged the island in 2017, it can be a challenge to book a hotel room.
According to Trump officials, these new restrictions
in Cuba were not intended to stop the country's tourism, but to "direct
money and economic activity away from the Cuban military and security services
"and towards companies owned by Cuban citizens.
These new laws are essentially intended to encourage
visitors to eat in local restaurants, stay in local hotels (or private homes)
and buy from local businesses— just make sure that you never go to restricted
businesses or that you can be fined or arrested on your return to the United
States.
Although Trump has discouraged traveling to Cuba
with these new restrictions, the rich culture of this island can still be
enjoyed. Since relations between the United States and Cuba under the Trump
administration are suffering, be well prepared before you leave. Be sure to
bring enough cash for your entire trip because it is easy to access American
funds in Cuba and exchange them for the Cuban peso—is rather difficult.
Going
Solo to Cuba
Authorized tour groups organize hotels,
transport, meals and a route that complies with federal regulations requiring
such tours to focus on cultural exchange, which means that they remain the most
popular route for the United States. Citizens are coming to Cuba.
If you go solo, you will need a passport and a
tourist card (which can be obtained at your departure airport) and of course
you will have to arrange your own hotel and transport. A working knowledge of
Spanish can also help, but remember that the island nation already has
international tourist experience, so that there is already more than minimal
tourist assistance.
The
changes in Cuba policy apply not to travelers from other parts of the world,
and Cuba is one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean for travelers
from Canada and Europe. Several international hotel companies, such as Riu,
Iberostar and Melia, have built large resorts in Cuban destinations such as
Varadero that meet the expectations of skilled travelers worldwide. More than
two million visitors visit Cuba every year.
Traveling
by U.S. Commercial Airline and Ferry
Although some top U.S. airlines bid over the
right to fly to Cuba in 2016, the 2017 restrictions have all but eliminated
commercial airline travel between the two countries.
Charter flights originating mainly from Miami,
Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa are still the only option for travelers to travel to
Cuba by air from the USA. It is very unlikely that Cuba airlines will begin to
offer flights to the United States. They would have to overcome important
regulatory hurdles to do so at any time soon.
However, the direct ferry service between
Florida and Havana could soon become reality. The legal process to do this was
well under way before the 2017 restrictions— in fact, in March 2016 Carnival
Cruise Lines announced that it had been approved to start cruising from Miami
to Cuba, and the new travel restrictions do not affect this type of transit.
Flying From
Canada, Cancun, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica
If you don't want to wait for U.S. airlines to
start flying
to Cuba, or you want to combine a visit to Cuba with
a trip to a different Caribbean island, you have options, and not just to
Havana but also a wide range of Cuban destinations.
Air Canada is currently flying daily between Toronto and
Havana and Varadero, Cuba, while Cubana — the national airline of Cuba —
operates between Toronto and Montreal and Havana, Varadero, Cienfuegos, Santa
Clara and Holguín, and COPA Airlines operates daily flights between Toronto and
Havana.
Cancun has long been the choice gateway for Americans who
want to visit Cuba without drawing the attention of the United States. Although
customs officials have tightened restrictions, you can still fly from Cancun to
Havana. Cayman Airways also operates Grand Cayman and Jamaica flights to
Havana.
Using
the Havana Embassy
The United States The Havana embassy reopened in
August 2015 with the restoration of full diplomatic relations between Cuba and
the United States. Although the relationship is now tightened by the Trump
administration, this embassy will still help US citizens in Cuba in a variety
of ways.
Services available in the United States Embassy
in Havana includes applications for processing in new USA Passports, renewal of
expired passports or replacement of stolen passports and the registration of
the United States. Citizens who live, travel, or are born in Cuba.
The U.S. Embassy also provides federal income
tax forms, services to notarize documents to be used in the United States, and
limited assistance to U.S. citizen prisoners in Cuba as well as assistance in
the shipment of remains of deceased U.S. citizens back to the United States or
coordinating medical evacuations for U.S. citizens.
In an emergency situation, the U.S. Embassy will
also assist in wiring money to citizens, but don't count on this option to help
you if you simply run out of funds while visiting Cuba.
The United States Embassy also provides forms of federal income
taxation, notarization services to be used in the United States and limited
assistance to the United States. Citizen prisoners in Cuba and assistance in
the shipment of deceased U.S. remains Citizens return to the United States or
coordinate medical evacuations in the United States Citizens.
In an emergency situation, the United States Embassy will also
help to distribute money to citizens, but don't count on this option to help
you if you just run out of funds during your visit.
Traveling to Cuba for American citizens has been a back-and-forth
battle in recent decades and, as of November 2017, more stringent restrictions
have been placed on travelers and tourists hoping to visit this island in
Carribean.
Travelers must now declare
themselves to make a journey that falls within one of the 12 travel categories.
This means that tourists can no longer travel to Cuba in the category of
"people to people, "and those who travel to Cuba are no longer
allowed to support companies that help finance the Cuban army.
To book a flight, accommodation or ferry to Cuba, you must now declare which
category of journey you will make first, and as Americans are still unable to
book a flight to Cuba, most of the United States. Citizens will travel with a
travel agency in Cuba with an official US licence. State Department, such as
Insight Cuba and Holidays Central.
New Legislation and Getting a Visa: Who Can Travel?
Legal individual travel has always required that
citizens fall under one of the 12 permitted categories of travel to Cuba, a
rule already in place before the November 2017 edict of Trump. However, the
requirement is now legally binding and you must document your activities to
demonstrate that you were there for legitimate reasons. (other than tourism).
According to the U.S. Embassy in
Cuba's official website, trips may be completed
for:
·
Family visits
·
Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and
certain intergovernmental organizations
·
Journalistic activity
·
Professional research and professional meetings
·
Educational activities
·
Religious activities
·
Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other
competitions, and exhibitions
·
Support for the Cuban people
·
Humanitarian projects
·
Activities of private foundations or research or educational
institutes
·
Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or
information materials
·
Certain export transactions that may be considered for
authorization under existing regulations and guidelines
In order to get a travel visa to Cuba, neither
the U.S. Embassy in Havana nor the U.S Department of State in Washington, D.C.
process applications, so you'll instead need to apply through the Cuban Embassy
in D.C.
Booking Hotels and Logistics of Visiting Cuba
Because the Trump administration bans American
support for military-funded establishments, coupled with hurricanes that
ravaged the island in 2017, it can be a challenge to book a hotel room.
According to Trump officials, these new restrictions
in Cuba were not intended to stop the country's tourism, but to "direct
money and economic activity away from the Cuban military and security services
"and towards companies owned by Cuban citizens.
These new laws are essentially intended to encourage
visitors to eat in local restaurants, stay in local hotels (or private homes)
and buy from local businesses— just make sure that you never go to restricted
businesses or that you can be fined or arrested on your return to the United
States.
Although Trump has discouraged traveling to Cuba
with these new restrictions, the rich culture of this island can still be
enjoyed. Since relations between the United States and Cuba under the Trump
administration are suffering, be well prepared before you leave. Be sure to
bring enough cash for your entire trip because it is easy to access American
funds in Cuba and exchange them for the Cuban peso—is rather difficult.
Going Solo to Cuba
Authorized tour groups organize hotels,
transport, meals and a route that complies with federal regulations requiring
such tours to focus on cultural exchange, which means that they remain the most
popular route for the United States. Citizens are coming to Cuba.
If you go solo, you will need a passport and a
tourist card (which can be obtained at your departure airport) and of course
you will have to arrange your own hotel and transport. A working knowledge of
Spanish can also help, but remember that the island nation already has
international tourist experience, so that there is already more than minimal
tourist assistance.
The
changes in Cuba policy apply not to travelers from other parts of the world,
and Cuba is one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean for travelers
from Canada and Europe. Several international hotel companies, such as Riu,
Iberostar and Melia, have built large resorts in Cuban destinations such as
Varadero that meet the expectations of skilled travelers worldwide. More than
two million visitors visit Cuba every year.
Traveling by U.S. Commercial Airline and Ferry
Although some top U.S. airlines bid over the
right to fly to Cuba in 2016, the 2017 restrictions have all but eliminated
commercial airline travel between the two countries.
Charter flights originating mainly from Miami,
Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa are still the only option for travelers to travel to
Cuba by air from the USA. It is very unlikely that Cuba airlines will begin to
offer flights to the United States. They would have to overcome important
regulatory hurdles to do so at any time soon.
However, the direct ferry service between
Florida and Havana could soon become reality. The legal process to do this was
well under way before the 2017 restrictions— in fact, in March 2016 Carnival
Cruise Lines announced that it had been approved to start cruising from Miami
to Cuba, and the new travel restrictions do not affect this type of transit.
Flying From Canada, Cancun, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica
If you don't want to wait for U.S. airlines to
start flying
to Cuba, or you want to combine a visit to Cuba with
a trip to a different Caribbean island, you have options, and not just to
Havana but also a wide range of Cuban destinations.
Air Canada is currently flying daily between Toronto and
Havana and Varadero, Cuba, while Cubana — the national airline of Cuba —
operates between Toronto and Montreal and Havana, Varadero, Cienfuegos, Santa
Clara and Holguín, and COPA Airlines operates daily flights between Toronto and
Havana.
Cancun has long been the choice gateway for Americans who
want to visit Cuba without drawing the attention of the United States. Although
customs officials have tightened restrictions, you can still fly from Cancun to
Havana. Cayman Airways also operates Grand Cayman and Jamaica flights to
Havana.
Using the Havana Embassy
The United States The Havana embassy reopened in
August 2015 with the restoration of full diplomatic relations between Cuba and
the United States. Although the relationship is now tightened by the Trump
administration, this embassy will still help US citizens in Cuba in a variety
of ways.
Services available in the United States Embassy
in Havana includes applications for processing in new USA Passports, renewal of
expired passports or replacement of stolen passports and the registration of
the United States. Citizens who live, travel, or are born in Cuba.
The U.S. Embassy also provides federal income
tax forms, services to notarize documents to be used in the United States, and
limited assistance to U.S. citizen prisoners in Cuba as well as assistance in
the shipment of remains of deceased U.S. citizens back to the United States or
coordinating medical evacuations for U.S. citizens.
In an emergency situation, the U.S. Embassy will
also assist in wiring money to citizens, but don't count on this option to help
you if you simply run out of funds while visiting Cuba.
The United States Embassy also provides forms of federal income
taxation, notarization services to be used in the United States and limited
assistance to the United States. Citizen prisoners in Cuba and assistance in
the shipment of deceased U.S. remains Citizens return to the United States or
coordinate medical evacuations in the United States Citizens.
In an emergency situation, the United States Embassy will also
help to distribute money to citizens, but don't count on this option to help
you if you just run out of funds during your visit.
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