Cuban Travel Getting Easier Each Year

Cuban travel is getting easier for Americans by the day. Potential travelers still must be leery of third party travel agencies in other counties claiming to offer a legitimate "people-to- people " experience that may not be fully compliant with standards set by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC). In fact, this is starting to be so wide spread a problem with unofficial trips advertised and shown in US dollars, that the OFAC web page encourages potential travelers to check with them if there is any doubt. This author has done exactly that.

However, restrictions are getting more relaxed, and the travel industry is getting ready to bite. The route to Havana is no longer just through Mexico or Toronto, and nobody needs to fear the dreaded "Mexican Death Stamp,” which shows two arrivals and just one departure stamp in Mexico on their passports, with no evidence of departure to another destination. Copa Airlines, the flagship carrier of Panama, now has flights to Havana and other Cuban destinations. They can legally be booked online using a credit card, with a change of planes required in Panama City. A tourist card is required for entry into Cuba (along with a valid passport) and the tourist card can be purchased from the airline at the airport. The ticket can also just be a single ticket with a connecting flight, just like any other destination. For Copa Airlines anyway, there is no longer any reason to purchase two tickets and stay a few days in an attempt to fool authorities. AeroMexico flies there as well, but State Department guidelines at his time still prohibit flying via third countries..

There will also be a direct flight to Havana from New York City and Miami in coming months, with American Airlines and JetBlue taking the lead. Ferries are lining up to provide their services for the 90 minute trip to Havana from Miami. US credit cards will be in use there starting next year.

For all this goodness, still expect a more "raw" adventure when you arrive due to an emerging tourist infrastructure. Hotels and airport transfers are not fully set up for tourism, and many tour companies have to make last minute changes. Hotels cannot be booked online just yet. Guest houses are often used by the lower cost tour companies. This enables the local economy to thrive a bit more than normal, since local families directly collect the revenue. Some is still given to the government.

In spite of this – or perhaps because of it – Cuba is still a raw and undeveloped island and will be for years to come. The beaches are beautiful, and the people warm and friendly. Their food is likely some of the best in the Caribbean. So consider a Cuban vacation in the coming years. Waiting a year or so for prices to continue dropping is still not a bad idea, as they have been going down steadily in the last year of so.

For a fully escorted tour what all the bells and whistles, consider the Grand Circle Foundations tour, "Cuba: A Bridge between Two Cultures”. They have a second offering coming out soon. Intrepid travel has one that is also legal, called "Hola Cuba". It is the only one of their offerings that follows OFAC guidelines, since they also sell to Europeans. But keep looking online as well; there is a Cuban bargain out there which will suit your needs and wallet and will be perfectly legal. What may not be legal today, will likely be legal tomorrow.