May 10, 2015, 8:31 am
Last edit by: JDiver
WARNING: Trump speech in Miami today, June 16, 2017, announced (using the words "effective immediately") reinstatement of the tourist travel ban to Cuba. "Trump will re-impose the requirement that "people-to-people" travelers can only come to Cuba with heavily regulated tour groups. " for USA citizens and residents, that bans individual "self certified" travel to Cuba under the current OFAC 12 categories described below. That means (expensive) group travel for most, currently offered by travel and cruise companies (those will be allowed to continue).
US airlines will be allowed to continue to serve Cuba, but the new restrictions will mean most planning to travel individually will not be able to usevthese carriers (unless on authorized or licensed group travel).
Those groups with travel arrangements will probably have to make significant itinerary changes to conform with the policy's ban most American financial transactions with branches or businesses operated by the military-linked Armed Forces Business Enterprises Group (GAESA), a conglomerate involved in many economic sectors in Cuba - including many hotels, state-run restaurants and tour buses.
"WHEN DOES IT TAKE EFFECT?"
"The details of Trump’s new policy remain unwritten. In a presidential directive he signed at the end of his speech, he ordered the Treasury and Commerce departments to draw up new regulations to replace elements of Obama’s policy changes. White House officials said that actual changes remain months away." (Washington Post - link)
"The new realities of U.S. travel to Cuba will be determined by the regulations that federal agencies will produce as a result of the new policy. A presidential memorandum gives the government 90 days before it even starts to rewrite Cuba travel regulations, meaning it could be many months before it's clear what the change means for American travelers.
The Treasury Department said individuals who bought an airline ticket or rented a room or car before Trump's announcement could make additional travel-related purchases for that travel under the Obama policy, even if their trip to Cuba takes place after the new, stricter Trump regulations go into effect." (abc news - link)
Verify arrangements already made with your airline, travel provider, AirBnB, etc.
Please keep an eye on OFAC modifications, Cuba travel policies in the US etc. on the State Department site, etc. (see below). Once OFAC controls allow it, travel of U. S. tourists to Cuba will undoubtedly thrive.
Further information, added 11 Jun 2016:
NOTE: When you arrive in the USA, DO declare Cuba on the U S Customs form 6059B. The USCBP officers generally do not care or give your travel to Cuba via Antigua or Cancún a second thought. But failing to disclose your travel to Cuba to a Federal agent? That's a violation of 18 U. S. Code § 1001, commonly called "making false statements", a felony punishable by up to five years in Federal Prison.
Nope, you wouldn't, but such an offense would jeopardize GE / APHIS / PreCheck, etc. and could certainly incur enhanced scrutiny on re-entering the USA or flying into / out of a U.S. airport.
18 U.S.C. § 1001 link
NOTE: Travel to Cuba is still regulated (Jun 2016). American residents must meet one criterion of twelve categories of allowed travel to Cuba.
"Travel to Cuba for tourist activities remains prohibited by statute. There are, however, 12 categories of authorized travel. The Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued general licenses in all 12 categories of authorized travel, subject to appropriate conditions. This means that individuals who meet the regulatory conditions of the respective general license they seek to travel under do not need to apply for a specific license from OFAC to travel to Cuba.
The 12 categories of authorized travel to Cuba are: 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 informational materials; and certain authorized export transactions."
U.S. Embassy, La Havana, Cuba (link)
Certain spend and other requirements must be met, in accord with regulations issued by the U. S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (link to PDF), and the Cuba Assets Control Regulations of 16 Mar 2016, 31 CFR 515 (link to PDF).
NOTE: US Citizens and Residents must possess a current passport with a minimum of two empty visa (not note) pages.
You must exchange US Dollars to CUC - Cuban Convertible Pesos in authorized locations, and are required to spend CUC in Cuba (not dollars). CUC are not exportable out of Cuba. (Hint: the writer of this wikipost had no trouble exchanging Euro at decent market rates and found Euro accepted in some locations due to the prevalence of European tourists in Cuba.) Some US credit card acceptance is said to occur now, but if so it's a recent change.
At the airport CADECA booth you can change the last of your CUCs. Or you can buy duty-free items or books etc. sold from the government propaganda shop to spend the last of your CUCs.
Please read the extensive U.S. Department of State information regarding Cuba if you are a U.S. Citizen or Resident. Link.
US airlines begin commercial USA - Cuba flights by September 2016
In March, the USDOT accepted airline applications wishing to offer non-charter commercial flights between the USA and Cuba. On June 10, 2016 USDOT issued an order for six US airlines to operate flights between the USA and Cuba, to begin September 2016 HAV / La Habana flight orders to come this summer.)
Source links:
Yahoo! Finance (Link).
USA Today (link): "WASHINGTON — Six U.S. airlines were approved to begin the first scheduled flights to Cuba in more than 50 years, the Transportation Department announced Friday.
The airlines were approved to fly from five U.S. cities to nine Cuban cities other than Havana. But the department is still considering which airlines will get a combined 20 daily flights to the capital out of 60 proposals, which will be announced later this summer..."
Reuters: (link) "American (AAL.O) will have nonstop service from Miami, the largest Cuban community in the United States; Southwest (LUV.N), JetBlue (JBLU.O) and Silver Airways will fly from nearby Fort Lauderdale; Frontier will add flights from Chicago and Philadelphia; and Sun Country will serve Minneapolis."
(AA, Delta, Sun Country and others have been serving Cuba with charter flights operated for CTS / Cuba Travel Services for over 25 years.)
Updated 11 Jun 2016 - JDiver
US airlines will be allowed to continue to serve Cuba, but the new restrictions will mean most planning to travel individually will not be able to usevthese carriers (unless on authorized or licensed group travel).
Those groups with travel arrangements will probably have to make significant itinerary changes to conform with the policy's ban most American financial transactions with branches or businesses operated by the military-linked Armed Forces Business Enterprises Group (GAESA), a conglomerate involved in many economic sectors in Cuba - including many hotels, state-run restaurants and tour buses.
Trump's recalibration of policy will most immediately affect the latitude of U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba. Under Obama's relaxation of travel regulations, U.S. citizens could designate the purpose of their travel under one of 12 specific categories, which included the broadly defined "educational" travel and "people-to-people" travel. This "self-designation" mechanism contributed to a surge in travel over the last two years, with more than 600,000 tourists visiting the island in 2016.
But Trump's new restrictions eliminate the self-designation process, and according to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, "will end individual people-to-people travel." Unless U.S. travelers qualify for one of the specialized categories of travel—journalism, religious work or academic research, for example—they will have to travel with licensed tour groups and prove they spent all their time in Cuba doing people-to-people activities. The new directive empowers the Treasury Department to audit U.S. travelers and immigration officials will be able to demand records and journals from returning travelers to demonstrate they are in compliance with the new restrictions. Those who are not could face hefty government fines.
Under the new Trump regulations, those restrictions have been expanded to prohibit U.S. citizens from staying in, eating at, or spending any money at numerous state-owned hotels and other businesses that fall under the umbrella of Cuba's Business Enterprise Group (GAESA). GAESA, a conglomerate of economic entities controlled by the Cuban military, oversees up to 60 percent of the economic activity in Cuba. Besides hotels, GAESA controls restaurants, tourism buses and other economic and tourist-related agencies.
Trump's directive means that U.S. visitors will no longer be able to stay at some of Havana's most popular hotels, among them the elegant Saratoga favored by U.S. senators, governors and Congressional representatives who have visited Cuba over the last several years, and the Santa Isabel, where former President Jimmy Carter stayed during his two trips to the island. The five-star Gran Manzana Kempinski Havana Hotel that opened just last month also falls under the GAESA umbrella and will be off-limits to U.S. citizens. As a guide for future travelers, the State Department plans to publish a list of prohibited hotels and businesses they will now have to avoid. Link to source.
But Trump's new restrictions eliminate the self-designation process, and according to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, "will end individual people-to-people travel." Unless U.S. travelers qualify for one of the specialized categories of travel—journalism, religious work or academic research, for example—they will have to travel with licensed tour groups and prove they spent all their time in Cuba doing people-to-people activities. The new directive empowers the Treasury Department to audit U.S. travelers and immigration officials will be able to demand records and journals from returning travelers to demonstrate they are in compliance with the new restrictions. Those who are not could face hefty government fines.
Under the new Trump regulations, those restrictions have been expanded to prohibit U.S. citizens from staying in, eating at, or spending any money at numerous state-owned hotels and other businesses that fall under the umbrella of Cuba's Business Enterprise Group (GAESA). GAESA, a conglomerate of economic entities controlled by the Cuban military, oversees up to 60 percent of the economic activity in Cuba. Besides hotels, GAESA controls restaurants, tourism buses and other economic and tourist-related agencies.
Trump's directive means that U.S. visitors will no longer be able to stay at some of Havana's most popular hotels, among them the elegant Saratoga favored by U.S. senators, governors and Congressional representatives who have visited Cuba over the last several years, and the Santa Isabel, where former President Jimmy Carter stayed during his two trips to the island. The five-star Gran Manzana Kempinski Havana Hotel that opened just last month also falls under the GAESA umbrella and will be off-limits to U.S. citizens. As a guide for future travelers, the State Department plans to publish a list of prohibited hotels and businesses they will now have to avoid. Link to source.
"The details of Trump’s new policy remain unwritten. In a presidential directive he signed at the end of his speech, he ordered the Treasury and Commerce departments to draw up new regulations to replace elements of Obama’s policy changes. White House officials said that actual changes remain months away." (Washington Post - link)
"The new realities of U.S. travel to Cuba will be determined by the regulations that federal agencies will produce as a result of the new policy. A presidential memorandum gives the government 90 days before it even starts to rewrite Cuba travel regulations, meaning it could be many months before it's clear what the change means for American travelers.
The Treasury Department said individuals who bought an airline ticket or rented a room or car before Trump's announcement could make additional travel-related purchases for that travel under the Obama policy, even if their trip to Cuba takes place after the new, stricter Trump regulations go into effect." (abc news - link)
Verify arrangements already made with your airline, travel provider, AirBnB, etc.
Please keep an eye on OFAC modifications, Cuba travel policies in the US etc. on the State Department site, etc. (see below). Once OFAC controls allow it, travel of U. S. tourists to Cuba will undoubtedly thrive.
Entry Requirements
Cuban officials now stamp all passports on entry and exit. The former practice of winking and stamping U.S. citizens in and out on a separate sheet of paper no longer takes place.
The Cuban Assets Control Regulations of the U.S. Treasury Department require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction obtain a Treasury license before engaging in any transaction related to travel to, from and within Cuba. Transactions related to tourist travel are not licensable. This restriction includes tourist travel to Cuba from or through a third country such as Mexico or Canada.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Licensing Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Treasury Annex, Washington, DC 20220, telephone (202) 622-2480; fax (202) 622-1657, or via the web at Office of Foreign Assets Control.
For current information on Cuban entry and customs requirements, travelers may contact the Cuban Embassy, an office of the Cuban government, located at 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, telephone (202) 797-8518.
Cuban officials now stamp all passports on entry and exit. The former practice of winking and stamping U.S. citizens in and out on a separate sheet of paper no longer takes place.
The Cuban Assets Control Regulations of the U.S. Treasury Department require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction obtain a Treasury license before engaging in any transaction related to travel to, from and within Cuba. Transactions related to tourist travel are not licensable. This restriction includes tourist travel to Cuba from or through a third country such as Mexico or Canada.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Licensing Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Treasury Annex, Washington, DC 20220, telephone (202) 622-2480; fax (202) 622-1657, or via the web at Office of Foreign Assets Control.
For current information on Cuban entry and customs requirements, travelers may contact the Cuban Embassy, an office of the Cuban government, located at 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, telephone (202) 797-8518.
NOTE: When you arrive in the USA, DO declare Cuba on the U S Customs form 6059B. The USCBP officers generally do not care or give your travel to Cuba via Antigua or Cancún a second thought. But failing to disclose your travel to Cuba to a Federal agent? That's a violation of 18 U. S. Code § 1001, commonly called "making false statements", a felony punishable by up to five years in Federal Prison.
Nope, you wouldn't, but such an offense would jeopardize GE / APHIS / PreCheck, etc. and could certainly incur enhanced scrutiny on re-entering the USA or flying into / out of a U.S. airport.18 U.S.C. § 1001 link
NOTE: Travel to Cuba is still regulated (Jun 2016). American residents must meet one criterion of twelve categories of allowed travel to Cuba.
Tourist travel to Cuba is prohibited under U.S. law for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and others subject to U.S. jurisdiction. (USDOS)
The 12 categories of authorized travel to Cuba are: 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 informational materials; and certain authorized export transactions."
U.S. Embassy, La Havana, Cuba (link)
Certain spend and other requirements must be met, in accord with regulations issued by the U. S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (link to PDF), and the Cuba Assets Control Regulations of 16 Mar 2016, 31 CFR 515 (link to PDF).
timaticweb2 through United Airlines, 10 Jun 2016:
Summary (US Citizen or Resident traveling from USA to Cuba, return ticket and normal, current passport with at least two blank visa pages at hand)
Conditional, The traveler will need to hold travel documents as detailed below.
Type: Notice
Cuba - Destination Visa
Visa required.
The following are exempt from holding a visa:
Passengers with a Tourist Card (Tarjeta del Turista) issued to visitors traveling as tourists.
Additional information:
Tourist Cards (Tarjeta del Turista) must be obtained prior to arrival in Cuba and are available at:
- Cuban Embassies or Consulates;
- Authorized Airlines;
- Travel agencies.
Tourist Cards (Tarjeta del Turista) grant a max. stay of 30 days to nationals of USA, and extension of stay for additional 30 days.
The length of stay must be covered by USD 50.- (or equivalent in other convertible currency, in cash or traveller's cheques) per person per day, unless passenger has previously contracted the touristic activities with MINTUR in Cuba.
Important
Former nationals of Cuba who left Cuba before 1971 must hold passports endorsed "Habilitado" for HE-11.
All visitors are required to hold a travel insurance to cover their medical expenses while in Cuba. The travel insurance can be bought on arrival in Cuba, but it is recommended to have it before departure to Cuba. (Reasonable and easy to purchase on arrival. JD)
Added 1/18/2017 All passengers arriving on flights direct from the US are automatically covered by Asistur (Cuban insurance company) medical insurance for 30 days. The cost is bundled into the ticket cost.
These passengers are never asked to provide proof of medical insurance by Cuban immigration at airports as they are aware this has been standard for many years. However it is a different situation dealing with a medical service provider if you actually need to use the insurance or Cuban immigration at places other than the airport if you have reason to extend or change status of your travel visa.
There is an official Asistur one page document that states everyone arriving on a direct flight from the US has Asistur insurance for 30 days. This document, your boarding pass, and your passport will show that you have medical insurance. This document is not available anywhere on line. Nor is it available to passengers even though it should be. So I am providing it for download.
I would encourage anyone flying direct to Cuba from the US to download this one page document, print it out, and carry a copy with them.
http://www.bobmichaels.org/Asistur.pdf
End addition 1/18/2017
Neither visa exemptions nor Tourist Card (Tarjeta del Turista) facilities are applicable to those holding foreign passports stating Cuba as place of birth. They will be considered Cuban nationals, unless holding a document signed by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, proving withdrawal of their Cuban citizenship.
Cuba - Destination Health
This information is for guide purposes only. Other health organisations may recommend alternative precautions.
Vaccinations not required
Summary (US Citizen or Resident traveling from USA to Cuba, return ticket and normal, current passport with at least two blank visa pages at hand)
Conditional, The traveler will need to hold travel documents as detailed below.
Type: Notice
Cuba - Destination Visa
Visa required.
The following are exempt from holding a visa:
Passengers with a Tourist Card (Tarjeta del Turista) issued to visitors traveling as tourists.
Additional information:
Tourist Cards (Tarjeta del Turista) must be obtained prior to arrival in Cuba and are available at:
- Cuban Embassies or Consulates;
- Authorized Airlines;
- Travel agencies.
Tourist Cards (Tarjeta del Turista) grant a max. stay of 30 days to nationals of USA, and extension of stay for additional 30 days.
The length of stay must be covered by USD 50.- (or equivalent in other convertible currency, in cash or traveller's cheques) per person per day, unless passenger has previously contracted the touristic activities with MINTUR in Cuba.
Important
Former nationals of Cuba who left Cuba before 1971 must hold passports endorsed "Habilitado" for HE-11.
All visitors are required to hold a travel insurance to cover their medical expenses while in Cuba. The travel insurance can be bought on arrival in Cuba, but it is recommended to have it before departure to Cuba. (Reasonable and easy to purchase on arrival. JD)
Added 1/18/2017 All passengers arriving on flights direct from the US are automatically covered by Asistur (Cuban insurance company) medical insurance for 30 days. The cost is bundled into the ticket cost.
These passengers are never asked to provide proof of medical insurance by Cuban immigration at airports as they are aware this has been standard for many years. However it is a different situation dealing with a medical service provider if you actually need to use the insurance or Cuban immigration at places other than the airport if you have reason to extend or change status of your travel visa.
There is an official Asistur one page document that states everyone arriving on a direct flight from the US has Asistur insurance for 30 days. This document, your boarding pass, and your passport will show that you have medical insurance. This document is not available anywhere on line. Nor is it available to passengers even though it should be. So I am providing it for download.
I would encourage anyone flying direct to Cuba from the US to download this one page document, print it out, and carry a copy with them.
http://www.bobmichaels.org/Asistur.pdf
End addition 1/18/2017
Neither visa exemptions nor Tourist Card (Tarjeta del Turista) facilities are applicable to those holding foreign passports stating Cuba as place of birth. They will be considered Cuban nationals, unless holding a document signed by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, proving withdrawal of their Cuban citizenship.
Cuba - Destination Health
This information is for guide purposes only. Other health organisations may recommend alternative precautions.
Vaccinations not required
You must exchange US Dollars to CUC - Cuban Convertible Pesos in authorized locations, and are required to spend CUC in Cuba (not dollars). CUC are not exportable out of Cuba. (Hint: the writer of this wikipost had no trouble exchanging Euro at decent market rates and found Euro accepted in some locations due to the prevalence of European tourists in Cuba.) Some US credit card acceptance is said to occur now, but if so it's a recent change.
At the airport CADECA booth you can change the last of your CUCs. Or you can buy duty-free items or books etc. sold from the government propaganda shop to spend the last of your CUCs.
Please read the extensive U.S. Department of State information regarding Cuba if you are a U.S. Citizen or Resident. Link.
US airlines begin commercial USA - Cuba flights by September 2016
In March, the USDOT accepted airline applications wishing to offer non-charter commercial flights between the USA and Cuba. On June 10, 2016 USDOT issued an order for six US airlines to operate flights between the USA and Cuba, to begin September 2016 HAV / La Habana flight orders to come this summer.)
Source links:
Yahoo! Finance (Link).
USA Today (link): "WASHINGTON — Six U.S. airlines were approved to begin the first scheduled flights to Cuba in more than 50 years, the Transportation Department announced Friday.
The airlines were approved to fly from five U.S. cities to nine Cuban cities other than Havana. But the department is still considering which airlines will get a combined 20 daily flights to the capital out of 60 proposals, which will be announced later this summer..."
Reuters: (link) "American (AAL.O) will have nonstop service from Miami, the largest Cuban community in the United States; Southwest (LUV.N), JetBlue (JBLU.O) and Silver Airways will fly from nearby Fort Lauderdale; Frontier will add flights from Chicago and Philadelphia; and Sun Country will serve Minneapolis."
(AA, Delta, Sun Country and others have been serving Cuba with charter flights operated for CTS / Cuba Travel Services for over 25 years.)
Updated 11 Jun 2016 - JDiver
Americans and Cuba Travel - the Facts, Resources, Related Experiences [only]
Jan 9, 2017, 6:43 am
#107
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
The tourist card for passengers departing from a US airport/port is pink. The airlines now flying direct (including JetBlue), or their agents, sell them online or at the gate, or the Cuban Embassy in DC also sells them.
The airline would not let you board and depart from a US airport with a green tourist card.
Last edited by VidaNaPraia; Jan 9, 2017 at 6:50 am
Jan 10, 2017, 6:12 am
#109
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
They may not be aware. Did you ask whether what they were selling was green or pink? Another hint: A green one goes for about U$25 and a pink one for about U$80+. Maybe they sell both.
Note: There's lots of misinformation and clue-less-ness out there, even among airline personnel (customer service).
But the bottom line is:
If the tourist card is not PINK, the airline in the US will not allow you to board the Cuba flight. Most airlines have provisions for passengers to but the pink tourist cards at the gate, however, so if you have been sold a green one, you can rectify your mistake there at the boarding gate.
Good luck and happy travels.
Jan 10, 2017, 11:57 pm
#110
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,660
It's your trip. Believe what you want. When you get to the boarding gate, you will understand the reality.
They may not be aware. Did you ask whether what they were selling was green or pink? Another hint: A green one goes for about U$25 and a pink one for about U$80+. Maybe they sell both.
Note: There's lots of misinformation and clue-less-ness out there, even among airline personnel (customer service).
But the bottom line is:
If the tourist card is not PINK, the airline in the US will not allow you to board the Cuba flight. Most airlines have provisions for passengers to but the pink tourist cards at the gate, however, so if you have been sold a green one, you can rectify your mistake there at the boarding gate.
Good luck and happy travels.
They may not be aware. Did you ask whether what they were selling was green or pink? Another hint: A green one goes for about U$25 and a pink one for about U$80+. Maybe they sell both.
Note: There's lots of misinformation and clue-less-ness out there, even among airline personnel (customer service).
But the bottom line is:
If the tourist card is not PINK, the airline in the US will not allow you to board the Cuba flight. Most airlines have provisions for passengers to but the pink tourist cards at the gate, however, so if you have been sold a green one, you can rectify your mistake there at the boarding gate.
Good luck and happy travels.
Jan 11, 2017, 4:29 am
#111
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
You can purchase from the Cuban Embassy in DC, but iirc price is $70+shipping+providing more documents.
Since most other airlines require proof of flight purchase with them in order to purchase online or at the gate, and many are selling the visa for more than JetBlue, your current strategy sounds the best for your circumstances.
Have a great trip.
Jan 12, 2017, 9:33 am
#112
Join Date: May 2015
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC100,DLSilver,ALMVP,Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 48
I'm traveling to Havana next week. I'm a US citizen traveling without a tour group. has anyone done this and did you get any extra scrutiny when returning to the US. Myself and people I am traveling with all have Global Entry
Thanks
Thanks
Jan 12, 2017, 9:56 am
#113
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
Can't speak to GE, but on presenting the machine receipt, the official merely asked where I'd been and wished me Welcome Home. (Good until Jan. 21 anyway.)
Jan 12, 2017, 2:11 pm
#114
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Naples, Florida
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Hyatt Platinum,Marriott Silver,Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 592
Do it and know of many who do it all the time, ZERO issues! Just know that your reason of the "official 12" is that "you are going to support the Cuban people." End of Story. Buy your Cuban visa at the airport when departing stateside. When you return you will be treated just like any international arrival.
Jan 12, 2017, 2:31 pm
#115
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
It = arrive in a US airport from Cuba? All the time? Really? Direct flights have only been happening since mid-September. How many (who do it all the time)? Wish I had their leisure time to be going back and forth all the time since September.
Jan 18, 2017, 9:45 am
#116
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,586
Any recommendations/experiences on US travelers buying health insurance for Cuba.
I got two wildly differing quotes:
Allianz for $88
VisitorsCoverage for $13.20
I worry that I must have done something wrong given the delta in quotes.
I got two wildly differing quotes:
Allianz for $88
VisitorsCoverage for $13.20
I worry that I must have done something wrong given the delta in quotes.
Jan 18, 2017, 9:49 am
#117
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Naples, Florida
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Hyatt Platinum,Marriott Silver,Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 592
You don't have to buy a policy from Allianz or whomever. It is included in the cost of your airline ticket and your southbound boarding pass into Havana is your proof of insurance should you end up in a doctor's office or hospital during your stay in Cuba.
Jan 18, 2017, 10:23 am
#118
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
There is also a letter (floating around somewhere on one of the Cuba forums online) that explains in Spanish that the boarding pass serves as proof of insurance, as it is not marked in any way, in case you ever actually have to go to a clinic/hospital that is not aware of this new phenomenon. Suggest finding, printing and carrying that letter.
Jan 18, 2017, 10:36 am
#119
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,586
Awesome. Thanks. Will look for letter. It's surprisingly difficult to keep up with these developments. Every site I read insisted US citizens still need insurance or will be forced to buy it in the immigration area upon arrival.
ETA: Here it is!
http://forums.debbiescaribbeanresort...michaels/23092
Will add this to the thread wiki.
ETA: Here it is!
http://forums.debbiescaribbeanresort...michaels/23092
Will add this to the thread wiki.
Last edited by kokonutz; Jan 18, 2017 at 11:30 am
Jan 18, 2017, 12:10 pm
#120
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
Awesome. Thanks. Will look for letter. It's surprisingly difficult to keep up with these developments. Every site I read insisted US citizens still need insurance or will be forced to buy it in the immigration area upon arrival.
ETA: Here it is!
http://forums.debbiescaribbeanresort...aels</b>/23092
Will add this to the thread wiki.
ETA: Here it is!
http://forums.debbiescaribbeanresort...aels</b>/23092
Will add this to the thread wiki.
There's also a new post (by yanquiboy) on Thorn Tree today with current phone numbers for Asistur in case you ever have to actually use medical services at a clinic/hospital in Cuba.