Cuba for an American?
 

When my wife and I go to Cancun I think I would like to catch a flight to Cuba for a day (spend one night).

My wife is a resident alien from Canada and my citizenship is US. Will the trip have any negative effects on my wives alien status?

I would like to hire a personal guide when I get there, I do speak very good Spanish no limitations there. Any suggestions where to find someone for this?

Also, since Cubans like and need things from the US any suggestions on highly prized items I should bring?

Any Cubans out there who have family still in Cuba? Or any Cubans online with an email address?

edited for spelling

[This message has been edited by Dudemon (edited 04-17-2001).]

Without the proper OK from the US Government, a trip to Cuba could be illegal and might compormise your wife's status.

That aside, many US citizens do go to Cuba on holiday and as long as they do not talk about it to US customs on their return, have no problems.

You will need to make sure your passports are not stamped, and beaware that US credit cards and traveler checks (issued from a US bank) are not valid in Cuba.

My understanding of the rules is that Treasury Department regulations forbid spending U.S. money in Cuba (with a limited exception for Americans who are relatives of Cubans). If you can avoid doing that (by spending Canadian or Mexican money), you won't violate that law. But someone else may know about other rules. I do know that lots of Americans go to Cuba quietly.

Bruce

The only way to get around the "spending US money" rule is if you have a source of income earned outside of the USA. A good example is if you had rental income from a house overseas. Changing US dollars into Canadian dollars would still violate the rules becuase the original US dollars were most likely earned in the US.

I visited Cuba some years ago before I got my US citizenship (to inspect a ship load of steel, I am in the marine business) Before I went I spoke to both some US customs and immigration agents I was on very good talking terms with. They assured me that a visit to Cuba really would not affect my application for US citizenship but not being a citizen yet, there is nothing the authorities can do to prohibit such.
(Visting by US Citizens is not techinically prohited provided you spend less than $50.00)
but really the frown on all unless they have relatives, is a member of a sports team or say a jounalist doing research.

I went, spent 8 days had a really good time.
a) Cuban authorities being aware of the US govt policy will not stamp your passport.
b) I used cash, but I believe Mastercard was acceptable because they can run the charge through a European affillate so it does not run afoul of the US card rules.

Not much really to buy besides Habana club rum and the usual tourist items like ash trays etc which says Cuba on them and off course cigars.
There is great confusion as to whether you can buy Cuban cigars and bring them back.
I have confirmed this a number of times and even won a few bets regarding this.
IT IS NOT ILLEGAL TO BUY CUBAN CIGARS AND BRING THEM BACK TO THE US IF YOU VISIT CUBA
(catch-22 you cant buy many cigars with your
$50.00)
It is illegal however to buy Cuban cigars in Nassau or Canada where they are readily available.
If I were you I would just say my wife bought them since she is a Canadian national and she can say that she was the one who visited Cuba.
If you do go some food items I really enjoyed, roasted lamb, Chicken Baracoa (tastes almost like smoked salmon) and a yogurt made from papaya.
Mike


[This message has been edited by MIKESILV (edited 04-18-2001).]

I plan to go this summer. No fear. Know of too many others who have taken numerous trips to Cuba. There is virtually NO crime against tourists as the laws are far more punishing if the crime is committed against a tourist.
Cuba has been described to me as being stuck in a time warp. It does not have the tacky build up of other resort destinations. Most hotels are going through major overhauls.

Just bring your US greenbacks. Fidel loves them, so does the country.

To get there just travel through an intermediary country like Mexico or cananda.

The US is the only country that has a problem w/Cuba.

Let's be precise. It's not illegal to buy Habanas outside of the U.S. but it is illegal to bring them back.

One popular way to get to Cuba is boating from Key West (I know, I know, opposite the usual direction of travel there).

Supposedly there are several marinas in Cuba that will do all your paperwork for you, and give you (for about $50 US under the table) a scam "sponsorship," so that you are technically spending their money, not your US money. I'm not sure what the Feds would do to you if they found out you did this, but the guy I talked to about this (he's a boat captain in Key West who runs these tours) said in his years of running these trips, he's never heard of anyone getting in trouble.

Sweet Willie I would have to disagree with you. I have been to about 30% of the countries in the world and felt the least safe in Cuba.

I was mugged in Havana and spent 10 days in a Cuban hospital. Luckily they have socialized medicine since 80% of my cash was gone and US cc are not accepted.

I now have 6 scars from my ankle to above my knee that are about 5 inches in length. I had a severed tendon that needed operating. It was quite an experience.

Since it happened on my second day I was not able to see a lot of the country.

From what I did see it is the only Communist country I have been in where you know there is a major police presence. The police hassled the locals constantly and it bothered me when they would tell the locals to stop communicating with me. The best part of my travels is getting to know the locals.

By the way Americans have no problem going to Cuba and they automatically do not stamp your passport. I flew SFO-MIA then to the Bahamas. I then walked over to the Cubana airlines counter and caught the next flight to Havana. I did get the third degree on the return through the Bahamas but I did have a thigh high cast on my leg. She asked where I stayed and I said the big hotel on the beach. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Luckily the experience in Cuba did not jade me in future travels.

Travel agents in both Merida and Cancun in the Yucatan sell cheap short stay packages to Havana with Hotels and transfers, very cheaply. About 90% of those taking them are Americans of course! Flying down from Canada has always been big, but most stay at the beach resort of Varadero, which is about as Cuban as San Diego is. Directs also from Kingston Jamaica last time I was there.

Not sure if they can accept US isused Mastercard as was posted above. I recall with a smile a gang of about 10 waiters scouring (slowly, as is everyting in Cuba) a long list of credit card prefixes in the Hemingway Bar (whatever its reall name is - Floridita perhaps?) in Havana. The first 4 number prefix tells them WHAT bank and country issued it. IF US, no deal.

My only sad memory of the cigar factory in the countryside was the realisation that they were not rolled on the inner thighs of young virgins as recounted by popular rumour. In fact most of those wrinkly old guys with zapata moustaches rolling them looked like extras from a Spaghetti Western. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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~ Glen ~

Yeah, going to Cuba is great if you like financing an oppresive Communist government that has been cited by the U.N. numerous times for violating human rights. But hey, the beaches are nice, so who gives a s**t about the people who live there.

Many Americans go to Haiti to spend their holidays---at least the people in Cuba do not go hungry.

<b>***************************************** ***

I would strongly caution you against basing a decision to travel to Cuba on anecdotal advice provided by users here. I'm not saying that friendly advice is not useful, only that you should make your decision based on full information gathered from further substantial research into the matter.

For example, you should take a look at the information at the Treasury Department Office for Foreign Assets Control at http://www.treas.gov/ofac/

These are the official statutes and regulations regarding such travel, and you should know that there can be serious consequences for you as a US citizen if you do travel and spend money there. The casual suggestions of other users on how to circumvent these regulations should be approached cautiously, and I think you need to make your own assessment of the risks and penalties involved.

With that said, I would be interested to know if you actually do decide to go (and whether travel to Cuba is easy to plan or not)!

There has only been one documented case where the US Government has convicted a US citized for going to Cuba. It was someone in the SouthWest-Texas area and he talked about his trip in great detail to US Customs on his return.

ChanelCinq, you are not disagreeing w/me, you are providing commentary which is different than information that has been provided to me by friends. My comments were not meant to state that Cuba is safe, It does not matter where you are you can get your A_ _ kicked anywhere and at anytime. Have come close a few times myself, but good fate was on my side.

As for supporting "oppressive" governments, while I believe that the US is the BEST place to live, make a living and raise a family, If you feel our government is not oppressive you do not have your eyes open.

Wow, I never knew it was that restricted!

Happy holder of a Canadian passport,
FewMiles..

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I agree with you that awful things can happen anywhere and anytime. I have had some awful things happen to me in the US and other countries around the world. It is just that my worst experience to date happened in Cuba.

I do not think that the US is the best place to raise a family but it is the best place to make a good living, in my opinion. I do not have children so raising a family is not an issue right now. I probably will not raise my children here in the states though.

Does anyone know if it is illegal for a Canadian citizen to import Cuban cigars, purchased in Canada, into the USA as gifts etc? What about a Canadian who is a resident of the USA?

makin' miles:

The bottom line with U.S. Customs is that Cuban cigars are not allowed into the U.S., regardless of the carrier's citizenship or where the they were purchased.

I got busted last November trying to bring three cigars into the country from DUS. I tried the journalist angle, too ... no go.

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 04-21-2001).]

{dupe}

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 04-21-2001).]

ChanelCinq,

I don't have kids yet either and
I know that this is not a travel oriented question, but where would you say is the best /or good place to raise kids?

1. Do you think the Cuban people are better off without our money or with it? Cuban government revenue means medicine and food for the Cuban people. Tourism means jobs, and the informal economy puts dollars directly into people's hands.

2. There are many countries with worse human rights violations than Cuba. Why have we not banned trade with and travel to China, Saudi Arabia, any number of African nations? Hell, the US supported governments in Chile & Argentina that regularly picked up their citizens and dropped them alive into the middle of the ocean. Our policy towards Cuba is inconsistent with the rest of our foriegn policy.

3. The best way to move Cuba to democracy is to engage them. This worked with the Soviet bloc. The only reason we don't do this is because of the power of a bunch of expatriate Cubans care more about the return of their appropriated land and money than they do about the Cuban people.

4. The United States is not by any measure a leader in the protection of Human Rights. While the violation of human rights is abhorrent in Cuba, I find it appalling that the United States takes such a self-righteous stance on human rights violations abroad while developing such a poor record at home.



[This message has been edited by Dudster (edited 04-22-2001).]

posted by Dudster: "4. The United States is not by any measure a leader in the protection of Human Rights. While the violation of human rights is abhorrent in Cuba, I find it appalling that the United States takes such a self-righteous stance on human rights violations abroad while developing such a poor record at home."


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I thank you for bringing up this point. I think that many in the United States reflexively assume that the social conditions here are beyond reproach, just by definition of us being "the greatest country in the world." I mean, come on. Baltimore calls itself "the greatest city in the world", but is it true? No. In fact, such a mentality, which may make people feel better about themselves, is dangerous because it leads to arrogance and allows us to turn a blind eye to the human rights abuses that come in more subtle forms. Look at the plight of the inner city poor in a city near you. I would argue that they, in sum, face collectively worse treatment and dim future than prisoners in China, for example.

I'm not diminishing the significance of human rights abuses, don't get me wrong, but I think we would be well advised to look inward before criticizing others so loudly. I think that some latch on much too easily to the the word "human rights" and fail to realize that human rights go beyond just freedom of speech, etc. and also can encompass the general quality of life of a population.

Regarding Cuba, I think that many people don't actually understand the nature of the government there and simply accept the easier-to-understand label of "Communist government". It's quite embarassing in my mind that so many people still readily leap to the 1950s conclusion that "communist" = "bad".

[This message has been edited by TA (edited 04-21-2001).]

TA, Dudster, excellent points. I personally believe that our current embargo on Cuba is in its last decade of life and that shortly after Cubas transformation will be swift and dramatic. This is precisely the reason I want to see Cuba now.

As for Human Rights in Cuba, yes there are clearly problems that I have a conflict of interests with when I choose to support a government financially, albeit indirectly. I am a vegetarian because I choose not to economically support the cattle & ranching industries warehouse farmed chicken, et cetera. I clearly understand that I do vote with my dollars and I don’t except that responsibility lightly.

I know more of U.S. interventions in Latin America then most and not one of them has been carried out for Human Rights, though our government chooses to market their actions this way. In Cuba we supported Batista who was as tyrannical as they get, he makes Fidel look like a saint. But the Cuban hero Ernesto “Che” Guevara? Personally I feel he was a lot like the CIA in his covert operations (always a foreigner) and I fail to see how outside of Cuba he could be admired in the way he is. He is simply more fashionable now.

But as for Cuba, I would love to see it before any major changes, for all of it’s glories and catastrophes. I just won’t be the on yelling “¡Viva la revolucion!”

Sweet Willie,

I am definitely biased. I have only lived on the San Francisco Peninsula and in Paris for a year and a half. I have spent a lot of time traveling but mostly third world countries which is my travel preference.

If I were to have children I would probably raise them in France. I have to be near a metropolitan city but I would probably not raise them in Paris. I love Paris but the the people are not as welcoming as the rest of France. I was very welcomed in my early 20’s and American but the Parisians definitely have attitude. Lyon and Lille are the second and third largest cites but I would have to choose somewhere in southern France. In 99 I spent 6 weeks studying in the (French) Basque country. I was living in Aglet, right next to Bayonne and Biarritz or known as BAB. Very friendly people and no one spoke English which I loved.

I am not saying that France does not have it’s problems. While living in Paris there were the metro bombings but in the US these school shooting are insane. I live in Belmont, a really small city on the San Francisco peninsula. We had a school shooting threat at a small private school down the street and the kid is know in juvenile hall. In Paris I witnessed two separate metro suicides and read the paper inside out the following day of each incident. There was no mention of the suicides. It seems like in Europe jumping in front of a train is a popular way to kill yourself but it bothered me that there was no mention of it in the papers.

I don’t even know if I want to have children. If I do have children where I raise them will have a lot to do with where I am living and working at the time and what nationality my future husband is.

http://www.treas.gov/ofac/ccigars.pdf

"Only persons returning from Cuba after a licensed visit there are permitted to bring Cuban cigars into the United States provided the value of such cigars does not exceed 100 US dollars, and that the cigars are for that person's personal use and not for resale...it is illegal for travelers to bring into the United States Cuban cigars acquired in third countries (such as Canada, England, or Mexico)."

Within the past week one news radio station in California was commenting on how USA citizens, who visit Cuba, are being hit with a fine (something like $7,500 I thought), either when re-entering the USA or via a bill thru the mail. The brief story seemed to emphasize that President Bush wishes to make it clear to USA citizens that Cuba is off-limits.

When you are in Cancun, what are the reputable places and websites to buy a trip to Havana?

Nine years after the United States Congress granted the right to civil hearings for anyone accused of violating the Cuba travel ban, no judges have been hired and no hearings have been held.

As of September, 357 cases were pending, some of which date to 1995, said a congressional aide, who provided the figure on condition of anonymity. Piano tuner Ben Treuhaft, for example, has waited for his day in court since being accused in 1996 of illegally traveling to the communist island.

http://www.cnn.com/2001/TRAVEL/NEWS/....ap/index.html

i think what he meant was
"who(=US gov't) gives a s**t about the people who live there'
i can't think of other interpretation that is logical at all.

Because of the worthlessness of Cuban pesos, the price of your dinner for one in Cuba > the monthly salary of your waiter/waitress. If you go, bring lots of US $1 bills for tipping. Tips written on a credit card slip will end up in Castro's treasury for all intents.

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Play the travel game 3 vacations into the future!

Has anyone been to Cuba recently via Cancun or one of the Caribbean islands? I am trying to decide where to go forvacation this summer and Cuba is on my list.

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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin

Does it bother anyone else that as "free" citizens of the USA we are denied the right to travel some where we might like to go by our own government? Isn't there something wrong with this picture?

All I've know who have traveled to Cuba did so via Canada and Air Canada. They said it was cheaper than Mexico or any of the islands.

This is NOT true. I have seen the Cuban stamp in a NY friend's passport, who did a puddle jump from Cancun.

At Customs, the agent laughed when she asked about NOT having her passport stamped, and promptly put one in both her and her travelling companion's passport.

She gets nervous every time she goes through customs now...

Not saying that someone shouldn't go b/c of this - just don't expect that this is automatic.

Easy solution for this. Just lose the passport and get a new one.

It's not necessary to change the passport. I know someone who had their's stamped in Cuba and has crossed the US border many times with no questions.

The stamp doesn't say "Cuba". It just this wierd little green stamp.

Hers is an orange stamp, in the shape of a triangle, which says "Cuba" in it.

Apparently (I have been informed) the Cuban customs officials have many different stamps. I've seen one in the shape of an elephant in a friend's passport from Australia, who visited there in May.

Re: Gaucho100K's advice - she apparently did exactly that at the beginning of the summer.

[This message has been edited by jrk1998 (edited 07-29-2003).]

May I suggest, if you're an American citizen and want to visit Cuba, that you do it legally. That's what I did in April 2001 through an organization named "Ambassadors for Children", based in Indianapolis. This is a humanitarian group whose trips to Cuba are sanctioned by the U.S. government - at least for now, as I read recently that our government may soon be further tightening the laws for travel to Cuba. Their address is 7337 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46231 and phone number (317) 826-7929. I hope the contact info is still correct, as I haven't contacted them since my trip.

We flew on an ATA charter from Indy to Havana and stayed in one of the nicer large hotels in Havana - "Melia Cohiba", with a waterfront view - basic but nice enough. We spent mornings visiting schools and distributing personal (e.g., school, hygiene) supplies in both Havana and the countryside with Cuban guides (read: government employees) and had afternoons to explore on our own. There were several physicians in our group who took medical supplies and spent time with doctors in the hospitals. It was the most interesting, and at the same time, unsettling, trip of my life. It would take lots of time to post the details of my trip, and not knowing if anyone is interested, I won't. But, please do check into this or other sanctioned organizations (I suspect there are some in S. FL); you will have plenty of time to go off on your own, and you will leave feeling that you have helped, in some small way, to make someone's life better, as well as enrich your own.

Edited for typos

[This message has been edited by joie_de_vie (edited Jan 18, 2004).]

I am personally interested in your experiences. Not so much the arrangement through the agency, but more about the actual visit. You will have at least one reader if you are interested in writing about them.