FAQs ABOUT CUBA

Q. Is it legal to travel to Cuba?

A. It is not legal for American citizens to spend money in Cuba. To visit Cuba legally, a license from the US Treasury Department is required, but is only issued to accredited journalists, people on official US government business, or people with relatives in Cuba. On March 12, 1996 president Clinton signed into law the Helms-Burton Bill which imposes (without judicial review) fines of up to $50,000 for US citizens who travel to Cuba without State Department permission. There is also the "Trading With The Enemy Act" which subjects one to other stiff fines and penalties including prison time. However, many Americans circumvent the present US laws and visit Cuba anyway.

Q. How does one get to Cuba from the United States?

A. Americans wanting to travel to Cuba have various options. Aerocaribe (a subsidiary of Mexicana) has two round-trip flights from Cancun, Mexico to Havana daily. The flight lasts about one hour, and they fly DC-9 jets (-20 or -30 series I believe) that seat 85 passengers (no first class...DAMN!). To arrange flights with them, you need to contact Mexicana Airlines in Mexico City directly or the Aerocaribe office in Cancun. Travel agents and Airline offices in the United States are not permitted to book any flights to Havana. Travel is also possible from Cancun via Cubana Airlines, from Canada and Europe via various airlines, and Jamaica via Air Jamaica.

Q. What documents are required to enter Cuba?

A. A passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond you arrival date in Cuba) is necessary along with a Cuba tourist card which can be obtained from a Cuban Consulate, travel agent, or airline. An onward trip ticket must also be in possession. And don't worry-- Cuban officials don't stamp American passports.

Q. What kind of currency do I need? Are credit cards and traveler's checks accepted in Cuba?

A. American dollars are accepted EVERYWHERE in Cuba. Even all the travelers from Europe and Canada were using them. However with the embargo against Cuba continuing, credit cards and traveler's checks issued in the United States are NOT accepted in Cuba- it would be advised to take plenty of cash with you.

Q. Is there anything that I should NOT take to Cuba?

A. Don't try to take any illicit drugs, explosives or weapons into Cuba. As you deplane and enter the terminal building in Havana, you are greeted by Cuban officials with drug-sniffing dogs checking you out as you wait in line for Passport Control. After your documentation is checked, you will have to pass through a metal detector and your carry-on bags are X-rayed. I also believe that checked baggage may be examined due to the inordinate amount of time it took for the bags to arrive on the baggage carousel after I was cleared by passport control.

Q. Is Cuba a safe country to visit? Are Americans welcome?

A. From my experience I believe that Cuba is a very safe country to visit. Cuban police are visible everywhere, and any infractions of the law are dealt with swiftly and severely. American citizens are WELCOME in Cuba-- all of the Cubans I talked with were VERY friendly. I believe they understand things as we do-- that it is not the PEOPLE of the two countries at odds, but the governments.

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