Manc

There are about 5 flights a day out of Miami to Havana.

I often wondered whom for?

Pharrya

Cuban Americans can legally visit once every 3 years without governemnt permission.

Also, travel to Cuba isn't actually illegal, but it is illegal for US citizens to "have transactions" in Cuba, without a license. So I guess if you can get the license...

robin1234

I think there can be an exception for educational & related purposes, too. I'm a librarian, and in the last few years, there have been a couple of international librarians' conferences in Havana. American librarians have been able to travel to those legally.

Kaffy Mintcake

Yes, one of my coworkers just went to Cuba on a medical mission, but she emigrated here from there. She must fall into that group of exceptions.

meauxna

The exceptions are all detailed in the link I posted earlier. It's getting really hard to get a license now.

Ozzidoc

Medical mission? Crazy - given how well-trained the Cuban drs are, and how many there are...and the healthcare advances/research discoveries that Cuba has made.

Bob

journalists seem to be in the easier catorgory...well it's all relative...

Bob

shooosh....that's heratic talk don't you know...

Kaffy Mintcake

I'm pretty sure that is what she said. She's not a doctor - not sure what the connection is. One of my best friends (who is a doctor) has gone on several missions to Haiti. That seems more logical doesn't it?

Ozzidoc

I'm not doubting that she went or does good work I just wonder WHAT assistance she provides. I imagine that there must be some holes in the Cuban system - as we all know, no healthcare system is perfect, but it's my impression that there'd be more people in the USA who'd need her help.

Haiti does seem more logical.

Voltore

I went a few years back, but went under a journalist license as were invited by the Cuban Government. We went via Cancun. Needless to say we were followed all the time (that was interesting) and also when we had meetings in the Hotel courtyard, suddenly 20 gardeners appeared from nowhere!!!

The interesting things for me where when I checked in at Washington National airport on the way there, the agent said she could check me in and get seat allocations all the way until she saw Havana as the destination. That caused a flap. Then on my return, Charlotte immigration, no problem with them, sent to secondary customs inspection and that was just a "Have you more than $10,000 on you?", No and I was on my merry way. I was told that I could legally have bought back some Cuban cigars under duty-free as my trip was legit, but frankly, the smokes were cheaper in London

Didn't get my frequent flyer miles either from Cancun to Havana.

We were mostly in the non-touristy parts, but the saddest thing I saw were 50 year seriously overweight anti-social (read smelly) European men with 18 year Cuban babes on their arms. Surprising how far a dollar would go :curse:

Kim_Abdn

Im just home from Cuba as I was over there for a friends wedding.

Im a UKC but while over there we met in with a bunch of college girls on spring break and they went via Canada. They had no problems at all going and the Cubans dont stamp passports at all but i guess its up to yourself if you want to risk going or not!

Lovely place with amazing buildings even if they are all falling down! So very poor but the nicest people ever!

Kim