Travelling to Cuba

[HoneySuckle]

I just read two travel reports by a Canadian and a Norwegian (separate trips), and the commentaries and photos were incredible. I'm all set to visit Cuba next year!

Has anyone on this forum been?  Yeah, I do know about the stupid law this country has against Cuba, but many Americans have found ways around the 'law' and have visited.

I just know it will be different once Castro is gone, and I'd love to see the Cuba that it is now that others have experienced. The reports have all been A+.

[mr.jaynes]

I'd love to visit it: for the white sands, the blue water, the music, the colonial architectures.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by HoneySuckle

I just read two travel reports by a Canadian and a Norwegian (separate trips), and the commentaries and photos were incredible. I'm all set to visit Cuba next year!

Has anyone on this forum been?  Yeah, I do know about the stupid law this country has against Cuba, but many Americans have found ways around the 'law' and have visited.

I just know it will be different once Castro is gone, and I'd love to see the Cuba that it is now that others have experienced. The reports have all been A+.

In this day and age, I am surprised anyone would risk arrest and prosecution for violation of travel laws and restrictions.  I think the U.S. ban on tourist travel to Cuba is misguided, but you do risk prosecution by going there, however convoluted your itinerary may be to evade U.S. law.  The U.S. ban will eventually be recinded some day and I would rather wait and visit legally.

I wouldn't bet on the Cuban government being any different after Castro is gone, at least not in my lifetime as long as Castro's brother is alive.  There is a very strong "cult of personality" surrounding Fidel and the Castros, sure to live on after Fidel's death.

Of course the travel reports rave about Cuba; the Cuban government only lets tourists into "approved" areas and official hotels, hotels that are stocked with goods and services for foreigners only and not available to Cuban citizens.  Approved tourist areas have been whitewashed and sanitized for an artificial experience.  It's all about appearances, not the truth.

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by HoneySuckle

I just read two travel reports by a Canadian and a Norwegian (separate trips), and the commentaries and photos were incredible. I'm all set to visit Cuba next year!

Has anyone on this forum been?  Yeah, I do know about the stupid law this country has against Cuba, but many Americans have found ways around the 'law' and have visited.

I just know it will be different once Castro is gone, and I'd love to see the Cuba that it is now that others have experienced. The reports have all been A+.

In this day and age, I am surprised anyone would risk arrest and prosecution for violation of travel laws and restrictions.  I think the U.S. ban on tourist travel to Cuba is misguided, but you do risk prosecution by going there, however convoluted your itinerary may be to evade U.S. law.  The U.S. ban will eventually be recinded some day and I would rather wait and visit legally.

I wouldn't bet on the Cuban government being any different after Castro is gone, at least not in my lifetime as long as Castro's brother is alive.  There is a very strong "cult of personality" surrounding Fidel and the Castros, sure to live on after Fidel's death.

Of course the travel reports rave about Cuba; the Cuban government only lets tourists into "approved" areas and official hotels, hotels that are stocked with goods and services for foreigners only and not available to Cuban citizens.  Approved tourist areas have been whitewashed and sanitized for an artificial experience.  It's all about appearances, not the truth.

Evenso, if the Exiles return to Cuba to take over, I don't know that it would be a change for the better.

[Conan71]

One of my friends has dual U.S./Irish citizenship and travels on an Irish passport.  He keeps a cruising catamaran at Tortolla in the British Virgin Islands.  He's sailed in and out of Havana a couple of times and he says it's a neat place.

Personally, I don't see the point in going and risking problems with INS, so until the U.S. lifts travel bans, I won't be going.

If you want to see white sand beaches and good clear water, there are plenty of other options: Cayman Islands, BVI's, Jamaica, Cozumel, and you can go to Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands w/o a passport.  

My personal favorite is the BVI's.  No chain hotels or restaurants, no roadside litter, no exchange rates (U.S. dollar is the currency) low crime rate, reasonible lodging, food and beverage rates, and people are genuinely happy to have tourists there.

[cannon_fodder]

I would love to visit Cuba as I'm sure there is TONS of interesting stuff there... but then again, I haven't seen lots of my own country and have this thing against going to jail and/or paying fines.

The US doesnt mess around with travel to Cuba, and I don't want to mess with Uncle Sam.  He's the big brother that can kick you donkey whenever he wants.

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I would love to visit Cuba as I'm sure there is TONS of interesting stuff there... but then again, I haven't seen lots of my own country and have this thing against going to jail and/or paying fines.

The US doesnt mess around with travel to Cuba, and I don't want to mess with Uncle Sam.  He's the big brother that can kick you donkey whenever he wants.

They are just a little too obsessed with this embargo.

[mspivey]

if you log on to itunes and search for "travel Rick Steves" you can search his old podcasts for the one on 3-10-07. This is an excellent how-to on US citizens who want to visit Cuuba.

[Conan71]

Another good white sand, clear water area is the Florida Keys...FYI.

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

Another good white sand, clear water area is the Florida Keys...FYI.

Ya know, Conan, I may actually just do that this summer, in fact.

[Conan71]

My vacation for next year is to either rent a sailboat in the keys for a couple of weeks or ship my boat to Homestead and either sail to Bimini in the Bahamas or out to the Dry Tortugas west of the Keys.  Bimini is only about 54 nautical miles from Miami, but you have to cross the Gulf Stream and that can be dicey in smaller sailboats.  You need "perfect" weather which means a lot of different parameters when it comes to sailing off the coast and across a rapid current like the Gulf Stream.

I do know a guy who tried to sail his Catalina 22 down to Cuba a few years back.  He was turned back by the Coast Guard.  The guy is a total nut. [)]

[mspivey]

I went to the Keys last year and it was pretty neat and would have been much better with a boat. I took the big cat to Dry Tortugas. They were telling us it would be rough and offered us our money back. I shoulda taken the offer, although I enjoyed the fort when we got there. I also took a ride on a sailing ship.



If you spend any time at Key West, don't rent a car. Rent a scooter.

But even though I liked it, Key West can't be as good as Cuba. For one thing, the excitement of doing something you shouldn't. For another, I would love to see the old cars.

Did anyone listen to the Rick Steves padcast? It's pretty interesting.

[cannon_fodder]

You don't even need a scooter if you stay where I did.  The last time I was there I stayed in some hidden bungalows about 2 blocks from the southern most point, the entrance was off of Duval.  My wife and I returned the rental car to the airport and walked back down the beach.  For the rest of the week we walked everywhere we went... the whole island is 5x2 miles and most everything is concentrated on the southern end...2 miles wide.

Previously I was on a friends Bavaria 44 for a week.  We sailed from Naples to Key West and then anchored in the bay.  Amazing. Amazing boat, amazing waters, amazing trip.  I also learned that after a long night at the bars, it is unwise to dingy back and pass out on the boat.  The whole world-spinning thing is not helped by actual world swaying.

The other time I was there we stayed on the airport end of the island... never again.  Its nice, but you have to go to the other end to do anything.  Not worth it to me.

[Conan71]

Bavaria 44, I'm green w/ envy.  I bet that was a fun trip.

[cannon_fodder]

It was indeed.  I had sailed with him on Lake Michigan - where the boat used to be, but had never gone ocean sailing other than day cruises on commercial sailing ships.  Those are amazing, dont get me wrong, and anyone in Key West needs to hop on of the hold sailing ships.

But sailing with someone you know is so much cooler.  Telling you what you need to do to help (NEED TO, not really asking) and letting you take the helm and try to keep the sails taught.  Fun times... of course, on that boat, he can set it to auto rig to a large extent.

FYI, he is a trust fund baby that blew all his money in about 7 years after hitting 18 and is now in the air force.  Oh well, he seemed to enjoy it and I got to mooch along from time to time.