Traveling to Cuba

[JB Rasor]

Greetings All,

My wife and I would love to take a trip to Cuba in December, but being Americans it's not the easiest trip to plan. Has anyone from the States taken a trip there by way of Mexico? We were thinking about flying to Cancun, and then flying into Havana. From there, we'd have a somewhat set schedule and seek out a guide.
I've done some research, but obviously first hand accounts would be great. If anyone is willing to give me some guidance I'd really appreciate it. Photo trip of a lifetime, as I'm sure many of you know. Thanks everyone and have a great week!!

JB
 

[Tony Jay]

I have never been to Cuba - can't help with suggestions unfortunately - but I hope you have a ripper time!
As you say - photographic opportunity of a lifetime.

Tony Jay

[Manoli]

Perhaps PM Michael Reichmann and Nick Devlin for suggestions and advice - they were there in March of this year.

[Jimbo57]

Not sure why travelling there from US should now be a problem.

Talking to two friends who returned to UK from a holiday in Cuba just last week, their view (having been there on holiday several times over the past 20 years) is that, since it was opened up to Americans, it has been totally over-run by US tourists and is rapidly going down the lavvy. They seriously suggested that, before many more months have passed, Cuba will be virtually indistinguishable from some poorer areas of Florida.

Such a shame.

[michael]

Cubana airlines flies to Cuba daily from both Toronto and Montreal.

So does Air Canada, but AC won't allow anyone with a US passport on-board because they're afraid that if there was a need to make an emergency landing in the US, they would get into some sort of difficulty.

Cubana has no such rule.

Also, if you ask, Cuban immigration will not stamp your passport, so after a visit there is no way for anyone to know that you were there.

All, quite silly, but it's still not easy for American's to visit Cuba.

Michael

[Justinr]

As a slight aside I've just been watching a PBS documentary about the Bay of Pigs which appeared to be quite fair and balanced although that probably depends on your political outlook. It does seem however that what the US government couldn't achieve by military might is now being accomplished by the tourists dollar. It's a pity they didn't think of that before.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... Such a shame.

Why? Are you suggesting that keeping them poor for the benefit of few who could visit them in a virtual "communism zoo" is somehow better?

[one iota]

Why? Are you suggesting that keeping them poor for the benefit of few who could visit them in a virtual "communism zoo" is somehow better?

I tend to agree.

I was there in January. I hope that they can quarantine all us tourists to the Malecon and still make some money to buy tractors to grow more of their own food and some technology so as not to rely so much on Venezuelan petroleum to generate electricity. Viva la Cubana!

[hjulenissen]

Why? Are you suggesting that keeping them poor for the benefit of few who could visit them in a virtual "communism zoo" is somehow better?

Agreed. While "natives" around the world should probably be shielded from having their culture overrun by tourists, I think that in this case it is an organized, poor and unfree society. If tourists can motivate more freedom and wealth, good for them.

I do believe that authorities (and the people) of such places have an interest in balancing the "tourist factor"; too few tourists and you miss an opportunity. Too many tourists, and you devaluate your value as a tourist location longer term. It is probably "better"*) to be an accessible but somewhat exotic Island than to be a neon-lit casino and a place where US students travel in hordes to get drunk.

I was there in 2002. I guess that much has changed since.

-h

[JB Rasor]

Thank you all!

Tourism in Cuba is certainly an issue that will continue to evolve as the US opens relations with the island. I'd hate, as I'm sure many of us would, to see Cuba turn into just another stop on commercial cruise lines. Rather, I'm interested in the culture, the history, the people...without sounding too idealistic, the "real Cuba." These are a few of the reasons my wife and I would like to travel there.

From what I've read, a flight through Cancun is the best option for Americans. Logistically, I still need to do some research. I'm thinking it is a cash only (Euro/Canadian/Cuban) trip. To the best of my knowledge, the US bans credit card transactions there. So a little more research may get me closer to making a decision.

Thanks again for the guidance!

Incidentally, does anyone know, or can anyone recommend, a great guide/fixer?

Best,
JB
   

[Osprey]

As a slight aside I've just been watching a PBS documentary about the Bay of Pigs which appeared to be quite fair and balanced although that probably depends on your political outlook. It does seem however that what the US government couldn't achieve by military might is now being accomplished by the tourists dollar. It's a pity they didn't think of that before.

They're also winning the Vietnam War the same way.

[Justinr]

Thank you all!

Tourism in Cuba is certainly an issue that will continue to evolve as the US opens relations with the island. I'd hate, as I'm sure many of us would, to see Cuba turn into just another stop on commercial cruise lines. Rather, I'm interested in the culture, the history, the people...without sounding too idealistic, the "real Cuba." These are a few of the reasons my wife and I would like to travel there.

From what I've read, a flight through Cancun is the best option for Americans. Logistically, I still need to do some research. I'm thinking it is a cash only (Euro/Canadian/Cuban) trip. To the best of my knowledge, the US bans credit card transactions there. So a little more research may get me closer to making a decision.

Thanks again for the guidance!

Incidentally, does anyone know, or can anyone recommend, a great guide/fixer?

Best,
JB
   

Which is precisely why governments are so keen to see a cashless society, it grants them so much power over people.

[Jimbo57]

Why? Are you suggesting that keeping them poor for the benefit of few who could visit them in a virtual "communism zoo" is somehow better?

Possibly I was taking a somewhat selfish photographer's view.

Once of the great attractions of Cuba for photographers in past decades has been its "natural" state, in both urban and rural areas. From a photography perspective it would be a pity to see the ambience wrecked by the tourist hordes.

In Europe we have experience of that. Former communist countries in eastern Europe were once fertile gounds for photography. Now cities such as Prague have been completely and utterly ruined - there is even an odious KFC in Wenceslas Square!!!

But I have no doubt that the Czechs, Hungarians, etc are much better off nowadays and I guess we should not deny the Cubans the same opportunity.

The compromise may be to get your photos his year because the chance may swiftly recede.

[Robert Roaldi]

I'm sure the international resort operators and possibly casinos will do well, but it's not so clear how the average Cuban will benefit. Some may get jobs in the tourism industry of course, and their extended families will enjoy spin-off benefits, but history has shown where the bulk of the money ends up. Of course, it's up to them to fix their internal systems to avoid systemic corruption, but I'm sure many hands are already extended, palms up.

[Justinr]

I'm sure the international resort operators and possibly casinos will do well, but it's not so clear how the average Cuban will benefit. Some may get jobs in the tourism industry of course, and their extended families will enjoy spin-off benefits, but history has shown where the bulk of the money ends up. Of course, it's up to them to fix their internal systems to avoid systemic corruption, but I'm sure many hands are already extended, palms up.

It is certainly true that the 'trickle down effect' is stronger in the imaginations of those who enthuse about it than it is actually on the ground, but tourism will help break down the political barriers that have existed between the US and Cuba which may well lead to greater prosperity in the long run.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

I'm sure the international resort operators and possibly casinos will do well, but it's not so clear how the average Cuban will benefit...

[Robert Roaldi]

Indeed, I hope they do what Singapore did.

[Jimbo57]

Indeed, I hope they do what Singapore did.

Cuba does not have the advantage of being an outpost of Great Britain, in the way that Singapore was for much of the period in question.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Cuba does not have the advantage of being an outpost of Great Britain, in the way that Singapore was for much of the period in question.

If by "the period in question" you mean from the 50s to today, how exactly was Singapore an outpost of Great Britain? Singapore gained independence from Britain in 1963 and had $511 GDP per capita at the time. Cuba was much better off then.

[Rob C]

Living on a tourist-economy island (Mallorca), I can assure anyone interested that it's a bad idea for the indigenous people.

You end up a one-trick pony and you lose everything else. Next to tourism, the big thing was the construction of apartments, most of them for sale to holiday maker owners. We now have overload. I have had my place on the market a year - I shot the pix last November - and though it's a damned good apartment in a fine area, there hasn't been a single viewer. Many estate agents have bitten the dust; others pay no salaries, just commission (5% today compared with around 1% in the UK). You have to inflate your price just to pay the agency fees, further putting your place out of reach of many. Many restaurants that had building workers flooding in to lunch every day now struggle with a few foreigners like me, or local retired people. Every year bars fold and hotels close early where they would stay open all year.

I hope the Cubans have the sense to hang onto ownership of their farms... accommodation for tourists should be new-builds on land that robs nobody of their own domestic places.

Does it help those locals who sell land? Well, the farmers here who sold out in the 70s/80s could never buy their lands back today. Their families will never have those desirable fincas with added pools...

Other businesses? We had a b¡g deal in shoe production at one time. Gone. Ditto small boats. Fishing? Really?

Tourism is one bitch as a provider of income. It invented the false smile even before Hollywood. Come to think of it, whores and holidays seem to sound great together. Must be a song there too.

Rob C