Travel Questions and Advice

[GrownMan1]

Coming thru MIA I notice on the flight board several flights to Cuba. 1 being AA and 2 other small airlines. I thought you couldn't flew out of the US to Cuba? I have been waiting to one day visit but I want zero to do with disobeying uncle Sam. Are the flight new or am I getting my hopes up to high. I tried to thru to AA but I get nutin.

[Tacoma101]

Sure could use some advice on a good website to prebook a decent or nice apartment before arriving. What does everyone use? PM me if you can. Appreciate the help.

[Zebel]

I was in Cuba in May 2014 and as we were leaving they put a stamp in my friend's passport (American passport). I asked the immigration officer a few times not to put a stamp in mine, to the point that he got annoyed. To ease him up I told him about my friend's passport and his response was "he probably didn't ask. " which was indeed the case.

Just make sure you ask them not to stamp your passport. That should do. But at the end of the day, a Cuban Immigration stamp in your passport won't be that big of a deal. Like it wasn't for my friend.

Enjoy Cuba!

[MrSoulo]

Yes true! I have two stamps in my passport now from my September-October trip. No issue for me as I am European, but they definitively stamp passports. Talked to a US citizen in Havana who told me that they did not stamp his passport though. Maybe they make a difference but I'd not rely on that.

Don't know what to tell you dude, but in all the years I've been to Cuba my Passport has never been stamped (only exception is when I took a domestic flight from Havana to Camaguey). I'm sure many ISG members can attest to the same.

[El Grande]

Not true. I was there in August and my Passport was not stamped.

Yes true! I have two stamps in my passport now from my September-October trip. No issue for me as I am European, but they definitively stamp passports. Talked to a US citizen in Havana who told me that they did not stamp his passport though. Maybe they make a difference but I'd not rely on that.

[MrSoulo]

Cuba stamp passports since this year. I do not know if they make a difference when you present a passport from USA.

Not true. I was there in August and my Passport was not stamped.

[Batbat59]

Hi,

Was wondering if anybody had some advice on I'll be leaving from Nassau to Cuba, any advice on this second stamp I'll be receiving when returning to Nassau? Also have a friend living in Bahamas, have him checking with friends of his that work at airport if customs guy will" freak out "if I have a 20 in my passport and ask him not to stamp it, any and all help please, thanks in advance!

Cuba stamp passports since this year. I do not know if they make a difference when you present a passport from USA.

[RacShack]

Hi,

Was wondering if anybody had some advice on I'll be leaving from Nassau to Cuba, any advice on this second stamp I'll be receiving when returning to Nassau? Also have a friend living in Bahamas, have him checking with friends of his that work at airport if customs guy will" freak out "if I have a 20 in my passport and ask him not to stamp it, any and all help please, thanks in advance!

[MongeryMon]

Hi guys!

New to the forum but already a fan of the reports. Am planning a trip to Cuba, but I want it to be in low season (going into Havana, I want to confirm the legends from La Cecilia, Salon Rojo, etc).

My question is: When is considered Low season? Is the end of January / February low season?

[Kalifornication]

are you really worried about "technically" obeying the law? do you obey speed limit laws? if it comes down to it, you'd have a hell of a time proving you didn't spend money while there. but it won't come down to it, because nobody really gives a crap if you go to cuba. thousands and thousands of americans go and only a handful have been punished over the last decade.

but for only a day or two, why even bother? you have phenomenal beaches in and around cancun, better than anything conveniently close to havana (there are no beaches in havana per se).

plus you run the risk of some chulo sweeping your chica off her feet.

[Mickee]

At the airports, officials speak many languages. Best is not be be rude and very nice.

Bart1,

I like your story with the questioning of the cuban airport officials. It illustrates a lot about Cuba and the people.

BTY, in what language were you being questioned: English or Espaol?

I'm wondering if it's to our advantage to tell them we speak no Spanish! This might reduce their confidence a bit and hasten their interview time since they'll probably feel less comfortable / confident questioning in English.

For newbies to Cuba:

If that happend to you and you find your self being questioned over and over redundantly, just remember to smile and relax, and I hope you did pack a whole lot of "patience".

[BrasilSoccer0]

Bart1,

I like your story with the questioning of the cuban airport officials. It illustrates a lot about Cuba and the people.

BTY, in what language were you being questioned: English or Español?

I'm wondering if it's to our advantage to tell them we speak no Spanish! This might reduce their confidence a bit and hasten their interview time since they'll probably feel less comfortable / confident questioning in English.

For newbies to Cuba:

If that happend to you and you find your self being questioned over and over redundantly, just remember to smile and relax, and I hope you did pack a whole lot of "patience".

I recently traveled on a Canada to Cuba return ticket, after 2 weeks in Havana I flew to Medellin with a return to Havana ticket 6 weeks later. After a 4 days Havana I flew back to Canada on my original ticket. I was questioned for 15 minutes at the first immigration check and then after going through the carry on checkpoint I was directed to a side table. I was there for another 20 minutes and the same questions asked again. My 2 carry on bags were laid on the floor and a dog brought in for the sniff test. Many questions as to why I had been in Colombia. Officer said Canadians come to Cuba for 2 weeks but never I see Canadians go to Colombia and return to Havana. By now I had 2 different officers asking questions. A new guy came out and was asking the same questions. I told him I have a novia in Medellin and I went to see her. With a bit of a smile on his face he said, I think you have a novia in Medellin, a novia in Havana and a novia in Vancouver, I said no only in Medellin and Havana the chicas in Vancouver are like the Canadian climate, very cold. This brought a big smile and laughter. He then said this is my novia, a beautiful 25 yr old customs officer, who was standing beside him. I said to him you a very lucky man, she is very beautiful. Big smiles from both of them, I then said I guess I better not ask for her phone number, that had both them laughing and big smiles. Only in Cuba could that happen, God I love Cuba.

[NCal2014]

Hey fellas,

Thanks for all the great feedback. Greatly appreciated! Great story Bart1 I enjoyed it. I spoke with my dad about traveling to Cuba he said its fairly common for US citizens to go. He has heard in the past that you can buy a Mexico passport in Mex and travel as a Mex citizen then dump the passport and cross the border back to the US. That sounds like a lot of fun and all but also not trying to get caught buying a fake passport. Just to check out Cuba for a day or 2.

Combo- I honestly was just looking to go to Cuba to check it out. Never been and I love to travel. I don't even really smoke cigars either so not looking to bring anything back. But it does sound like a lot of hassel and I don't want to be arrested or anything at the airport. Thats just the impression I have.

Mr Gogo- yeah traveling with a Colombiana from Mex as A US citizen I'm sure does bring up a lot of red flags. Will have to rethink this plan through and maybe just enjoy Cancun and maybe Cozumel too.

Another idea that came to me was what if I traveled with Mexican pesos and paid for everything in Mex pesos instead of USD? Would that be legal?

Again fellas I enjoy your stories here on this forum and I travel a little bit to Cartagena Colombia and have posted some stories and pics on that forum if anyone is interested.

Thanks!

[Bart1]

You didn't think this out completely Sir. You have to pay 25 cuc for your visa. She can't go to the window and pay that for you because you have to present your identification. So you are spending money there.

I've been to Colombia several times and rated Colombian women the prettiest I have seen until I went to Cuba. Cuban women don't like Colombian women so I'm not sure how your visit will go. Colombian women also are crazy about Cuban men, sure you want you girl to go?

Also you might get extra attention at the airport traveling with a Colombian girl coming from Mexico.

There are many nice romantic beaches in Colombia.

I recently traveled on a Canada to Cuba return ticket, after 2 weeks in Havana I flew to Medellin with a return to Havana ticket 6 weeks later. After a 4 days Havana I flew back to Canada on my original ticket. I was questioned for 15 minutes at the first immigration check and then after going through the carry on checkpoint I was directed to a side table. I was there for another 20 minutes and the same questions asked again. My 2 carry on bags were laid on the floor and a dog brought in for the sniff test. Many questions as to why I had been in Colombia. Officer said Canadians come to Cuba for 2 weeks but never I see Canadians go to Colombia and return to Havana. By now I had 2 different officers asking questions. A new guy came out and was asking the same questions. I told him I have a novia in Medellin and I went to see her. With a bit of a smile on his face he said, I think you have a novia in Medellin, a novia in Havana and a novia in Vancouver, I said no only in Medellin and Havana the chicas in Vancouver are like the Canadian climate, very cold. This brought a big smile and laughter. He then said this is my novia, a beautiful 25 yr old customs officer, who was standing beside him. I said to him you a very lucky man, she is very beautiful. Big smiles from both of them, I then said I guess I better not ask for her phone number, that had both them laughing and big smiles. Only in Cuba could that happen, God I love Cuba.

[Manny51]

Hey fellas,

Quick question here. As Americans we can travel to Cuba we just cannot spend any money there. But I'm traveling to Cancun with my Colombian girlfriend. So can we both travel to Cuba and just have her pay for everything? Technically we are following the rules right? I won't spend a dime and she buys everything for the both of us. Kust wanted to check the beaches and spend a day or 2. What do you guys think?

That's a good idea. I am surprised that that has never occurred to me, or that I never came across it in any of my own preparations.