Travel to Cuba from the United States has been touchy subject for more than 60 years now. Until early 2011, legal travel to Cuba directly from the United States was heavily restricted and incredibly difficult for the average American to accomplish for simple vacationing purposes. The lack of American influence on Cuba has, of course, formed a country that is wholly different than what most American are used to in the United States. It’s incredibly important to know what to expect if you’re traveling to Cuba and how to adequately prepare yourself before embarking on that surely-to-be-different adventure.
You May Need a Cuba Travel License
Since the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) relaxed its travel restrictions on American tourists a few years ago, it’s become increasingly easier for Americans to directly travel to Cuba from the United States. The Cuban government openly allows United States citizens to visit Cuba, but the United States government places restrictions on its citizens travelling to Cuba. United States citizens must be issued a license by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in order to travel to Cuba.
- Cubatitoalfredo / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Needless to say, there are ways around getting a OFAC-issued license to visit Cuba. Some United States citizens get away with never getting a license by traveling to Cuba through other countries to avoid getting caught. For example, countries such as Mexico and The Bahamas have direct flights to Cuba, so United States citizens are not required to present a Cuba travel license to their respective government officials.
Know How Much You’re Spending on Airfare
- Cuba vacationsArtur Staszewski / Foter.com / CC BY-SA
Most of us are accustomed to easy and inclusive travel plans, but getting into Cuba can be a little more complicated than many travelers are prepared for. Airfare prices aren’t included in the Cuba vacations offered. Often times, you can find yourself needing a private charter flight to reach your destination; however, while these are usually government-approved charter operators on these flights, they are usually not included in your airfare prices.
You’re Going to Need Cash, and a Lot of It
Cuba is an embargoed country, so there can be very serious and annoying cash issues for an American traveler visiting the country. It’s incredibly important to be aware that bank-issued debit cards, credit cards, and ATM cards from any financial institution in the United States will not work in Cuba. Regardless of your country of origin or nation of residence, it’s crucial to research your financial institution’s parent company and nation affiliation before going to Cuba.
- going to Cuba*Blunight 72* / Foter.com / CC BY-NC
Cuba’s form of currency is the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC), which is the best way of paying for services and goods while vacationing in Cuba. Be aware that Cuba imposes at ten percent tax on all US currency being converted, but the exchange rate is always heavily in favor of the Dollar. That being said, it’s best to simply convert a large amount of American Dollars into Cuban Convertible Pesos to avoid any serious debit and credit card complications.
A Little Fluency Goes a Long Way
Of course, you’ll be able to find some taxi drivers and various service employees that speak a little bit of English, but it’s certainly not odds that you want to rely on. The entire experience of indulging in Cuban culture and making the most of the visit warrants some basic grasp and fluency of the Spanish language. Plus, knowing some more common Spanish phrases and questions will help to reduce any issues that you may encounter as an American tourist in Cuba.
Cuban Infrastructure is Not for the Timid
The purpose of visiting Cuba is to indulge in the lesser-seen culture and country, as it is obviously not a nation that has received an overwhelming amount of American tourists in the past 60 years. If you’re looking for a touristy beach and Piña Colada destination, this is certainly not the place for you. The United States now permits licenses to visits Cuba in order to promote understanding and experiences of a people and culture that we were denied to make contact with for so long.
Along with the immersion into this culture and way of life, there’s also many things that one would have to be okay with. For example, Cuba is usually a pretty safe place for tourists, but it’s also understood that there can be aggressive service people, and pickpocketing that occur to tourists. The condition of buildings and facilities is also another shock to some tourists. For example, expect many public restrooms to be sub par to American facilities, and also be prepared to bring your own toilet paper.
Be Sure to Pack Wisely and Be Safe
It’s can be quite difficult to find your specific medication in Cuba if you forget to pack it in your luggage. Because of the Embargo, there’s restrictions on everything that comes into Cuba and medicine is no different. It’s vital that all of your necessities, especially important medication, are brought with you into Cuba. Pharmacies and convenience stores are not a very common sight in Cuba, so it’s not a reliable source to fill your lack of preparation.
Cuba is recognized for having decent and accessible healthcare facilities, especially more so than other developing nations, but their facilities still come up short on medical supplies and skill when compared to that of the United States. In case of a serious medical situation, it’s especially difficult to be medically evacuated from Cuba because of that United States travel restrictions, so it’s best to be fully prepared being making the trip to Cuba.
Cuba is an incredible country that is full of rich history and deep-rooted culture, so it’s an ideal vacation destination for many. It’s especially appealing to many American travelers that have been deprived of its experience over the years, and it’s very much worth the experience. It’s crucial, however, to remember that traveling to Cuba is very different than travelling to any other country, so it’s necessary and highly suggested that you remember that tips mentioned in this post.Â
