anyone been to cuba?

[roastelk]

I've booked a two week trip there at a resort hotel, supposed to be a half a day drive from Havana so I'll see a bit of the island before getting on the boat to Cayo Levisa, were I booked a private beach bungalow.


Its supposed to be fairly safe to travel in cuba, at least no worse than most other Caribbean countries. Although Canadian foreign affairs highly recommends against driving a car there....see below


Canadians should avoid driving in Cuba.Traffic accidents are a frequent cause of arrest and detention of Canadians in Cuba. Accidents resulting in death or injury are treated as crimes, and the onus is on the driver to prove innocence. Regardless of the nature of the accident, it can take five months to a year for a case to go to trial. In most cases, the driver will not be allowed to leave Cuba until the trial has taken place. In some cases, the driver will be imprisoned during this delay.

Canadians should be cautious when renting a vehicle in Cuba. Although insurance is offered, coverage differs from that in Canada. If the traveller is in any way at fault in an accident, rental agencies will nullify coverage and seek damages to cover the cost of repairs. Contract agreements do not cover occasional drivers, and the signatory is responsible for all people driving the vehicle. Rental agencies are government-controlled and can prevent your departure from the country unless payment is obtained. Charges associated with accidents can range into the thousands of U.S. dollars.

[viscousmemories]

I haven't but I'd like to go some day. Yeesh, though. I think I'd bypass the car too! I like running people over in the street too much.

[Gonzo]

I'd love to see it, myself... it's beautiful for sure. I'm jealous.

It doesn't seem to be too huge a place, so walking might not be so bad, depending on how much you plan on trying to see (though my imagination might get the better of me). You might be able to enjoy the surroundings better on foot/ bike, given that you are in the condition to due so.

I'd bet you're safe as long as you don't piss off any cops. I think vacationers are part the norm.

Enjoy yourself!

[Beastwars]

I've not been to Cuba.

[curses]

I haven't been but we expect pictures when you get back!

[roastelk]

I'd love to see it, myself... it's beautiful for sure. I'm jealous.

It doesn't seem to be too huge a place, so walking might not be so bad, depending on how much you plan on trying to see (though my imagination might get the better of me). You might be able to enjoy the surroundings better on foot/ bike, given that you are in the condition to due so.

I'd bet you're safe as long as you don't piss off any cops. I think vacationers are part the norm.

Enjoy yourself!

about that, cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, almost a 1000km long, and up to 150km wide, so if you want to travel you'll need wheels, just don't be the guy driving them. Its easier to just hire out a taxi for a day, which is what I'll have to do to get from Havana to Palma Rubia, where I catch boat to Cayo Leviso. cayo levisa is small island with nothing on it except the resort hotel, trees and white sandy beaches.



Curses, this trip wont be until February, but here is a couple photos of Jamaica from last April...

[roastelk]

missed one photo, I don't remember what they said these flowers where

[mulebear]

missed one photo, I don't remember what they said these flowers where

According to Sonoma Bear... It's ginger.

[Qingdai]

I was going to say ginger.
Beaten again!

[wildernesse]

I was also going to say ginger. There was a ginger section at the botanic garden we visited today.

Have a fun trip. I would like to be able to visit Cuba someday. Maybe it won't be too much longer.

[Dingfod]

I've had a Cuban [sandwich], but even it wasn't the real thing.

[Watser?]

I was not going to say ginger but I'm gonna say that now.

Ginger!

[LadyShea]

It's not so easy for Americans to travel to Cuba as tourists, though I hope that opens up, it is so close and supposed to be beautiful.

[lisarea]

This is a true story no matter how hard you think I am making this up.

My mom was in Cuba with some friends spelunking in 1959, and got kinda stuck there because when they came out of the caves, it was all people's revolution up in that bitch. So they kind of split up and had to sneak around passing as Cuban until eventually, she and her friends were spirited out by sympathetic Cuban friends. They were the last twelve I think Americans to get out of Cuba after the revolution, so they were all famous for a little bit and she got a letter from Castro inviting her back to see the new Cuba as his guest.

And naturally, that letter and the newspaper clippings are safely tucked away in some book that is probably stored in my basement right now, and that is why I can't just go get rid of the stuff she left in her basement all willy nilly.

However, if you have any interest in getting a special Potemkin village tour of Cuba, and think you could get a fake ID saying you are a 72 year old lady, I could renew my efforts to find it.

[roastelk]

It's not so easy for Americans to travel to Cuba as tourists, though I hope that opens up, it is so close and supposed to be beautiful.


from what I hear Cuba is actually quite friendly towards American tourists, their border customs will even do the favor of not stamping your pass port if you ask them. Its the getting in and out without any one in you own country noticing that presents a problem. I know Americans go to Cuba regularly, just through other countries like Canada and Mexico.

[LadyShea]

I know Americans go to Cuba regularly, just through other countries like Canada and Mexico.

Yeah, but it's totally illegal, and I don't want to go up against the treasury department for a vacation. I'll stick to places I don't have to go all outlaw to get to.

[Stormlight]

I know Americans go to Cuba regularly, just through other countries like Canada and Mexico.

Yeah, but it's totally illegal

Really? It's actually illegal to visit Cuba for you guys? :stunned:

[slimshady2357]

I know Americans go to Cuba regularly, just through other countries like Canada and Mexico.

Yeah, but it's totally illegal

Really? It's actually illegal to visit Cuba for you guys? :stunned:

Land of the free!

[LadyShea]

Double post

[LadyShea]

Well, it's an embargo, so it's illegal for us to contribute to Cuba's economy. That's why the Treasury Department is in control of travel there instead of the State Dept.. We can't buy Cuban goods or give them tourist dollars.

Regulation does not limit travel of US Citizens to Cuba per se, but it makes it illegal for US Citizens to have transactions (spend money or receive gifts) in Cuba, under most circumstances. The regulations require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed in order to engage in any travel-related transactions pursuant to travel to, from, and within Cuba. Transactions related solely to tourist travel are not licensable.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_embargo_against_Cuba#Ban_on_travel_by_families_and_individuals

We can get passes if we are journalists, have immediate members of our family that are Cuban, or professionals doing research.

It's total bullshit...cold war is over, man. Live in the NOW!

[Ensign Steve]

Get the net!

[wildernesse]

It's not so easy for Americans to travel to Cuba as tourists, though I hope that opens up, it is so close and supposed to be beautiful.


from what I hear Cuba is actually quite friendly towards American tourists, their border customs will even do the favor of not stamping your pass port if you ask them. Its the getting in and out without any one in you own country noticing that presents a problem. I know Americans go to Cuba regularly, just through other countries like Canada and Mexico.

When we flew into Mexico, they didn't stamp our passports either--even without asking. The only stamp I have in my old passport is from my own country.