I suppose the chances for this -- especially for Americans -- are slim. But have any of you been there? What's it like?

nope. Would love to visit one day.

Surely Cubans have.

there are cuban-americans

Americans cannot visit Cuba outright. You'd have to go to Canada or Mexico first, then take a flight from there to the island.

There had been a loosening of the travel restrictions to Cuba...but the Bush administration recently enacted a new ban which limits travel to the island ONLY to people with immediate family down there (parent or sibling only; aunts, uncles and cousins don't count), and then they can ONLY go once every three (3) years!!!

I would love to go. Just to spite Bush.

unlucky7 said:

I know a few cuban-australians.

Cuba is cheap to visit from what I have learned. Maybe one day I will visit.

Fauxie said:

unlucky7 said:

Indeed. My apologies. I should be less sloppy in how I say things.

I'd love to hear from them, as well as any who've simply visited the Island, if there are any on this site.

PurpleJedi said:

Yeah, I've been looking at a few sites offering pointers on American travel to Cuba. It seems a fascinating experience to me.

I wonder if I could concoct some excuse to get a journalist's permission to visit? (Though, I'd have to come up with one hell of a story as to why my entire family needed to go. ) I may be better off investigating going by way of Canada, doing a currency conversion, etc.

I went 5 years ago with my mother. It was great, we spent a week in Havana and a week in a more touristy resort type place further west (cant remember the name...) Havana was wonderful, so much character, in the buildings, the people, the culture, everything. I highly recommend it. If youre into the music and the history of it, youll really enjoy it. Its very laid back but then most latin american countries, and Spain, are. We took a day trip out to a cigar making factory out in the countryside too, that was cool. You dont know about real cigars until youve been to Cuba, well, I didnt anyway! Theyre actually quite nice! Inland, the scenery is just beautiful too, so lush and green. It gets a bad press, but it doesnt really deserve it so you gotta watch what you beleive, especially if you live in USA. What you are exposed to over there is very biased. Let me tell you, in my opinion, Cubans are good people and so is Fidel!

You should go!!!

susannah said:

Thanks so much!

Youre very welcome!! Get back to us if you go wont ya?

charlottegelin said:

I've seen some asian Jamaicans....when they talk it's a bit funny.

Yeap, i've been there in 2001 for two weeks. In la Havana, Varadero (Cuba's tourist highspot) and Santiago de Cuba. Amazing people, awesome culture, hot beaches, amazing pubs and salsa clubs in La Havana, yummy mojitos everywhere, lovely architecture. It's a place to see for sure.

PurpleJedi said:

Geezus...I never knew this.

Yes, I was there once about 4 years ago. Lots of poverty, but the resort areas are very nice. The beaches are gorgeous and the people seemed very friendly and down the earth. They rely heavily on tourism, so they have to keep up the resorts or people will not travel there. Also, the food was just so-so. Perhaps if I ate where locals do I might have enjoyed it more, but at the resort it was just ok.

I would love to go to Cuba.

i saw a documentary on pbs about the classic 1950 american cars that the cubans drive and take care of. it was like stepping into another time looking at the cars and the performances they used to do back in the day when american tourists would come in the 50s. it is really a beautiful place. it seems like a place you'd get lost in and not want to come back

My brother is going there in the next few days. He's had to change his money because they don't accept US dollars anymore.

i intend to go at some point... my friends eloped there in january... the whole wedding package thing and i was supposed to attend but could not

anyway... it looked beautiful

lots of poor people to be sure away from the tourist-y areas... but i don't believe embargos are helping defeat communisim so why not trade and do business with them and see what happens then?? castro has to kick the bucket sooner or later

Yeah there is poverty, but thats just the way it is. I dont really want to talk about the trade embargo because I might explode with rage.....

Never mind...but youre right Emm, it should be over with. I dont want to flame any of you but man alive those American presidents can hold grudges!!


You cant just go to the touristy areas like Varadero though because thats not the real Cuba youre seeing. When we talk about Cuba we talk about things like music, cars, architecture, thats all Havana. Yeah, the coastal areas have lovely beaches and resort to match those anywhere else in the caribbean, but thats just it: theyre all the same! when you travel youve got to experience the places youre going to, not be holed up in a nice clean hotel with good food on tap and a door out on to the beach. Lovely place, but not the real Cuba.

susannah said:

I've always wanted to go to Cuba... You paint a beautiful picture, Susannah.

I know what you're saying - a good friend of mine and her boyfriend went there a couple of years ago, all-inclusive. They had great weather, the hotel was lovely. How much did they see of Cuba? Bugger all. They spent more time eating and drinking at their resort. I don't understand why people would go on holiday just to see the same things they'd see at home.

I will go to Cuba!

Yeah, we went to a resort for a week to get a bit of that beach type holiday but we regretted it afterwards.

You should go!!

I think we need to change the name of this thread to the "everyone go to Cuba!!" thread!

susannah said:

althom said:

Althom, is it that they don't accept U.S. dollars, or that it's illegal under American law to spend U.S. dollars there?

By the way, I didn't know you had a brother here in the states. Is he hot?