How to get to Cuba from the States - Havana - General Tips & Advice Reviews

How to get to Cuba from the States Photos

How to get to Cuba from the States

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How to get to Cuba from the States Travel Reviews

May 27, 2007
Cuba is GORGEOUS!!! You can get to Cuba from the U.S. by booking airplane tickets to the Bahamas. Once in the airport in the Bahamas, you can purchase tickets to Cuba. I believe there is a flight that leaves in the afternoon (if there isn't a flight, you might have to stay in the Bahamas for one night... worse things could happen :) ), so I would recommend getting to the Bahamas in the morning.

Crossing customs in the Bahamas they asked us where we were staying in the Bahamas. We were caught a bit off guard by this question and didn't know what to say, but they are fully aware that people use that airport to go to Cuba, I would just be honest. After going through customs, you can purchase tickets from the Cuban airlines ticket counter (there might be a long line), this should not be a problem. They will give you a piece of paper that they will stamp, so that they do not put a stamp in your passport. : )

Boarding the plane, you will notice that that the writing is all in Russian… these are old soviet planes. Fear not, they work just fine. During take off, you will notice that there is a lot of smoke rising from under all of the seats making it look like something is on fire… again, fear not, this is apparently normal. Since I fly about once a year and I am used to quite modern airplanes (like the ones used by British Air, or Lufthansa) I was slightly uncomfortable in these Cuban ones, but again, they were fine.

Once in Cuba, enjoy! We had not previously booked accommodations and luckily we met a very nice woman who worked at the airport and directed us to her friend who owned a bed & breakfast type place. Many people have rooms in their houses that they rent out to tourists. I would highly recommend this type of accommodation because this way you can get to know the people more, get a real taste for the culture, and usually your hosts will cook for you. It was a very enjoyable experience for me… the food was delicious!! I would just make sure to ALWAYS bring your valuables with you, even if your room is locked and you have the key.

Havana is a heartbreakingly beautiful city. The architecture of the city was so beautiful, but a lot of the buildings were in such disrepair. I just wanted to patch everything up, so that it could last longer for others to see.

Cuban people are incredibly friendly, and willing to help. We had quite a good number of conversations with some locals! They might not love the leadership, but they love their country and will excitedly tell you about it. Also, if you are a fan of Latin music and dance, Cuba has the best salsa, and the best dancers!

I hope this information is helpful, and if anyone has any other questions about Cuba, please feel free to ask me… I could talk/write about it forever. Due to time restrains, I was only able to see a bit of Havana and Viñales (gorgeous mountain scenery).
In one of the plazas in Havana
One of the buildings along El Prado
Viñales valley
tobacco house in Viñales
the patio of a restaurant in Havana
LiveItUp says:
so if it's illegal to go to cuba still, do you buy your flight with cash? Can you take a ferry from like cancun or jamaica or the bahamas?
Posted on: Mar 13, 2008
betts20e says:
Not to burst people's bubbles, because I really want to go to Cuba aswell, but it is still Illegal to go to cuba, not matter where you go from, if you're an american citizen. Will you get caught? probably not, but it has happened to people, so be careful! I have a friend who went with a group from her highschool, and the u.s. goevernment found out and is trying to charge them millions in fines...so watch out.
Posted on: Jun 25, 2007
samsmith_ndt says:
Wow, you guys really have that much trouble getting into the place? It seems you're not alone - I'm a brit and none of the major fliers seem keen to rock the boat by flying to Havana... Bit of a shame, really - you're not the first person I've heard sing it's praises!
Posted on: Jun 25, 2007
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More General Tips & Advice in Havana

becks31 says: hi all A quick reminder to all, as i was in cuba and had my passport and credit cards stolen , be very careful, always leave your passport in a safe place and try to have cash with u, and avoid carryin your credit card with you at all times, unless u have 2 I was left hepless in Cuba, im from ...
vanessapine says: Important Get a visa before you go for £25 (ish) from the Cuban embassy – you wont be allowed in otherwise Don’t forget your camera - its really photogenic. Money Take pounds when you go and the exchange rate at the airport is the same as in Havana so its ok to change it there. ...

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