1

You can't get permission to travel as a tourist. Here's the details:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1097.html

Cheers,
Terry

2

US citizens can and do go to Cuba all the time; in fact, the nation which supplies the second largest number of visitors to Cuba is not the US. (Canada is #1 and England is #3.) The website provided by Poster #1 provides details on how to get "permission" from your government to travel to Cuba. However, many US citizens--perhaps most who visit Cuba do what they've done for the past half-century: they simply go to Cuba via a third country like Mexico, Canada, or the Bahamas; anyplace that has a sane foreign policy vis-a-vis Cuba. You can get a list of these "gateways," as they're called, on this website: www.nashtravel.com It shows what airlines fly to Cuba from all the nearby countries. You don't need "permission" to go to any of them--just a ticket and your passport. Once there, you can buy a ticket on to Cuba, plus a tourist card, which costs about $20. Cuban immigrations treats US citizens the same as everyone else.

You won't find flights to Cuba listed on any websites based in the US, because the US forbids its citizens, including its corporate citizens from doing business with Cuba without special permission from the government. To buy a ticket to Cuba you'd need to go to a .com travel agent based in another country, like Canada. Or else wait till you get to that "gateway" country and buy your ticket there.

3

Sorry---typo in Post #2. I meant to say the US is NOW the nation that supplies the second largest number of visitors to Cuba.

4

The vast majority of Americans going to Cuba are Cuban-Americans returning to visit family, not tourists. In seven trips to Cuba I've never met another American.

5

You must not be looking very hard Chapayev. I've met piles of Americans in Cuba, most of them traveling independently.

Cheers,
Terry

6

Chapayev, you'll find Americans in Cuba (1) staying with family members; (2) at resorts; and (3) traveling independently disguised as Canadians.

7

Since I originally posted this I have been to Cuba and had a good trip.

I worked with Cuba Travel Serivce (www.cubatravelservice.com), a company with offices in the USA. I filled out some forms and got my visa. As a retired teacher, I said I was going for educational purposes. So there was a little deceit involved since I was not going for that reason, but for tourism. In any event, I got the visa.

My travel was from Miami to Cienfuegos, with a return from Havana to Miami.

Upon going through customs in Miami, they asked me where I was coming from. I told them Havana. They asked my reason for travel. I said tourism. They said it was not allowed. And then, in the end, after consultation with a second agent, they told me, "At least you told the truth," and that was the end of it.

8

The Obama Administration has made it easier for Americans to travel to Cuba. You do not need permission
or travel to a third country. As a American you need a active Passport and a visa. The visa will cost you
$200.00 U.S. dollars. The flight depends what season you decide to travel. Summers are expensive $600 a ticket per person. December and January $650.00. Flights to Havana from Miami is every day of the week
there are about 6 or more flights departing from Miami International Airport every day of the week. The flights are chartered by the Cuban Goverment. You will arrive at Jose Marti Airport. This airport was
constructed by Canada and donated to the Cuban Goverment . Its small airport compared to ours in
the U.S. Once you arrive you can grab a taxi to your destination or you can rent a car on line and have it ready for you when you arrive or you can rent one when you get there. If you rent the car at the airport it will cost you more them if you rent outside from one of the rental agencies.Make sure that if you do rent a car turn it on before you drive away. Make sure the tires are in good condition and it has ac. The streets in Havana are paved and in good condition once you leave the tourist area be very careful there are lots of
potholes,cows, horses and people . You are not allowed to give any cuban dissident a ride even if you see
them hitchhiking. AMERICANS are prohibited from giving CUBAN people a ride in a rental tourist car.
Dont get caught avoid it ... You have to purchase insurance for the vehicle and you must have your drivers license. The island is beautiful plenty to see in Havana , lots of great restaurants, cafes, taverns, beach,
resorts if you wish to stay or hotels along the beach. American currency must be exchanged for tourist money .DO NOT EXCHANGE all of your money at the airport go to the bank and exchange. Once you exchange your money you will loose 20% the CUBAN Goverment keeps 20% of your exchange. American dollars are not accepted any where so you are forced to exchange. I have travel to Cuba twice to visit family my first time was in 2005 after leaving the island in 1967 . I return in 2009 and found no changes every thing is the same. Do not take any type of computer they are not allowed in the island specially from
us Americans. You can take a cell phone, cameras, videos . My next trip is in December 2011 .