1

This is one of the many portals that allows you to book flights with a US credit card (also has the nice bonus of donating to a Cuban animal welfare organisation at no cost to you i.e. charges are the same as using the host CTN site direct).

http://spankyproject.org/Spanky_Project/Book_Your_Trip.html

If you want travel insurance cover including health then you can buy on arrival at airport- 2 policies explained here

http://www.asistur.cu/indexi.php

..and no I wouldn't wait until arrival in Cancun to buy flight unless it doesn't matter if you need to wait a day or so.

BTW many many more flights available to Havana from Mexico City including several airlines that will accept your US credit card

2

The search function now seems to be working:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/advancedThorntreeSearch?q=Cancun&user=&branch=Americas+-+Cuba&fromMonth=0&fromYear=year&toMonth=0&toYear=year&Search.x=20&Search.y=9&Search=Search

Though I am not sure it is picking up everything that it should.

3

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2298397

4

Did my second post get caught by a filter ? Is a link to a thread with no comment suspect ?

5

Bobbobster Welcome to the forum and your first post.

When the OP mentions using a US credit card, It’s a shame that the advice given by some regulars is constantly focused upon one operator located in Cuba, thus, prohibited under US law. OFAC and Treasury deem operators with address, phones in Cuba as “nationals of Cuba” and have strict laws under both trading with the enemy act and Helms Burton for using them. Essentially, it is prohibited to make payments directly or indirectly to these entities with physical presence on the island, whether billing is through a German bank, animal lover link, or not. A simple glance at the CTN ( cuba travel network ) website garners a 2 physical addresses in Cuba and several phone numbers.

I thought the thorntree clean up had eradicated this but, time and again on this forum, individuals subject to US jurisdiction (resident or citizen) are (piteously) led to this operator, either through third party links like those above or, heaven forbid, directly... Quite why this continues, where novice posters looking for hotels, car rental or flights (like this OP with US credit card) are being put in harm’s way, escapes me. Same regulars’ doing incessantly the same thing is troubling. Most past posts appear to have been removed in this regard, however, it hasn´t taken long for it to start again, same posters, same ill advice.

It’s especially disturbing when there are 100´s if not 1000´s of online flight sellers like jetcost and many more who have no presence in Cuba whatsoever and, would not leave the OP in a potentially illegal situation.

6

BeardoUK -- there you go talking to yourself again in post 4 ……..lol

7

#5 - if a US citizens chooses to travel to Cuba without a license, he will be breaking OFAC rules whatever means he chooses to travel. He is looking to fly Cubana anyway !

I am not clear what axe you are trying to grind here, but your tone is needlessly antagonistic.

8

I went in 2010 and waited until I was in Cancun to buy a ticket as I couldn't find anywhere to buy one beforehand. There were two airlines that flew there which are Cubana and Aeromexico. My friends flew Cubana and I flew Aeromexico but had to wait a day because Aeromexico didn't fly on certain days and there was Hurricane Paula which caused some delays. Not sure if Aeromexico still flies there or not but it is worth checking into. I bought ticket in all cash and just went to the ATM at the Cancun airport. Tickets were for me 300 while my friends paid 250 round trip. Sometimes they are cheaper but when we went there were a lot of delays due to the hurricane cancelling flights a day or 2 before. Cuba won't stamp your passport but rather stamp a tourist card which you keep with your passport. Was very easy with no hassles. If you get delayed a day or two then you can go on hotwire and book a room with no problem which is what I did and just chilled on the beach and went swimming for an extra day. Have a great time it is a pretty neat place!

Not sure about the health insurance thing. I had read about it in 2010 as well before I went but nobody asked or said anything about health insurance when I got there

9

I flew from Mexico City to Havana on Interjet in September 2012. Booked online with a US credit card. No problem.

I didn't have health insurance valid in Cuba; no one asked me for it. If they ask at the airport I think it can be sorted by paying a few dollars for each day of your trip.

10

I didn't have health insurance valid in Cuba; no one asked me for it. If they ask at the airport I think it can be sorted by paying a few dollars for each day of your trip.

Yes you can very probably get away with it, but it is definitely worth getting health insurance (it can be bought in the airport), it is not a good idea at all to travel without health insurance in Cuba.

11

Thank you for help everyone.

Since I will be going during my spring break my time is quite limited, so I dont think I will be able to just turn up in Cancun and buy my flight at the counter.

Is there any consensus on what site would be best for booking in advance? Interjet seemed much more expensive than the others. Has anyone used Cubajet?

Also Opodo is offering Cubana flights. Any experience or insight with Opodo?

12

#5 B. I'm glad you could decipher it. Reads like a Google translation from some other language?

#11Actually Interjet is generally the cheapest but does NOT fly from Cancun.
The link to CTN is one of the most reliable/robust booking sites hence my recommendation.

13

I think CTN is the same company that the Chef uses

14

Correct.