travel & visa help Cuba

Hey people,

I'm getting confused here :)

I'm travelling from South America into Cuba, and continue into the States and Canada. (I'm Dutch btw). Anyway there are two things that 'bother' me:

First, I know an American girl, she said it was impossible to travel directly from Cuba to the US. Is this so?? ( I want to go to Florida)

Secondly, I read here on the Cuba page that one can buy a visa at the border. However on a dutch visa site I read one cannot, tha tI have to arrange it in advance.

Anyone care to help me out? I checked the FAQ here, but it seems it is mostly concentrated on US citizens...

greets,

Paul

EDIT

Not yet travelling, will be starting in January.

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<hr>First, I know an American girl, she said it was impossible to travel directly from Cuba to the US. Is this so?? <hr></blockquote>
That is true. The only direct flights are round trip charters which originate in the US. They are only for persons who have a license from the US Treasury Department to travel to Cuba. To get to Florida from Cuba you will have to fly to either Nassau or Cancun and then onto your destination.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Secondly, I read here on the Cuba page that one can buy a visa at the border. However on a dutch visa site I read one cannot, tha tI have to arrange it in advance.<hr></blockquote>
I am not sure what you mean by border (Cuba is an island) but I guess you are asking if you can buy the entry document at the Havana airport on your arrival. (1) The document you need is not a visa issued by the Cuban government, but is more commonly called a tourist card. It is a fill in the blank government document that you usually purchase directly from the airline. (2) Normally you buy it at the airport at your departure point. In many places, you will not be allowed to board without the card. I would bet from any major South American departure point they will sell the card at the airport.

Excellent! Thank you for your help!

Hallo Paul

See this link and judge for yourself.

http://www.embacuba.nl/consulaffairs.htm<BR><BR>Jan.

Go post your question on the Cuba branch -----where you should have posted in the first place---- if you don't trust my answer. Where to buy the tourist card is one of the most frequently asked questions on that branch. It is most definately available in Caracas, Bogata and Panama City from the airlines which service Cuba. The Cuban embassy website probably also says you need proof of accomodations which has not been a requirement in practice with Cuban immigration for the past 10 years.