I am interested in doing a tour to Cuba, but they just seem so expensive. It's a shame because I really want to visit Cuba. I know plenty of Americans go through Canada, but I'm too paranoid.

Was the tour worth it?

It all depends on what kind of trip you want.

To go legally from the U.S. you need to take a people-to-people tour which has a set, infexible itinerary. You are busy every day not only doing the normal sightseeing, but meeting with various groups of Cubans. We had no free time except for one evening. I loved it and had a great time.

But, if you want the ability to do "your own thing", then flying in from either Canada or Mexico would be your best option.

Just be aware that U.S.credit cards are not accepted in Cuba, so you need to pay in cash (exchange to CUC). and U.S. cell phones do not work.

We went on a legal tour, but, nobody made us attend anything. We usually went on the day tours, but, our nights were our own. And sometimes, we skipped the day tours, although the people in charge weren't thrilled.

I suspect it depends who you travel with.

I've finally made the decision to spend the money to visit Cuba.

From research I did last year I do know that I cannot use my credit cards (nor ATM cards?). Do I need to bring cash or can I bring travelers checks?

Susie - I'd like to hear more details about your trip to Cuba but I'm not sure what to ask at the moment. Perhaps I'll email you and we can chat a bit off line. I'm also in NJ.

adrienne, my email address is on my profile page. I'll be glad to answer any questions that I can.

I don't know about Traveler's checks, but I brought cash. I think that if travelers checks are issued by US banks, they can't be cashed. There was an exchange booth at the airport and both hotels I stayed in also exchanged money.

Hi Susie - glad you saw my post. I was thinking of Road Scholar or Grand Circle Foundation trips and a friend (and fellow poster) just emailed me and said definitely Road Scholar. How many were in your group?

There were 24 of us. There was also another group of 24 which did the trip in reverse. RoadScholar offers 3 different tours. I was on the one that stayed in Havanna and Cienfiergos.
I will say that everyone in the group was really nice and very friendly.

I went on a nine day tour of Cuba last September. Let me know if you need info. Awesome trip!

Missy - what group did you go with?

We went to Cuba last February with Insight Cuba. It was expensive, especially flying from Miami to Havana, but well worth it. We found some flexibility is our managed tour - not sure if that has changed. A fascinating tour in every way.

I'm almost decided on the 15 day trip with Road Scholar. All the trips are expensive. They're going to send me an email when the fall schedule is available.

http://www.roadscholar.org/n/program/summary.aspx?id=1-5XUJB0

I started to go last fall with a group that organizes tours for various cities chambers of commerce. Tours are really overpriced from the US. You can go much cheaper from other countries. The one I was considering didn't include airfare to Miami. It was a chartered flight from Miami to Cuba. The 8 day trip was going to cost me about $5000 (single, didn't want to share) and it was during hurricane season (reason I decided not to book). They did get caught in a major storm.

The RS 15 day trip seems to be a much better deal than the trip I was considering. Don't think I would go in fall though unless it was very late fall (past hurricane season). This is the company I had considered. You don't really have to be with a chamber although some cities might say you need to join (maybe $100 fee).
http://www.chamberexplorations.com/destinations/cuba.php

All legal US trips are expensive. First, there is limited competition so market price rules. Second, the airfare from Miami to Cuba is absurd and the tour operators have to pay it--around $500+ for a 40 minute trip (see reason #1), Third, although many think of Cuba being "third world" due to the crumbling nature of the architecture, it is first world in prices--the best hotels like the Iberostar Parque Central and Saratoga cost $200-400+/night. This fact is often a shock to people. This first world pricing extends to the cost of buses, fuel, guides, etc. (of course there are lots of 3 and 4 star hotels--not US stars, however) Home stays are not usually chosen by tours as they would spend the whole day gathering up their customers.

So, until Cuba is open to the US and competition lowers prices , the cost of "people to people" tours will remain high.

However, once Cuba opens to the US, it will not longer have (in my opinion as a photographer) the unique nature that makes it so engaging to visit today. I am a US citizen and am about to make my 3rd (legal) trip back to Cuba--the country has changed dramatically since my first trip in 2003 and I will probably not be interested in going back after the country opens to the US. I travel with a very small photography group and even though I've traveled extensively around the world, I believe there is no better place on earth for street photography than the cities, towns and viliages of Cuba.

The prices of legal US trips are not going to change in the short term, so unless you decide to go illegally, you need to take a deep breath, amortize the expense over a lifetime, find a group that fits your personality and interests, and just go.

You know, for the sky-high prices these companies are charging for their "people-to-people" tours, I really don't understand why more people just don't say screw it and fly to Cuba independently thru Canada or Mexico? From Toronto, I can get a 7 day package to Havana for $1200 to $1500 and that's for the 5-Star Hotel Parque Central. And there are lots of other cheaper options at some really nice 4-Star botique type hotels. Or just buy air-only and go the Casa Particular route (B&B) where it will only cost you $25-$35 per night per couple. Lots of options once you make the decision to use a 3rd country option.

Yes Canuck, one could fly through Tortonto or Mexico, but it is still illegal in the US to spend any money in Cuba unless you go through a US State Dept approved group. It isn't "technically illegal" as many say--It is illegal. Now, what are the practical issues? Not many, as few have been fined and no one jailed. However,there is ONE THING that should be considered if you are a US citizen. If you are ever looking to get Global Entry and PassID to get past security faster in airports nationally and (skip immigration lines) internationally, then you would fail to get clearance.

I know lots of people who have gone to Cuba illegally and nothing has happened other than they had a great time. However, when you go for US security clearance, I assure you, they will know. It's the US government and you bought a ticket on a major airline with an integrated computerized ticketing system. Not hard to find out where you've been and you give them carte blanche to look at your life history to get the clearance.

I just received my Global Entry clearance as I travel a great deal, and I was grilled about my Cuba visits. They wouldn't give me my clearance that day (which is the normal practice) until more proof was provided regarding my Cuba trips. These immigration folks are pros--even if you are completely innocent of any crimes whatsoever--your heart pounds when they look at you after you have said "no, I have never been arrested", and they say "really, never arrested? for anything? Nothing? Not even in college?" My brain raced to remember anything that I did in college that could be considered "arrested" (I unfortunately wasn't that interesting) He was totally bluffing, but I was very glad that I had had visas for for my cuba travel. Maybe a pro liar could get through that interrogation, but not the regular everyday Jane or Joe.

However, if someone believes they will never, ever need secruity level clearance from the US government, then I agree with you. Go for it--you won't be put in jail and the chances of your getting fined is infintesimal. Save a few thousand hard earned dollars and enjoy this great island. Particularly if airfare and seven nights at(my favorite) the Parque Central is $1200. You will have a fabulous time.

BTW Canuck, I LOVE your photography.

I have it bookmarked for my trip in April/may.

What an eye you have. Stunning stuff.

JeanH ---I am very curious what company you traveled with. I am so frustrated at the lack of environmental content involved in all of these guided trips. the main things i am interested in seeing is organic farming, snorkeling, hiking and so on. there is only one trip with "cuba educational tours" that seems to have any of that content. anyway, would love to have some time on my own to do more outdoor activities. thanks

road scholar people. if you wouldn't mind, could you tell me how old you are, or maybe the average age group of your tour group. i am kindof concerned about being far out of my age bracket on one of those trips.

Many RoadScholar trips are heavily weighted with "old" people,but not the Cuban one...not a young group, but not ancient either...I would guess that the youngest were in their early 50s....maybe late 40s...
If you look at a particular trip on the RoadScholar web site, they give an activity level...ones with an "easy" level will have more oldsters...I think Cuba is "moderate"....maybe "active".

If you are looking for an environmental trip to Cuba, check with a university. They offer trips that are focused on the environment. You may take the class for noncredit, I believe at most schools. Our university is offering one on just this topic. They like to fill there trips and you will probably be the oldest one on the trip. They also have Spanish class trips.Check with the school closest to you.

We have just booked Friendly Planet Tour to Cuba. They were less expensive than Grand Circle, Vantage, etc. 9 days, called Colors of Cuba. Check out their website.

Suzie,
I always like to buy orginal art when traveling. Would you please share what you saw in that area and I hear you can bring it back because it is educational. Any information you have on this would be greatly appreciated.

About how much cash was needed since most meals are covered? I know you tip, of course, but what other costs did you incur?

southeastern, there were many shops in the tourist areas to buy original art and at a craft market but most people in our group who purchased some bought it from the students and faculty at an Art School we visited. If you do so, you need to have a receipt and when you leave Cuba, it will be examined and you will pay a tax before you take it out of the country.

As far as cash, you really don't need much...it all depends on how much you purchase and how much alcohol you want to drink. Most meals we received one complimentary drink and then any more we paid for in cash. Many evenings the group would gather before or after dinner in the hotel bar.

Susie,
Thank you for the information. Were you allowed to go out on your own after dinner and wander the town?

Were there many places to buy handmade jewelery? If so, was it worth purchasing? Can you ballpark the price of art the group bought? Did the students just write out a receipt? Did you have any issues getting the art into the states.

If you purchase CUC and have some left over will the Cubans exchange it back into U.S. dollars apon leaving? Did you exchange money at the air port? Thinking of taking left over euros so that we don't have to pay the 10% extra charge on the U.S. dollar.

Any other information that you think I might need to know will be greatly appreciated. I am so excited about the trip.

In the meeting in Miami, will they discuss tipping with the group? On some of the sites that I have been reading say tipping is different than in other places.

southeastern,

yes, you could come and go as you pleased. On my trip we had one evening in Havana on our own for dinner, so six of us went to dinner and then to the ballet. Since most evenings I was pretty tired so after dinner I would just stay at the hotel but many in our group would go out.

Can't answer your question about jewelry since I didn't really look for any.

The art purchased at the art school ranged from maybe $20 to hundreds of dollars. They got receipts. I don't think anyone had any problems except to say that it seem to take a long time for the Cuban officials to go through the paper work.

We exchanged money at the airport, but you will also be able to change at your hotels. And yes, you can change it back before you leave.

As far as tipping, the price of the tour I was on included tipping, so we didn't have to deal with that. Some of us did tip the Cuban Tour Guide some extra and gave money to the Cuban/American Tour leader to distribute to charities.

We had a Cuban/American Tour Leader who joined us in Miami and then a Cuban Tour Guide and Bus Driver who met us in Havana and were with us the whole trip.