Comments on: Yankee in a Che Shirt: How To Travel to Cuba Independently and Illegally as an American http://lonelygirltravels.com/2009/12/30/yankee-in-a-che-shirt-how-to-travel-to-cuba-independently-and-illegally-as-an-american/ an Oakland girl in the world Wed, 16 May 2012 03:31:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Emily http://lonelygirltravels.com/2009/12/30/yankee-in-a-che-shirt-how-to-travel-to-cuba-independently-and-illegally-as-an-american/#comment-3912 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:45:46 +0000 http://lonelygirltravels.com/?p=658#comment-3912 Hi all! Thanks for the advice! Just came back from 10 days in Cuba and got a little nervous about the re-entry issue. Turns out it was no big deal! We flew from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic into Havana using the the Cuba Travel Network to purchase the flights and rent a car. Had no issues with their services–everything worked out perfectly! I had four stamps in my passport (2 entries and 2 exits from Santo Domingo) and couldn’t convince the customs people to not put the stamps in. I was a little nervous because it was a new passport so they were the only stamps in there! Flying into Los Angeles, I had 4 different people look at my passport–and no one said a word about my stamps! I of course didn’t volunteer I had been to Cuba, but I just want to reassure all the travelers that are nervous like I was that it’s nothing to worry about! Obviously if they really wanted to enforce the “travel ban”, they would stop us all from being able to purchase flights online. I paid for the flights and car by credit card online and brought 2,000 dollars in the form of Euros. To my surprise, after 10 days of traveling and staying in case particulars exclusively, we came back with about $700 left. We had a blast, met some amazing people and heard incredible music. I would highly recommend the trip and look forward to going back! Cheers!

]]> By: laurenquinn http://lonelygirltravels.com/2009/12/30/yankee-in-a-che-shirt-how-to-travel-to-cuba-independently-and-illegally-as-an-american/#comment-3725 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:20:33 +0000 http://lonelygirltravels.com/?p=658#comment-3725 I don’t see how detaining people would benefit the Cuban government or tourism. But I really don’t know… In terms of the double stamp, I’ve heard of some immigration agents just letting it slide, or of people being pulled aside and searched, and once every few years, someone’s made an example of. But the chances seem pretty slim.

No te preocupes!

]]> By: Michael http://lonelygirltravels.com/2009/12/30/yankee-in-a-che-shirt-how-to-travel-to-cuba-independently-and-illegally-as-an-american/#comment-3724 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:07:09 +0000 http://lonelygirltravels.com/?p=658#comment-3724 Is there any problem with people leaving Cuba? Do people ever get stranded there?…And even though it doesn’t seem like the double stamp is an issue, what happens if they catch that?, I am trying to obtain as much info on traveling to Cuba before I make any plans. Thanks!

]]> By: Malinda http://lonelygirltravels.com/2009/12/30/yankee-in-a-che-shirt-how-to-travel-to-cuba-independently-and-illegally-as-an-american/#comment-2732 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:55:14 +0000 http://lonelygirltravels.com/?p=658#comment-2732 Short, sweet, to the point, FREE-exalcty as information should be!

]]> By: laurenquinn http://lonelygirltravels.com/2009/12/30/yankee-in-a-che-shirt-how-to-travel-to-cuba-independently-and-illegally-as-an-american/#comment-2097 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:41:54 +0000 http://lonelygirltravels.com/?p=658#comment-2097 I think that would work—but be super expensive. One-way flights are costly. Plus you’d have to arrange a lot of it yourself, because a US-based travel agent wouldn’t be able to help you. I say just fly through Mexico. You’ll be fine. :)

]]> By: m ponce http://lonelygirltravels.com/2009/12/30/yankee-in-a-che-shirt-how-to-travel-to-cuba-independently-and-illegally-as-an-american/#comment-2096 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:36:22 +0000 http://lonelygirltravels.com/?p=658#comment-2096 What if you travel florida to jamaica to cuba,then return cuba to cancun to florida…..does that get rid of the double entry stamp?

you can just make it seem that you traveled to jamaica straight to cancun and then back to florida.

any suggestions from anyone?

]]> By: Marcelo http://lonelygirltravels.com/2009/12/30/yankee-in-a-che-shirt-how-to-travel-to-cuba-independently-and-illegally-as-an-american/#comment-1752 Sat, 08 Jan 2011 02:17:38 +0000 http://lonelygirltravels.com/?p=658#comment-1752 Hi. Amazing post. Really got a lot out of it. Thanks. I was wondering if you’ve heard of people making the x-fer to Cuba via Panama City and if there are any issues involved with that?

]]> By: Delia Harrington http://lonelygirltravels.com/2009/12/30/yankee-in-a-che-shirt-how-to-travel-to-cuba-independently-and-illegally-as-an-american/#comment-1328 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:45:57 +0000 http://lonelygirltravels.com/?p=658#comment-1328 don’t worry too much about customs–they may question you/confiscate items, but the “travel ban” is, as you mentioned, an economic issue. i have it from the US Special Interests section (equivalent of American embassy in Cuba) that it is entirely a Treasury issue, and no state dept or border officials will punish you.

as for the money, you can get a Carribbean Transfer Card which will work like a debit card down there, if you don’t want to travel with all that cash. you took 1300? how long were you there for? i spent a bit less than that and lived in havana for three months.

also, if you have friends in cuba, especially ones with social cache, have them meet you at the airport. they may be able to come bring you in and speed up the customs process

good guide, very thorough!
Delia

]]> By: Jay http://lonelygirltravels.com/2009/12/30/yankee-in-a-che-shirt-how-to-travel-to-cuba-independently-and-illegally-as-an-american/#comment-701 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:01:40 +0000 http://lonelygirltravels.com/?p=658#comment-701 I’m an American and went to Cuba for nine days recently. I had been concerned about coming back through US customs, but let me tell you — it was a complete non-event. I connected through Cancun and there were hordes of Cancun tourists going through customs with me. I spent all of 15 seconds with the customs agent — he looked quickly at the first page of my passport, scanned it, stamped it, and sent me on my way. The Mexican double-stamp is not really an issue.

]]> By: John McAuliff http://lonelygirltravels.com/2009/12/30/yankee-in-a-che-shirt-how-to-travel-to-cuba-independently-and-illegally-as-an-american/#comment-591 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:18:05 +0000 http://lonelygirltravels.com/?p=658#comment-591 President Obama has the power to make it much easier for educational, cultural, religious and humanitarian travel, and there is a suggestion he might finally be moving in that direction:

http://thehavananote.com/2010/02/laying_down_markers_1.html

For conventional tourism, Congress must pass the Freedom to Travel bills so please tell your Representative and Senators how you feel about regaining a fundamental human right.

As noted above conscientious non-cooperation is another option as the Cubans do not stamp US passports and tourist visas are available from inbound airlines. Lawyers say that for at least two years no one has been sanctioned by the US government who traveled through a third country without a license.

Cancun is especially convenient because of an evening Mexicana/Click flight, but connections can also be made daily from Cayman (book tickets on Cayman Airlines web site), Nassau, Jamaica, Panama and Canada (especially for all-inclusives).

John McAuliff
Fund for Reconciliation and Development
Dobbs Ferry, NY
914-231-6270

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