What do i need for cuba?

Question

do i need some special papers to go to cuba from texas? what will i have to do?

(i have traveled international before to bolivia and brazil)

Answer 1

You need a special paper from your Department of Treasury giving you permission to travel to Cuba being American.

I suggest you email or contact them and apply?

Answer 2

You cannot fly directly to Cuba.  You need to go from another country (Canada or Mexico).  Plus, by law you are forbidden to spend money there.  

You need your passport and a tourist card.  You can pick up a Cuban tourist card at any airport counter outside the US that has flights to Cuba.

Answer 3

You CAN'T go directly from Texas.  Fly to Mexico D.F. and, using CASH buy a round trip ticket to Havana.  You will need your passport and about $150 per day to really enjoy your trip.  You  will need your passport (which won't be stamped).  

There are 2 types of currency in Cuba.  There is the CUC or "Conertible Peso".. and the last time I checked it was a healthier currency than the U.S.D.... it takes $1.08 to buy ONE CUC.

The other currency is the local Peso.. or Moneda Nacional and that exchanges at 24 1 CUC.  Use this currency for buying small items... street food, fruits, vegetables, ice cream, etc.

EXCHANGE YOUR MONEY at a bank... called a CADECA because if you exchange U.S.Dollars at a hotel, you will pay a 20 PERCENT charge for it... so your $100 would suddenly be $80.

Have a nice trip... and just ignore all these 'experts' on here who have never been to cuba and can only quote you some official State Dept. web site.  Anyone who has traveled Internationally can negotiate a trip to Cuba if they just THINK that when they come back to the U.S. they need to look like they just went to Mexico.

Mainly... DON'T CREATE A PAPER TRAIL and DON'T BRING CUBAN MADE STUFF BACK... When you come back into Mexico, get rid of anything that could possibly look "made in Cuba" or the customs people in Texas will know where you have been...  If it just looks Mexican, then you are OK.

Answer 4

you need a permission from your government. And you cannot travel directly from the US.

Answer 5

Garrisonbight has given you good information. As he said, you can book via 3rd country, i.e. Mexico or Canada. He has a point about going through Mexico (since of course you may end up with a tan and may have a hard time explaining that depending on the time of year you travel lol).

If you have immediate family in Cuba, then you can obtain a special travel licence from the OFAC that will permit you to legally spend money in Cuba. It's not so much the travel that's illegal for US citizens as it is spending money...thus the US embargo.

Or is you wish to travel for study, volunteering, etc, then there are also special travel licences for that too.

But, if it's just for pleasure, then you can do the travel through a 3rd country as mentioned.

Yes, as mentioned, Cuba will not stamp passports. They only stamp the carta turista (tourist card) that you obtain through the airline or travel agent for your trip.

If you can change your money into CAD before you go, you will have better rates when changing over to CUC (Cuban convertible). You will be charged at least 10% for US funds...whereas CAD, Euros, UK Sterling will never be charged.

You can change your money at the resorts too...or CADECA (money house), or banks anywhere in Cuba...as well as at the airport.

US-based credit cards are not accepted. So just make sure you use cash and have enough with you.

Garrisonbight said no paper trails....follow his guidelines on that, I don't need to repeat it again.

Don't forget to change your money over before leaving Cuba (at the airport).

Check these links for all the information you'll need. Have a wonderful time in Cuba!