7 things Americans should know about travel to Cuba

7 things Americans should know about travel to Cuba
By Patrick Oppmann, CNN
Updated 2030 GMT (0330 HKT) September 22, 2015

Havana (CNN)While full diplomatic relations between the United States
and Cuba were recently restored, many Americans still rightfully wonder
what's changed as a result of America's new policy with the
communist-run island nation.

Since we're talking about Cuba, don't expect everything to be perfectly
clear:

1. How can Americans legally visit Cuba?
U.S. citizens need approval from the Treasury Department to spend money
in Cuba. Since the end of the Eisenhower administration, most business
transactions with Cuba are banned and punishable with hefty fines or
even jail time. Cuba remains the only country in the world off-limits to
U.S. tourists.

That said, it's recently become much easier for Americans to legally
visit the island just 90 miles off the coast of the U.S. for reasons
other than tourism.

In January 2015, President Barack Obama expanded the categories of
authorized travel to Cuba.

U.S. citizens can legally travel to Cuba if they are engaging in 12
categories of activities such as professional research, participating in
an athletic event, performing in a concert, working on a humanitarian
project or taking part in educational activities.

Previously many of these activities required applying for a specific
license and maneuvering a labyrinth of government bureaucracy. Now many
U.S. citizens can essentially "self license" if they believe their
travel to Cuba meets the legal requirements.

The new Cuba policy allows thousands more Americans -- but not everyone
-- to visit Cuba for the first time. The Treasury Department has
answered frequently asked questions about the relaxed policy online (pdf).
http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/cuba_faqs_new.pdf

2. What's still off-limits?
Americans are still not allowed to visit Cuba for the purposes of tourism.

Travelers should be able to show their visit helped the Cuban people or
had an educational component to it.

Soaking up rays on the beach and sipping mojitos doesn't cut it. That
said, there doesn't appear to be much of an effort by U.S. government
officials to determine who did or didn't hit the beach or go nightclub
hopping in Cuba.

Travel companies are busy developing additional "people-to-people"
offerings to meet the demand spurred by the elimination of much of the
formal traveler licensing process.

U.S. cruise lines such as Carnival have even proposed bringing boatloads
of Americans for educational tours and several ferry operators have
proposed re-establishing regular service between Florida and Cuba.

Still wary of CIA plots against the island, Cuban officials are studying
the avalanche of U.S. proposals carefully.

3. Is getting to Cuba from the U.S. easier?
Until recently, U.S. travelers with licenses or going illegally often
had to fly via a third country and were often at the mercy of the
unpredictable flight schedules and creaky Russian airplanes of Cubana
Airlines, the badly run state airliner.

Now there are multiple daily flights from Miami and more flights being
added from destinations such as Tampa, New York and Orlando operated by
major carriers including American and JetBlue.

However, seats still must be booked through third-party charter
companies as airlines won't be able to sell tickets to Cuba directly
until the United States and Cuba negotiate a new civil aviation agreement.

While the flight from Miami to Havana only takes 45 minutes, it's
recommended to check in four hours before departure time.

Expect to spend a lot of time in various lines behind people bringing
suitcases full of car parts, flatscreen TVs and spandex to needy
relatives on the island.

4. How about once I get to Cuba?
Cuba is really not ready to receive a huge influx of visitors,
particularly from the United States.

There are not enough good hotels, and infrastructure is in terrible
shape. U.S. credit cards still aren't accepted in Cuba and forget about
overseas roaming on your U.S. cell phone.

You will most likely be taking a vacation from the Internet, too. Apart
from hotels and a few dozen Cuban government "hot spots," there is very
little connectivity in Cuba.

Netflix may be available here now but in reality you won't be catching
up on your favorite shows.

5. How do I make sure my visit helps the Cuban people?
Critics of Obama's new policy toward Cuba say any increase in trade will
ultimately flow into the coffers of the Cuban government.

While it's hard to cut the Cuban government out of the equation, there
are ways to make sure your stay benefits Cuba's growing number of small
entrepreneurs.

For starters, stay in a "casa particular" or private home rather than a
government-run hotel.

Airbnb.com has a large listing of casas to choose from. Renting from
Cubans provides a more unique, genuine experience than hotel stays and
at a fraction of the price.

After four years of living in Cuba, it's very rare these days that I eat
at a government restaurant.

Instead, the dining scene in Cuba revolves around "paladars," the
privately owned restaurants that despite Cuba's many shortages are
increasingly sophisticated and creative.

Bowing to private industry, the Cuban government has said it is planning
on closing many of the state's inefficient, drab eateries.

6. How many Cuban cigars can I bring back?
Under the new regulations, U.S. visitors to Cuba can legally bring $100
of Cuba's coveted cigars home with them.

The problem is most boxes of Cuban cigars in state-run stores sell for
much more than $100, with a box of premium Cohiba cigars usually going
for over $400.

You can of course buy cigars (most likely fakes) for much less from the
throng of black market sellers who stake out hotels pestering tourists.
But those contraband smokes typically don't come with receipts.

Frequent travelers to Cuba say that they have brought back a box or two
to the United States without experiencing any issues.

7. Is now the time to go?
While traveling to Cuba is still a hassle and legally murky, many U.S.
travelers think now is the time to come.

Cuba is experiencing a boom in visitors from the United States and from
other countries, who want to see Cuba before the island becomes too
"Americanized."

That's probably a long way off from happening since the Cuban government
is resisting any major changes to the island's political system and
state-controlled economy.

And there's always the possibility that the next U.S. president could
roll back many of the changes enacted by Obama.

Still, a visitor coming to Cuba will witness a long misunderstood island
in the midst of an exciting and long-awaited transition.

Patrick Oppmann is CNN's Havana-based correspondent.

Source: Travel to Cuba: 7 things Americans should know - CNN.com -
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/17/travel/cuba-travel-feat/index.html?eref=rss_travel