I have heard that hotels are very expensive. Plus I do not understand the rules about what you have to do to comply with the regulations regarding the purpose of the trip, to make the visit legal.

Carol
Here is a link to the "acceptable" reasons to travel to Cuba

12 resons

I was asked in STL at check in for my reason. The girl really didn't have a clue as she entered the information in the computer. Also had to give the address of where we are staying. We just got the boarding pass stamped from the Cuba Ready booth here in MIA that will allow us to board.Had to show our passport, Cuba travel card/visa and AA boarding pass, took about 2 minutes. Nobody has asked the reason for the trip since the girl in STL.

I think there is a lot of expanded definitions of the 12 reasons now to go.

Mohito Wendell

I think it is not that Americans ( from USA) don't want to go as rather Americans ( from the USA) have many other options. AA had a sale that was half price from Southwest when I booked. And for some reason USA companys think that US citizens can't wait to go there. And have over done expectations.

Mohito Wendell

I have seen that list, but it seems like you have to be engaged in those activities full time while you are in Cuba? Dunno. I will be interested to hear your report upon your return, Mohito Wendell!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

One of the big issues (at least, in my mind) is that none of the laws about going to Cuba has changed. Not one. The only thing that changed was that, under the Obama administration, the paperwork and rules for pre-approval were loosened up. As a result, a whole lot of people are going there for a vacation, and calling it "cultural exchange."

Okay. What if the Trump administration decides to change the rules back? He can do that. Like I said, the laws have not changed. The State Dept. could then decide to go back and review the visits of some of these people. Do you have all of the required documentation? Previously you had to show it before you went. Now you don't, but the law still requires you to have it, and still requires that it can pass review.

Well, how do you know if it can pass a review, if you didn't ever get it reviewed in the first place? Oops! You could be subject to severe fines, because you didn't engage in an acceptable degree of "cultural exchange" while you were there!

I don't want to get political, but this is the problem when a president decides that he is going to change the rules, without getting Congress to actually change the laws. Those rules can be changed to something else anytime, and you never really know for sure what is required of you and what is not.

That is one reason why I don't have any plans to visit Cuba until the laws are actually changed.

Excellent point. I have a lot more I could say on the topic, but I don't want to break my own rules..

If the administration does change the rules. They will have to give a time frame on reinstating them. As alot of US citizens, airline tickets and cruiseship tickets will be affected. Yes, it is still a communist country. BUT it's impact on "the American way is minimal anymore"

Wendell

No they don't. That would be the considerate thing to do. That would be the diplomatic thing to do. But there is nothing that would REQUIRE them to do that. They could completely change the implementation of the laws tomorrow, if they wanted to. Doubt that they will, but they could.

If someone could re-start the car ferry from Key West to Havana, that could solve a lot of the ground transportation issues. If rental cars are too expensive - bring your own. Not sure if the Cuban government could be persuaded, as they seem to have a monopoly on new car importation and sales.