The Biden Administration took a number of steps towards thawing US-Cuba relations on Could 16, 2022, after 5 years of tightened restrictions. Whereas the measures don’t totally restore the openings of the Obama period, they mark an encouraging begin for struggling Cubans and aspiring US vacationers.
What has modified?
Of direct curiosity to US vacationers is the Biden Administration’s promise to broaden licensed journey in help of the Cuban folks. This contains opening up flights to airports past Havana (which had been closed to US plane throughout the Trump period) and reinstating group people-to-people journey and different classes of group instructional journey. Each measures will likely be excellent news to US journey companies who’ve battled with elevated pink tape since 2017.
As but, there isn’t a phrase that the US will reinstate particular person people-to-people journey, the class that led to an enormous inflow of US guests to Cuba between 2016 and 2017. Nor have any Cuban state entities been faraway from the US’s restricted listing, which means it’s nonetheless tough for Individuals to legally keep in Cuban accommodations.
The directives have additionally lifted limits on household remittances (beforehand capped at $1,000 1 / 4) to offer assist in facilitating household reunions and supporting unbiased Cuban entrepreneurs.
Attending to Cuba from the US
Flying to Havana is without doubt one of the simpler components of the Cuba conundrum. As of Could 2022, there are roughly a dozen flights a day between the US and Havana departing from the Florida cities of Miami, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale. Working airways embrace American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue.
Extra Cuban airports will probably confide in US flights within the coming months.
The 12 classes of journey licenses for US residents
US legislation states that US residents can solely journey to Cuba on a ‘common license’ primarily based on one in all 12 completely different approved categories, which embrace household visits, instructional and non secular actions, public performances and exhibitions, and the imprecise sounding ‘help for the Cuban folks.’ Licenses are self-qualifying (there’s no long-winded paperwork), however you’ll be requested to state your class of selection in a signed journey affidavit when reserving journey to Cuba. Extra particulars can be found on-line from the US Treasury.
The overwhelming majority of present guests are Cuban Individuals coming into underneath the ‘household journey’ class. Impartial vacationers with no affiliations can qualify underneath the conveniently imprecise ‘help for the Cuban folks’ class, which is the best choice for folks seeking to discover the island. Nonetheless, keep in mind that earlier than you journey, you’ll want to attract up an in depth itinerary of your plans. Moreover, in your return, you’ll be required to maintain all of your journey receipts for 5 years.
The Cuba vacationer card
To enter Cuba, all guests have to current a accomplished Vacationer Card — which serves the same operate to a vacationer visa. These are often accessible by way of your airline (ask when reserving). Alternatively, you should buy one by way of a Cuban journey company. Prices vary from US$50 to US$85, together with processing charges.
Well being protocols for journey to Cuba
Pre-travel COVID-19 assessments and vaccination certificates are now not required to enter Cuba from the US. Random COVID-19 assessments should be administered on the airport however there’s no obligatory quarantine except you check constructive. Departing US passengers will want a detrimental rapid-antigen check to re-enter the US. Assessments might be procured at Havana’s José Martí Worldwide Airport earlier than departure.
All arriving vacationers should fill out a web based D’Viajeros kind containing info referring to public well being and immigration. You’re additionally required to take out medical insurance coverage that features cowl for COVID-19; this can be included in the price of your air ticket from the US. Well being officers make spot checks on the airport.
Reserving journey to Cuba by way of a journey company
If it’s your first time touring to Cuba, it’s extremely really useful that you just enlist the companies of a specialist US-Cuba journey company. Each Cuban Travel Services and Marazul provide complete on-the-ground info and may also help arrange flights and lodging.
Alternatively, you possibly can be part of an organized journey, which takes a whole lot of the effort out of touring to Cuba. Lengthy-time US-Cuba specialists, Insight Cuba are providing a three-night ‘Weekend in Havana’ and a seven-night ‘Traditional Cuba Tour’ in 2022.
The place to remain in Cuba
Americans are usually not at present allowed to remain in Cuba’s government-run accommodations or use most state-owned enterprises. As an alternative, it’s greatest to go for personal lodging reminiscent of residences, B&Bs and homestays (identified in Cuba as casas particulares). Airbnb has numerous listings of lodging which are open to US residents.
For eating places, stick to non-public paladares (family-run eating places, usually within the proprietor’s house) the place the meals high quality is healthier. To get round, use personal guides and taxis. In doing so, you’ll be enthusiastically ‘supporting the Cuban folks.’
Cash suggestions for Cuba in 2022
Bank cards linked to US banks don’t work in Cuba and the US greenback was taken out of circulation in June 2021. American vacationers are greatest off arriving with loads of money in a non-US foreign money – the euro is essentially the most favored international foreign money and is accepted by most personal companies, from casa particulares to eating places and taxi drivers, which means you received’t have to purchase many Cuban pesos (that are nugatory exterior Cuba).
Beware: The Cuban financial system is in a state of maximum flux. The present euro-peso black market change fee is over 4 instances that of the banks.
In November 2021, Cuba launched a tarjeta prepago (pay as you go card) designed primarily to help US vacationers with American bank cards. You should buy and pre-load a tarjeta prepago at a financial institution in Cuba or on the airport and use it to purchase items that may in any other case solely be paid for with a bank card, reminiscent of medical companies, cigars, and bus tickets. Playing cards might be loaded with quantities equal to US$1000, US$500 or US$200. Nonetheless, you possibly can solely pay for the cardboard in a non-US foreign money. Euros, Canadian {dollars}, and kilos sterling are all accepted, money solely.
