Cuba - What do I need to know?

[SSG1000]

Thinking about booking a holiday to Cuba but what do I need to know?

Best times to visit? Thinking of visiting Cuba with some down time in Varadero. Obvious hotels that keep flagging are Royalton and Iberostar.


Ideally want the sun, and not heavy rainfall.

Any other tips/destinations within Cuba will be a welcomed suggestion!

Thanks

[Truckosaurus]

I was reading the other day that Donnie Trump declared Cuba to be a terrorist state or some such, therefore if you visit since he did that you can't get into the USA on a ESTA you'd have to apply for a full visa.

[Alexandra]

SSG1000 said:

Thinking about booking a holiday to Cuba but what do I need to know?

Best times to visit? Thinking of visiting Cuba with some down time in Varadero. Obvious hotels that keep flagging are Royalton and Iberostar.


Ideally want the sun, and not heavy rainfall.

Any other tips/destinations within Cuba will be a welcomed suggestion!

Thanks

We have been to Havana a few times, and usually in August/September. It's hot, as you'd expect, between 25-32 degrees. It can be very humid, and if it rains it's anything between a light shower and a hurricane

There's music, food, history, amazing scenery, diving, and beaches, so it depends what you're looking for?

For hotels, I can recommend the https://www.kempinski.com/en/gran-hotel-kempinski-...

[nyt]

Truckosaurus said:

I was reading the other day that Donnie Trump declared Cuba to be a terrorist state or some such, therefore if you visit since he did that you can't get into the USA on a ESTA you'd have to apply for a full visa.

Yes, I was shocked to see that I *might* need a visa for future visits to the US: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry...

[RDMcG]

I am a big fan of Havana. It is falling apart but huge amounts of character and some decent places to eat. I go periodically t pick up cigars which are superb, and they also have some tremendous rum. Of course the vintage cars all held together with string are amazing.

[carreauchompeur]

nyt said:

Truckosaurus said:

I was reading the other day that Donnie Trump declared Cuba to be a terrorist state or some such, therefore if you visit since he did that you can't get into the USA on a ESTA you'd have to apply for a full visa.

Yes, I was shocked to see that I *might* need a visa for future visits to the US: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry...

Jeez, thats a turn up for the books. Back when i went in 2016 things were thawing a bit and i got one of the first direct flights from US but needed there to be an "educational reason".

[RDMcG]

Lots of Canadians go to Cuba routinely. The restriction is on Americans and flights from the US and not on foreign citizens landing in Cuba directly. I have gone and later got to the US without any problem.

[Truckosaurus]

RDMcG said:

Lots of Canadians go to Cuba routinely. The restriction is on Americans and flights from the US and not on foreign citizens landing in Cuba directly. I have gone and later got to the US without any problem.

Other than Canadians don't use the ESTA process like we do, it is only a recent change and the Yanks have confirmed there's no issues if you traveled before the Trump re-categorisation.

[djc206]

RDMcG said:

Lots of Canadians go to Cuba routinely. The restriction is on Americans and flights from the US and not on foreign citizens landing in Cuba directly. I have gone and later got to the US without any problem.

As above this is specifically for those who use the ESTA process. You cannot travel to the US on an ESTA if you have visited cuba since 21st January 2021. A non immigrant visa is required which is both expensive and a right royal pain in the arse to obtain compared to an ESTA.

[pidsy]

I looked at Cuba in January as a possible trip later this year and the transit visa process for the US was tricky and expensive considering I’d only be there for a couple of hours waiting for a flight.

Iirc - the visa needed was £160

[carreauchompeur]

djc206 said:

As above this is specifically for those who use the ESTA process. You cannot travel to the US on an ESTA if you have visited cuba since 21st January 2021. A non immigrant visa is required which is both expensive and a right royal pain in the arse to obtain compared to an ESTA.

Glad i went earlier then. I avoided a visit to Iran for the same reason, being denied even visa-free transit access to the US for perpetuity would be a PITA!

[LunarOne]

The way it's worded on that UK gov website (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements) suggests it's only as problem if you want to fly to the USA from Cuba itself. The heading is "Travelling to the USA from Cuba". It doesn't mention anything about travelling to the USA on a separate trip from the UK. Very poor if it's wrong!

[Truckosaurus]

ESTA FAQs

Link to the question: "How does Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism impact my travel to the United States using my approved ESTA?"

Answer is:

Uncle Sam said:

If a traveler is found to have visited a country designated as State Sponsor of Terrorism, the traveler is no longer eligible to participate in the Visa Wavier Program and must apply for a visa to enter the United States.

[djc206]

LunarOne said:

The way it's worded on that UK gov website (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements) suggests it's only as problem if you want to fly to the USA from Cuba itself. The heading is "Travelling to the USA from Cuba". It doesn't mention anything about travelling to the USA on a separate trip from the UK. Very poor if it's wrong!

It’s not wrong it’s just an omission but then they’re not going to put every condition of an ESTA on the travel advice page when they can just refer you to the VWP and let you figure out your own eligibility. You’d find out when you went through the ESTA process on the CBP page

[Saleen836]

If your passport is not stamped when you enter/leave Cuba and you take a holiday in the USA a year or 2 later how will they know?

[marksx]

A colleague went a few months back and basically said there was very little food. He stayed in an apparently high quality hotel but they couldn't serve most of the things on their menu.

[Truckosaurus]

Saleen836 said:

If your passport is not stamped when you enter/leave Cuba and you take a holiday in the USA a year or 2 later how will they know?

Quite. Just don't post on social media pictures of yourself puffing on a massive cigar, supping a large glass of Bacardi whilst cruising in a giant Cadillac and all is good.

[DT1975]

We did Cuba in 2019. Lovely country and people, very poor by our standards but no real poverty.

Our lad couldn't come as he was military and it was too risky. Its a large island and we were down towards Holguin. Prior to Trump the hope was that they'd open to the US market so there was heavy investment in Hotels etc, he killed that off overnight.

We stayed in a lovely Iberostar but it was probably 20% full due to the rug getting pulled over the political situation a couple of years earlier . The Canadians are welcome and dominate the tourism market. They enjoy a drink mind and some of the cheaper mass market hotels can be very lively, like everything a price point will bring its rewards.

Food wise it can be limited on occasion, stuff will just randomly run out but rarely the local beer. Steak is hard to get but they make up with lobster and sea food.

An absolutely fascinating place but absolutely dominated by their political system as to be expected. Hardly any traffic on the roads as a car is something a whole extended family can only aspire too, so horses / carts are common. The old classic US cars all have diesel lumps.

[NMNeil]

Saleen836 said:

If your passport is not stamped when you enter/leave Cuba and you take a holiday in the USA a year or 2 later how will they know?

Because the UK and US customs share passenger information.

[ziggy328]

I went 25 plus years ago. So it must have changed. Stayed in Varadero for 10 days with 4 days in Havana. The resort was all wire fencing to keep the ladies of the night out apparently. Havana was brilliant.

If you go to Cuba I’d spend it in Havana You can sit by a pool in Tenerife IMO