Determine when you want to travel to Cuba. The best time to visit Cuba from the United States is anytime during the months of November to April to avoid the rain and hurricane season. Have a few thousand dollars reserved for travel.
Americans can travel to Cuba legally if they are a Cuban American, politician, journalist or if they have a research project regarding Cuba. Others including students, religious groups and humanitarians can apply for a license from the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control at Treasury.gov.
Select a reputable travel agent you feel comfortable with. Word of mouth can be the best advice. Call the agencies and ask for references of their previous clients and their suppliers. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Make sure any agency you book with has an emergency management system that is available 24 hours a day seven days a week.
Inform the travel agency of your desired departure date and time from the United States to Cuba and also of your return date and time to the United States. The agency will make the airline reservations for you.
Determine what authorized Cuban hotel you would like to stay in while you are traveling in Cuba. Don't forget to add car rental reservations if desired and to have the agency help you put together an itinerary. Have the agency plan every part of your trip to Cuba as possible to avoid delays or other issues. Remember to purchase travelers insurance.
Confirm and book your trip for your travel from the United States to Cuba.
Make copies of all travel documents such as passports and visas.
Once in Cuba, it is best to keep the originals locked up in a safe and always have the copies on you.
Buy a money belt. Determine the amount of money you want to take. Factor in the 10 percent exchange fee on all American dollars. Do not take any bills over $50. Large bills are generally not accepted in Cuba. Be mindful of currency conversions and take a calculator. If you choose to take traveler's checks be aware that if they are drawn on an American bank you may some minor difficulty cashing them in Cuba. A 3 percent to 4 percent commission fee is added to cashing traveler's checks. American credit cards are generally not accepted, however MasterCard, International Visa and CABAL are sometimes accepted.
Read and learn about Cuban customs and procedures beforehand. Brush up on your Spanish. Take a Spanish to English dictionary along.
