www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I have finally decided that it is safe enough to travel to Cuba without major repercussions from our government, and I am looking for gateway countries to get there. The DR was my first choice, as I could return to Sosua for a few days and then on to Cuba, but the cost is around $400ish. Cancun was cheaper, but I have no desire to go there, and I don't believe that Panama was any cheaper. Anyone got any suggestions for a gateway (mongering) country to get to Cuba for a reasonable price

You can fly from SJO, also about 400.00

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I flew up there from Montego Bay, Jamaica without issue. Contacted a local travel agent who met me at my hotel upon arrival the first night. We signed the papers, I gave her my CC info & we flew up the next morning. Overall a very good experience.

/Dan D.

While chances of the U.S. government prosecuting any non Cuban for traveling to Cuba without a license are very remote most advise against using a U.S. credit card to pay for your trip. That leaves a paper trail that is very easy to track.

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The most common gateways from the US are Cancun, Nassau and Toronto (believe it or not).

MoBay or Puerto Plata (POP) probably won't be particularly cheap for several reasons. First of all, the airfares to get to either of them will probably cost you quite a bit. I've been looking into flights to Sosua lately and have been surprised and dismayed that it costs even more to fly there than it does to go to CR even though it is so much closer to where I am in Florida. Secondly, the direct flights to Havana from those countries fly from their main airports near their capitals (Kingston and Santo Domingo) not the regional international airports you'd be using thereby adding to fares and flight times. Thirdly, the DR is much further from Havana (~850mi) than either Cancun (317mi) or Nassau (345mi). Jamaica is a little closer (~500mi) but still not nearly as close and it is also much further from the US. Taken altogether that means higher fares and longer total flight times going through either of those countries. BTW, the Caymans are only 270mi from Havana but also on the "wrong side" of the island and a VERY pricey island to visit.

Cancun isn't Mexico's principal airport but as a prime tourist destination close to much of the US has lots of cheap fares to get to and also direct flights to Havana since it is located on the coast closest to Cuba. This is why it is the most popular gateway city for most of the US, including the south central US (TX - LA) as well as all of the western states. Flying to Toronto as a gateway city may seem counterintuitive since it is NORTH of the US and Cuba is south, but it might make sense for those in the northern states particularly the Northeast and places like Michigan, where you fly out. That really depends on whether promotion fares are running from Toronto when you plan to go. For guys in my part of the country, the Southeast but particularly Florida, the Bahamas are usually the best deal since the flight from MIA to Nassau is dirt cheap and very short.

However, as you pointed out, cost is not the only factor for you since you've already ruled out Cancun (and Panama) over much more expensive Sosua, DR. Nassau might not be any cheaper (or shorter flight) or might even wind up costing you a little more than Cancun and offer even less attraction to you than Cancun (similarly, I'm assuming Belize is out). When all gets said and done, SJO will probably be your best bet. It will be much longer total flight times than the other options, but shouldn't cost you that much more than Cancun or Nassau and because it is obviously already one of your preferred destinations will offer you a lot more entertainment value of its own.

BTW, there are ways around the credit card paper trail just as there are ways around the passport paper trail. Some useful/informative websites you might want to check out:
http://www.cuba-junky.com/index.html
http://www.havana-rentals.com/index.htm
http://www.cubatravelusa.com/

I want to go to Cuba and have priced it out at $500 R/T including airfare, transfers and hotel – "for three days and two night in exotic Havana; and now for the microwave and TV, who is buried in Grant's tomb?" Sorry, too much satire.

Seriously, it was three days and two nights double occupancy from SJO to Havana.

On a trip from Newark to SJO last April, one of the flight attendants told me she was born in Cuba and had visited there. She said that she stays at licensed home stay facilities for a fraction of the cost of the hotels.

Has anyone heard about that? If you have, can you explain it to me a little more clearly such as how do you find these places; what are the advantages (besides the obvious costs); what are the disadvantages, etc?

diego-
check out the cuba junky site, that Pro posted. They have a whole section on the casa particular areas

Thanks. I will do that.

Diablo got it right. Check out Cuba Junky. Also, the HavanaRental site is expressly for the purpose of finding those "licensed home stay facilities" more commonly known as "Casas Particulares". But, if you just Google "Casa Particulares", you will get more hits than you know what to do with. The real problem is not how to find them, but how to narrow down the selection.

First of all, you can go by location. Habana Viejo is the most popular and colorful area for tourists in general but most MONGERS seem to prefer Vedado for their sorts of activities. You'll get less hassle there from touts, hustlers and policia (who frown on local chicas mixing with gringos) and you'll be closer to the areas where you can pick up jinateras.

Secondly, if you plan to bring back a large variety of chicas then you'll probably have a preference for an independent casa with a private entry. This will be more like a private apartment with an absentee owner than what you'd normally think of as a homestay. That way you can bring back any basically any chica you want without having to parade her past abuela. Even if you can't get a private homestay, at least verify in your e-mail that you can bring "visitors" back to your room. If you do even a minimal amount of screening you should find plenty of casas where bringing back a chica guest should not be a problem. What might be a problem is bringing back several different ones in one day or different ones each night (in which case you might need to change casas). If you're looking for TLN GFE's then this might still work for you. If not the independent casa will be a necessity. The good part is that, while you will want to reserve a place for at least your first night, you don't have to pay in advance and if the first place you picked does not work for you it is easy to find another place that will once you're there.

Lastly, if you're still overwhelmed by the selection, you could limit your search to other monger forums that cover Cuba for casa recommendations by guys like us who know (I won't list CRT competitors but you all know who they are).

What are the advantages of casas besides cost? Well, there is also cost. It may seem redundant but it can't be overstated. Casas typically cost 25-35CUC (~US$27-38 ). Hotels typically cost AT LEAST twice that amount and for twice that amount aren't as nice. Of course you can get nicer hotel rooms than that if you pay at the top end but that doesn't mean they will be great values.

Beyond cost there is also quality. Again, you can pay a small fortune for the higher end hotels, but just bear in mind what passes for a "5-star hotel" according to the Cuban Tourist Agency may not exactly be what you or I would normally consider 5-star. So it may not really be worth that much more for a place that isn't all that much better. Some of the casas, particularly the ones at the higher end of the casa price spectrum can be quite nice themselves or certainly perfectly comfortable.

The thing you have to realize about hotels in Cuba is that they are all part of one of just a dozen or so authorized hotel chains that are joint ventures with the government (i.e. quasi-governmental). As such quality and service is about what you would expect from any communist run enterprise where the people running it and working there have no vested interest in the operation (i.e. dismal).

More significantly, because it is part of the Cuban Government apparatus and prostitution is severely frowned upon by the authorities they will probably not be as chica friendly as a well-chosen casa (if you can bring chicas back at all).

A few more miscellaneous tips: conversion rates for USD to Convertible Pesos (CUC) comes with a hefty transaction fee. Using credit or ATM cards drawn on a US bank will also be problematic for obvious reasons. So you'll probably want to convert dollars to Euros before you go and then convert your Euros to Pesos once you're there (either Convertible CUC pesos or regular CUP pesos at 25CUP/CUC). Another Cuba term that you should be familiar with are "Paladars" which are essentially the restaurant version of Casa Particulares - licensed home-based private restaurants. There is a lot more to traveling to Cuba than this. You'll really need to do your homework a lot more before you go.

I followed Prolijo’s advice (above) and checked out the sites he suggested, then looked at another five sites based on a Google search and another monger site.

1. Decided that staying in Verdado is best for me.

2. I want to bring back at least one chica but not a stream. Planning on about four or five days and realistically will probably visit with two chicas.

3. You guys are right, there really are so many Casa Particulares from which to choose. Does anyone have a specific recommendation? (please PM me)

Also, on the Cuba-Junky site, there is a guy named Pototo. Have you had any experience dealing with him? Is he legit, honest and knowledgeable? Any other suggestions? (PM is probably appropriate)

There are several things I want to see in Havana. The old hotels such as the Naciónal, Riviera and the Presidenté (I have been convinced that staying in one is not what I should do, the casa particulars are better for my situation); the Estadio Latinoamericano, home of the Industriales and the Metropolitanos; hopefully will be able to see the Verdado Tennis Club Stadium; and the Estadio Pedro Marrero (La Tropical) – former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers Spring Training Camp.

I also want to do the other standard touristy things like Old Havana, El Malecón, El Morro, The Capitol, a cigar factory, and the University of Havana (probably not high on the touristy list).

Anything you guys can think of would be appreciated.

Miami may soon be a gateway for all of us, not just the Cuban-Americans as currently. Here's a guy with an intriguing and ambitious plan to run ferry boats from Miami. It's also a good analysis of the state of Cuban and American travel politics:
www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/us/13cuba.html
This article is by a guy who's previous assignments were Iraq, NYC politics and Newark, N.J. This has to be a dream assignment. And oh, yes, his Times pic has him in an Aloha shirt.
COMPANIES quoted: ABC Charters www.ABC-charters.com
XAEL Travel www.merchantcircle.com/business/Xael.Tr ... 5-643-2200
Florida Ferry International www.corporationwiki.com/Florida/Bal-Har ... 49912.aspx

While not an endorsement of any kind, the first 2 companies are OFAC listed authorized travel providers

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