CAN I TRAVEL TO CUBA ON A ONE WAY TICKET?

A few people have asked me “is it possible to arrive in Cuba on a one way ticket and buy an outbound ticket from Cuba to my next travel destination when I am in Cuba?”

This is not something I have tested out. When travelling to Cuba I always have a return ticket. On one occasion, I bought a one way ticket to Cuba from Costa Rica and an outbound ticket from Cuba with another airline from Havana to Caracas.  I had these tickets before I arrived in Cuba.

Cuban immigration has never asked to see an airline ticket showing my departure date.  I have always assumed that if Cuban immigration were to ask me of my intended departure date, I would need to show evidence by providing a valid airline ticket with my departure date from Cuba.

None of the airlines I have travelled with going to Cuba have asked to see a return ticket, until recently. I arrived at Gatwick airport in London, pleasantly surprised to find no queue. I went straight to the check-in desk and the lovely ladies at Air Europa asked to see my Cuban tourist card (this always happens) and my return ticket (this is a first).

According to the Air Europa Check-In Attendant at Gatwick Airport, you do need a return ticket when flying to Cuba, or at least an outbound ticket from Cuba.

So if you are planning to travel to Cuba on a one way ticket and to buy an outbound ticket when you get to Cuba, think again. Personally I wouldn’t recommend it. Trying to sort out travel arrangements in Cuba isn’t easy. Even with WIFI hotspots dotted around Cuba, getting a decent WIFI signal and actually connecting is hit and miss, which makes planning travel on the internet in Cuba quite challenging.

If you have managed to travel to Cuba on a one way ticket, please share your experience with us.

EXPERIENCE THE REAL CUBA – SUPPORTING CUBAN BUSINESSES

Experience the Real Cuba offers Casas Particulares in Cuba as well as cultural activities and programs in Cuba supporting local Cuban private businesses.

To find out more about Casas in Cuba and our courses and programs (Spanish lessons, Dance lessons, Music lessons, Photography Experiences, Art & Pottery workshops) check out our website:

www.experiencetherealcuba.com

CAN I TRANSIT IN LAX STRAIGHT OUT OF CUBA?

Damien Leis from Australia contacted Experience The Real Cuba in May 2014 looking for travel advice to Cuba.  He wanted to fly from San Juan, Santo Domingo to Cuba and then onto Los Angeles and wanted to know if he could reliably transit in LAX straight out of Cuba.  I contacted Damien after his trip to Cuba to find out about his Cuban travel adventure.

WHAT MADE YOU CONTACT EXPERIENCE THE REAL CUBA?  

I found the information on the Experience The Real Cuba blog to be real and down to earth, great quality. This type of information is very difficult to find anywhere else on the web, even the large sites like Tripadvisor and Lonely Planet. Dealings with ETRC were very personal and the support and response times to queries were excellent. All this is very important for travellers from Australia who generally feel that Cuba is a mystical place and therefore take extra precaution.

WHAT KIND OF INTERNET SEARCHES DID YOU DO?

The normal Google and Bing searches. I enquired with travel agents in Australia who offered zero information on Cuba.

WHAT WAS THE BEST FLIGHT IN / OUT OF CUBA?

We decided to fly via the Bahamas (Turks & Caicos Air to Nassau, Bahama Air to Havana), this gave us an opportunity to see that part of the world as well!

Booking flights online into Havana is a little tricky, there are a lot of smoke and mirrors. It takes some effort to get the best deal without going around the world. I also got caught out by the 72hr booking window with Cubana Air.

WERE YOU ABLE TO GET A CUBAN TOURIST CARD FROM THE AIRPORT IN NASSAU?  

Obtaining the Cuban tourist card was easy in the end. We flew Bahamair from Nassau to Havana, we paid/obtained the Cuban tourist card at the check-in counter at the same time as receiving our boarding pass (about USD$16 each or similar), it was a mere formality.

DID YOU GET A CUBAN STAMP IN YOUR PASSPORT?

Yes, they stamped the passports of all three of us on arrival in Cuba! I was expecting (hoping) that they would not stamp my passport. I read that not stamping passports in Cuba was normal and they only stamped if you asked for it.

WHAT WAS YOUR CONCERN ABOUT HAVING A CUBAN STAMP IN YOUR PASSPORT?

My concern was that my return flight was via LAX whereby I needed to clear U.S. customs and re-check all baggage. However, even with a Cuban stamp in my passport there were no dramas (we flew Puerto Vallarta Mexico direct to LAX).

I met a New Zealand lady in Cuba who was on her way to a conference in Florida, I understand that she was going via the Bahamas to avoid any U.S. immigration issues. I think it only gets complicated if you wish to fly direct into the U.S. from Cuba, as they treat you as a U.S. citizen and therefore need a special purpose permit to go to Cuba. Its only 'charter flights' flying direct between U.S. and Cuba and they wouldn't let you on without the required permits in any case. I was coming from the US Virgin islands and the best way I found to get to Cuba (without a permit) was via Bahamas or Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).

DID YOU DRIVE AROUND CUBA?

No, however I would not hesitate to drive in Cuba in the future (it doesn't seem that complicated). We ended up using a driver that was arranged by the Casa ($25pp and $15 for our 3yo son) to travel from Havana to Trinidad and then Trinidad to Varadero.

HOW DID YOU GET FROM VARADERO TO HAVANA?

In Varadero we were tempted to try the Viazul bus and actually arrived at the Viazul bus terminal with plenty of time. We were approached by a taxi driver who asked how much we were willing to pay to get back to Havana, he then approached a group of other drivers who took the fare (40 CUC), which turned out to be a lot more convenient given that we were travelling with the baby and luggage.

HOW WAS YOUR CUBAN EXPERIENCE?

I believe that Cuba ticks all the boxes. We always felt safe in Cuba, the people were warm, architecture, history, cleanliness and value for money makes a total experience. We travelled to the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Cuba and Mexico (west coast) and Cuba was my highlight. Havana is King.

Thanks to Damien for sharing his Cuban travel experience.

As for me, I have been to Cuba at least 15 times and my passport has never been stamped. I was therefore very surprised to learn that Damien and his family's passports were stamped; which is why I wanted to share this information on the Experience The Real Cuba blog.  

I am interested to hear from other travellers coming from Cuba:

• Did you get a stamp in your passport?  
• Did you transit in the U.S.? 
• Did you have any problems transiting in the U.S. with a Cuban stamp in your passport?  

Please feel free to share your travel experience with us so other travellers can benefit from your Cuban experience.

EXPERIENCE THE REAL CUBA – SUPPORTING CUBAN BUSINESSES

Experience the Real Cuba offers Casas Particulares in Cuba as well as cultural activities and programs in Cuba supporting local Cuban private businesses.

To find out more about Casas in Cuba and our courses and programs (Spanish lessons, Dance lessons, Music lessons, Photography Experiences, Art & Pottery workshops) check out our website:

www.experiencetherealcuba.com

Driving in Cuba

Plaza de Armas, Havana Vieja

Cuban Cars, Havana

Plaza Vieja, Havana, Cuba

HOW TO GET A CUBAN TOURIST CARD

I have been visiting Cuba regularly since 2003.  Below are some of my experiences of obtaining Cuban Tourist Cards from various countries and the experiences of some of our students / friends that have visited us in Cuba.

CAN ANYONE APPLY FOR A CUBAN TOURIST CARD?

It doesn’t matter where you are from or what passport you have, if you plan to visit Cuba as a Tourist, you will need to get a Cuban Tourist Card / Tourist Visa.  The application process is usually quick and simple.

CAN U.S. CITIZENS BUY A CUBAN TOURIST CARD?

Yes, they can.  Airlines, travel agencies and Cuban Consulates outside of the U.S. will sell the Cuban Tourist Card to any nationality.  If a U.S citizen arrives into Cuba with a Cuban Tourist Card they will not be turned away by the Cuban government; Cuba has no problem allowing U.S. citizens into Cuba. However, according to U.S. law, U.S. citizens cannot visit Cuba simply by obtaining a Cuban Tourist Card.  U.S. citizens need to obtain a special license to visit Cuba or travel with an organisation that has obtained a license to offer educational programs to promote people-to-people contact in Cuba.  All details can be found on the U.S. Department of the Treasury website.

HOW LONG CAN I STAY IN CUBA FOR?

The Cuban Tourist Card allows you to stay in Cuba for 90 days.  If you plan to stay longer than 90 days in Cuba you can extend your Cuban Tourist Card at Immigration in Cuba for another 90 days at a cost of $25.  The maximum length of stay in Cuba with a Tourist Card is 180 days, so you can extend your Cuba Tourist Card twice. 

Cuban Tourist Card

WHERE CAN I BUY A CUBAN TOURIST CARD FROM?

I have bought Cuban Tourist Cards from various countries, either from the Cuban Consulate, at the airport or at a Travel Agency and I’ve never had any problems.  It’s not rocket science, you don’t have to answer a hundred and one questions or prove that you have enough money to fund your trip. It’s purely a bureaucratic process which all of us have to go through in order to visit Cuba as a Tourist. 

CAN I BUY A CUBAN TOURIST CARD FROM THE AIRPORT?

Yes, it is possible to buy a Cuban Tourist Card at many airports, especially if you are flying from Central America or flying with TACA or COPA airlines, as they usually sell the Cuban Tourist Visas at the airport. 

I have bought Cuban Tourist Cards from Gatwick Airport in the U.K., from Juan Santamaría International Airport in Costa Rica and from Cancún International airport in Mexico.

At Gatwick Airport, you can buy a Cuban Tourist Card from Virgin representatives at the Sales / Customer Service Desk.  It costs around £30 GBP, it takes about 5 minutes, no questions asked.

At Juan Santamaría International Airport in Costa Rica, I paid $15 USD for a Cuban Tourist Card when I checked in with TACA airlines.  

At Cancún International airport in Mexico I bought the visa from the MexicanaClick Sales / Customer Service Desk, before checking in, I paid around $15 USD.

I have transited at both Tocumen International Airport in Panama City and at Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City and at the boarding gates of both of these airports the airlines made announcements informing passengers that they can buy a Tourist Visa for Cuba at the gate before boarding.  I already had my Tourist Visa on these occasions so I am not sure about the price but I would say it costs around $15-20 USD.

Nevertheless, if you are not travelling from or not taking a connection from one of these airports and you are not sure what to do, I would recommend that you check with the airline you are travelling with to see if they sell the Cuban Tourist Card from your departure airport.

CAN I BUY A CUBAN TOURIST CARD UPON ARRIVAL AT JOSÉ MARTÍ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT?

A colleague of mine told me that she always buys her Cuban Tourist Card upon arrival at José Martí International Airport in Havana, Cuba.  But to be honest I have never taken the chance, I always make sure I have a Tourist Card before arriving into Cuba.  I have never seen anyone selling Tourist Cards in Cuba and I have never asked anyone at José Martí International Airport if they can be bought.  But according to this Havana Airport website Cuban Tourist Cards can be purchased at immigration.

DO TRAVEL AGENCIES SELL CUBAN TOURIST CARDS?

My only experience of buying a Cuban Tourist Visa at a travel agency is at Agencía Sol y Son in San Jose, Costa Rica.  I was able to go to the travel agency, buy a Tourist Visa for Cuba without having to buy an airline ticket.  It was quick and easy and cost around $20 USD.

In Cancún, Mexico, there are a number of travel agencies offering cheap flight / hotel packages to Cuba which include the Tourist Visa, travel insurance and hotel transfers.

Trailfinders in the UK does have a visa department where you can buy a Tourist Visa for Cuba. The Cuban Tourist Card is £15 GBP, but Trailfinders add a service charge of £50 GBP; the service charge is reduced to £30 GBP if you have booked your trip with Trailfinders, this is based on British Citizen passport holders. 

ARE CUBAN TOURIST CARDS INCLUDED WITH THE AIR TICKET?

No, not necessarily. You should always check this out with the airline when buying your ticket. I understand that some holiday companies that offer package deals to Cuba include the Cuban Tourist Card, but if you are like me and want to buy just a flight to Cuba you will probably have to buy your Cuban Tourist Card separately. 

One of our students from the U.K. booked her ticket to Cuba with Trailfinders in the U.K.  Her flight was with Air Canada via Toronto, the Tourist Visa was included in the price of her ticket and it was given to her on her connecting flight from Canada to Cuba.  In fact, many of our Canadian students have confirmed that their Cuban Tourist Card was included in the price of their air ticket and similarly it was given to them on board the plane.  

Hence, the following airlines travel between Canada and Cuba and include the price of the Tourist Card ($16 CAD) within the taxes, fees and surcharges section:

• Sunwing

• Westjet

• Air Canada

• Canjet

CAN I GET MY CUBAN TOURIST CARD FROM THE CUBAN CONSULATE?

It is possible to visit any Cuban Consulate around the world and obtain a Cuban Tourist Card on the same day. I have been to the Cuban Consulate in Nicaragua and Uruguay with my passport, ticket confirmation and travel insurance details and obtained a Tourist Card for around $20 USD within around 15-20 minutes.

I have never applied for the Cuban Tourist Card in person at the Cuban Consulate in London; I have always preferred to apply for it by post.  The last time I got a Cuban Tourist Card from the Cuban Consulate in the UK was in 2006.  It was simple, I printed the online application form, I sent them a cheque, a photocopy of my passport, a stamped addressed envelope and I received the Cuban Tourist Card through the post within a couple of days. Update in 2022, you can now apply for the Cuba Tourist Card online.

The price of a Cuban Tourist Card from the Cuban Consulate in the U.K. is £27 GBP plus postage.

A couple of our students from Germany have confirmed that they were able to obtain their Cuban Tourist Card in person at the Cuban Consulate in Berlin, Germany.  

“It was super easy to get the Visa. I just went to the Cuban Consulate in Berlin with my passport plus a copy of my passport, a declaration from the Insurance Company that I have Health Insurance Coverage and I had to fill out a form. I think it cost about 25 Euros. Had to wait for 20-30 minutes and I got the Visa.”

You can also apply for the Tourist Card from the Cuban Consulate in Germany by post.

A couple of friends of mine from Australia got their Cuban Tourist Card from the Cuban Consulate in Sydney, Australia and paid around $110 AUS!!!!!  Frankly, I was shocked that they had to pay that much.  Before going to Cuba they had been in London and could have got it there for around £15-35 GBP.  Their flight from London was via Venezuela and they were selling it at the boarding gate for around $15 USD.  So if you are from Australia and are planning to go to Cuba, you are more than likely going to fly via another country so I would try to find out if you can buy the Cuban Tourist Card while in Transit.

CAN I BUY A CUBAN TOURIST CARD ONLINE? 

A couple of our students from the U.K. have bought their Tourist Visa online with VisaCuba. They told me that it was fairly safe and easy, it was delivered by royal mail and it cost around £15 GBP plus a £10 GBP service charge.

WHAT’S YOUR EXPERIENCE?

If you want to share your experience of buying a Cuban Tourist Card, then please feel free to email me at experiencetherealcuba@gmail.com and I will update my post.  

EXPERIENCE THE REAL CUBA – SUPPORTING CUBAN BUSINESSES

Experience the Real Cuba offers Casas Particulares in Cuba as well as cultural activities and programs in Cuba supporting local Cuban private businesses.

To find out more about Casas in Cuba and our courses and programs (Spanish lessons, Dance lessons, Music lessons, Photography Experiences, Art & Pottery workshops) check out our website:

www.experiencetherealcuba.com

Havana Balconies

Habana Libre Hotel

Plaza de la Dignidad