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Travel To Cuba, General Information

Written by John Walter Friday, 28 March 2008 20:28

Transportation

Currently we search for the least expensive domestic carrier to take us to Miami.  Most recent trips  have  used  American Airlines. We will look at sites like Expedia.Com or Travelocity.com and book the tickets individually or as a group, depending on the size of the delegation. Costs vary by the season and can range from $120.00 to $300.00 for round trip tickets. Travel time from Maryland to Miami is three hours.

In our most recent trips we have  arrived in Miami the night before departing for Cuba. An inexpensive overnight is arranged at La Quinta Airport East, very near Miami Airport. A  shuttle van is available.    The second leg of the trip is  made through Marazul Charters to either Havana or  Cienfuegos, Cuba.

The combination of the two  saves money, that is our objective. On arriving in Cuba ground transportation will be arranged depending on the size of the delegation. Costs are nominal.

Health

Travelers requiring  controlled medications should bring those medications in original containers with a copy of the doctor's prescription for each medication being carried. Failure to do so may result in confiscation at the airport. Random searches in Cuba are possible. Prescription drugs in small quantities are not a problem. BUT, if you are carrying prescribed medicines which are considered controlled in the USA, you must have a copy of the doctor's original prescription for each of the controlled medications you are carrying.

If in doubt about controlled medications, please contact your physician.

There is no threat of malaria in Cuba; however  you are advised  to carry insect repellants for comfort.

One can purchase personal hygiene items in Cuba such as toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo. Costs are approximately the same or slightly lower than those one sees here in the United States.

Visiting delegations should not drink the water.  Bottled water is readily available. Locally grown foods are painstakingly prepared for the incoming visitor by the host church. Vegetarian travelers are accommodated.

Visitors with serious medical conditions should advise their physicians here in the USA of their intentions to travel to Cuba. Medical assistance in Cuba is free but many medications are simply not available. Any person with serious life-threatening illness should NOT consider the trip. One can purchase emergency evacuation insurance, however this has not been tested and the nearest daily flights depart from Havana, a four hour car ride from El Centro Presbytery.

As in many developing countries, travel by car can expose one to high levels of exhaust fumes. This is true of Cuba as well. Prolonged exposure to fumes can be uncomfortable at best or sickening at worst. One may simply opt out of certain trips and remain at the host church. Our hosts are sensitive to this issue and make every effort towards our personal comfort. The reality is that many of the cars in Cuba run on diesel fuel and are somewhat more pungent than what we expect here. Conditions are getting better.

Our larger delegations use modern buses which are airconditioned and quite comfortable.

A list of email addresses will be provided for communications with the USA. These communications are not instantaneous and one may need to allow several days to receive an answer.

Normal telephone communications with Cuba are possible. Expect delays. Email is better but also may be delayed.

What to take; what not to take:

Current allowed baggage weight is 44 lbs./ per person. While this may seem insufficient for a trip of one week keep in mind that shirts, socks, and undergarments may be washed at the host church.

The 44 lbs. can be averaged by the number in the group thus allowing the transportation of OTC medications and other allowed materials.

Bring sunscreen in all seasons, sun glasses, and light clothing. One dress-up outfit should suffice for church services, otherwise shorts and sandals are fine throughout the stay.

US Credit cards will not be honored. Cash only. Currently it is efective to exchange US Doillars for Euros, then exchange the Euros in Cuba for Chavitos (Cuban Convertibles)

Plan to leave behind such articles as tooth paste or shampoo or bar soap. These articles have become prohibitively expensive for the Cubans who will appreciate your gift.

Cell phones will not function unless you have an International phone with the right frequency. Rely on the email accounts of the host church for communications.

Take a camera and a diary notebook for record keeping. Line voltage is the same as the United States and the outlets are as well, though most are not three pronged.

If you would like to offer a gift to an individual please ask me personally as I have a wishlist for many of our friends there.