So does the President's announcement mean we can travel to Cuba?

[truedelphi]

And maybe get our medical needs fulfilled much more cheaply there than here?

If so, I give him a big round of applause.





I remember how happy the folks that Michael Moore took to Cuba ended up being with getting their prescriptions filled there for like .05 % of the cost the prescriptions would have cost here.

[flamingdem]

1. Not quite. Tourism is still prohibited but you can "research" and bring

humanitarian aid easily enough.

It does take a bit of work to understand the loopholes but there are plenty and the US is not going after any travelers that go through third countries now.

[Zorra]

2. Medical Tourism! Get a packaged cheap flight and hotel room, get medical care cheaper than

you can get it in the US even if you have insurance, and recuperate on the beach with the perfect Mojito.

[safeinOhio]

3. Great I see you can go religious reasons

And they have a UU church in Havana.

[truedelphi]

4. Ae you referring to Universal or Unity Churches?

I go frequently to one here in my community - so I guess I shoud start making travel plans now!

[safeinOhio]

10. Unitarian Universalist

[PDittie]

5. As I understand it

unfettered travel access requires approval by (a Republican) Congress. Early indications seem to suggest that won't be happening. But you can travel to Cuba now on certain academic and cultural missions, and have been able to since 2011. You just couldn't buy anything like cigars or rum or anything. Now you'll be able to.

[truedelphi]

7. How does anyone stop you?

If you get to either Mexico or Canada, you could easily be far beyond Congressional oversight, right?

[PDittie]

12. No idea about the mechanism for prevention or punishment for doing so

But an embargo is an embargo, after all. This explainer from Vox has the state of play as it has existed for a few years now.

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/17/7410669/vacation-cuba/in/7172702

I know of travel agencies that take Americans to Cuba on these cultural/religious missions at fairly high sums of money (a couple of thousand dollars pp for 3-4 day trips). As to your question, I would venture a guess that your US passport, stated intentions, etc. at Customs would prevent you from entering the country, but I just wouldn't know how all that goes in practice.

[PDittie]

13. This has better answers

http://news.yahoo.com/questions-answers-traveling-cuba-202723870.html

Q: Are there other ways for Americans to visit Cuba?

A: The Cuban government doesn't prohibit Americans from visiting. So for years, intrepid travelers have broken the U.S. law by entering Cuba via Mexico or Canada and asking officials not to stamp their passports.

[okaawhatever]

16. I had a friend who went there via Mexico and she said the customs officials know not to

stamp your passport. It's the "don't ask, don't tell" of tourism.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

28. I have done it twice,

Once by Canadian charter flight and once from Mexico. I wouldn't suggest the Canadian approach anymore since Canadian airlines turn over flight manifests to the TSA and CBP.

[Marrah_G]

6. I would love to visit Cuba someday

[lonestarnot]

8. Nope not yet, no todavia.

[Texasgal]

9. I'd like to go before all

the big money assholes destroy the culture. Think about it. Greedy people building big condos on the beaches in anticipation of American tourists with deep pockets. *sigh*

[Stardust]

11. You are so right! I tell everyone to get there before we destroy it. Simple life, pristine beaches,

music can be heard everywhere. I lived there and in many respects, it was paradise.

[NewDeal_Dem]

14. When did you live there and why and how?

[Stardust]

15. Mid-nineties, husband was in the Foreign Service. We have an ”Interests Section" in Havana.

[NewDeal_Dem]

17. How interesting that seems like it'd be. Was it?

[Stardust]

18. Immensely. Every day was either an adventure or peacefully satisfying, if that makes sense. I can

honestly say I loved every minute I spent there.

[NewDeal_Dem]

20. I've always wanted to go, but I'll never make it now.

[Stardust]

22. I'm sorry. I was lucky to have the opportunity. My traveling days are over now, as well.

[NewDeal_Dem]

23. Well, you can witness to cuba before rapproachment with the west, and all that will go

with it.

And I can witness to the US when it was still an industrial power and incomes and education were rising.

[former9thward]

24. I think the Cuban people are ready to give up the "paradise" and "simple life"

that you seem to adore. I think they will be happy to give up extreme poverty including spotty electricity and running water only every other day. Ever been in the home of someone living the "simple life" in Cuba? They never use the bathtub because of a lack of running water or clean water. The have an average salary of $75 a year. Yeah, paradise....

[Luminous Animal]

19. We could always travel to Cuba via Mexico or Canada.

[malaise]

25. or Jamaica

It's a joke.

[dflprincess]

27. But you had to carry cash

because your credit and debit cards couldn't be used there.

You also needed a friendly immigration worker who would not stamp your passport but note your legal entry into Cuba on a piece of paper you could destroy after leaving. Having a stamp in your passport from Cuba would have required some explaining when you returned to the U.S. if you had not traveled with an authorized church, educational or cultural group and did not have relatives there.

[eridani]

21. Medical tourism in Cuba

http://www.discovermedicaltourism.com/cuba/

Although the common citizens of Cuba are often ill-afforded a decent standard of healthcare, the booming private and tourism health sectors offer health tourists top level care at prices that are often far below those in North America. The network of specialist medical and health centers ensures that foreign clients receive the best care through the most advanced medical treatments, technical equipment and tranquil recuperation resorts.

The Cuban economy has benefited greatly from the promotion of health tourism. Revenues generated from the industry are around US$40 million a year. The government’s strong efforts to increase economic growth through private healthcare seem to be paying off, with numbers of medical tourists flocking to the island increasing by 20 percent per year.

One of the major treatments that attract more European and American clients than any other in Cuba is for retinitis pigmentosa, or night blindness. But many foreigners make the journey to receive top level care in neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, and for orthopaedic treatment, while cosmetic surgery and drug and alcohol rehabilitation are becoming increasingly popular.


http://www.discovermedicaltourism.com/cuba/medical-holiday/

If you think rolling hills and spectacular mountain scenery will aid your progress back to fitness, then Vinales is the perfect spot for a tranquil retreat. The island also has an array of boutique resorts and spas where your every need will be catered to, and at a fraction of the cost of those in developed countries.

[nilesobek]

26. Great thread.

I've always been in favor of importing hundreds of thousands of well trained Cuban doctors to break the, "doctocracy," we have here. That's how they broke us laborers, that's how they broke the migrant workers, that' how they broke the unions. Outside mercenaries.

Let's break the system once and for all and bring decently priced health care to America. My mother dying of cancer shouldn't pay for a doctor's summer home on the Oregon coast. Boycott and break them.