Whilethere are many cheap travel options to visit theCaribbean from the United States, such as cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, and cheap vacation packages, some would be travelershave been frustrated by their inability to visit Cuba from the U.S.
Fortunatelysuch travel will be available to more Americans as a result of the Obamasadministration lifting of some travel and trade restrictions on Americanstraveling to Cuba.
Thenew American rules implemented in January remove the need for travelers to getapproval from the United State government prior to traveling to Cuba. With the changes already in place many morepeople will be able to travel to Cuba legally, spend more money on the island,buy Cuban cigars, and increase remittances to families there.
Unfortunatelycommercial airlines are not expected to be flying from the U.S. to Havana forat least another year.
Directflights to Havana and other Cuban cities from American must wait until the twocountries have negotiated a new air service agreement. This air service agreement must addressissues such as airport fees and other reciprocal arrangements between airlinesand airports in both countries.
Untilthen Americans will only be able to legally visit Cuba via charter flightsbooked through specialized travel agencies. While this is expected to change within the next 18 months, thetimetable could be extended due to opposition in Congress as well as thepresidential election in 2016.
Currentlyabout 100,000 Americans visit Cuba annually. Cubans living in the U.S. make an additional estimated 400,000 visitsyearly.
Sincethe Obama administration announced that it was restoring diplomatic relationswith Cuba there has been a climbing interest in Americans visiting Cuba. Authorized travel agencies have beenincreasing their charter capacity in the near future so that they are able totake advantage of the expected growth in demand.
Manyairlines already serve Cuban destinations outside of America. Travelers are able to depart from Canada,Mexico, and several Caribbean countries to visit Cuba.
Americansdeparting from such countries are able to legally enter Cuba since Cuba doesnot ban Americans from entering its country.
AmericanAirlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, among others, have indicatedserious interest in flying to Cuba.
Effectivenow American travelers are permitted to use credit cards in Cuba, spend moremoney while in the country, and bring back more souvenirs, including up to $100in tobacco or alcohol.
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