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Advise on flying to Cuba needed
Posted by carmine (348 days ago)
I am planning to trip to Cuba and wondering what is the best way of flying there from HK. Thanks for much!
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by Nuts&Bolts (348 days ago)
Certainly **NOT** via USA - Probably via Canada &/or Mexico.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by flashwad (348 days ago)
Air Canada.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by ilovecc (348 days ago)
Virgin via Gatwick is probably the most convenient from HK.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by flashwad (348 days ago)
Well, Virgin is definitely more convenient than Air Canada, except for the longer journey time. And the higher ticket prices. Oh, and the transfer between airports in London.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by carmine (348 days ago)
Thanks for all your quick responses! This is what I found out from searching on-line:
1. Fly to Paris and transfer to Havana
2. Fly to London and transfer
3. Fly to Toronto and transfer
4. Fly to LA (or any other US cities) transfer to Mexico city then transfer
To those of you who had been there via any one of these options, which one is the fastest and most convient?
Ciao
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by maddog (348 days ago)
Hi carmine.
I did a similar distance trip from HK to Lima, Peru.
I remember it well, as it was the day of Princess Diana's funeral.
I flew one of the US airlines,( I think Continental). Hong Kong to Los Angeles, then Los Angeles to Florida, then Florida to Lima. Total time including transit was 30 hours....groan...
The Airline were very good, stewardesses (Older ladies) brilliant, well they kept me topped up with enough wine on all legs. I'm a Brit, so to have these ladies keep comming round and sayng "Hey Honey, looks like you need another drink".....heaven. This was all before 2001 though. I'd just say, take a good book and keep calm. The planes got smaller on each leg too, so the ride got more exciting. I managed to watch "Volcano" 3 times. Each leg of the Airline managed to show it......Mmmmm.
Probaly different plusses and minusses now.
Have a great flight and please let us know how you got on.
Take Care
Tim
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by julyjade (345 days ago)
I did my trip to Cuba early this year. I took Air Canada from Toronto to Havana(about 2 hours). I think that is the easiest and no-hassel way. However, you might need to stay one night in Toronto cause the flight to Havana is in the morning next day.
One advice is Canadian dollar and Euro is more popular in Cuba and be very careful with the complicated currency system.
I had a good time in Cuba, you can email me if you want more information: julyjadez@hotmail.com
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by alibullock (343 days ago)
Hi.
I have flown to Cuba twice now. Ignore the advice that you cannot go via the US as you can.
I would take Virgin from Gatwick, Air France is no where near as good an airline. There are not many connections to Cuba so best to book through Virgins web site.
All in all I had a great time and I am sure you will. If you want any ideas on what to do out there I have noted a few thoughts: http://www.alib.co.uk/guides
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by Yam (343 days ago)
The US has an embargo, there are NO flights to Cuba from the US. Your best bet is to go via Mexico.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by beachball (343 days ago)
Yam: While it is true that US embargo on Cuba is still in effect (and actually has been tightened by the current administration), your statement on flights is false. There are a number of direct flight between the US and Cuba, e.g., from Miami or Los Angeles to Havana. That said, the hassles and limitations associated with flying directly are generally not worth it and going to Cuba from a third country is almost always the preferred choice.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by Yam (343 days ago)
Beachball, I'm intrigued what airlines are providing flights direct from the US to Cuba, as it's illegal to fly from the US to Cuba as a "tourist".
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by beachball (343 days ago)
If I am not mistaken, under the embargo regulations travel from the US to Cuba itself is actually not illegal at all. However, there are restrictions (which, as I mentioned above, have been tightened in recent years) on financial transactions related to travel to Cuba, which EFFECTIVELY result in a travel ban for most US citizens and enough complications for everybody else to make traveling via a third country a better choice.
The US State Department has a fairly good summary of the situation here:
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/48388.pdf
As for your question on airline travel providers, the US Treasury has a "List of Authorized Providers of Air, Travel and Remittance Forwarding Services to Cuba" here:
http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/cuba_tsp.pdf
For what it is worth, I flew from Miami to Havana on Continental (that was in 2002).
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by alibullock (342 days ago)
Yam.
Your information is out of date and incorrect.
You can fly DAILY from NYC to Cuba. It has never been illegal to fly to Cuba or go there as a US citizen.
It is illegal to TRADE with Cuba, and so this is where this misconception has come from. It is a muddled logic, but an airline cannot fly there as this is trade, buying cigars in Cuba is not illegal but bringing them into the US is, as this is an imort and therfore trade.
Tourists are not forbidden from going to Cuba, and many Americans do. There is even a Sandals resort!
The US has an embassy in Cuba (but they call it a trade comission) irnonic as trading with Cuba is illegal. You can see a couple of photots here:
http://www.alib.co.uk/photos/havana06.htm
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by Ed (337 days ago)
Moved to travel
(I am based in Hong Kong)
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