If America is to truly be free, such travel restrictions shouldn't exist.

Posted By Geoff on January 30, 2009, 4:21 PM

Well put Geoff, If the US wants to be an example to others it is should stop putting chains on its people who want to travel to a peaceful neighboring country. If Cuba welcomes US citizens to visit why should Washington forbid them from going?
For an open-minded look at Cuba check out:
www.havantimes.org

Posted By Circles Robinson on January 31, 2009, 11:55 AM

One of the reasons the Soviet Union broke apart and the Warsaw Pact countries became more democratized was their frequent exposure to US culture and visitors. The US blockade against travel to Cuba only harms those innocent Cuban natives who are already suffering from Castro.

I'd love to travel to Cuba.

Posted By Ken Spink on January 31, 2009, 12:36 PM

Cuba is a fascinating destination. Most of the rest of the world knows of it, and travellers from around the world visit regularly. Another good Cuba website is www.HavanaCubaTravel.com

Posted By Ralph on January 31, 2009, 1:05 PM

I would visit Cuba on a religious trip, but not for pure enjoyment . The people are so poor , they couldn't have many restaurants . The men's club at my Florida church loved it over there . They claim the people were wonderful . Sincerely , Dan Hunter

Posted By Dan Hunter on January 31, 2009, 4:15 PM

I look forward to the day when I can visit Cuba and enjoy the rich culture of this interesting country.

Posted By Beth on January 31, 2009, 10:01 PM

I visited Cuba in the late 90's for a typical all-inclusive resort week holiday. It is a very popular destination for Canadians (and people from nations other than the US) and very well developed for tourists (unlike Dan Hunter supposed). I was fascinated by a day-trip to Havana and would love the chance to return and explore the city more thoroughly. It has incredible history and culture - particularly musically. I haven't returned since I am now living in the US and frankly just don't want any questions/issues about having a Cuba stamp in my passport. It would be very nice to see the travel restrictions lifted!

Posted By Rebecca on February 1, 2009, 1:10 PM

i would love to go to cuba !!!!!!!! even if you fly to canada then go the state dept fines you $7000.00. i read the article !!!!!!!!!!!!! so i hope obama ends the barrier !!!!!!!!!!

Posted By andrea on February 1, 2009, 6:41 PM

The time is past due to end the economic sanctions against Cuba. Every American tourist who visits Cuba will help Cuba change. Each American will take a chip off the wall of anti-Americanism. Let's hope Obama changes our unjust policy toward Cuba.

Posted By jerry mendez on February 1, 2009, 7:38 PM

I can't believe the comments on here! You think that for America to be free, that its citizens shouldn't have any travel restrictions? Tell that to the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay who are being held without trial and without proper paperwork! My God. Forget your 'god given' right to go anywhere - how about doing what's right and giving the Cubans back their land and treating your prisoners like human beings? So ignorant.

Posted By Anna on February 2, 2009, 12:58 AM

I was very lucky to travel to Cuba several years ago. A truly fascinating place. If restrictions were lifted, one can only wonder what/how it will change the place. I just hope that there is a restriction against any Starbucks moving in ;)

Anne

Posted By Prêt à Voyager on February 2, 2009, 11:58 AM

Yes, we would like to visit Cuba. We hope our new government will work to establish friendly relations with the Cuban Government.
Why should we punish their tourism expectations?

Posted By Sheila Leckie on February 2, 2009, 3:00 PM

I have to say that I enjoy traveling in Cuba precisely because there are so few Americans and the ones that are there are very nice. And there are no American businesses like Starbuck's, Pizza Hut or KFC, etc. I have travelled all through the country and it is so interesting. The people stand tall with dignity, have a great sense of humour, and are incredibly resourceful. They are also markedly intelligent, knowledgeable, talented, artistic and very healthy looking with good teeth. That must be related to their education system, cultural programs, and excellent health care. And they do have excellent restaurants and B &B's all over the country. The rest of the world would like to keep Cuba for itself!

Posted By Katherine on February 2, 2009, 4:18 PM

I had friends whose parents lost their land and vacation home to Castro. How would you like to lose your property here without a trial or any other say-so? A drive off a Florida ferry and down the island would be a dream come true, but it would just be validating the confiscation of real property by a group of thugs with assault weapons. If you can't envision ever having anything of value out of hard work and personal application, then why not have your government take it from others and give it to you?

Posted By Ken on February 2, 2009, 5:56 PM

I'll keep it simple, no discussions of Guantanamo Bay or any other issue. The question was if I would consider traveling to Cuba if the restrictions were lifted and my answer is...Yes absolutely!

Posted By Jaclyn on February 2, 2009, 7:24 PM

I can't wait to go!!! Cuba awaits!

Posted By April on February 2, 2009, 8:57 PM

They do not stamp your passport! Great place to visit, incredible music.

Posted By Robert on February 2, 2009, 9:07 PM

The time has long since come that we should "tear down that wall" which we mistakenly imposed. Though it should be done methodically - an immediate ending of the embargo would cause chaos.
Not sure what Jerry meant about the Anti-Americanism, they love the US and Americans.

Posted By Craig on February 2, 2009, 11:39 PM

I have visited countries on 5 continents. I've longed to visit Cuba. It's time "free America" removed this "Wall" of restriction.

Posted By Joe on February 3, 2009, 9:44 AM

I have been yearning for a possibility of a Cuba trip for quite some time. My girlfriend is even more excited than me. Lets go Obama.

Posted By Brett on February 3, 2009, 11:57 AM

It seems very strange to me that Americans are allowed to travel to Vietnam where over 50,000 Americans lost their lives less than 30 years ago and are not allowed to visit Cuba, a country where Americans have not fought a war in over 100 years. Where is the logic?

Posted By Frank on February 4, 2009, 11:48 AM

My wife & I have vacationed all over in the Caribbean and would love to add Cuba to our memories. The time to end the embargo is long overdue, especially with the current downturn in the economy. How many Chevy pickups, Caterpillar tractors and pallets of consumer goods produced in the USA might be shipped to the island once the trade & travel ban is ended. I think there would be plenty of Americans buying cigars & Havana Club rum once they became available here.

Posted By Doug McDowall on February 4, 2009, 1:20 PM

Canadians have been travelling to Cuba for years. It is one of their favorite travel spots. It would be nice if this becomes available to us Americans.

Posted By Linda on February 5, 2009, 8:36 PM

Well, as a non-American I rather hope the travel ban stays until I've visited Cuba - for the totally selfish reason that all those new American tourists will put the prices up. Realistically, though, the embargoes against Cuba are a cold war anachronism and it's time they were ended. The US has normal relations with far worse regimes than Castro's Cuba. Besides which, a lot of amiable American tourists descending on the place will do an awful lot to dispel anti-US propaganda nonsense put out by the communist government there since the mafia, the dictator Bautista and other undesirables were chased out.

Posted By ian chandler on February 6, 2009, 7:51 AM

The selfish part of me wants the travel ban on Americans to stay in place. It is great to be some place where there are no (or very few) Americans! And the Americans that dare to visit Cuba are never the stereotyped 'ugly American' that you meet in other Caribbean sun spots. And I hope that the Cubans keep their independence and that it doesn't revert to the colony they were from after the Spanish American war until the fall of Batista.

Posted By katharina on February 10, 2009, 12:23 AM

At a Cuban film festival, I picked up a postcard which read:
Dear Mr. President,
Please give us back our right to travel to Cuba - and then lift the embargo!
In friendship,
______________
______________
______________

You can make your own and send it to:
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC
20500

Posted By Stella on February 12, 2009, 1:31 PM

As soon as the restrictions are lifted, I'll be flying down there. In fact, I may pick up a travel guide now to prepare for the possibility. Not only would it be a great perk for travelers to get the chance to visit, but it would help the US travel industry as well with the pent up demand to travel there.

Posted By Pepper on February 15, 2009, 10:58 PM

Re: Ken (Feb 2),
I am a descendant of Cuban parents, and you have to understand the culture, and nature of their claim. ALL Cubans say they had land, property, ect. that they had to leave behind. Some did, some had little to nothing (such as my parents). This is a point of contention to continue complaining and fighting against any humanitarian aid/relations with the Castro administration. It's all or nothing. You would think that after 50 years of Castro rule, they would realize they are only hurting their own people by not "negotiating" with that administration. The more we interact with their isolated culture, the more they will want our way of life.

Posted By JD on February 17, 2009, 8:00 AM

Why would anyone want to go to a country, stay in a hotel or B&B that will not even let it's citizens step foot in the establishment. It is easy to want to visit the beautiful parts and ignore the citizens that are suffering. No amount of American travel to Cuba is going to change the political climate of that region. Those saying that we will not be truly free until travel from US to Cuba exists really do take freedom to a silly level, if you would only fight for what freedoms we are and have been losing the last 20 years. I am sure most that want to travel to Cuba have not even explored this country. I am all for world travel and have done so, but until you live some place else, under their government, please don't claim it is so great and the US is wrong in its policies regarding Cuba. We ugly Americans do not know everything and how dare we think that we are so important to change another country's laws. That is what makes us the Ugly Americans. I am sorry for this comment to be rude but it angers me to hear Americans say that we deserve something just because we want it.

Married to a Cuban Immigrant whose father was a political prisoner.

Posted By Sara on February 17, 2009, 6:34 PM

You know this embargo thing is a bunch of [expletive deleted]! I hear that If you really want to go to Cuba, do what all other travelers do: departures are daily from Mexico or Dominican Republic or Europe or Canada. Nobody is stopping you. Yes its a bit risky but everybody knows they don't stamp your passport (cuba does not, upon entering). If you get caught by US immigration upon return you will be fined, so leave/return via Europe or Mexico. You know the embargo does not restrict travel, it restricts the exchange of money between American nationals and Cuban business. If you go with a Mexican or any other national and they buy everything for you you are not breaking the law. But don't spend money. Anyway this Embargo thing is a big Joke, Americans cannot travel but the rest of the world can and does, and we (the US) continue to trade and communicate with all of these countries anyway.Just because Americans don't travel to cuba freely does not mean that the market has not been exploited aleady by the Spaniards or the French or the Italians who are already doing big time business on the island. Its not exactly cheap to go their either. Your US dollar is not worth a lot either!Its just as expensive as traveling to Italy or France, money wise. By the way if you want to put up a hotel in Cuba to develop any kind of travel industry you literally have to go into business with Fidel Castro and the government gets 50% of your profits! Or whatever you can negotiate. For one is Club -med, They have hotels in Cuba and they do business here in the US, what a crock! You know what the big humanitarian problem is that Cuban nationals cannot leave freely to visit their friends or relatives like you and I can get on a plane and travel outside the US. That is pathetic! Why would I want to travel to a country where the nationals are not allowed to leave freely, visit their families outside their own country freely or step foot on a hotel on the beach in their own country! What BS, I still think the embargo should be lifted. Let each person make their own choice. but until [expletive deleted] Castro and his band of thugs are outahere I won't be visiting.

Posted By maria on February 18, 2009, 11:23 AM

Cuba is the absolute most amazing island/country I've EVER visited! The people,the lifestyle,the streets and church's,the cars,the live music clubs w/Ricky Ricardo(I Love Lucy) type bands in dark 50's style night clubs...just the history of the island and especially Havana are so beautiful! Havana would become more popular than Cancun if US citizens were allowed to visit...BUT please don't change the lifestyle of the Cuban people! What a beautiful country!!!

Posted By Bruce on February 18, 2009, 1:26 PM

No one knows how difficult it is to accept the idea of seeing your grandfather at age 6 and not again until you are 25. The cuban embargo has destroyed many families as it did mine. Americans sending money to family members has caused the wedge needed for the class system to come back to life in Cuba. Travel to Cuba can only make that wedge bigger.
My grandparents never saw us again, but we hope to go to their homeland as soon as the gates open.

Posted By Alexandria on February 19, 2009, 5:01 PM

What is with the hostility of some of the comments here? I am an American, live in Germany and value people's honesty and opinions. I am used to hearing criticisms about Americans and some are justified. But come on...don't you think you are a being a little harsh in calling 300 million people ugly Americans accept for the few that make it to Cuba. I mean I am so sick of people putting all Americans in the same boat. I am an open minded American who loves to travel, has great family and friends back in America and knows many more who are the same way. I always try my best not to put down other cultures making assumptions that all Russians are this way, and all Italians are that way, and all Chinese are this way. I get so annoyed with people like you who assume that all people from one country are the same. I always try to find the good in all people, cultures, etc. Perhaps you can take a moment to reflect on previous comments and not pass so much judgment in the future.

Posted By Nancy Foster on March 3, 2009, 10:55 AM

in 50 years cuba hasn't change. the have tourism for every country even the pope was there and still there is no freedon for the cubans, if you think that traveling to cuba is going to change anything you are living in the clouds. do you know that cubans need a visa to go to their own country and pay 20% change fee.

Posted By jorge on March 5, 2009, 7:24 PM

I remember talking to my English cousin and she was shocked that Americans could not freely go to Cuba. The policy is completely hypocritical. Why Cuba? The only reasoning I have is that it is 90 miles away from the USA.

Posted By Brian from nodebtworldtravel.com on March 8, 2009, 2:56 PM

I am disgusted with the smug Canadian and European bashing of Americans that appears here and also on Tripadvisor. The Canadians I have met while traveling in the Caribbean have all been pleasant.

Posted By james on March 10, 2009, 1:22 PM

If we truly are a free country than take off the chains that hold us here?

Posted By Robert J. on March 11, 2009, 8:08 PM

I am amazed at the comments from all the people who only selfishly think of their desire to travel to Cuba because it is "unspoiled". They try to rationalize by pointing out that the U.S. "deals with far worse regimes." Tell that to the citizens of Cuba who have suffered 50 years of the worst dictatorship in the history of this hemisphere. Have some self-respect and focus your energies on promoting civil rights and free elections in Cuba. Do not flatter yourselves thinking that "exposure to U.S. culture" will change things. Cuba has been "open" to most other countries in the world without any effect on the ever-present oppresion of its populace.

Posted By American Lawyer on March 13, 2009, 8:38 AM

I visited Havana the first weekend in March 1959 - little did I realize that fifty years later I would not be able to revisit Cuba unless I join a church or synagogue or else sneak in through another country - it's absolutely preposterous. Once the U.S. government wakes up and allows travel privileges for all, not just relatives, I hope to be one of the first to make the trip.

Jody

Posted By Jody Israel on April 2, 2009, 7:53 PM

I am waiting with eager anticipation for the US to open Cuba to travelers. I am an avid cruiser and hope the cruise lines are ready and prepared to add Cuba to their port itineraries quickly. I would like to be on the first cruise ship that visits Cuba.

Posted By Marion Paris on April 3, 2009, 7:40 AM

As a travel agent I realize that we need this. Any new destination will help our travel industry. Luckily I work in incentive travel and our business has not suffered too much, however the US allowing our citizens to visit Cuba will create a new excitement about travel.

Posted By Justin on May 6, 2009, 3:49 PM