It's about time!

Posted By Laurie Bourgea on March 31, 2009, 8:45 AM

This would be great. I have always wanted to travel Cuba. I hope Congress passes this bill.

Posted By Beverly Ostrander on March 31, 2009, 10:14 AM

in the bill they should add a note that there should not be any starbucks allowed in the country! it was a fascinating place when i visited 7 years ago...

anne

Posted By P on March 31, 2009, 11:21 AM

I am a Cuban-American and travel to Cuba freely. It's a sad pathetic place. I'm always appalled at Americans who want to keep it that way just so they can have a third world experience.

Posted By Irene on April 1, 2009, 7:01 PM

I am Cuban-American. What a shame that Americans are going to give Fidel and his brother all this money in opening up the travel...you are fattening up the enemy so he will have enough to arm himself and come after the USA....

Posted By Miriam Rodriguez on April 2, 2009, 3:25 PM

I am a Cuban-American and i disagree with the previous comments. I lived there long enough to know that it is the lack of information from the outside what keeps the brothers in place. Whenever you have a little whole, it's easier to cover it and control what comes in and out, if it is big enough, it will turn down the wall and let the sea in.

Cuba is a beautiful place to see and enjoy, and more importantly, should be a free place to see like most of the world. So, i'm very happy this is being considered.

Posted By Mirelis on April 2, 2009, 3:46 PM

cuba is one place i've always wanted to visit.........i watched and then bought "buena vista social club" just to watch it again to see the people, cars, and architecture..........i'll be on one of the first flights just as soon as travel for americans is permitted

Posted By mike norwood on April 2, 2009, 6:11 PM

My late husband (Oct, 2007) always said he wanted to live long enough to visit Cuba. I wish he had lived to see his dream come true.

Posted By Linda on April 2, 2009, 8:19 PM

country so close and we can't visit is crazy. We can visit Russia, Vietnam, China and other communist countries so why not Cuba?

Posted By michael puttick on April 2, 2009, 8:20 PM

I can't understand how we send so many people to China the
largest communist country and can't go to an isle less than
100 miles from us. I have Cuban friends and enjoy their culture
and music .It has been a dream of mine for years to go to Cuba.
Get real America! We are just hurting ourselves with this embargo.
I,ll be on a plane my next vacation if it opens up.

Greg

Posted By greg cleary on April 2, 2009, 9:26 PM

This is great news! It cannot come soon enough, as my wife and I would dearly like to visit Cuba.

Posted By Calvin R. Swinson on April 2, 2009, 9:29 PM

I was born in Hungary, lived in Canada and the US since age 15. Hungary was Communist when I grew up. Communism is a misguided ideology, and twisted any way the people in charge want it to be like. While Cuba's leaders have been pathetic since 1959, it makes no sense for the USA to hold a grudge against a whole nation. It's time for a major thaw.

Posted By Rob in Boulder, Colorado on April 2, 2009, 10:01 PM

I recommend the book Havana Nocturne by T. J. English to get an enlightened view of Cuba and US relations.

Posted By Shirley Anderson on April 2, 2009, 10:44 PM

I am an American, but I got to visit Cuba last year as part of a humanitarian mission. Regretfully, I only got to see Havana, but it was lovely and fascinating. As an American, I was treated like a rock star. Cubans are friendly and down to earth. Fidel may hate America, but the Cuban people do not, and despite their daily hardships, they are cheerful and warm. If they lift the travel ban, I would go back in a second. Havana is a great place to start, but I would love to see some other parts of the country as well.

Posted By Arnold in New York City on April 3, 2009, 9:00 AM

One of my life-long dreams is to see Hemingway's house in Cuba. Count me in!

Posted By Nancy on April 3, 2009, 10:47 AM

I have to say that this is fantastic news...the only way this world will survive and flourish is to make it smaller by increasing exchange and dialogue. It is time to move forward and not live in the past.

Posted By Dan on April 3, 2009, 11:39 AM

I am Cuban and have never traveled to my birth
Country and I left when I was seven years old by myself since my parents werent allowed to leave the
country at the same time I did. Although, I could have gone in past years, what I found appauling was that I would have to pay $575.00 dollars for a 90 minute trip from Miami, because of a charter flight. I would love to see where I was born, since I have no recollection of it, people travel to communist countries all the time why not to Cuba.

Posted By rocky on April 3, 2009, 4:29 PM

It IS about time. We have been hurting these people and ourselves for more than 50 years due to our own government's paranoia about communism. Now that we NEED trade...it seems a bit hypocritical but I will welcome open travel and a lifting of ALL trade Barriers with Cuba (I bet we could sell some NEW chevy's down there and LOTS of old Chevy Parts!)

Posted By Rich Edwards on April 5, 2009, 4:56 PM

Let's not get too excited folks; from what I've read they are only thinking of allowing Cuban-Americans to travel there.

Maybe it will be just a first step, and will later allow all Americans to visit.

Posted By dino on April 6, 2009, 7:44 PM

I echo the same sentiments as most of these comments: It's about time. To those who are totally against lifting the ban, I can only point out that it's been 50 years and nothing (I repeat, NOTHING)has changed. Fidel & his brother are still in power. The real and only casualty of this ban has been the Cuban people. It's time to try a different tactic - Truth. And the only way you'll get that is to let more people visit Cuba.

Posted By Anabel N on April 7, 2009, 12:48 PM

I have always thought we should be able to travel to Cuba. We can go to China, VietNam, East Germany and other communist countries. Why not Cuba. We are supposed to be the "bigger people", now let's show it and drop the restrictions. I'm waiting with bags packed.

Posted By Robert J on April 10, 2009, 8:59 AM

It's about time the government wants to let Americans travel to Cuba. I am dying to go to that country. It's a beautiful place with beautiful people. If Americans can travel to China (which is a communist country), they should be able to travel to Communist Cuba.

PLEASE PASS THE BILL CONGRESS!!!

Posted By Tasha on April 10, 2009, 11:04 AM

I agree that it is ridiculous that we are allowed to visit other Communist countries but NOT Cuba. So far the policy hasn't helped anyone so lets try something else.

I resent the idea that I cannot legally travel to where ever I darn well please. Hopefully the policy will allow anyone to visit Cuba, not just those of Cuban ancestry.

Posted By Jean on April 14, 2009, 2:11 AM

I can hardly wait to visit cuba. It has always been my desire to go and enjoy the music. It used to be the playground of the gangsters and many rich americans, plus segregated whereas only the white skinned cubans could work in the nightclubs and hotels. Castro opened it up for all cubans regardless of skin color. I don't care about their politics, I just want to go and enjoy the country.

Posted By mildred on April 14, 2009, 2:21 PM

I traveled to Cuba a few years ago via Mexico and I enjoyed it immensely. Everything had to be paid in cash (US Dollars) and the officials are very willing to not stamp your passport. I felt extremely safe there and I was treated with great respect. Believe me, there were many Americans that I ran into who had traveled there in the same manner that I did. If Cuba opens up to US trade and Visitors, that will be the demise of the wonderful 1940's and 1950's American cars there.

Posted By Loup Garou on April 17, 2009, 5:32 PM

There seems to be a lot of confusion about "Communist" countries. There are only two Communist countries in the world: Cuba and North Korea, and Americans are prohibited from visiting either with exceptions. China, like Vietnam (where I live), is a free-market country with a Communist govt. And it is starting to look like the US is turning into a communist country with a democratically elected govt. I believe that Cuba would have become more democratic over the years if the US embargo had been lifted or eased.

Posted By David on April 19, 2009, 2:23 AM

I too, would like to see Cuba. I have thrilled that we are lifting the ban.

Posted By Tracey on April 22, 2009, 12:05 AM

I find it ironic that I can travel to China and Russia without any problems and could also travel to Venezuela or Burma - but Cuba is forbidden? This makes no sense. Americans traveling to Cuba would not only bring welcomed tourist dollars it would inevitabilty drive a demand for change in Cuban policies as well.

My father traveled to Cuba before the Bay of Pigs and the ban on Americans traveling - he said it was one of the most beautiful places in the Carribean with some of the friendliest people - I'd love to see for myself.

I'll book a trip as soon as the ban is lifted and I'll have three other friends to join.

Posted By Heather on May 11, 2009, 2:01 PM

I spent two wonderful years in Guantanamo when it was just a naval base and got to know many Cubans well. They loved everything American and I wouldn't doubt they still do. It's a shame the we've cut them and ourselves off from each other. Can't wait until we lift the ridiculous travel ban and embargo.

Posted By Rudy on May 12, 2009, 9:20 PM

Now that Cuban Americans can finally visit the island that is so close to us but in the past, seemingly so far, this is a wonderful first step in engaging our neighbor.

I've gone on a number of cruises, and always wished that Cuba was a port-of-call on the itinerary. Perhaps now it soon will be. Yay!

Posted By Zey.Tavia on May 14, 2009, 6:53 PM

since the Cuban Missile Crisis, bans and embargos have been in place when it comes to our relations with Cuba. If the Cold War is over with Russia, who was the country that put the missiles in Cuba in the first place, then why can't it be over with Cuba? Fidel Castro has officially handed the reins over to Raul, his brother. We do not really know still how this brother will handle his country. We can only hope that just like travel to China, Russia, Vietnam, etc, that travel to Cuba will open up the minds of people and governments that the world is truly small and a lot better off if we just learn to realize that it is ok to lead your countries with different ideologies. That it is a blessing to be unique and different and that these differences throughout history, make our countries and people who they are today. These unique countries and people make travel a necessity. Don't ya just love....to travel?

Posted By marianda on May 14, 2009, 10:32 PM