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Thank you for participating in a People to People Exchange course sponsored by Custom Cuba Travel.

 

Custom Cuba Travel has a general license under current US Department of Treasury guidelines to operate People to People Exchange trips allowing Americans to legally travel to Cuba.

 

You have selected a truly amazing time to visit Cuba. The island is in transition politically, economically and socially. You will be able to see these changes first-hand during your trip. At the same time, you will immediately notice that you will be entering a time-warp when you exit the airport. You will see automobiles from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s on the road. You will see hitchhikers on the road expecting to be picked up by fellow travelers. Briefly, you will be in a land where 24/7 internet access is not available and feel like you have gone back to a simpler time. You will also see landmarks throughout the country which will be familiar sites to those who know a thing or two about the Golden Age of Hollywood-places frequented by the likes of Hemingway, Brando, and Sinatra. You will also be able to engage with an educated and sophisticated populace anywhere in the country while also being in a safe and friendly environment all under the warm tropical Cuban sun.

 

With years of experience organizing and leading these exchanges in Cuba, the Custom Cuba Travel is uniquely positioned to give you the opportunity to connect directly with the Cuban people during your trip.

 

About us:

 

Members of Custom Cuba Travel have been going to Cuba since 1981 and we consist of a small group of individuals in the United States and Cuba with a shared interest in building bridges-not bridges of steel and concrete but bridges between people. Bridges between communities and bridges between countries. For too long, Cuba and the United States had been isolated from each other. After a trip to Cuba, our founders decided that only through direct connections and exchanges based on the principle of mutual respect and shared benefit could Cubans and people from the United States come together. Custom Cuba Travel recognized that solving the problems of our times requires engagement, discussion, and most of all, human interactions. Custom Cuba Travel and the various people-to- people exchanges we offer and coordinate build these bridges.

 

Custom Cuba Travel’s mission is simple: to build community by fostering connections between the people of Cuba and the United States.

 

We organize and lead trips to Cuba focused on connecting people to discuss issues that are of mutual concern and interest to people in Cuba and the United States. From law and healthcare to education, arts, culture and agriculture, the themed trips we lead allow participants to develop meaningful people-to- people connections between Cuba and the United States.

 

We partner with research institutes and academic institutions in Cuba for all of our professional and educational programs.

Practical Considerations:

 

Cuba is a SAFE place to travel. Violent crime in Cuba is rare and crime rates are much lower in Cuba than elsewhere in North America, Latin America or the Caribbean. That being stated, most of our trips start in Havana, a city of over two million people. As in any large city anywhere in the world, it is wise not to openly flash money or valuables in public at night. Cuba is a developing country without exposure to a great deal of wealth and it is important to be mindful that luxury goods are not accessible to the average Cuban and therefore in poor taste to openly display these items in public. Even in a city like Havana, you will find most Cubans extremely welcoming and friendly. You may even be invited to people's’ homes to meet family when they find out you are from the United States. Although these invitations may be genuine and sincere, we do not recommend that people accept such invitations or accept invitations to go on private tours or take rides from vehicles that are not marked taxis. Please run by any tour arrangements with a representative of the Custom Cuba Travel. At night, it is wise to travel with at least one other person around the city. Again violent crime in Cuba is extremely rare so enjoy your stay in Havana- however exercise common sense and be street wise.

 

The recent influx of travelers to Cuba has resulted in severe shortages in hotel

accommodations in Havana. Unfortunately, this has resulted in travelers being bumped from reserved hotel accommodations (not unlike getting bumped on plane flights in the United States). Large tour operators from Canada, Europe and to a lesser extent the United States purchase large blocks of rooms and keep them open for their own travelers. Hotels will often sell these rooms in blocks regardless of reservations having been made by individual travelers and small travel groups. This results in hotels moving guests to other hotels in other parts of the city. This is an unfortunate situation however it happens on a frequent basis and may even happen to travelers on trips organized by Custom Cuba Travel

 

It is important to note that Cuba has a strict and harsh policy regarding the following so any such behavior should be avoided: use of illegal narcotics, pornography or importation of high-end satellite/communications equipment.

 

Although water is filtered in Cuba, it may not be as filtered as what you are accustomed to at home. This can result in stomach upsets and illness. In order to avoid getting sick and ruining your short time in Cuba, we recommend only drinking bottled water in Cuba, brushing your teeth and gargling with bottled water. Beverages served at large hotels, well known night spots and restaurants will likely have ice that is made from filtered water. Drinking beverages with ice in off- the beaten path type locations however may contain ice that is not made from filtered water. In these types of locations, it is wiser to either drink bottled water or order a canned or bottled beverage that is opened in your presence (or in the alternative, order drinks without ice). Past participants have also avoided getting sick by bringing along portable Steripen type devices that use ultraviolet light to kill pathogens in beverages as well as iodine tablets.

 

Recommended Reading List:

 

Prior to your trip, we recommend learning about Cuba in order to maximize your enjoyment. We recommend picking up Lonely Planet’s Guide to Cuba. The Moon Guide-Cuba has published a 2015 edition which is most up to date regarding new restaurants, nightlife and times and fees for tourist landmarks. We recommend reading the sections regarding history and culture. Most of these books have a section that contains some Spanish words and phrases. Even though a substantial portion of the population speaks English unlike elsewhere in Latin America, it is helpful to know a few phrases and words in Spanish.

 

As a companion guide, we strongly urge you to pick up a book called Culture Shock! Cuba: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette by Marc Cramer. It is a great learning guide which will help familiarize you with the development of Cuba and its very unique culture and people as well as its recent history. The book does very well in explaining the impact of the US Embargo and how it has affected the Cuban people and society-in good ways and bad. It is truly an enjoyable read-can be even done on the plane ride to Havana if you do not have time at home!

 

If you are more interested in the history of Cuba, dating back to the discovery of Cuba, we recommend the book CUBA: What Everyone Needs to Know by Julia E. Sweig.

 

A great online magazine to check out is Cuba Absolutely. This online resource has excellent up to date information about goings on in Havana and the rest of Cuba. Great photos and articles, it is the ultimate guide to the arts, culture, and literature of Cuba.

 

 

 

Items to bring:

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We recommend that travelers bring the following items on your trip. You may bring more or less but just remember that due to the US Embargo, you may experience difficulties in getting items that you are accustomed to at home. Therefore, if it is important or vital (such as prescription meds or important toiletries), bring it with you to Cuba.

 

 

 

 

Cuba has a tropical climate all year round. Temperatures will be about 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months and 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months. It will be somewhere in the middle in Fall and Spring. The temperatures at night may reach a low of 55 degrees.

 

Important! BRING CASH! Cuba is a cash economy. There are no ATMs in Cuba. Credit Cards and Traveler's Checks DO NOT work in Cuba yet! We recommend that individuals budget US$100.00 cash per day which will cover your basic dinners, drinks and personal transportation costs for nighttime activities. Bring additional money if you wish to go to more upscale dining and nightlife spots. If you do not bring adequate cash on the trip, you will run out of money in Cuba and there will not be any access to additional money for the remainder of the trip.

 

BRING YOUR PASSPORT! and make at least five (5) copies with two (2) sets left with loved ones at home and bring three (3) sets with you and place them in different parts of your luggage and keep one (1) set on your body when you go out. We will keep a copy of your passport in our records also.

 

 

❑ 1 week supply of socks/underwear

 

❑ 2 shirts/blouses (preferably short sleeved)

 

❑ 5 t-shirts

 

❑ 2 pants/skirts

 

❑ 3 shorts

 

❑ Swimwear

 

❑ Rain jacket

 

❑ Sandals and sneakers

 

❑ Light sweater/fleece

 

❑ Hat

 

❑ Sunglasses

 

❑ Towel

 

❑ Ibuprofen/aspirin

 

❑ Flashlight (optional)

 

❑ Pepto Bismol/stomach upset medicine

 

❑ Toiletries

 

❑ Shampoo/conditioner

 

❑ Dental floss

 

❑ Sunscreen

 

❑ Razors

 

❑ Deodorant

 

❑ Bug spray

❑ If you wear contacts or glasses take at least one extra pair as well as supplies.

 

❑ Anything else you deem essential

 

Medications

 

Bring all essential prescription medications with you on the trip. Bring copies of the prescriptions with you along with the medications’ original containers.

 

Electronics

 

A camera or video camera is a must. However, it is prohibited to photograph police or military personnel and facilities, as well as harbor, rail and airport facilities in Cuba. Please do not photograph embassies including the US embassy.

 

Your cellphone will not work in Cuba unless you have Verizon service. Verizon service works now but you will be subject to roaming charges. It is cheaper to text using your Verizon phone in order to contact loved ones at home or to contact one another on the trip in Cuba.

 

There are also great language and map applications for phones (like Mapa Havana or the CUBA Triposio App) or you may want to bring your phone if you wish to use the camera or video camera features.

 

In previous years, travelers have purchased expensive cellphone plans for Cuba. THESE WILL NOT WORK.

 

You should also avoid bringing any high end GPS devices or other types of satellite/communications equipment into Cuba as that may get you into trouble.

 

Communications:

 

You will be able to make telephone calls to the United States through your hotel in the event there is an emergency. If there is an emergency, you should also alert a representative of the Custom Cuba Travel and someone will help you.

 

Internet:

 

Internet service speeds will not be what you are accustomed to in the United

States-think late 1990’s. You will however have internet access during your stay in Havana. Most of the hotels we use in Havana will have business stations where you will have access to internet.

 

Other reliable spots for internet service in Havana are the business center at the Hotel Nacional and at the Parque Central and La Rampa (23 rd Street is a wifi hotspot but you will need to buy internet cards that have scratch off codes) as well as town centers of most medium sized towns.

 

Souvenirs:

 

In accordance with the Cuba policy changes announced by the President on December

17, 2014, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) made amendments to their respective Cuba sanctions regulations on January 16, 2015. As part of the amendments, OFAC’s regulations introduced a new provision authorizing the importation of certain goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs. This provision is set forth in OFAC’s Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) at 31 C.F.R.§ 515.582. US citizens are now allowed to bring up to $400.00 worth of merchandise, which may include rum and cigars for personal use.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: The US Department of Homeland Security has however implemented regulations prohibiting the importation of any of these items if they are brought in through any third country. For example, if you do not exceed the limits above in the importation of goods from Cuba and on your return to the United States you travel from Cuba to Canada (or Mexico) and then subsequently enter the United States, all of your acquired items from Cuba may be confiscated by border agents. The change in rules in the allowance for the importation of goods therefore only apply if you are traveling between the United States and Cuba directly.

 

Emergency contact information:

 

The following is emergency contact information for members of the Custom Cuba Travel the United States and Cuba

 

Jared Carter-207- 319-6050- jared.carter@customcubatravel.com

Kurt Mehta-802- 242-1492- kurt.mehta@customcubatravel.com

Our Cuban Cellphone Number when we are in Cuba: 0115358696454

 

PLEASE FILL OUT THE PARTICIPANT'S AGREEMENT ( BELOW ) FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TRAVELING AND SEND IT BACK TO OUR ATTENTION VIA EMAIL.