Should the Cuban Travel Ban be lifted?

Question

I don't see why Americans shouldn't be allowed to visit Cuba, from what I hear it is a very beautiful island and most Cuban citizens are quite friendly and are just like any other citizens. Will Castro's eventual death bring better relations between Cuba and the US?

Personally I would love to have the privilege of visiting Cuba someday

Answer 1

Of course. But not now



Once the evil brudders are no longer in power and Cuba becomes a free country ( thank you all for your support about this ), then there will be no reason for the ban, but lifting it now would be a victory for big bad old fidel. We cannot allow that, of course

Answer 2

Cuba is a beautiful island, i should know since i was born there, mi currently live in the US but i can visit when ever i want to, it has some of the most beautiful beaches you will ever see, it is a shame US citizen cant visit it, they should have the privilege to visit Cuba, eventually when Castro dies everything is gonna change, but it is going to take some time, is not something that's going to happen from one day to another, people are really nice over there as well, hotels are beautiful, maybe in the future you can visit it someday, hopefully it won't take long since Castro is really old.. jejejeje

Answer 3

You have the privilege to visit Cuba by flying through Mexico or Canada. If you request, the Cuban authorities won't stamp your passport. No American has been prosecuted for visiting Cuba, though it is against the law.



You are absolutely correct in that the travel ban is pointless. Exposing Cuba to American tourists, culture, and dollars would go a long way in fighting communism on the island. Castro's death should improve relations with Cuba.



Just think about the guy, he gained power in Cuba while Dwight Eisenhower was president, the guy has watched so many US Presidents come and go. We considered him such a threat in the past, perhaps he was a threat prior to the late 1980s, but he is harmless today. Cuba is just one example of a flawed US foreign policy.

Answer 4

Personally I would like to see the ban stay in place because Cuba still is a very nice place to visit. When the US finally realises that to ban travel to the only communist country that can not do it any harm. China has nukes and much of the US national debt and if it decides that it is time they can do a lot of harm.



Once the ban is lifted Cuba will see an influx of everything that will take away its identity. Just look at Mexico and Porto Rico to see what Cuba will be like. Cuba is on my list of places that I like and will visit Mexico and Porto Rico are on my no visit list.



Americans visit Cuba all the time and it is the type of American that people like (lots of thumbs down for that statement) the ones that have travelled outside of the states and don't say everything is better in the States. Cuba doesn't stamp your passport and even though you will pay a premium on currency exchange you can bring you American dollars.



You can book a trip through a Canadian travel agent, I can't remember if they say where the trip is to on the credit card or just that it was for a trip. You also will not be able to use your American credit card in Cuba.

Answer 5

That should be taken off right now because it really is pointless, cuba is a beautiful place where ppl r friendly and its really fun, I'm cuban, born over there living here in the U.S. so i am allowed to go, but my boyfriend was born here and has no relations with cuba what-so-ever and he wants to go with me but he cant, and traveling by a third country is risky, its so stupid that americans can go anywhere except cuba, they should put political differences aside and just take that thing away because american citizens are missing out on a good fun place, and ppl like me suffer because we cant take our loved one to the place where we grew up, and where our family is, its really messed up

Answer 6

Contrary to what Matt says, there surely have been more than a few Americans who were prosecuted for traveling to Cuba. They had to pay fines, from $5K to $10K generally if found guilty. The US governmant doesn't assign many agents to check on this breaking of the law, but the few are nonethelss out there. Worst thing to do is to return from a trip to Cuba at one of the obvious places,..the easy ones. Stay away from Toronto, the Bahamas and Cancun If you are indeed grabbed, steadfastly refuse to answer any questions until you speak with an attorney. Then your chances of being convicted and fined become miniscule.

Having said that, they do not stamp your American passport on arriving in Havana. I know, been there more than once.

I agree with you, as most rational Americans do. It is ludicrous that we can't travel to Cuba. However, so many Americans are going anyway,..over 100,000 expected this year alone.

Hopefully when Fidel passes away, things will change. May take a decade after that though,..hopefully less. What we really need is a gutsy, take-charge president to cast aside the dumb, festering old hatreds, tell the anti Castro Cuban exiles still alive in Miami where to go, and allow us law abiding citizens to go where we please without the threat of penalties.

The favorite cocktail in Cuba, especially Havana, is the " Cuba Libre. " A strong concoction of rum & mashed mint. Know where that drink originated ? Why it was right here in Florida, by a bartender in Tampa, as Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders were gathering to invade and ultimately " free Cuba " from the oppressive Spanish regime,..way back in 1898,..112 years ago.

I think it's time to " free Cuba " again,..but under much more peaceful cirmstances..

Answer 7

I think very soon after Castro dies the US embargo on Cuba will be lifted. This policy is a remnant of a different era, and I am hopeful and confident that US-Cuba relations will be significantly better in the near future.

Answer 8

With Cuba to compete with, it is the fear of other islands in the area that if restrictions are lifted, as they surely will be, US tourists will stay away from them. It is a fascinating island with a lot of history and under the present regime it is very safe. A lot of US citizens have sneaked in a visit by flying to and from Grand Cayman, which offers several flights a week on different airlines.

Answer 9

Yes, it definitely should be lifted. The economic embargo has been a huge failure, but the U.S. government won't admit that under any circumstances. Hopefully, the diplomatic relations between both countries will improve upon Castro's death.

Answer 10

Absoluetly--YES is should be lifted.



And to the 2nd part. -- Cuba is very beautiful, the people are great, and the beaches are the cleanest I have ever seen.