Havana, Cuba
Just returned from a weekend in Havana, Cuba. I had a conference in Miami so I fly into Miami the weekend prior to the conference, then flew to Havana from there. It's super cheap, with flights starting at about $100 round trip. Since my company was paying for me the get to Miami, I only incurred the cost of the flight, food, a visa and an Airbnb in Havana (Americans can't stay in government-owned Cuban hotels). I estimate that I spent less than $500 for the entire trip.
Adding a trip before or after a conference in a different locale than your home town offers the possibility of cheaper flights from the conference destination since most conferences are in large cities with hub airports. Now, this does require a bit of additional planning and coordination plus a suitcase of clothes that can do both vacation and conference duty- but it can be done.
Americans can travel to Cuba for 12 reasons. I qualified for several, but the easiest for most people is “In support of the Cuban people”.
Havana is 500 years old with a storied history. The city is gritty with buildings crumbling, car-sized potholes, AND it's very safe. There’s music everywhere and dancing in the streets, but there are long lines for basic supplies that we in the U.S. take for granted.
"Yes, Americans can still
travel to Cuba"
The food is delicious and the love of art and culture is evident. The National Art Museum has the most racially representative art I've ever seen in a museum. As noted before, Americans cannot stay in hotels, but there are “casas particular” everywhere which are open to us. Casas particular are properties owned by locals, not the government. The Cuban people are joyous, warm and hospitable.
Every night, for the past several hundred years, the city fire cannons at 9 pm to let the citizens know that all is well. Mi corazon esta ahi.
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