US Embargo (Blockade to Cubans) Continues to Hurt Economy An article in Cuban newspaper Granma quotes a yearly loss of over $30M USD. I am not going to summarize it or try to put my perspective on it.I am just reprinting it. I obviously don’t know if the figures are accurate, but there is no … Read More
Author: Rich
Cuban Cigars and Rum Limitation Lifted
Cuban Cigars and Rum Limitation of $100 Lifted “Bring back rum and cigars” was what I heard from friends when they found out I was going to Cuba. The cigar’s rich earthy flavor is known around the world. The unavailability in the US added to the mystique too. Even if you aren’t a cigar smoker, you … Read More
AirBnB in Cuba-Success!
AirBnb in Cuba is a Huge Help to Cubans AirBnb in Cuba is making a huge difference in Cuba travel.This may turn out to be a big success story in helping the Cuban people. Cuba’s Casas Particulares (homes and rooms for rent) were already a huge business in Cuba. There are some 20,000 private homes already … Read More
AT&T to Offer Cell Phone Coverage in Cuba
Cell Phone Coverage in Cuba by AT&T…Not Cheap! Cell phone coverage in Cuba had been non-existanrt. It is finally starting to change, but change doesn’t come cheap. Remember in our early cell phone days when we were out of our plan coverage area we had to pay roaming charges? Well, those roaming charges still apply … Read More
US Flights to Havana Awarded to Eight Airlines
US Flights to Havana Approved & Already Started The flights between the USA and Havana were announced back in June by the Department of Transportation, but it took a long time to hammer out and finalize which airlines got which routes. They were slower to be announced because so many airlines wanted US flights to Havana that it took a lot … Read More
Cubans Get Fed, but not US-James Patterson
All Cubans get Fed-Author James Patterson James Patterson was interviewed by CBS This Morning while promoting his new documentary “Murder of a Small Town”. He seems to believe that Cuba takes care of the basics better than we do. All Cubans get fed, but not all Americans do, was the implication. Quote: “This is what’s going … Read More
An American Prepaid Card for Cuba. Soon!
Launching an American Prepaid Card for Cuba Currently US Credit cards, debit cards, etc., don’t work in Cuba because no financial agreements have been worked out between the US and Cuba for banks to do so. This “Club Malecon” prepaid card for Cuba will be accepted at ATM’s and at Cuban money exchange stores (CADECA). Since it … Read More
Houston Delegation to Cuba
My town of Houston, TX is sending a delegation to Cuba this weekend. Mayor Sylvestor Turner will take a quick 3 day trip with the Houston delegation to pitch our city for possible future business and a possible preferred gateway to Cuba. I hope that works so I don’t have to fly to Florida first, … Read More
US Flights to Non Havana Cities Have Begun
List of US Flights to Non Havana Cities in Cuba The US gave initial approval for US flights to Cuba back in June. The next steps involved US airline getting approvals from Cuba. This has finally wound its way to conclusion. See my page on Getting to Cuba for overview of Cuba/US travel. US flights to … Read More
Still Congressional Division over US Flights
Homeland Security Issues a Problem I thought that since the first commercial flight has arrived in Cuba that the bugs and congressional divisions had been worked out…how naive I was. Congress has been trying to stall these flights for a long time, mainly for political purposes as usual. (Isn’t a half century long enough to … Read More