I can hardly belive it but a dream is coming true!

[earful]

Enjoy it bro!

 

[BEN(SWEDEN)]

If I could go and had the time and money I would visit them all, sounds like a great trip for you and your pals...and maybe on the next visit take your girl..

She is not intrested, the point of the trip is to only smoke cigars, and visit factorys and look around for rare boxes to buy.

 

[BEN(SWEDEN)]

If you go for the festival they open up extra factories for tours. If you just walk up to a factory I think only partagas is open for tours but during the festival they take you to El Laguito and either Upmann or La Corona. Now that is not to say that you can't get into others if you know who to slip money to. And honestly the other factory I know how to find is RyJ but they no longer make cigars there.

Posted via Mobile Device

:cbig:My buddys have VERY good connections, so that is not an issue.

 

[derfatdutchman]

Have a great trip! Going to Cuba is on my bucket list if they ever lift the embargo.

 

[BEN(SWEDEN)]

I hope the botls that want to visit get the chanse to do so. I think it will be pretty amazing.

 

[Don Andres]

Ben

Check the itinerary of the Festival for details of your fun week. I liked the whole package they offer, for a first visit. The also offer a spouse package that is not identical, but sufficently similar. (Dont chose this option, if you are uncomfortable with riding a large A/C bus past hordes of people trying to hop on the back of a tractor to get home from work...Just sayin')
During the Festival, accommodations range from the 6th floor @ Hotel Nacional(one of the few reliable wi-fi hot spots in Havana) to a rented house/apt, legal/illegal, in the city. If you do favor renting a house, consider Miramar, a taxi ride from the patio at Hotel Nacional(ground zero for socializing during the Festival), but not far from many other Havana cigar highlights, leticia @ el aljibe, and lcdh 5th ave, and of course they LCDH Melia Habana. It is also the location of some of the better gastronomical options in Havana, such as Dr. Cafe.
I also like to recomend Nuevo Vedado, if searching for a rental. The prices are most reasonable. This area with many diplomatic residences is warm and charming, and it has a great restaurant tucked on a side street, La Casa. It is where you will find the real machers congregating over dinner. It is a classic, not to be missed.
So much to see and do, so many different possible approaches, art, rum, baseball, techno-salsa. Im sure your GF will be able to find something of interest.

Have a great trip. Buena Suerte.

Drew P

 

[BEN(SWEDEN)]

Thnx for the advice Drew.

 

[Bass man]

Mostly, no. In order for Americans to travel to Cuba legally, we have to prove to the gov't the need for the trip (journalist, religious, educational, etc.) and be issued a travel license for the trip. Americans that don't have those reasons and do go run the risk of getting in trouble if the Feds find out about it. Mostly they'll detain, interogate or fine you, but it's unlikely that you'll be imprisoned even though that is a risk. They'll also be flagged in the Customs database and I'm sure will be searched everytime they travel internationally and return back to the US.

From what I've been told, Cuban Custom officials will issue a visitor's visa to an American once there but they won't stamp their passport to help prevent them from being caught when they do return.

There are no direct flights to the US from Cuba. We would have to go through another country such as Canada or Mexico first.

There are direct flights from Miami to Havana. You need an OFAC license to get on one. With the recent loosening of requirements for "educational" licenses, it can be done. I did it in 2001, 02 & 03. Try getting in touch with the tour company Global Exchange. They have done Cuba tours from USA in the past.

 

[Thegreekone]

Ben,

Keep us posted about your plans, the trip itself and your experience!

Btw, I knew she was a keeper in BEFORE I saw her pic. :yes:

Congratulations, my friend!

 

[Le Buzz]

Congrats Ben... going to Cuba is a rite of passage for BOTLs. I hope I can make it there one day.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Have a great trip! Going to Cuba is on my bucket list if they ever lift the embargo.

Cuba is on my bucket list BEFORE they lift the embargo!

 

[PLUSH]

Congrats Ben, have a blast.

 

[ahbroody]

They won't stamp our passport, but my Father goes there a few times per year when he's in the Cayman Islands. He takes a flight from there to Cuba.

Can't wait to go there, personally. Have a WONDERFUL time, Ben! Take lots of pix, brother!!!


Jeffrey L.

Definitely seems like the cheapest way for americans to do it. Hmm when I get rich this is my plan.

 

[danthebugman]

That's awesome Ben :thumbsup:. Take lots of pics!!

Dan

 

[ckay]

Enjoy Ben! Take pics for those that will live vicariously through your journey.