A solo trip to Cuba
For the record, I just want to state that it is still illegal to travel to Cuba for vacation and/or tourism. For more information on how to travel to Cuba legally, please visit here.
The category I traveled under was 'Support for the Cuban People'. I flew Southwest Airlines into Havana for $77 and 15,408 points. This did include health insurance but not a VISA. The VISA was an extra $50 that was retrieved on my layover at FLL airport.
A major part of restrictions in Cuba as a U.S. citizen is you may not stay in a hotel as they are all owned by the Cuban government. I use Airbnb (use this link to get $40 off your first trip) most of the time anyway because it's cheaper and is in better locations. Of course, I found a place on Airbnb for Cuba. It was $39 for each night ( I stayed 2 nights). Free wifi at night (a rarity in Cuba) and a restaurant was connected (discounted meals for guests).
Another great thing about Airbnb is their Experiences. There are a variety of activities that allowed me to support the Cuban people. I took a cooking class ($42) and did a walking photography tour ($37).
I used Urban Adventures for the Afro Cuban Religion Tour ($22). (Use code TCFRIEND340197 for $10 off) And my salsa class was through SalsAmiga ($20). Here's the full video on my Instagram .
While researching my trip to Cuba, I found out about AfroLatino Travel . They organize trips and tours in Cuba. Since I was a solo traveler, I was unable to use their services. However, they do continuously collect black dolls and books for Cuban children. Before I left, I bought some items and also had help from a few of my Facebook friends. This was probably the best part of my trip knowing we were doing such a great deed.
I was only in Cuba for 2.5 days so my time was limited. There are so many things I did not get to experience but I will return soon. Total cost of all my activities, food, taxis, airplane, and lodging costs while in Havana equals about $550.
Note: U.S. Debit and Credit Cards do not work in Cuba. You have to bring enough cash for your entire stay.
