Travel Document Requirements–
If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck trip for entry into Cuba. You will also need a visa to enter Cuba, the nature of which is somewhat different than what many other countries require. The Cuban government requires all foreign visitors to have a Cuban visa, sometimes referred to as a “Tourist Card,” for which there is no official application process. Cuban immigration officials will collect one half of this this two-part card upon your arrival in the country, and the other half upon your departure. Tauck will obtain your Cuban visa, which will be given to you in Miami, along with the documents for your included charter flight from Miami to Havana.
In addition, other special documentation will be needed to complete the requirements for travel to Cuba; more details about this required documentation will be sent to you with your booking confirmation. Please review the details in the Instruction Sheet, Travel Affidavit, and Reservations Form by clicking on the item.
Please Note: Because you are traveling as a U.S. citizen with Tauck on a People-to-People educational exchange travel itinerary operated under a Specific License granted to Tauck by the United States Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), you are legally licensed and authorized to travel to Cuba. Before departing on your trip, we will give you a Letter of Authorization from Tauck stating that you have permission to travel under that license, to keep as part of your travel documents.
If you are a citizen of another country but legally reside in the U.S., you may travel on Tauck’s People-to-People trip to Cuba as long as you have a valid passport from your country of citizenship, as well as a residency card or alien card (or “green card”) to establish your legal U.S. residency when returning to the U.S. from Cuba upon your arrival in Miami.
If you are a Cuban-born U.S. citizen, your travel document requirements depend on when you originally departed Cuba. If you departed Cuba prior to December 31, 1970, you will require either a PE-11 visa (which can take from four to six weeks to process, is valid for a one-time entry for 30 days, and expires within 90 days of issue) or a Cuban passport; the choice is yours. If you left Cuba after January 1, 1971, you will require a Cuban passport, which can take from three to four months to obtain. If you will need help in obtaining one of these documents, please let us know at the time of booking.
If you are a citizen of another country and do not legally reside in the U.S., you may travel on Tauck’s People-to-People trip to Cuba as long as you have the proper documentation that allows you to enter the U.S. for the start of the trip and return to the U.S. at the end of the trip. A one-time-entry U.S. visa is not sufficient in this case.
Please note that you will not be traveling to Cuba as a tourist. You will be traveling as part of the People-to-People educational exchange.
We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.
Tauck's Small Group Trips to Cuba – Your small group of Tauck travelers will average from 20 to 30 guests. However, depending on the destination and institution you’re visiting, some of your People-to-People cultural exchange will be conducted in smaller groups accompanied by local guides, offering you special opportunities to truly connect with the local people through cultural and educational exchange.
Travel with Children –
Age Recommendations ― Children 5 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, we recommend ages 5 and older for this journey to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.
Babysitting ― Our journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. If you require babysitting services, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer on-site babysitting services; however, babysitting services may not be available at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.
Safety and Welfare Responsibility ― We welcome the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the trip. By traveling with us, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.
Special Travel Documentation for Children
Authorization for Travel
If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a notarized note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling into or out of the U.S. with the child have permission to do so. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.
If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (parent deceased, sole custody, etc.), other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, or a death certificate, will be useful.
Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, we require you to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information may be obtained from a country’s consulate or embassy.
Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment
In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents (including other pertinent documents as cited above) authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.
Children who are U.S. citizens must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the completion of the journey, along with a Cuban visa (or "Tourist Card") which will be obtained through Tauck.
We are not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by the improper documentation of any guest, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.
Air Conditioning - The Hilton Miami Airport and the Meliá Habana in Havana provide air conditioning in their guest rooms and public spaces.
ATM and Credit Cards – Please note that U.S. bank-issued credit cards and debit cards are not accepted in Cuba, so you will be unable to access your funds electronically. Because of this, and because U.S. dollars are not accepted in Cuba, it is important to bring an adequate amount of cash with you to exchange into Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUCs) for any purchases you wish to make while in Cuba. Please refer to the Currency and Exchange Rate paragraphs under the Destination Information section below for more on CUCs.
Clothing and Packing – Your People-to-People trip to Cuba is casual. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Comfortable, cotton clothing is suggested. High temperatures and humidity in most areas make lightweight clothing practical. Long pants and long sleeves are suggested for sun and mosquito protection. Casual resort wear is appropriate for dinner.
Most importantly, bring comfortable yet sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in. It is important that your shoes have good ankle support.
Both hotels on this trip provide valet laundry services.
Please Note: Medicines, toiletries and other items that are easily obtainable in drugstores and pharmacies in the U.S. are in very short supply in Cuba, and may be expensive and very difficult or impossible to obtain. We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.
Following is a list of recommended items to pack for travel to Cuba:
- Casual daytime wear – shorts, slacks, long and short-sleeved shirts
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
- Swimwear
- Gym wear
- A light sweater or jacket for a breezy night
- A basic personal first-aid kit containing aspirin or other analgesics, antihistamines, antacids, antibiotic ointment, adhesive strips, etc.
- Insect repellent
- Small bottle of hand sanitizer
- Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and/or plenty of film
- Extra pair of prescription glasses and/or reading glasses (which may be difficult to obtain)
- Lightweight, comfortable, sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in
- Battery-operated travel alarm clock
- Travel packs of tissues
- Small, pocket-sized flashlight
- Rain poncho and collapsible umbrella
- Zipper-lock bags
- Daypack for camera equipment
- Any sundries and toiletries you may need
- Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling
Elevation – The maximum elevation on this trip is 194 ft (59 m).
Health – Our People-to-People cultural exchange activities in Cuba include visits to rural areas, agricultural facilities and small villages, as well as to various sections of Havana with centuries-old streets and buildings with limited access. You should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances over unpaved and uneven terrain. The amount of walking you do, however, is at your discretion. Both the Hilton Miami Airport and the Meliá Habana are equipped with elevators. The road conditions in Cuba are improving; however, paved roads, especially in rural areas, are often in poor condition. Some roads to rural locations are not paved and some out-of-the-way destinations are accessible only by these roads; other roads may be unpaved and bumpy. Our People-to-People cultural exchange itinerary includes several early morning starts and leaves little scheduled free time.
The hotels on this trip do not have handicap accessible room and we are unable to accommodate wheelchairs or scooters on this trip. We also regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you require such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.
While drinking water is generally safe at our hotel in Havana, bottled water will be available wherever the local water is not fit to drink. We also provide bottled water on your motor coach.
The only hotel on this trip that allows smoking is the Meliá Habana in Havana.
Luggage Restrictions –
Checked Luggage – General
Space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person. Recently, airlines have adopted policies enforcing strict number, size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind. Many carriers require that checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, we cannot be held liable for the accuracy of the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current number, weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage number, weight and size may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers. You may wish to consult the website, luggagelimits.com, by clicking here.
We cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage number, weight and size policies.
Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home!
Carry-on Luggage – General
Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc. For your day-to-day travel while on your trip, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.