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A trip to Cuba.... your thoughts and input ?
jadelt
Posts: 763 ✭✭
I have an opportunity to travel to Cuba in January as part of a small group. It is a little expensive (7 days) but seems to be very interesting.
Obviously I might get the opportunity to smoke a few ISOM sticks but no way to bring any back.
Has anyone been there? Thoughts ? Safety?
Thanks
Obviously I might get the opportunity to smoke a few ISOM sticks but no way to bring any back.
Has anyone been there? Thoughts ? Safety?
Thanks
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but seriously, from what i hear its fairly safe as long as you are not viewed as a threat to the government.
of course i am in no way an expert on this. soooo... take that with a grain of salt.
The only way to show dominance is to catch them off guard. Say Fidel is a bearded Douche and then say Baseball (their national past time) is ghey. When they approach you hit them with a witty saying about how capitalism is WAY BETTER than communism...
Then they will respect you, trust me...
Has anyone been there ?
I think they are happy to see tourist dollars. Strange way Americans have to get funky "tourist" money called Cuban Convertible Currency (CUC). Cant use any US credit cards due to the trade embargo.
As far as safety goes it is one of the safest places in the world to travel to. That is not my opinion that is something you can check out for yourself online. We will be going back there probably in 2013.
The official word from the US Treasury Dept, last updated in 2004. CUBAN CIGAR UPDATE Recent changes to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515 (the Regulations), administered and enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), have prompted OFAC to revise the Cuban Cigar Update previously issued on June 19, 1998. This notice provides important information to the public on Cuban-origin tobacco products. Importation of Cuban-Origin Cigars Into the United States There is now an across the board ban on the importation into the United States of Cuban-origin cigars and other Cuban-origin tobacco products, as well as most other products of Cuban origin. This prohibition extends to such products acquired in Cuba, irrespective of whether a traveler is licensed by OFAC to engage in Cuba travelrelated transactions, and to such products acquired in third countries by any U.S. traveler, including purchases at duty free shops. Importation of these Cuban goods is prohibited whether the goods are purchased directly by the importer or given to the importer as a gift. Similarly, the import ban extends to Cuban-origin tobacco products offered for sale over the Internet or through the catalog mail purchases. Prior to August 1, 2004, persons returning to the United States who were licensed under the Regulations to engage in Cuba travel-related transactions were authorized by general license to import up to $100 worth of Cuban merchandise as accompanied baggage. Cuban tobacco and alcohol products were included in that general license. That general license was removed from the Regulations. Transactions Involving Cuban-Origin Goods in Third Countries The question is often asked whether United States citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States may legally purchase Cuban origin goods, including tobacco and alcohol products, in a third country for personal use outside the United States. The answer is no. The Regulations prohibit persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States from purchasing, transporting, importing, or otherwise dealing in or engaging in any transactions with respect to any merchandise outside the United States if such merchandise (1) is of Cuban origin; or (2) is or 2 has been located in or transported from or through Cuba; or (3) is made or derived in whole or in part of any article which is the growth, produce or manufacture of Cuba. Thus, in the case of cigars, the prohibition extends to cigars manufactured in Cuba and sold in a third country and to cigars manufactured in a third country from tobacco grown in Cuba. Cigars Produced from Cuban Tobacco Seed OFAC does not consider cigars produced from tobacco grown and harvested in a third country from Cuban seeds to constitute a growth or product of Cuba. Therefore, the Regulations do not prevent transactions or dealing in those products by persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, as long as there is no interest of Cuba or a Cuban national, direct or indirect, in the sale of such cigars. Criminal penalties for violation of the Regulations range up to $1,000,000 in fines for corporations, $250,000 for individuals and up to 10 years in prison. Civil penalties of up to $65,000 per violation may be imposed by OFAC. Suspected embargo violations may be reported telephonically to OFAC's Enforcement Division at (202)622-2430 or via facsimile at 202 622-1657. Date 09/30/2004
I have been told that a US citizen is prohibited from OWNING a CC no matter where in the world that citizen happens to be. If that's true, then a gifted CC is as illegal as one you've purchased. The above seems to me to deal primarily with the issue of importation, though, so I don't know where that leaves us. My personal feeling is that buying and smoking them while you're there would be as safe as any other aspect of your trip. I doubt the US is going to have undercover agents looking to bust unsuspecting US citizens for smoking a cigar.