Cuba - Lonely Planet [386]
Netssa ( 1-866-504-9988; www.netssa.com) Last-minute flight specials, plus multilingual staff.
STA Travel ( 1-888-427-5639; www.statravel.ca)
WoWCuba ( 1-902-368-2453; toll-free 1-800-969-2822; www.wowcuba.com)
The Caribbean
Cubana has flights to Havana from Nassau, Fort de France, Kingston, Montego Bay, Pointe-à-Pitre and Santo Domingo. The Cuban regional carrier Aerocaribbean flies from Port au Prince, Haiti, and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to Santiago de Cuba weekly, and from Santo Domingo and Grand Cayman to Havana weekly.
Air Jamaica (www.airjamaica.com) flies from Montego Bay and Kingston to Havana daily, with numerous convenient connections from the US. Air Jamaica also has a liberal baggage policy, often allowing you to bring oversized and overweight luggage without problems.
The agency CubaLinda.com (www.cubalinda.com) is a Havana-based online agency selling gateway tickets from Mexico and the Caribbean.
From the Bahamas, Cubana flies daily between Nassau and Havana; the Cuban tourist card and the US$15 Nassau airport departure tax should be included in the ticket price, but ask. Due to US embargo laws, these agencies may not accept online payment or credit-card guarantees with cards issued by US banks or their subsidiaries. The financial rigmarole for Americans (mailing certified checks, paying in cash or wiring funds through Western Union, for example) may not be worth the time and energy if that’s the case. Check on the payment system before settling on the Bahamas as a gateway. Nassau bookings can be made through the following companies:
Havanatur Bahamas ( 1-242-393-5281/2/3/4; fax 393-5280) Offices in the Bahamas.
Majestic Holidays ( 1-242-342-322-2606; www.majesticholidays.com) Offices in the Bahamas.
Europe
Continental Europe is a good gateway to Cuba. Virgin Atlantic fly twice weekly to Havana (Thursday and Sunday) out of London’s Gatwick Airport, while Air Europa flies into Havana daily from Barcelona, Bilbao, Las Palmas, London, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Rome. Iberia flies to Havana from Madrid four times weekly and connects through most European capitals; check out its reasonable fares with a maximum three-month stay. Air France arrives from Paris–Charles De Gaulle five times a week.
From Amsterdam, Martinair has twice weekly flights to Havana and one flight weekly to both Varadero and Holguín. It’s possible to book Martinair flights into one Cuban airport and out of the other: convenient if you want to travel overland without backtracking. Also look into Air France and Iberia flights from Amsterdam, connecting through Paris or Madrid.
From Russia, Aeroflot flies from Moscow-Sheremetyevo to Havana.
Cubana flies to Havana from Copenhagen, Las Palmas, London, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, Paris-Orly and Rome. Other Cubana flights go from Madrid, Milan, Paris-Orly and Rome to Santiago de Cuba. London to Holguín and Milan to Cayo Largo are also served. Most operate only once or twice a week, except Havana–Paris, which runs three times weekly. Cubana sometimes offers reduced last-minute fares. There are Cubana offices all over Europe, including Rome ( 06-700 0714), Paris ( 01 53 63 23 23), Madrid ( 91 758 7751) and London ( 020 7538 5933).
The following European-based agencies can help arrange your details:
Guamá Havanatur ( 91 782 3785) In Madrid.
Havanatour Holanda ( 104-12 73 07) In Rotterdam.
Havanatour Paris ( 01 48 01 44 55; www.havana tour.fr)
Havanatour UK ( 01707 665 570; www.havanatour.co.uk) In Hertfordshire, England.
Havanatur Italia ( 02-676 0691; www.havanatur.it)
Journey Latin America ( 020 8747 3108; www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk) Based in Britain, this is a professional company which usually has good deals.
Sol y Son Moscú ( 495 931 9964) Sells Cubana flights from Moscow.
Sol y Son Roma ( 06-7720 3421; www.it.solysonviajes.com) Handles Cubana flights from Italy.
Trailfinders ( 020 7938 3366; www.trailfinders.com) Offices throughout the UK.
Mexico
Mexico is a direct and convenient gateway to Cuba, with many flights to choose from. Both Cubana and Aerocaribe