All About Cuba

Bargain shopping to travel to Cuba, is it possible?

Cuba, the island, is a country with an infrastructure that cannot be rivaled by any other Caribbean island.  In every province, there are hotels and tourist attractions.  It is a clean, beautiful and safe place to travel.  Hotels range from one star to 6-star properties.  LIke other destinations, staying in high-end properties costs as much as any other foreign destination. Casas, private homes, are an option and are less in expense.  Now that there is US corporate interest on the island, rates for casas and hotels have in some cases quadrupled in nightly rates.  So when considering bargain shopping, it is a good idea to decide if you are going only to Havana or are you traveling to other locals.  The so-called bargain might be outweighed by your costs when you arrive.  Another consideration is where on the island you are staying.  If you are interested in visiting Santiago, this can require a twelve-hour drive or a round trip domestic air ticket that costs approximately $350 round trip.

What do your People-to-People Programs provide?

Tours include accommodations, tours, airport transportation, some meals, entrance fees and an English Speaking Guide.  Our programs can accommodate very small groups as well as larger groups.  The People to People Program is one of twelve licensed areas for travel to Cuba.  Afro Cuban Culture and History is our main focus and it is incorporated into the arts, Holistic Medicine, Education and Community Service projects.  Many of our programs are based in Central Havana and Matanzas however, we also work very closely with groups in Trinidad and Santiago as well as other provinces on the island.

Where do I purchase my visa?

At the airport on the day of departure.  US Carriers charge as much as $100 for the visa tourist card.  Our preferred air carriers (Copa and Aero Mexico) charge $20.  The choice is always yours.

How is the air carrier notified of my intention to travel to Cuba?

Kola Nut Travel creates an electronic document within our GDS system that in turn notifies the carrier.  A Cuba Travel Certification Document is created that the traveler takes  to the airport on the day of departure.  The form lists the travel category used while traveling in Cuba.

Airline Health Coverage vs Travel Protection Coverage?

US carriers offer complementary medical coverage with each airline ticket purchased.  The dollar amount of this coverage is approximately $300 and covers very little if there is an emergency.   This coverage meets the Cuban Government requirement for medical coverage.

Travel protection insurance covers the entire amount of your trip, flight delays, lost luggage, trip interruption, emergency evacuation, full medical coverage and much more.

Why are payments nonrefundable at the time of payment?

There are times when nonrefundable airline tickets must be secured immediately, there are also times when funds are wired to Cuba to secure your accommodations and/or tour program.  Once funds leave our office they become nonrefundable.  This is why travel protection coverage is so important.

Why is there a fee for using electronic payment applications?

Kola Nut Travel does not embed a credit card fee on most tours.  This means the cash cost is the lesser of the two different types of payments.   We advise our clients that if they choose to use PayPal or one of the other electronic payment programs, a fee ranging between 3.1% and 4%, depending on the credit card used will incur the electronic payment surcharge that goes directly to that particular service company.   Another way to avoid a fee for payments is through Zelle, a service that you set up at your bank to transfer funds to our account.  This service has no additional cost.