Looking for a new, cool destination for your travels? Or perhaps a unique spring break trip unlike any other? We talked to our local travel expert along with one of the first tour operators to start U.S. travel to Cuba.
“The island size speaks to it, you even have different climates in Cuba and of course the beaches are beautiful.”
Richard Davis is Ya’lla Tours is an expert on travel to Cuba. He was in town from Chicago visiting with our local travel expert, JoAnn Verboom, with Gagnon Travel. Verboom says for West Michigan residents, Cuba could provide that one-of-a-kind trip.
“Certainly, we’re interested in culture and history with a little beach on the side, if you’re looking for that bucket list trip, Cuba is definitely that.”
Rich’s tour group, Ya’lla Tours, was one of the first to received authorization from the U.S. government to take Americans to Cuba in 2002. And he says they remain one of the best bets do travel there, legally.
“There are 12 different licenses for you to travel to Cuba, some are more individual, without a lot of red tape and then ordinary citizens would go under religious or humanitarian.”
Rich says most people today, go under people to people license, which he says is restrictive. But, he says they use the humanitarian license, so they can help the Cuban people…
“We do not get involved with building or that type of missionary type work. Our w ork involves bringing items and delivering them directly to those people.”
And while Rich and JoAnn both say even though the humanitarian trip offers help to those who need, the trips still supply an opportunity to experience the culture and the beauty of the island. An added travelers note, if you do go, check with your cell phone company about your service and if it’s available and bring cash… Rich says American credit cards, are not accepted on the island.
