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Travel to Cuba legally with New York art museum package
Travel to Cuba is still illegal for most Americans, but if you don't want to challenge the law or take your chances sneaking there and back, you can still arrange a visit. The Katonah Museum of Art, in Katonah, New York, has been authorized to lead a tour group to Cuba.
Participants on the trip, which is scheduled for January 17-23 of next year, will visit Havana and learn about Cuban culture through visits to museums, holy sites, and the homes and studios of 14 Cuban artists. The package costs $4,400 per person for double occupancy($4,600 for singles) and participants must also pay a $700 tax-deductible membership fee to the Katonah Art Museum. The price includes airfare from Miami to Havana, five nights at a five-star hotel in Havana, ground transportation, daily breakfasts and lunches, several dinners, all group activities and sightseeing, and insurance, taxes and visa fees.
Reservations for the trip must be made by October 19 and the Museum does expect the tour to sell out.
Gallery: The 10 most common foreign cities in which Americans are arrested
[via Matador Pulse]
Filed under: North America, Cuba, United States, News, Caribbean
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
bill Sep 13th 2009 3:09PM
Wow. $4,600.00 to stay in dingy unairconditioned filthy rooms from the 1930's and eat fried rat and baked dogmeat?
ammp Sep 13th 2009 3:45PM
Let's talk about an ignorant American. Not all places in Cuba are like that. I can agree that it's sad that Fidel Castro has reaped this nation of a lot of good things, but let's be serious. That's like saying america is one huge trailer park. Your comment may actually make others believe this.
SandhillsRider Sep 13th 2009 3:39PM
Instead of going against your governments laws, you could just write a big check and send it to Fidel so he can buy another jogging suit. "Just Sayin"
ED Sep 13th 2009 3:43PM
I know it is hard to believe but I have no interest in visiting this Socialist utopia.
ammp Sep 13th 2009 3:48PM
Ignorance. Why not experience a new culture? There culture and the people shouldn't be cast off like lepers. Hate Fidel, not the culture.
trashman Sep 13th 2009 9:12PM
I agree why travel to socialist regime when we are living in the making of one!
bill Sep 13th 2009 4:07PM
Ammp
"Fidel has reaped this nation of a lot of good things". Okaaay, so I'm ignorant and you're stupid. Let's do be serious. Learn to express yourself more carefully. What does a trailer park analogy have to do with 3rd or 4th world stature of Cuba? Cuba rivals only Hati for poorest country in Western Henisphere. Don't see too many people wanting to visit Hati. Now why is that?
ammp Sep 13th 2009 4:13PM
I'm the stupid one??? It's Haiti, not Hati. What does poor have to do with anything? Experiencing a new culture is a great thing. The whole world isn't America.
ammp Sep 13th 2009 4:21PM
We should be traveling to these countries to help them improve conditions. Why is that a war in iraq is okay because we're helping them and crap? but helping trying to rid Cuba of Fidel or helping Haiti is seen with passive indifference? All i meant to say was don't bash this museum for trying to educate people about a different way of life. Your comments are ignorant. I'm fifteen and blonde, and I've got more sense then you. Bravo!! My best friend is Haitian, and I know for a fact that even because it's a poor country doesn't mean they don't have a great culture. It hurts to see how ignorant you are.
BD Sep 13th 2009 4:37PM
"The whole world isn't America."
And thank goodness for that! How boring would that be?
BD Sep 13th 2009 4:45PM
Actually now that I think about it, I'm really glad that at 15 you understand that. I've been living in Europe for most of the past ten years but I'm American. There are a lot of really cool things about the states, and a lot of really beautiful places there, but there are a lot of amazing countries in the world with fasinating cultures and I hope you have the opportunities to experience them because it will give you a greater sense of the world and a better appreciation for the US. I couldn't give a rats a&& about what the haters say, if I was able to, I'd visit Cuba in a heart beat. Unfortunately I've already used up my holiday time so maybe next year. I'm not sure how I'd feel being stuck with an art tour though as I like to explore cities on my own rather than feeling like cattle.
JoeSixPack Sep 13th 2009 4:08PM
Since when does our creation (gov) tell the creator (us) that we don't have the freedom to travel where we wish? We are the citizens of the Empire and should be treated like Gods, not children without brains.
COREEN Sep 13th 2009 4:48PM
I have been to Cuba twice since Castro took over. I was impressed by several things:
1. No beggers
2. No homelessness
3. Freedom to travel. When we rented a car in 1999, we recieved a street map
to help us get around
4, Catholic churches everywhere
5. Medical Students attending the University from all over the world, including the
USA. Even non-Cubans were attending Medical School free of charge
6. Free Health care in modern, up to date health care facilities
7. Lots of medical research going on, including annual research conferences
attended by researchers from around the world, except the USA.
8. Extremely efficient systems
9. The beginnings of Free entertprise in privately owned Taxi Services and
restaurants.
My conclusion was that Castro welcomed the blockade--it gave him someone to
blame for any deficiency (although I did not observe many). But then, all politicians do this,
J. A. Perez Sep 13th 2009 6:07PM
Ahhhhhh....you forgot, lot of prostitute from 13 years and up.....and a lot cheap than the USA, that is why fat and smelly European are invading the Island to steal the morality, the youth and everything good about the cuban women: their beauty.
Thanks that to the Castro.
jashook Sep 13th 2009 8:04PM
I like to educate you.
I have been to Cuba twice since Castro took over. I was impressed by several things:
1. No beggers
most are in prison.
2. No homelessness
Also in prison.
3. Freedom to travel. When we rented a car in 1999, we recieved a street map
to help us get around
You should ask the average Cuban that doesn't belong to the Communist party if they are allowed to travel from province to province without having to show reason and traVEL PERMITS. Also, check out the neighborhood CDR's -- Committes for the Defence of the Revolution. Each block has one of these and they are very effective in reporting their neighbor's daily activities.
4, Catholic churches everywhere
Indoctrination against religious teachings was started when I was 9 years old and ended a few years ago.Cstro does not have anything to worry about from the religious front.
5. Medical Students attending the University from all over the world, including the
USA. Even non-Cubans were attending Medical School free of charge
Modern Communist indoctrination practices.
6. Free Health care in modern, up to date health care facilities
Yeah, my uncle died 20 years after I left the island, and I never saw him again, thanks to Castro's anti family policies. My mother did travel to take care of him in his last days on earth. Doctors had mis-diagnosed lung cancer and by the time they discovered it, it was too late. When my mother saw her brother, some 20 years later, he was dirty, unkempt, in a hospital that did not have any AC or screen windows. Furthermore, she had to go to the store for foreigners and buy toilet paper, because the hospital did not have any.
7. Lots of medical research going on, including annual research conferences
attended by researchers from around the world, except the USA.
8. Extremely efficient systems
9. The beginnings of Free entertprise in privately owned Taxi Services and
restaurants.
My conclusion was that Castro welcomed the blockade--it gave him someone to
blame for any deficiency (although I did not observe many). But then, all politicians do this,
Next time you go to Cuba, please try to see the things they won't show you, and when you put that nice juice steak in your mouth at dinner time, know that the average Cuban bare has anything to eat.
Mia Sep 13th 2009 4:52PM
I've read a few times, "Remember the whole world isn't America..." ----- Let me remind you, with all respect, that Cuba, as well as Mexico, Colombia and many others ARE AMERICA. The continent expands from Canada to Chile and Argentina and it includes the Antilles. America is not limited to the USA.
just for you Sep 13th 2009 6:16PM
mia, You may consider canada to argentin&chili part of america if you take the support of taxes,regulation,defence,and the many other differances we have. It still gives the rest of the world the usa to hate and collect money natural resorces and dope money from and want to destroy us.
BD Sep 13th 2009 4:53PM
Politics aside, $5,300 for Cuba doesn't sound right. Thats how much a tour I was looking at in Japan costs.
Japan!!!
During Cherry Blossom season!!!
I can't wait till they open up Cuba cause its certain it will get to the point where you can do that many days for less than $1000.
cb Sep 13th 2009 5:02PM
fly to the bahamas on jet blue direct from ny and then book travel through havana tours on bay street nassau ba and then off to cuba and they dont stamp american passports when entering cuba and enjoy for the third of the cost and a few cigars
Coreen Sep 13th 2009 5:00PM
In my previous comment I forgot one important change in Cuba since Castro took over. That is: Black Cubans are no longer banned from tourist spots. In 1999, a very dark skinned Cuban taxi driver told me that prior to Castro, he could take passengers to the Tropicana Night Club but he was denied entry because of the color of his skin . The Castro philosophy is that " A Cuban is a Cuban". There is no Spanish (white) Cuban or Afro (Black) Cuban. To him, that was a major change. It took the USA well past 1959 to learn that