Cuba Travel In this service, Common Ground provides airline and charter airline tickets to and from Cuba and within Cuba, hotel accommodations, transportation, guide services, lectures, visits, academic and cultural programs and meals, for both specialized and generalized tours of all cities and provinces of Cuba. It cannot under U.S. regulations provide tourist services, though it does provide cultural and historical site visits and tours to qualified travelers.

In addition, it provides passport, visa and other consular-related services to Cuban-Americans and provides visas either directly issued from its office or processed through its office with the Cuban Consulate in Washington and authorized visa services in Cuba. Additionally, it provides retail domestic and international air carrier, car rental and hotel services to its individual clients and groups in relation to Cuba travel. It also provides retail services for leisure and business travel for group and individual clients and referrals to other, non-Cuba destinations.

Merri Ansara

Merri Ansara is director and founder of Common Ground. She traveled and worked in Cuba beginning in 1969 as a journalist, translator, urban planner and teacher. She has a master’s degree in Public Administration and Regional Planning and is a former college Academic Advisor. Merri is responsible for program development and planning at Common Ground.

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Inés Sonsino

Inés Sonsino makes all arrangements for individuals traveling to Cuba. She is originally from Buenos Aires, and has more than 20 years experience in the travel business.

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Philip Dixon and Jen Jaynes

Philip Dixon and Jen Jaynes are our group specialists. Philip was born in Texas and grew up in Madrid. He is also responsible for initiating our program of visits with the Council of Churches in Cuba. Jen Jaynes is from Belmont, MA and is an expert in medieval history as well as database management. Philip and Jen are responsible for group travel arrangements to Cuba.

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Imías Ramírez

Imias Ramirez is responsible for passport and visa applications, and is the Administrator at Common Ground. She is of Cuban and Arab descent and is a native of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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Laura Sitkin

Laura Sitkin is Marketing Coordinator. Originally from Cambridge, Massachusetts, she has family in Cuba and travels there regularly. Laura works in program initiation and development and Common Ground website maintenance. Contact her for information about the latest upcoming trips to Cuba.

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Julio Castro and Margarita Hung

Julio Castro and Margarita Hung are our accounting department. Julio is from Peru and specializes in financial analysis and Margarita is from Venezuela and is in charge of accounting.

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