Upcoming Trips

Afro-Cuban Women Today: In Their Own Voices, etc.

Dance Cuba!

Education in Cuba

Short Term & Long Term Study in Cuba

Plan a trip for indiviuals to Cuba

Step 1
Read the Restrictions and fill out an Affidavit and application

Read the Travel Restrictions, fill out a Travel Affidavit. As all citizens and residents whether temporary or permanent are considered to be subject to U.S. jurisdiction, you must travel under one of the categories of people allowed to travel to Cuba.  If you are a resident or citizen of another country, not the United States, and traveling from that country, Common Ground by terms of its own license still must require a Travel Affidavit attesting to travel under General or Specific license.

Para pasajeros o nacido en Cuba o visitando familia en Cuba, favor leer primero la pagina en español con información sobre visitas familiares.

Fill out an Application from Common Ground and return with a copy of your passport (valid at least 6 months beyond dates of travel and clearly legible). This information allows us to issue your visa. If you need a press, academic or scientific visa, please contact Common Ground as soon as possible to avoid delays.
If you are traveling with a specific license, send a copy of all pages of the license together with an original letter from the licensed institution authorizing the use of the license, with the your name, the license number, and your dates of travel.

Students

All students should read the U.S. Treasury Department guidelines regarding academic travel and consult with their university department, international studies department,  provost or other administrative office.  As of 2011, university students may travel to Cuba for purposes of study towards their graduate or undergraduate degree for any length of time, provided that they have authorization from their university and a letter verifying that credit towards their degree will be granted for their time and study in Cuba. 

Conferences

Current guidelines from the U.S. Treasury Departrment limit the conferences that may be attended under General License and require a specific license or are prohibitted in most instances.  Read the U.S. Treasury Department guidelines. OFAC does not consider attendance at a conference to qualify as research.  See the OFAC ruling on this matter. 

Step 2
Send Affidavit and Application to Common Ground

Return a copy of the Travel Affidavit with your original signature and an Application with a clear photo copy of your passport (valid at least 6 months beyond dates of travel) to Common Ground. Common Ground can not release travel documents without these forms with original signatures.

Step 3
Choose your flights

We book flights from all departure points to Cuba. Please note different charter companies fly on different days; mixing charter companies results in having to purchase two one-way tickets (higher fare than one round trip) and is not permitted by all charter companies. Please contact us for details.

Departure Point	Frequency	Book flight
Miami	Several flights daily to Havana and weekly or 2x week to other cities	Reservation forms
New York	Weekly flights Sunday to Sunday
Montreal	Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Saturday – schedule varies with season	contact us
Toronto	Friday, Sunday – schedule varies with season	contact us
Mexico City	Daily	contact us
Cancun	Daily	contact us
Los Angeles	Currently none scheduled
Nassau, Bahamas	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday	contact us

From the east coast of the U.S. the most popular departure point is Miami.  From the west coast, either flights from Cancun or Mexico City or a red-eye to Miami work well.  Other departure points are Montreal, Toronto, Nassau (Bahamas), Montego Bay and Kingston, and Panama City.  Please contact us with questions and for more information about flights.

Flights can be booked on charter planes from the U.S. and regularly scheduled flights on airlines such as Cubana de Aviacion, Air Canada, Copa Airlines from non-U.S. cities connecting to Cuba.  Arranging travel to Cuba from Miami is an exercise in “hurry up and wait”.   Flights are opened for booking sometimes just a month prior to the month of travel, only to be booked up immediately.  The best course of action is to get all your paperwork to us as quickly as possible, even if you may have to adjust the dates later, so that we can try to get you your first choice of dates and times.  And then be prepared to have some flexibility.

Step 4
Book accomodations and transportation

Common Ground books all hotels throughout the island.  The majority of hotels that we recommend are 3*, 4* and 5*, with some truly budget hotels that we recommend as well.  All of the hotels we book have private bathrooms and air conditioning, and breakfast is usually included.   The best way to decide on a hotel is to read one of the many fine guidebooks on line.  Here are links to just a few:  Cuba-Junky, Frommers, Lonely Planet, Moon Handbook.  You can also go to Cuban hotel chains directly:  Habanaguanex, Islazul, Grand Caribe, Melia.  And of course you can ask us and we will make recommendations based on the city and area of the city in which you wish to be and your budget. 

Choose a hotel (or ask us for a recommendation), car rental, or book other transportation in Cuba if necessary. We can make reservations for you at any hotel on the island. Stay tuned for a list of hotels. In the meantime, our staff has first hand knowledge about hotels and can make recommendations.

Common Ground can arrange for your car rental in Cuba. Prices range between $45 and $75 per day, depending on model and number of days. Please contact us for hotel prices and more information

Step 5
Receive invoice and make payment

Invoice

You will receive a detailed invoice for your trip explaining all your services, costs, and the cancellation policy. Payment is due upon receipt of invoice. Note that late fees may apply for late reservations or late payments.

Make Payment

Make payment by cash or check, or complete the credit card authorization on your invoice and return by fax (413-529-1119).  Note that personal checks cannot be accepted within 10 days of date of departure. Common Ground sends all documents by 1 day or 2 day expedited mail service with your account number or credit card number to ensure safe delivery of all your travel documents. If you prefer, you may pick up your documents in our office. At this stage, Common Ground must also have in hand original copies of all travel documentation: Travel Affidavit, Letter of Authorization (if specific icense), Flight Reservation Form (if required). No documents can be released until Common Ground has original signatures on file for these forms

Step 6
Receive your travel documents, and you're on your way to Cuba!

• Connecting airline ticket to departure point if confirmed and purchased directly from Common Ground
• Charter or other Cuban airline ticket Land services voucher · Insurance voucher
• Copy of legal documentation establishing qualifications for permitted travel to Cuba
• Visa
• Emergency Contact Information
• Map
• Tips on Travel to Cuba