No matter their political view on the current government of the island, most people who've visited Cuba agree there isn't another place in the world quite like it!
Lately, the country has been prominently displayed on headlines — from its medical achievements to the Obamas' historic visit and even Chanel's 2017 Resort fashion show. With this surge of interest and a loosening in the restrictions to travel to Cuba, you've probably seen your social media flooded with vacation photos from Havana. And if the gorgeous sights of the city have given you the travel bug, here are the basics you'll need for your trip, including a brief (but important) history lesson, travel prep tips, and a list of spots you cannot miss.
Cuba has kind of a lot going on. Here's the basic historical context: After breaking free from Spain’s colonial rule, Cuba was under various forms of US military control and US-backed leaders, like dictator Fulgencio Batista, until a popular uprising put Fidel Castro in power. After Castro assumed leadership in 1959 and a failed US-led Bay of Pigs invasion made relations worse, the US imposed a suffocating trade embargo in the island. This embargo severely diminished resources in Cuba (presently, that means everything from food to internet) and further isolated Cubans already facing limitations on their individual freedoms.
Alongside the embargo was a travel ban for Americans, which affected the largest Cuban population outside of Cuba (Cuban-Americans). This ban, unfortunately, paired well with Fidel’s discriminatory "exit visa" requirement, restricting the travel of Cubans who openly criticize the government. Now that Obama officially gave the thumbs up on transitioning the two countries from enemy to frenemy status, there is a palpable frenzy of Americans packing their bags and updating their Instagram to get there before it changes.
Whether you have an emotional connection to the place or seek a firsthand look at the complex politics surrounding Cuba, you should go. If you're thirsting for a Caribbean experience that isn't overrun with private beaches or de facto segregated tourism (where tourists and a country's residents don’t interact), you should go.
For me, a first generation (non-Cuban) American, Cuba is an idiosyncratic, vibrant, cultured, and incredibly beautiful place. There are things about Cuba, for better or worse, that I likely will never see again in my lifetime. For example, there are no advertisements anywhere in Cuba, and in their theoretical places are colorful socialist slogans and images of Che Guevara painted on billboards and the sides of buildings. There are interracial couples as far as the eye can see. The streets are filled with makers who have used every kind of upcycled material to create art, jewelry, and furniture. There are few homeless people. It’s one of the only places that I, a woman, can walk alone at night and not worry about my safety. And then, of course, there’s a big aesthetic pull for many: Americana nostalgia for classic cars from the '50s and a colonial backdrop. If you decide to travel to Cuba, proceed with the awareness that you are neither entering a wonderland, nor a museum.