Preparing for your trip
| Package: | Havana International Jazz Festival 2025 |
Print this page and refer to it as you prepare for your trip!
Printed Dec 12, 2024. Please visit https://staging.friendlyplanet.com/before-you-go/?tourId=1944 for the latest updates.
Checklist
| Item | Due | |
|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Ensure you have a current passport valid for at least six months after your return date. | ASAP |
| ☐ | Passport Pages. Ensure you have enough empty pages in your passport as per the entry requirements at your destination | ASAP |
| ☐ | Complete your registration. You'll receive a link to the registration form after you complete your booking. | Within 5 days of booking |
| ☐ | Request any additions or changes you may still want to make to your trip. (Fees and/or additional charges may apply.) | 75 days prior to travel |
| ☐ | Make your final payment, if any balance is due. | See your invoice |
| ☐ | Obtain required travel visas and review any requirements for entry. | See below |
| ☐ | Print your itinerary and other final documents, which we will send you via email by 14 days prior to travel. | Prior to travel |
| ☐ | Print your policy documents, if you purchased travel insurance, and carry them with you. | Prior to travel |
| ☐ | Enroll in The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), if you're a U.S. citizen or national, so the State Dept. can locate and assist you in case of an emergency. | Prior to travel |
In addition, if you booked flights with your package:
| Item | Due | |
|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Book connecting flights to your departure city, if necessary. (Please confirm your international flight schedule first!) | After receiving your e‑tickets |
| ☐ | Make advance seat reservations for your international flight, if you have a preference. | After receiving your e‑tickets |
| ☐ | Confirm your flight times and any special meal requests with the airline, and print and carry a copy of your e-ticket. | 72 hours prior to travel |
| ☐ | Check in for your flights online and download/print your boarding passes (if available). | 24 hours prior to travel |
| ☐ | Arrive at the airport, ready for the trip of a lifetime! | 3½ hours prior to departure |
Documents & Entry Requirements
Entry requirements are provided for your convenience. However, unless otherwise stated, it is your responsibility to determine the requirements that apply to you and your trip and to comply with them, including obtaining any necessary visas or other travel documents by the required deadlines and carrying them with you. Especially with COVID-19, requirements are subject to change, so check back for the latest before you depart.
Cuba Entry Requirements
Advice from Friendly Planet
Under current U.S. law, travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens and residents for tourism is prohibited. However, there are several forms of authorized travel, including "Support for the Cuban People." Travel to Cuba is regulated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
For U.S. passport holders, born in the USA, we will pre-arrange your Cuban Tourist E Visa, and the e visa fee is included in your package price.
If you were born in Cuba, regardless of your citizenship, you must apply for a visa directly from the Cuban Embassy. Please notify us when you book if this applies to any travelers in your party.
Advice from our partner Sherpa
General Requirements & Guidelines
- In general, you must have a passport to travel abroad, which should be valid for at least six months after your return date. Passports expiring before then should be renewed as soon as possible. Passports contain at least 2 blank pages for each country visited. If your passport does not have this many pages, obtain a new passport as soon as possible.
- if your passport and visa are not in order, airlines and cruise ships may deny boarding, countries may deny entry, and your trip may be disrupted. Travel insurance may not cover such losses.
- Any changes in names or passport information should be reported to us immediately. Airlines and cruise ships may deny boarding if the name on your passport does not match your tickets.
- Minors (age 17 or younger) departing and/or returning to the U.S. without parents or with only one parent may be required by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) to present a notarized parental consent letter and/or unabridged birth certificate (more information). Many other countries have similar entry requirements, especially for minors traveling with a parent/guardian with a different surname; check with the consulates of all countries you'll be visiting to learn more.
Final Documents
Your final travel documents will be sent to you via email by 14 days prior to departure. These will include your daily itinerary, hotel and emergency contact information, and other relevant information. Please print your documents and take them with you. If you're departing in less than a week and haven't received your documents, let us know immediately!
Travel Insurance Documents
If you purchased travel insurance, please print and carry your policy documents, including contact information for emergency travel assistance and instructions on how to make a claim. If you purchased the travel protection plan we offer, we recommend you print the full policy.
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
We encourage all U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This free service allows you to receive important updates about safety and security issues in your destination, and makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy, as well as family & friends, to contact you in case of an emergency. To enroll or get more information, please visit the STEP website or any U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Flights, Transfers & Arrival
Questions about your flights before you depart? Read the information below first. If you still have questions, contact our air specialists at
Tour Only Option
If you purchased this package without flights, you are responsible for booking your own flights in and out of Havana, Cuba. The touring program will begin at the hotel in Havana on Day 1 and end on Day 6 of the listed itinerary. After you book your flights, please send us a copy of your flight itinerary for our records. Generally, hotel check-in is at 3:00 PM and hotel check-out is at 11:00 AM.
If you purchased this package without flights, transfers are generally not included. In most cases, private transfers are available for an additional fee; contact us for price and availability. Or you may instead arrange your own ground transportation to the touring program start and end points, usually the first and last hotels listed in the itinerary.
Find out what to do in case of arrival complications.
Flights & Tickets
If you selected flights with your package, we generally book your flights and issue tickets after your final payment due date.
If you requested flights from another city, our air specialists will research the best options and send you a tentative flight schedule and quote for your approval within 5 business days of your booking (or approximately 330 days prior to travel, if you booked further out than that).
Once we have issued your tickets, we'll send you an "e-ticket receipt" which contains all of your flight information, including times, carriers, an airline booking reference number, and an e-ticket number. If you have not received this, or have questions about the flights we booked for you, please contact our air department. You will not receive paper tickets. We recommend you print and carry a copy of your flight details, including the airline booking reference number and e-ticket number, as some airports require this to enter the terminal. You do not need to reconfirm your flights with the airline prior to your departure, as we will handle this for you.
Flight Schedule
If you selected flights with your package, you may review the sample flight schedule(s) below. This information is for general planning purposes. You will receive your actual flight schedule by email once we issue your tickets.
If you requested flights from another city, our air specialists will research the best options and send you a tentative flight schedule for your approval, and a confirmed schedule once we issue your tickets.
Airlines may change schedules at any time, even after flights have been confirmed, and we are not responsible for such changes. Please check for updates to your flight schedule prior to booking any connecting flights and again 72 hours prior to departure.
American Airlines (AA) Toll-free number is 800-433-7300.
Sample Flight Schedule
| DEPART | |||||
| Flight | From | To | Depart | Arrive | Flight Time |
| AA252 | Miami (MIA) | Havana (HAV) | 12:22 pm | 1:45 pm | 1.15 hrs |
| RETURN | |||||
| Flight | From | To | Depart | Arrive | Flight Time |
| AA1334 | HAV | MIA | 10:30 am | 11:50 am | 1.15 hrs |
| NOTE: Airlines, schedules, and flights are subject to change at anytime without notice. | |||||
Connecting Flights
If you need to fly from (and/or return to) a different U.S. or Canadian city, we suggest you request those flights from us. If feasible, we will try to book all your flights together with a single carrier or a partner network on a single ticket. This ensures that your luggage will be transferred between flights for you, and more importantly, that if there are any schedule changes, flight cancellations, or delays that affect your trip, the airline(s) will adjust your flights to ensure you have sufficient time to make your connections and/or make alternate arrangements to get you to your destination. Besides offering the most peace of mind, this often yields lower fares than purchasing separate connecting flights.
If you plan to purchase connecting flights to your departure city, we strongly suggest waiting until after your final payment due date and after you receive the e-tickets for your international flights, to reduce the chances that that your departure might be cancelled or rescheduled or that your international flight times might change. Before purchasing connecting flights, verify the times for your international flights. Leave at least 3½ hours connecting time between flights, and if you're traveling within a few weeks of Daylight Savings Time changes (in March and November, when flight schedules may change even more dramatically), allow 5–5½ hours between flights. Nobody likes waiting around the airport, but missing your flight is far worse!
Airport Transfers
If you purchased this package with flights, scheduled group airport transfers at the destination are included. When you exit customs, please look for our representative holding a Friendly Planet sign, who will escort you to your transfer vehicle and assist with your luggage.
If you purchased this package without flights, transfers are generally not included. In most cases, private transfers are available for an additional fee; contact us for price and availability. Or you may instead arrange your own ground transportation to the touring program start and end points, usually the first and last hotels listed in the itinerary.
Arrival Complications
We make every effort to ensure our tours run smoothly and trouble-free. We don't expect any problems, and nor should you. But when things don't go as planned, here's what to do:
- You miss your flights, or your flights are cancelled: Please call us immediately. If it's outside our normal business hours, leave a message in our emergency mailbox, with a phone number at which to reach you, and we'll get right back to you.
- Your flights are delayed and you're worried about missing your included transfers: Please contact us to let us know about the delay, and we will notify our partners in destination. If you are arriving on one of our group flights, or booked your own flights and supplied us with the details, our partners will be tracking your arrival and will plan accordingly.
- Your package includes transfers, but you can't find our representative at your destination: Don't panic—they may have been unexpectedly delayed. Wait up to 30 minutes. Then contact our local partners in destination, listed on the emergency contact page of your final documents. If you can't reach them, call us. If it's outside our normal business hours, leave a message in our emergency mailbox. If all else fails, make your own way to the starting hotel (or cruise port), and we'll refund you the cost of your transfer.
Packing & Luggage
Baggage allowance: Baggage fees must be paid at airport: $30 for 1st checked bag weighing no more than 50 pounds total, per person for each flight. Carry-ons are not included in the total weight. Your carry-on luggage should not exceed 22” x 14” x 9”. Your carry-on luggage must fit under your seat or in the overhead compartment. In addition to your carry-on, you may also have one personal item, such as a camera bag or purse.
Learn more about Baggage Allowances on your international flights. Note that our baggage allowances may be less than those for your international flights. If you exceed the baggage limits, you may be subject to excess baggage charges levied by the airlines and/or by Friendly Planet.
Regardless of the limits—we recommend a smaller size and weight for both your checked and carry-on bags. It's so much easier and faster for you to get around when you have fewer, lighter bags! For your carry-on, consider a soft-sided bag such as a duffel rather than a hard clamshell-type case, which may not fit as easily into overhead compartments or under your seat, especially on buses. For your protection, we suggest your checked luggage have a TSA-approved lock.
Luggage tags: For your safety, we are no longer mailing Friendly Planet luggage tags to you. We encourage you to use your own. Fill in the luggage tags with your name and contact information and attach to each bag, including carry-ons and camera cases, so that your luggage can be identified should it get misplaced during your trip.
What to pack: Check out our list of top 10 must-haves for international travel, as well as what not to pack. Pack smart: put your travel documents, medications, one change of clothing, and other essentials in your carry-on, in case your checked baggage is misplaced. And pack light, for your own comfort and convenience. For clothing, we suggest packing a variety of separates with climate and comfort in mind.
What not to pack: U.S. law forbids you to carry hazardous materials aboard aircraft in your checked or carry-on baggage or on your person, including explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids & solids, loaded firearms, poisons, corrosives and radioactive materials. Common examples include paints, lighter fluid, fireworks, mace/tear gas and oxygen bottles. Restricted materials may vary by airline and destination. Some items, in quantities of no more than 70 ounces total, may be carried within baggage, including medicinal or toilet articles such as hairspray, perfume and certain medicines that are necessary during your journey. Please check with the airline and/or visit the FAA website prior to travel if you have any questions.
While on Tour
What to Expect
This fast-paced, escorted program includes a reasonable amount of walking and requires an average level of physical fitness. Be advised that the Jazz Festival concerts and events begin at 9PM.
In General: Cuba is an exciting and adventurous destination with a rich history, delicious cuisine, and music from various genres that could make anyone dance! Since Cuba is located in the Caribbean, the infrastructure may not be up to U.S. standards. Cuba has a long way to go before its hotels, highways, public restrooms and other features reach U.S. levels. However, we do our very best to select the highest quality accommodations, restaurants and paladars that Cuba has to offer. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding when you encounter a minor imperfection. If you have any medical or dietary concerns, please be sure to inform us in a timely manner, so we can take necessary precautions to assure your comfort and well-being.
Gifts for the Cuban People: Many travelers to Cuba like to bring gifts for the Cuban people. It’s true that there is a need for essential products. However, distribution of gifts is complicated, and most likely, you will not be able to present these gifts yourself. If you would like to bring gifts for the Cuban people, the following items are recommended:
- Toothbrushes
- Notebooks
- Mechanical pencils, extra lead and erasers
- Band-Aids
- Art supplies
- Washable markers
- Crayons
- Tee shirts (children’s small – large)
- Masks
- Toiletries, such as hand sanitizers and soap
- Medications, such as analgesics and anti-parasitics
- Disposable medical items, such as gloves
- Diabetes test kits
Your guide will collect the gifts and distribute them on your behalf. You do not need to include any of these items on your customs declaration when you arrive in Cuba.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please refer to any items that you bring for the Cuban people as “gifts” and not “donations.”
Remember that you're a guest in someone else's homeland, and that you're traveling to experience their country and culture. Be sensitive to local customs and manners, as many things may be done differently than what you're used to. And while we have made every effort to secure modern and comfortable accommodations and transportation, please note that the standards in other countries may be different from those you are accustomed to at home. Overall, you will find a polite, positive, patient, and open-minded approach generally yields the best travel experience!
Please keep in mind that you'll be traveling with a group. Sharing your explorations with like-minded folks can often be a source of joy, and some of our travelers become lifelong friends. But traveling with strangers can also sometimes be challenging, especially in a foreign country. We ask that you be patient and respectful with your fellow travelers, including their needs and preferences. Also remember that you have responsibilities to the group—please be prompt for group activities so you don't keep everyone else waiting. Lastly, please defer to your tour leader, guide or manager. They are there for your safety and wellbeing, and to ensure the journey goes smoothly for everyone. If you have a problem with one of our tour guides or managers, please let us know, either while you're on tour or after you return, and we'll make sure your concerns are addressed.
Accommodations
Hotel Grand Aston La Habana does not accept cash payments, in any currency, nor does it accept credit cards issued through US financial institutions. For any incidentals, beverages at a bar, or non-included meals, guests must purchase a Cuban MLC (Moneda Libremente Convertible) debit card, valid only in Cuba. It can only be obtained at the CADECA and your guide will provide you with details upon arrival.
Eating & Drinking
The meals included with your package are listed in the itinerary.
Tap water in Cuba is not potable. Only drink water from sealed bottles. Two bottles of water per person per day are included in your tour package. If you would like to purchase additional bottles of water, ask your guide for assistance.
Non-Included Meals: We suggest dining at a paladar for non-included meals. Paladares are small, privately-owned restaurants. Common dishes include meat and/or fish and a variety of fresh vegetables, as well as rice and beans. In Havana, more and more paladares are opening with expanded menus featuring options such as sandwiches on hearth baked breads, salads and other popular American-style foods. Not only is dining at a paladar a great way to experience the incredible Cuban cuisine, it also helps support local Cuban businesses. Payment should be made in cash; credit cards are not widely accepted.
Please see above for special meal requests.
Tipping
You will be traveling through Cuba in the company of professionals who are very committed to making your tour the dream vacation you are counting on. These people feel great pride in being given a chance to show foreign visitors their country. If your guide, driver, and others with whom you are traveling are doing a good job, please take our suggestions for tipping seriously. Naturally, tipping is personal, and if you have not received good service, your tip should reflect this fact. The recommended amounts are as follows:
- Cuba Guide: $50 USD per person for the entire trip
- Driver: $35 USD per person for the entire trip
- Casa staff/housekeeping: $1-$2 per person per night
- Airport transfer drivers: $2 per person each way
- Taxi drivers: 10% of the fare
- Local restaurant musicians: $2 per event
- Bartenders: $1 per drink
- Attendants at public restrooms: 50 centavos per person
Important: In addition to the tip suggestions above, which are completely discretionary, tips for representatives/hosts at various sites, venues and museums visited on your tour, as well as the wait staff at restaurants/paladars for included meals are not included in the program cost. For your upcoming tour, the costs of these tips amount to $30 per person. To pay these fees, we kindly ask you to bring with you that same amount, $30 per person, in U.S. dollars and in very small bills. It’s best to bring half the amount in single dollars and the rest in $5 and/or $10 notes.
In Cuba, cash must be unblemished. This means no writing on the bills, no tears, and no stains of any kind. In fact, please bring new or almost new bills with you for these fees and for all expenses not covered by your tour, such as extra meals, souvenirs, and discretionary tips.
We will take care of paying the costs for these experiences for you as you travel. You will receive a special envelope prior to your departure, together with your visas. We ask that you place the amount indicated in this envelope, seal it, and write your name(s) on the front. Your guide will collect this envelope from you and will disburse the funds on behalf of your group as you travel.
We realize this is an unusual request, but today, payment for many services for US citizens visiting the island can only be made in cash. To comply with the realities of the Cuban economy while sparing you from having to pay small amounts of money to the various activities and projects as you travel, we have developed this plan.
Please do not give money, candy or gifts on the streets while touring. If you wish to bring gifts to support the Cuban people, please refer to our gift suggestions below.
Independent Activities
This itinerary provides a fulltime schedule of activities that will result in meaningful interactions between you and individuals in Cuba. U.S. law requires that all persons who participate in this program adhere to this full-time schedule and it imposes on Friendly Planet the obligation to ensure such adherence.
Special Needs & Requests
Please see above for special meal requests and seat requests. If you have any other special requests, including wheelchair or electric cart assistance, please mention your request when you book with an agent, or in the special requests section when you book online. We will do our best to accommodate them!
Country FAQs
Cuba Fast Facts
| Overview | Capital: Havana |
| Health Precautions & Vaccinations | Before visiting Cuba, it is recommended that you are up to date on all your routine vaccines (measles, mumps, tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine etc) You may need to get the following vaccinations and medications for vaccine-preventable diseases and other diseases you might be at risk for at your destination: Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid and Rabies. |
| Weather | The weather in Cuba is humid and tropical. The warmest month of the year is July, when the temperature averages about 85° F. The coldest month of the year is January, when the temperature during the day averages about 70° F. The rainy season lasts from May through October, and the driest months are from November to April. |
| Dining | Cuba’s communist government continues to impact agricultural production. But despite the lack of varied fresh ingredients, great meals can be found across the nation! Many traditional Cuban dishes are fried or roasted, and the main staples of the locals’ diet consists of chicken and pork accompanied by moros y cristianos (white rice cooked in black beans). With the explosion of paladares, or private restaurants, opening across the island, Cuba is experiencing a bit of a culinary renaissance. Must-savor Cuban dishes include ropa vieja (marinated braised lamb or beef), pudin (similar to flan), Cuban coffee (strong and sweet, espresso style), tres leches cake and to finish it off - an authentic mojito (a traditional Cuban cocktail made of rum with mint, sugar and lime)! |
| Money & Credit Cards | Currently, the Cuban peso (CUP) is the predominant currency in Cuba. However, we suggest you bring cash in US Dollars which are readily accepted in Cuba. U.S. travelers will need to bring sufficient cash for the entire trip. Take into consideration all the extras for which you’ll need cash, such as non-included meals, taxies, souvenirs, and guide and driver tips. Credit cards and debit cards issued by U.S. banks cannot be used in Cuba. Due to the official embargo, U.S. issued debit/credit cards are not recognized by Cuban banks. Always notify your bank prior to departure to avoid any problems using your credit or debit card abroad. Always notify your bank prior to departure to avoid any problems using your credit or debit card abroad. |
| Shopping | Bring home more than a postcard from your travels in Cuba! Wander the open-air markets, artisan workshops, and stores to pick up mementos that will help you remember how unique Cuba is: fine art and sculpture, expertly crafted musical instruments, and Soviet Union era antiques. You can also enjoy Cuban cigars and rum while in Cuba. Effective September 24, 2020 authorized U.S. travelers are no longer permitted to return to the US with alcohol and/or tobacco products acquired in Cuba. For more detail see U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection. |
| Electricity & Power Adapters | 110 and 220 volts. Plugs A & B; C & L. We recommend that you bring an adapter/converter along with you as not all hotels will have 110 volt (A&B plugs) outlets. Learn more about electrical standards around the world. |
| Cell Phones & Internet | Want to take your cell phone, tablet or laptop, but not sure how to get cell service or wifi? Read up on using your cell phone abroad and the 5 ways to get Internet abroad. |
| Did you know? |
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Fine Print
Terms & Conditions: Please review our terms & conditions for this package.
Cancellations: If something comes up and you need to cancel your trip, please let us know as soon as possible. All cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellation fees vary by package; please see the cancellation fees for this package.