New U.S.–Cuba travel regulations have made it easier for Americans to visit Cuba and spend money there than it has been for more than a half-century. But you’ll still have to jump through a few hoops.
As in the past, Americans must travel to Cuba for one of 12 authorized purposes, including family visits, journalistic activities and humanitarian work. Under the new law, however, travelers no longer have to apply for a specialized license from Uncle Sam. Rather, indicating the purpose of your trip is as easy as signing an affidavit. “It’s essentially self-policing,” says Christopher P. Baker, a Cuba travel expert and author of the guidebook Moon Cuba. “If you believe you fall into one of those categories, you can check a box and go.”
Once you get there, you’ll no longer be bound by the $179-per-day spending limit for Americans. And you may now bring back up to $400 in Cuban goods, including up to $100 worth of rum and cigars. U.S. credit card companies are getting in on the action; MasterCard began allowing transactions in Cuba in March. But it remains to be seen how efficiently Cuban businesses will be able to process credit card transactions.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
For now, conventional tourism is still prohibited. The broadest category is so-called people-to-people educational trips, which are open to all U.S. citizens and are typically organized through travel companies. Even so, you’ll have to keep records of your trip for at least five years to prove that you weren’t relaxing on the beach all day. It’s unclear, however, how closely the U.S. Treasury Department will monitor American visitors’ movements.
Opening the island to American tourism will be a gradual process, as airlines work out agreements with aviation authorities and hotel capacity expands. A decade from now, though, vacationing in Cuba could be as no-fuss as a trip to Miami Beach.
-
Snowbirds: Avoid These 3 Sneaky Insurance IssuesBefore snowbirds depart for their winter retreat, they should check their insurance coverage for surprises that might arise, or else be on the hook for repairs.
-
Hang in There With This Value FundPatience is required for investors in the Dodge & Cox Stock Fund, but its long-term outperformance proves it's worth the wait.
-
Why It's Worth Booking a Winter VacationTravel Smart In the early months of the year, travel demand dips — and so do prices.
-
5 Ways to Save on a Trip to the 2026 Olympics in ItalyA guide to going to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics without breaking the bank.
-
The Best (and Worst) Airlines for Flight Delays and CancellationsWhich airlines should you book and which should you avoid if you want to make it to your destination on time?
-
Four Luxury Spa Resorts for Well-Heeled TravelersWe hand-picked these U.S. luxury spa resorts for their serenity, amenities and dedication to the comfort of older travelers.
-
Child-Free Cruises Perfect For Your Retirement CelebrationHow to find a bespoke ocean or river vacation for adults. Many of these options are smaller, charming river cruises, expeditions, or niche experiences.
-
Noctourism: The New Travel Trend For Your Next Trip"Noctourism" is a new trend of building travel and vacations around events and plans that take place at night. Take a look at some inspiring noctourism ideas.
-
My Husband and I Retired at 67 With $3.2 Million, But He's Frugal About Travel. How Can I Convince Him to Loosen Up?We asked financial planning experts for advice.
-
Cruise Lines Sue to Block Hawaii’s New Climate Tourism TaxState Tax Your vacation to the Aloha State could come at a higher price tag next year. Here’s why.
