Taking Thai Wife to Cuba

[malct]

As anyone taken their Thai wife who is on a IIR to Cuba. I understand you need a entery Visa that you apply for from the Cuban embassy in London, But i remember the last time i went to Cuba, it was a lot of questions and felt under pressure.

[theoldgit]

As this clearly isn't about visa free travel, I've opened a new thread.

[7by7]

From the Cuban embassy in London.

1. TOURIST VISA CARDS

Everyone wishing to enter Cuba as a Tourist is required to apply for a Tourist Visa-card. A tourist card is valid ONLY for leisure or recreational purposes. It is not valid for other travel purposes.

You may apply for a tourist card by post or in person. Personal applications should be made to The Cuban Consulate at 15 Grape Street, London WC2, between 9:30 and 12:30, Monday to Friday.

If you want a Tourist Card Application Form with full details sent to you by mail, send your request with a stamped addressed envelope (SAE) to The Cuban Consulate, 167 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6PA.

To obtain Tourist Card Application Form clic here.

If the purpose of your visit is other than tourism, see the appropriate section on that page.

[Jay Sata]

With all due respect 7by7 if you had read the OP question properly you will understand he has already been there and done it.

He does not need to read the info you have googled. We can all do that!

Cuba is a wonderful island and one if my favourites. Been there over a dozen times and never had a problem.

The first place I ever took my wife when she first arrived in the UK 15 years ago and I was a journalist but they did not prevent us having a wonderful time. Cuba produces more doctors per head of population than anywhere else in the world.

If you look at a lot of Latin America where the USA had a major influence they are now drug riddled basket cases compared to what Castro did with his little island.

You will have no problems with the embassy.

I have flown Virgin to Havana quite a few times from Gatwick.

I used them to do the visas to save time and hassle.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/travel-information/getting-into-the-country/cuban-visa.html

Who are you flying with?

Edited December 8, 2014 by Jay Sata

[craigt3365]

I've been to Cuba 3 times, and really enjoyed it. As with all places, there are pros and cons. I stay with friends and live in their homes. If not, then a casa particular. The government's repression of the population is horrible. They are treated very poorly.

Many tourists never get past the tightly controlled tourist enclaves like Varadero. And they are beautiful, but not the real Cuba. The locals are prohibited from entering. If you are out and about with one, it's not unusual for the local you are with to "disappear" from time to time. They know when they are being watched.

Listening to Son music in the old town of Havana is fantastic. As is the show at the Copacabana. Totally off topic, but just pointing out the island is not a paradise for all.

[Jay Sata]

I've been to Cuba 3 times, and really enjoyed it. As with all places, there are pros and cons. I stay with friends and live in their homes. If not, then a casa particular. The government's repression of the population is horrible. They are treated very poorly.

Many tourists never get past the tightly controlled tourist enclaves like Varadero. And they are beautiful, but not the real Cuba. The locals are prohibited from entering. If you are out and about with one, it's not unusual for the local you are with to "disappear" from time to time. They know when they are being watched.

Listening to Son music in the old town of Havana is fantastic. As is the show at the Copacabana. Totally off topic, but just pointing out the island is not a paradise for all.

I agree with you Craig but in some respects not a lot different from the rich in Thailand oppressing the poor country folk.

Hopefully the US embargo will co incide with Castro popping his clogs. However I would hate for it to become a Florida theme park.

[craigt3365]

I've been to Cuba 3 times, and really enjoyed it. As with all places, there are pros and cons. I stay with friends and live in their homes. If not, then a casa particular. The government's repression of the population is horrible. They are treated very poorly.

Many tourists never get past the tightly controlled tourist enclaves like Varadero. And they are beautiful, but not the real Cuba. The locals are prohibited from entering. If you are out and about with one, it's not unusual for the local you are with to "disappear" from time to time. They know when they are being watched.

Listening to Son music in the old town of Havana is fantastic. As is the show at the Copacabana. Totally off topic, but just pointing out the island is not a paradise for all.

I agree with you Craig but in some respects not a lot different from the rich in Thailand oppressing the poor country folk.

Hopefully the US embargo will co incide with Castro popping his clogs. However I would hate for it to become a Florida theme park.

No comparison to here. Night and day difference. When I was there, I saw the food stamps they get to live on. Meager to say the last. Close to impossible to get a job, and if you do, you might make $40 a month. If you are an accountant or a doctor. I bought some apples at a market and had to show my buddies sister how to eat it. She was 25 or so and had NEVER eaten an apple. I could go on and on...but again, off topic.

My wife's relatives are poor country folk. I've lived in the village before. Again, night and day difference.

[Jay Sata]

I guess we have seen it from different angles much like Laos and Burma.

Who did you fly with?

Did you take your Thai wife?

[craigt3365]

Jeez...can't help it. Here's a pic of me having dinner with my friend and his family. Here's how it works. First, I pay for everything. Something like $50 to feel 15 people or so, including booze.

First up is me, my friend, his sister and the father of the house. When we are done, the next group sits down. Only 1 table in the house, only one set of dishes/forks/spoons/glasses/etc for 4. Whatever we didn't finish on our plate, they just added to and kept eating. Next up with the lower level and younger people. Same procedure. Then the same again, and again until everybody had eaten.

At some point, we ran out of the good stuff. So the lower ones just have rice and beans. No meat, no seafood. Made me sick to me stomach I ate all the good food and they couldn't get any. None of these people have full time jobs. Nor farms to work, like here. Typical lifestyle of the poor in Cuba.

The other pic is of me and the olympic boxing champ. He's got his name and address in that pouch so people can help him get home. Quite sad.

The last pic is of my taxi. Since it's illegal for locals to be with foreigners, I had to wear a hat and sunglasses and slouch down while he was driving me around. Too funny as he tried to get me to act and look like a local. Impossible for this gringo to do! 555555

[craigt3365]

I guess we have seen it from different angles much like Laos and Burma.

Who did you fly with?

Did you take your Thai wife?

Being an American, it's difficult to visit Cuba independently. So, flew to Jamaica one time and transited from there. The other two times were from Mexico.

Cuba is too much fun as a single guy! 5555 I couldn't have gotten more attention if I was Tom Cruise walking down Broadway in NYC naked! 555555