For a U.S. citizen how would you go about traveling to Cuba?

Well, your friend will be able to go directly from the USA if he has family in Cuba. If you plan on meeting them there then you can go through places like Canada, Mexico, DR, etc. Don't worry, Cuba doesn't stamp passports. But it's always good to make sure they don't by mentioning it to them. Here is a suggestion for Mexico: "When unlicensed travelers go to Cuba from the US they normally have to go through a third country. You will frequently see this referred to as the "Gateway" on various boards. The most common gateways to Cuba for unlicensed US travellers are Toronto, Montreal, Nassau (Bahamas), Cancun and Mexico City, and less frequently used Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) and Montego Bay. In most opinions Mexico and in particular Cancun are the gateways that offer the least risk of detection because: ** Unlike Canada and the Bahamas, a traveller leaving from Mexico does not pre-clear US Customs and Immigration. You will not clear Customs/Immigration until you arrive back in the US. In Canada and the Bahamas you will go through US Customs and Immigration at the airport in Toronto, Montreal or Nassau. ** Cancun is the most popular destination for US tourists in the Caribbean. There is absolutely no reason why US Customs/Immigration would suspect you have been anywhere else but Cancun. ** You can enter Mexico and re-enter the US using only a certified copy of your birth certificate and a government issued photo id, such as a driver's license (BC/DL) In other words you do not have to show US Immigration your passport upon re-entry to the US. Probably half or more of US tourists who travel to Cancun use this alternate form of identification as their travel documents. You should take the following steps in travelling back/forth: -Enter Mexico from the US using your BC/DL. -Mexico does not stamp passports on exit, although you will need a passport to enter Cuba. -Cuban Immigration does not stamp the passport at the present time, so do not worry about a Cuban stamp. -When you arrive back in Mexico from Cuba you will probably have to present your passport. The entry stamp that is placed there should be the only stamp you receive on your trip. Some people recommend presenting the passport with a $10 bill inside to avoid the Mexican entry stamp. If you use the BC/DL to re-enter the US this step is unnecessary. After you arrive in Mexico make sure you strip all HAV luggage tags from you checked baggage. Throw away your Cuban tickets, boarding passes and any other paper evidence of your Cuban trip. Do not list Cuba as a Country visited on the Customs Declaration form. Do not bring back any high profile Cuban souveniers like cigars, rum, t-shirts. Use your BC/DL when you clear Immigration in your arrival city. The fine by the way if you are unfortunate or careless enough to get caught can be negotiated down to $1000 or less. ------------ Read the links to more info: http://www.cuba-junky.com/cuba/vamos_UStravelinfo.htm http://www.cubatravelusa.com/FAQ.htm http://www.cubatravelusa.com/Travel_Tips.htm Have a great trip!

And for the person who thinks that US Customs has anything to do with "pre boarding " any flights from Canada, to ANYWHERE, except the USA, give your head a shake........ The ONLY destinations that are subject to US customs pre boarding checks, in Canada, are the ones going to THE USA. Any other flight, going anywhere else is of no interest to US Customs officials. I really wish that people would use some common sense, when they write opinions here. Jim b. Toronto.

It's illegal for most Americans to go to Cuba. So you have to do it in a roundabout way. Go to Canada or Mexico and catch a flight from there. Ask not to have your passport stamped in Cuba (which I've been told they will willingly do) so you have no record of being there. If you are caught however, the fine is $10,000.

You have to use a third and fourth country. First go to Cancun because Mexico doesn't give you an exit stamp, next Havana, then Dominican Republic for an entry stamp which makes it look like you left mexico directly for DR with no evidence of a Cuban layover in-between. Finally, back to the USA. Also, Cuba will not stamp your passport; pick-up a Cuban tourist card in Cancun Airport check-in counter. They'll stamp the tourist card like a passport page. Throw that away once you leave to dispose of evidence and don't bring anything back like Rum and Cigars. This is the best way to do it because none of those places have US Customs pre-screens. Don't go through Canada, Jamaica or the Bahamas because they have US Customs there for Pre-screening. That's where the few people who do get caught, get caught. Mexico and the Dominican republic are not going to share passenger manifests like Canada and Bahamas.

If you are asking me, I would wait until the evil brothers are no more among the living

Not a very good idea at the moment, but if you insist, contact a travel agency