Authorized travel. You can only travel legally to Cuba from the U.S. if you fit into one of 12 categories, and “tourist” is still not one of them. Prepare to self-certify that you fit into a proper category.Check havana.usembassy.gov to find out how.
Expect a warm welcome. Cubans are friendly and gregarious and love to engage with Americans.
Cash is king. It’s still virtually impossible to use American credit or debit cards in Cuba. So bring plenty of cash, which you exchange for convertible pesos.
Skip the hotels and use a service like Airbnb to reserve a room in a private home. You get a 
more authentic experience, the family gets hard currency, and you’ll participate in the concept of “empowerment through engagement.”
Professor Ted Henken (right) with Cuban friends.
Experience the paladares.Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cubans strapped for income have set up paladares, tiny, home-based restaurants. With recent reforms, the paladar phenomenon has grown. Recommended in Havana: L’Atelier, Doña Eutimia, Starbien, 304 O’Reilly, Decameron.
Vacationing offline.Internet access in Cuba is among the slowest and most expensive in the Western Hemisphere, even at luxury hotels. Try connecting at one of 35 WiFi hotspots in public plazas and parks.
