With the recent death of Fidel Castro and the easing of travel restrictions to Cuba by the United States, more and more Americans are considering a visit to the historic Caribbean Island.
While the travel ban to Cuba was eased by the Obama Administration in April of 2009, Americans can currently visit the island nation under a specific set of circumstances listed by usembassy.gov.
There are currently 12 allowed categories that permit travel to Cuba: Family travel, official government business, journalistic activities, professional research, education, humanitarian projects, private foundation activities, transmission of information, authorized export transactions and support for the Cuban people. All of these require a travel visa.
"Just the magic or the attraction of going somewhere we haven't been allowed to for over 50 years is really amazing,” travel agent Patricia Bean said. “And to see it now before all of the major hotels get in there and build properties, it'll be really amazing to see what it was like, because once they get in there, it's going to change it."
Before the travel ban was lifted in 2009, the United States embargo of Cuba had been under affect since February of 1962.