Cuba’s Missing Out on Asia’s Big-Spending Tourists

Cuba’s classic cars are a key attraction in Habana Vieja, or Old Havana


So you think travel to Cuba from the U.S. is a slog? Try flying in from Asia.

The flight times alone are a test of endurance, stretching over 40 hours if you’re jetting off in Sydney. In fact there’s not a single direct flight to the Caribbean island from the entire Asia-Pacific region.

That may help explain why you’re unlikely to spot hordes of Asian travelers whizzing down the streets of Havana in candy-colored classic cars or knocking back mojitos in the smoky jazz halls of Trinidad. Only four Asia-Pacific nations—China, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines—rank in Cuba’s annual list of major visitor sources. Put in perspective, Canadians outnumbered Chinese visitors 30 to one, according to Cuba’s 2016 tourism statistics.

That’s a missed opportunity. According to UN figures, Asia-Pacific tourists spent $473 billion on trips abroad that year, accounting for 40 percent of total international tourism expenditure in 2016. That type of cash could go a long way in helping Cuba meet its goal of tripling tourism revenues by 2030, as it strives to revive an economy straining under trade sanctions and U.S. President Donald Trump’s tighter travel restrictions.

Here are three key challenges Asia’s tourists face on the journey to Cuba.

A World Away

Distance and a lack of direct flights mean airfares to the Caribbean island can be steep. Return economy flights from Brisbane, Australia, to Havana, with at least two stopovers, range from $2,000 to $5,000, according to Dallas-based fare tracking firm FareCompare. Meanwhile, tickets from Hong Kong with one stop can set you back as much as $3,000—almost double the cost of flying to nearby Cancun, Mexico.

 Fancy a beach trip? Try idyllic Varadero, on Cuba’s northern coast.  Photographer: Jane Sweeney/AWL Images RM

Visa Issues

Some unhappy trekkers have found themselves stranded at U.S. or Mexican airport gates, where their long-haul flights might connect for onward travel to Havana. Unlike others boarding the same plane, many Asians are unable to travel with the usual pink-and-green tourist cards commonly available at airline desks.

Passport holders from India and the Philippines join 18 nations (Syria, Iraq, and Nigeria included) in needing a special passport sticker to enter Cuba. Procuring one isn’t easy: If you find yourself in a place without a Cuban consulate, such as Manila, it requires an additional trip to a neighboring hub to apply for the sticker in person. And if that neighboring hub is Beijing, you might even need to apply for a visa (to China) in order to get your visa (to Cuba).

A further caveat: If your flight is via the U.S., you must also get a permit from a U.S.-based consulate or airline. Agencies such as California-based Cuba Travel Services can handle visas by mail, though processing times run up to 30 days—during which time the agency will keep your passport in hand.

The National Capitol Building in Havana. Photographer: Eliana Aponte/Bloomberg

Lack of Marketing

“A lot of travel agencies aren’t focusing on the Asian market,” says Marla Recio Carbajal, the Cuban founder of luxury travel specialist Havana Reverie, which has been hosting corporate retreats, galas, private dinners, and fashion shows for clients since 2016. Due to their proximity, Cuba’s government has focused on luring tourists from Canada, Latin America, or Europe with cruise tours and package stays at beach resorts. “But because more Asians are coming, I think tour operators realize there is big potential there,” she says.

Of the 50 to 60 events Carbajal’s company hosts a year, only one has involved an Asian group, which flew in for a cigar festival. Havana Reverie plans to tap the Asian market with Chinese- and Japanese-language versions of her website.

“I do think [Cuba has] missed the Asian market,” says Collin Laverty, president of Cuba Educational Travel. “It’s gotten better, but not long ago it was a challenge to book a hotel room in Cuba, something that can be off-putting to someone considering flying across the world to visit.”

Still, there’s no shortage of Cuban attractions to entice those who live thousands of miles away. There’s no longer a shortage of great places to stay, either.

Relatively new on the scene is Kempinski Hotels’ 246-room Gran Hotel Manzana in the heart of Havana—the city’s standard bearer for luxury—while construction on Spanish hotel group Iberostar’s own five-star property, Grand Packard, is underway. Golf courses and resorts in the country’s wild agricultural west have also been planned. Don’t wait until they open to plan your trip. As it stands, there’s a rising crop of trendy restaurants, such as tapas restaurant Lamparilla 361 in Havana, plus plenty of charming bed-and-breakfasts to make the 40-hour trip worth it, all on their own.

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7 Things Every Teen Should Do In London

When I first went to London 11 years ago, I was fascinated by its beauty, liveliness, cultural diversity and rich history. I’ve since made many more trips there, each time learning more about — and discovering more of — the UK’s storied capital.
With its wide variety of free museums, unique shops and consistently vibrant atmosphere, London is a fantastic destination for travelers of all ages. Despite its fast pace, the level of safety and excellent public transportation system make it among the most youth-friendly places to visit. Here are a few experiences and activities I’d recommend to any teen visitor.

1. Stop by Shoreditch

Shoreditch, located in East London, is my favorite neighborhood. This hip and artsy community is home to restaurants, stores and some of the best street art in the city. Right next to the Shoreditch High Street station on the London Overground is Boxpark, a collection of one-off popup shops and cafés inside old shipping containers that’s a fun place to explore.
Head down the street to Brick Lane and go shopping for fantastic vintage clothes at Rokit and passion fruit chocolates at Dark Sugars. Don’t miss the Brick Lane Market each Sunday, when local vendors spill into the streets and Truman Brewery fills with food vendors selling Burmese, Chinese and Singaporean cuisine — Indian food in this neighborhood is also some of the best outside India.

Brick Lane comes alive every Sunday morning with its bustling market. Image by the author.

2. Explore Southwark

If you want to get away from the intense atmosphere of Piccadilly and Oxford Street, head across the Thames to Southwark, an ancient borough of London dating back to Roman times. The impressive Southwark Cathedral, a neighborhood icon, has a thousand-year-old history and is definitely worth a visit.

Inside the magnificent Southwark Cathedral. Be sure to have scones in the Refectory. Image by the author.

Next door is the equally old Borough Market, an excellent food market that’s been held since the year 1014. Visit year-round for inexpensive and authentic Ethiopian, Indian and contemporary English cuisine.
The neighborhood lies in the shadow of The Shard, Britain’s tallest building at over 1,000 feet tall . Its observation deck offers sweeping views of London in its entirety. Bring a jacket, though — the top floor is open-air and it gets windy up there!

Borough Market is home to some of London’s best street food. Image by the author.

3. Watch a Play at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre — for Five Pounds

While you’re in Southwark, be sure to walk along the Thames to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, a modern reconstruction of the original built in 1599. Faithful to its predecessor, the Globe still puts on Shakespearean plays almost every day.
A seat will set you back £20-£45 (~$25-$56; £3 or $4 off for minors), but the best way to experience a play at the Globe is to get standing room tickets. At £5 (or ~$6), they’re a steal, and bring you within a few feet of the actors — I got to see Antony and Cleopatra there that way, and the performers even interacted with the audience! Of course, after three hours of standing, my legs were killing me, but it was absolutely worth it.

Standing room tickets at the Globe will bring you up close with the actors. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

4. Traverse the City Like a Londoner

If it’s your first time here, scope out the city early on in your visit so you can get a feel of the atmosphere. One easy way to do this on a budget is to take a double-decker bus around town, which only costs £1.50 (~$1.86) or £2.60 ($3.23) if you aren’t paying with a refillable Oyster card. Many routes, like 15 and 9 (my favorite), will take you past sights like the Tower of London, Piccadilly Circus and Westminster Abbey. Be sure to ride on the upper deck and step off from the lower deck when you like what you see.
If riding a bus doesn’t appeal to you, you can also tour the town from the Thames, the river that gave rise to London and remains its vital artery. Catch the River Bus boat from many London piers for fantastic views of London’s riverside attractions, including Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the London Eye.
A quick side note about Oyster cards: save yourself some time and money by buying one on your first day in town, as the £5 (~$6) deposit will get you discounts on every kind of London public transport. Using an Oyster card is faster and cheaper than using paper tickets, and when you leave town, you can even turn it in and get your deposit refunded. Or if you’re coming back, keep it for next time — it’ll never expire!

5. Enjoy Some Fresh Air at Hampstead Heath

London is home to some fantastic green spaces, like Hyde Park and Green Park, but none offers an escape from the city quite like Hampstead Heath. This vast park, located along the northern outskirts, is conveniently accessible by the London Overground. While few tourists make the trip out, locals love Hampstead Heath’s decidedly rural atmosphere, and because the entire park is at an elevation, there are several lookout points with fantastic views of the city.

Hampstead Heath might not feel like London, but it’s just minutes from the city center. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

6. Walk from Trafalgar Square to Covent Garden

This walking route, my favorite in London, takes you through some of the city’s most famous sights. Start in Trafalgar Square, home to the National Gallery, which is definitely worth a visit — and is free to enter. Just across the street is St. Martin-in-the-Fields, a gorgeous 18th-century church where you can eat in the crypt’s café — just try not to think about the bodies buried in the floor!
Head down the scenic Strand, Britain’s most famous avenue and home to the famed Savoy Hotel, the Courtauld Gallery and the flagship store of Twinings Tea.
Turn left at Southampton Street and head straight until you get to Covent Garden. There, visit the fascinating Transit Museum (don’t forget to check out the gift shop), the Royal Opera House and the converted vegetable market, which now hosts various restaurants and shops, in the center of the square.

Trafalgar Square is the bustling epicenter of Central London. Image by the author.

7. Enjoy Afternoon Tea in a Historic Venue

A trip to London wouldn’t be complete without at least one afternoon tea and, lucky for you, there are hundreds of restaurants and cafés in the city offering the quintessentially British meal of fresh tea, finger sandwiches, pastries and scones. If you can convince your parents to splurge, tea at the Savoy Hotel’s Thames Foyer can’t be beat — the tea is bottomless and you’ll even get free refills on the pastries and sandwiches! A less expensive favorite of mine is at the Kensington Orangery, part of a palace that’s home to the British Royal Family, where tea is served with a lovely view of Kensington Gardens.

Afternoon tea in the Savoy Hotel’s Thames Foyer is a luxurious treat. Image by the author.

Bottom Line

Every time I’ve visited London, I’ve been dazzled by something new. There’s no single right way to explore this city of nearly nine million. The UK’s capital has many sides — it is at once traditional and cosmopolitan, ancient and modern. London is a living, breathing story, one that gladly invites travelers to stroll through its pages. You really can’t go wrong here, so pick a Tube stop, go there and spend an afternoon exploring.
What are your favorite things to do in London? Leave your tips in the comments below.

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5 Luxury travel hacks

1. Rent a lux house

Grab your mates, your extended family or multiple families and rent out a luxury house. The initial price may seem huge, but when you split it per person, it will often end up cheaper than staying in a cramped hotel.
Now you’ll feel like the rich and famous; you can all throw in to share food costs, which means you can go a little more deluxe with your food choices – don’t forget the champers and morning mimosas!
We stayed in a luxury house on the waterfront on the Gold Coast with 14 of my friends for my 40th.

2. Luxury for less

We recently shared a new search aggregator by Travelex that helps you find luxury holidays for less and breaks it down into flight, accommodation and currency costs according to your budget. You’ll be surprised by how far your money can go.

3. All-inclusive holidays

There are plenty of travel destinations or experiences (like cruises) that offer all-inclusive deals, which can be a great way get more for your money. You know how much to budget before you go, your food, accommodation, and sometimes alcohol and activities are all included.
All inclusive holidays are suited to those type of holidays where you don’t want to do too much but relax and spend time with those you love, rather than exploring, adventuring and tasting the local life.

4. Repositioning cruises

Cruise ships often have to relocate to start a new itinerary or season. Instead of sailing the ship empty, they sell discounted tickets – on average up to 50% off. Repositioning cruises travelling to and from Australia frequently stop in Tahiti or travel via Hawaiian ports such as Honolulu, Lahaina, Kailua, and Kona. Other repositioning itineraries that journey to and from Asia include ports such as Singapore, Bali, Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, and Puerto Princessa and Manila in the Philippines.
If you’re planning on a one way trip to a destination, this could be a cheap way to get yourself there, making the journey part of the travel adventure. I considered it as an option to get to Hawaii on our America Unplugged road trip, but couldn’t find anything to suit.

5. Chauffeur driven transfers

Travelling business or first? Top tier airlines such as Qantas and Emirates offer complimentary chauffeur driven transfers to and from the airport on selected major flights.
If you have a big travelling party, it might even be worth you investigating the price of this in comparison to other forms of transport. Go lux for less when you can!

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6 Travel Hacks to save money on accommodation

1. Use your points

We stayed in Denver, Colorado recently using hotel reward points, saving us around $300 a night. It’s beneficial to sign up to hotel chains loyalty programs. Get on their email list as they often have special deals come out for their members such as double points and free upgrades.
It doesn’t always have to be direct with that hotel chain. American Express Membership Rewards have two Hotel Guest Partners. You can transfer your points into your preferred program and book directly with the partner.

2. Access Club Lounges

Some hotel chains, like Ritz-Carlton and Sheraton, have Club Lounges. You may get access to these depending on your program status, or you can purchase a pass with your points.
These club lounges have free food and drinks. We saved a lot of money eating out when we stayed at the Ritz in Denver as we could eat in the Club lounge!

3. Ask for upgrades and best price

Don’t be shy to ask for an upgrade when you check in. We often get upgrades without even asking. Hotel chains will often upgrade you if they have space as they want their customers to have incredible experiences.
Golden Rule – be kind, courteous and friendly. It’s just karma baby!
Ask the accommodation what is the best price they can do. They can often reduce the rate for you if you book directly with them. On our road trip around Australia, we often asked the caravan parks/hotels upon check-in if that was their best price. We’d often get the kids thrown in for free! If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

4. Use Airbnb

Airbnb is my favourite way to book cheap accommodation. Plus, you get to live like a local and have the facilities to cook your food and save more money.
Apartment rentals often come with free Wi-Fi, are in good locations, and other perks, like tea and coffee, use of kayaks and bikes, and a local’s guide to the area.
I stayed in an Airbnb in LA, and the host even offered transfer services to the airport which were on par with Uber prices. She was also a wealth of inside knowledge, and it was way cheaper than staying in a hotel – by at least $1000 in total.

5. Find the deals

Two for the price of one, discounted rates, kids stay for free – there are multiple ways to find cheap accommodation. Travelling outside of peak times will give you the biggest chance.
Stay connected to your favourite hotel chains and search engine providers via email or social media to quickly grab the deals as they come through.

6. Book your travels with points

As outlined in this post, I used the American Express Travel booking service on their website to book flights, accommodation, car rental and even tours. I found their deals very comparable to other sites, if not better – they had some great discounted deals on accommodation!
You can book using points, or a combination of points + pay.  If you use up all your points, and still have more to book, you can pay for whatever’s left with your American Express Card and collect more points for travel!
With American Express Travel Online there are no restrictions, no blackout dates, and no fees. Simple.
For some eligible American Express Cards offer a complimentary Travel Credit, which can be used to book eligible prepaid flights, hotels or car hire when booking with American Express Travel Online.


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13 Travel hacks to save money on flights

1. Clear your cache, enable private browsing

Airlines track your behaviour via cookies, which means if you return at a later date to grab that cheap flight you found in your flight search, they’ve noted your interest through the cookies previously and so will, this time, return a slightly higher price for your flight. #cheeky You can get around this by clearing your cache or enabling private browsing.

2. Use a VPN

Flights can be different prices depending on which country you book from. Use a VPN – a Virtual Private Network – which makes it look like you are in another country.
You can select a VPN from the US, UK, Germany, Japan, etc. to find the lowest price and book through that VPN. It may take time, but you could save a substantial amount on flights.

3. Use search engines

Use search engines like Skyscanner, Adioso, and Google Flights who will scan the airlines for you and bring you comparative rates. You can purchase the best deal directly from them. OR, after finding the best deal, go direct to the airline’s website to see if you can get a better deal.
You can then also check to see if you can reduce the price or get free upgrades with your frequent flyer or membership points. Check your favourite airline first. If the price is right, it’s always best to fly your favourites and stockpile those points each time you fly.

4. Use Frequent Flyer or Membership Points

I can’t tell you how many flights we’ve paid for using frequent flyer points. You can collect them each time you fly – as long as you’re a member of that frequent flyer program. Or, you can collect them using our first travel hack – use your credit card to pay for all expenses. You’ll be surprised how quickly they accumulate.
Craig just used his frequent flyer points to pay for his flight to South Australia. We get several flights per year, including international, due to our frequent flyer points.
American Express Membership Rewards program has over 10 Airline Partners you can transfer your points to. We usually try and consolidate our points to Qantas, but our current Card doesn’t have that option – but we can transfer to Velocity (Virgin), which we use frequently.
If there’s a seat available with Webjet, your points can pay for it, or a combination of points plus pay on your American Express Card.

5. Free flight with your credit card fee

When we pay our annual fee each year for our American Express Platinum Edge, we get a free domestic flight on Virgin. Our friend, Mel, has used her one before to visit us on the Goldie – yay!
I used mine the other day for my return flight to South Australia. If you’re paying fees, find ways to make them work in your favour.
Plus, when you create a new account with American Express you get a bonus 10,000 points. You can use those points in multiple ways as outlined in this post.

6. Find hidden airports

Some airlines don’t operate in the same alliance or have a codeshare agreement, which means they might not show up together on flight searches even though the option is available.
TripCombi uses an algorithm to search connections from nearby airports or between two airlines to track ‘hidden airports,’ as the team calls them. These flights can often offer better rates and connections.

7. Follow Sales Days

Some airlines have certain days of the week where they will release their sale fares. For example, Virgin Australia has its Thursday Happy Hour, which is an exclusive sale for discount flights that you can access only by signing up for their email alert and Jetstar has Friday Frenzy with great sales to domestic and international locations each week.
You can also do this through websites like Airfare Watchdog and CheapAir.com, which both offer fare-track alerts that let you know when prices drop.

8. Politely complain

Don’t go looking for things to complain about, but if something legitimately goes wrong on a flight, reach out to the airline to express your disappointment and explain the situation. Often you’ll receive credit.
I complained to Jetstar once about the rude staff, and I received a $100 credit. It wasn’t why I complained; I didn’t even know that would happen.

9. Get bumped

If you’ve got plenty of time up your sleeves, this is one of my favourite travel hacks.
Plenty of airlines overbook their plans with the hopes some people won’t show up. If they’re too full, they ask for bump volunteers. They’ll get you on the next possible flight as well as giving you perks like free flights, credit and accommodation vouchers if the next flight is not until the next day.

10. Set flight alerts

Search Kayak for the flight you want, and check the price predictor.  If the flight is more than 3-4 months away, set a fare alert, and watch the price.
When you find a price that works, try to book it on a Tuesday or Wednesday when prices are typically lower. To make the hack work even more in your favour, head over to American Express Travel and pay the flight with as many points as you have. If there’s a balance left over, use your American Express card to pay for it and collect more points!

11. Buy an upgrade with points

Some seats on each flight are kept aside for frequent flyers to effectively ‘buy’ using points. These can be seven times less than the Points plus pay seats which are available. These are best suited to solo and flexible travellers.
Qantas has the option to bid for your upgrade. The last remaining unsold biz class seats are put to auction with the highest bidder wins! Take your chances!

12. Work for an airline

Craig worked for Delta in North Carolina for two years. We had standby free flights including flights back to Australia. It was such a shame that they only had space remaining in business class!

13. Airline Lounge upgrades

Free food, drinks and Wi-Fi plus TV, desks and comfy chairs away from the chaos. I didn’t even notice my flight was delayed by almost three hours on my return from LAX. I was lapping up the luxury in the Qantas Business Lounge. Check your frequent flyer program status to see if lounge access is included.
American Express grants eligible Card Members two complimentary airport lounge visits each year to the Sydney International lounge.

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