TRIP DETAILS
Please review and confirm that you have done so via email.
First and foremost, if you are a planner – PLAN NOT TO PLAN! Cuba is different than any place you’ve ever visited. We will have a schedule, but, in Cuba, things that are supposed to be open will be closed, things that are supposed to be closed will be open and you never know what God may be up to. I’ve been in countries that are much, much poorer than Cuba, but none that are as “informationally impoverished.”
Trip “Mission Costs” to Be Raised by the Team for Bible support
$54,000, representing 10,000 Bibles. We will send a “form” letter for you to mail/email in about 2 weeks.
Trip Dates – 1/11/2018 through 1/16/2018
Arrival - You will need to arrive in Florida, on Thursday, January 11, in time for a 7:30 PM group dinner at the hotel listed below. MIA and PBI airports are approximately 30 minutes (depending on traffic) from Ft. Lauderdale and a $35-$60 cost cab/Uber ride to the hotel. Departure – You will be taken to the airport in Cuba around noon on Tuesday, January 16th. It is an approximate 60 to 90 minute trip back to the US, plus a minimum of one (1) hour to pass through immigration and customs. Plan your airline reservations accordingly.
Initial deposit due Ocotber 6, 2017
Deposit due Tuesday October 6, 2017
Scanned info from passport and personal information for your visa needs to be emailed to David Isais and Scott Shaull. You need to send a non-refundable check for $100 made payable to the American Bible Society (please leave the memo line blank – failure to do so may mean that David will not be able to make arrangements for you to join the trip).
CHECK MUST BE MAILED TO:
American Bible Society
Attention: Rudy Doyle
101 North Independence Mall East FL8
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155
Attention: Rudy Doyle
101 North Independence Mall East FL8
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155
Trip Goals
To understand Cuba, the church there and its leaders. God is already in Cuba and at work. Our role while there (start praying now) is to encourage and support the church in Cuba, it’s leaders and the people there. We will do that by our participation in Bible distribution and potentially in sports and children’s ministry (AND WE WILL HAVE MUCHO FUN!). This will be a mission/vision trip that will be full of fun, fellowship and experiences. This is NOT a VACATION or TOUR.
Trip Cost
11/6/2017 – mail a non-refundable check to cover basic trip expenses (this does not include the $100 visa cost or $5,400/person mission costs noted elsewhere) in the amount of $1,110 to:
American Bible Society
Attention: Rudy Doyle
101 North Independence Mall East FL8
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155
This figure assumes a minimum of 10 travelers and, thus, may change. Costs break down like this:
Guest House - $65/night, 4 nights = $260
Food – $110/day, 5 days = $550
Transportation - $30/day, 5 days = $150
Misc. - $30/day, 5 days = $150
Total - $1,110
The $1,110 does NOT include your personal expenses (adult beverages, cigars, souvenirs, etc.) while in Cuba.
Other costs, as guesstimated today (delays in booking air/hotel may result in increased costs):
Air (roundtrip to Florida - $400 (this is the cheapest point for air travel to Cuba)
Air (roundtrip to Cuba) - $400
Hotel Ft. Lauderdale - $250 (as some of you may now, the cost was $115 in August, but January is high season)
Food in transit and dinner 1/11 - $120
Total - $1,170
Estimated Trip Total Costs - $2,280 plus personal expenses and Bible support costs
12/3/2017 – Sunday Mandatory Conference Call with David Isais
12/6/2017 - $54,000 donation to ABS (via your personal donation and/or support raised and donated to Bayside Church) due
American Bible Society
Attention: Rudy Doyle
101 North Independence Mall East FL8
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155
This figure assumes a minimum of 10 travelers and, thus, may change. Costs break down like this:
Guest House - $65/night, 4 nights = $260
Food – $110/day, 5 days = $550
Transportation - $30/day, 5 days = $150
Misc. - $30/day, 5 days = $150
Total - $1,110
The $1,110 does NOT include your personal expenses (adult beverages, cigars, souvenirs, etc.) while in Cuba.
Other costs, as guesstimated today (delays in booking air/hotel may result in increased costs):
Air (roundtrip to Florida - $400 (this is the cheapest point for air travel to Cuba)
Air (roundtrip to Cuba) - $400
Hotel Ft. Lauderdale - $250 (as some of you may now, the cost was $115 in August, but January is high season)
Food in transit and dinner 1/11 - $120
Total - $1,170
Estimated Trip Total Costs - $2,280 plus personal expenses and Bible support costs
12/3/2017 – Sunday Mandatory Conference Call with David Isais
12/6/2017 - $54,000 donation to ABS (via your personal donation and/or support raised and donated to Bayside Church) due
Information / Passport pages neededA scanned copy of your passport’s:
– 1). photo page
– 2). signature page
The following info (in EXACTLY this format):
Full Name:
Passport #:
Date of Birth:
Place of birth:
Current address:
Country of citizenship:
Mother’s full maiden name:
Father’s full name:
SAMPLE AIR ITINERARY
1/11/2018 – Delta 2345/1615 SMF to FLL
Cab/Uber/Shuttle to hotel
1/12 - jetBlue 1499 FLL to HAV
1/16 – Southwest 3921 HAV to FLL
1/16 – Delta 2026/2076 FLL to SMF
Cab/Uber/Shuttle to hotel
1/12 - jetBlue 1499 FLL to HAV
1/16 – Southwest 3921 HAV to FLL
1/16 – Delta 2026/2076 FLL to SMF
Transit Hotel in Florida
(We will attempt to secure a group rate 45 days prior to arrival but you will be required to make your own reservation)
(We will attempt to secure a group rate 45 days prior to arrival but you will be required to make your own reservation)
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina
1881 SE 17th Street Causeway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Reservations Phone: 1 (954) 463-4000
ARRIVE – 1/11/2018
DEPART – 1/12/2018
1881 SE 17th Street Causeway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Reservations Phone: 1 (954) 463-4000
ARRIVE – 1/11/2018
DEPART – 1/12/2018
Flight to Havana Cuba
Departure on Jet Blue from Ft. Lauderdale to Cuba is TERMINAL 3 (not the international terminal). Look for the Cuba desk inside the terminal.
You will NOT need to be at the airport 3 hours early per the airline instructions - 2 hours is fine.
Make sure you get both the customs form and the health form before you get on the plane. It will save time going through immigration and customs in Havana.
You will NOT need to be at the airport 3 hours early per the airline instructions - 2 hours is fine.
Make sure you get both the customs form and the health form before you get on the plane. It will save time going through immigration and customs in Havana.
Visas
If we cannot obtain, or do not obtain, religious visas then we will get visa as per the following:
You will get your visa at the airport in Ft. Lauderdale. You will have to answer two questions and should do as I have in the image below. Say your trip is authorized under Cuban regulations (by checking the box, as I have, or by doing whatever the format requires), and say that your trip is in "support of the Cuban people." You may have already done this with the airline, but you will, in any case, have to answer these two questions at the airport before you board the plane to Cuba.
You will get your visa at the airport in Ft. Lauderdale. You will have to answer two questions and should do as I have in the image below. Say your trip is authorized under Cuban regulations (by checking the box, as I have, or by doing whatever the format requires), and say that your trip is in "support of the Cuban people." You may have already done this with the airline, but you will, in any case, have to answer these two questions at the airport before you board the plane to Cuba.
OUR HOSTS IN CUBA
David Isais of the American Bible Society and Dopico (Joel Dopico Ortega) and Alain (Alain Montano Hernandez) of the Cuban Council of Churches.
Guest house address:
Council of Churches Official Address
Calle 14 entre 3ra y 5ta Ave
Near La Casa de La Habana in Miramar
Miramar, Havana
You will be in a guest house owned by the Council of Churches -- comfortable and clean but basic. Housing includes breakfast and AC! Why the guest house? Hotels are difficult to reserve with confidence, and rates can be quite expensive.
Don't forget to Bring:
Guest house address:
Council of Churches Official Address
Calle 14 entre 3ra y 5ta Ave
Near La Casa de La Habana in Miramar
Miramar, Havana
You will be in a guest house owned by the Council of Churches -- comfortable and clean but basic. Housing includes breakfast and AC! Why the guest house? Hotels are difficult to reserve with confidence, and rates can be quite expensive.
Don't forget to Bring:
- Towel
- Washcloth
- Blanket and pillow
- Toilet paper
- Soap and shampoo
- The usual other toiletries
- Bug spray and mosquito repellent
- Snacks for between meals
- A liking for Cuban espresso
SCHEDULE / AGENDA
Plans/schedules are as "Cuba Time" as any country I've visited. Stay loose, be flexible, enjoy, have fun. Draft trip schedule will be sent out to the team 1/4/2018
TIME ZONE
Havana and Cuba are three hours ahead of Sacramento. 8:00 AM in Sacramento is 11:00 AM in Havana. The time zone is CDT (Cuba Daylight Time), which mirrors EST.
WEATHER
Highs in the mid-80s, Lows in the mid-70s
ELECTRICITY
Electrical outlets and power are the same as in the United States. No need for adapters or converters. If you have multiple items to plug in bring a multi-receptacle adaptor.
PEOPLE / CUSTOMS / SAFETY
The people of Cuba are warm, friendly and, within the church, full of hope. Prepare to be blessed. Cuba is a very safe country, day and night. Having said that, it is always smart to keep your wallet in your front pocket. It is always prudent to be aware and to never let your guard down.
LANGUAGE
Spanish is the official language of Cuba. David Isais is bilingual and will serve as our translator. Some Cubans speak English, but not many are skilled. Practice some Spanish before you arrive and have fun with those you interact with while on the trip.
ATTIRE
Havana isn't too formal. I will wear polo or buttoned shirts and shorts except at church services, when I will wear long pants and a buttoned shirt (but you can wear shorts). Women are free to wear almost anything, except in church, where they need to keep their shoulders covered.
CURRENCY / COSTS
You will need to bring cash for ALL costs. Credit and debit cards aren’t accepted yet. Cuba uses two currencies: You will need the currency of the tourists, officially known as the Cuban convertible peso, or CUC. It is pegged at parity with the U.S. dollar, but you actually receive about 87 centavos CUC for one U.S. dollar. (We may get a better rate). The other currency is the currency of the people, officially known as the Cuban peso, or CUP.
CASH
Your cash MUST be in the form of new, $100 bills. Older, ripped or lower-denomination bills will not be exchanged. Once in Cuba, you will hand him an envelope with your cash in it and with your name and the dollar amount on the outside. It will take David 12-36 hours to exchange it at favorable rates. You will have opportunities to exchange money at less favorable rates prior to that if necessary. LET DAVID KNOW BY 11/6/2017 (CC ME) HOW MUCH YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT EXCHANGING SO HE CAN PLAN AHEAD.
FOOD / WATER
Food is relatively safe. Water from taps is not potable...bottled water only. Soda is available but usually the national brand, not Coke, etc.
COMMUNICATION
Cell phones now work in Cuba, but AT&T doesn’t have an international plan. Calls and texts will be expensive. Wi-Fi is sporadic and difficult. Check on details with your provider. TURN DATA ROAMING OFF PRIOR TO LANDING IN CUBA.
TOILETS / BAÑOS
Toilets outside of the guest house may or may not include a seat. You will want to bring toilet paper.
TOURIST STUFF
We will have a chance to do some touring and have fun around Havana See FAQ for more details