Trains and Travel - Cuban Rail Explorer

TRAINS & TRAVEL
P.O. BOX 10625
RENO, NEVADA 89510-0625
Chris@traintrips.biz Rail Tours Manager. For question regarding tour itineraries and details.
Deborah@traintrips.biz Office Manager: Accounting

1-800 359-4870 USA
1-800 752-1836 CANADA
1-800 266-8751 FAX
(530) 836-1944

OFFICE HOURS 9AM TO 5PM MONDAY-FRIDAY
PACIFIC WEST COAST TIME

TOUR 4 TOURIST/RAILFAN TOUR MAY 1-15, 2010
POSTPONED FOR 1 YEAR
CONGRESS IS TIED UP ON HEALTH CARE BILL
FREEDOM TO TRAVEL TO CUBA ACT HR 874 S 428

Congress must pass HR 874 and S428 and lift the travel ban for Americans to be able to freely travel to Cuba. The support for this Bill is getting stronger and stronger with every passing day. Write your congressman now and demand that he supportthis bill and let Americans travel to Cuba without restrictions.

Photo by John Kirchner

SOME FACTS ABOUT CUBA AND THEIR TOURISM INDUSTRY

OCTOBER 2009 UPDATE:
(Bloomberg) - Legislation to end a ban on Americans traveling to Cuba has enough support in the U.S. House of Representatives to win approval by year-end, said Representative Sam Farr, a California Democrat. The bill to let U.S. citizens resume travel to the Caribbean island except in times of war or cases in which they face imminent danger has 181 votes in the House and needs 218 to pass, said Farr, a co-sponsor of the legislation. The plan is backed by travel groups such as the United States Tour Operators Association and the National Tour Association and human rights groups such as the Washington Office on Latin America and has been helped by President Barack Obama’s election, he said. “It is believed we can get to this before the end of the year,” Farr, 68, said in an interview in New York.
A group of House and Senate lawmakers proposed in March 2009 ending restrictions to allow all U.S. citizens and residents to travel to Cuba. Farr said the legislation, known as the “Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act,” also has enough votes to clear the Senate, where Senator Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat, and Republican Senator Michael Enzi of Wyoming introduced the legislation. “There’s a lot more openness in the Congress,” Geoff Thale, program director in the Washington Office on Latin America, said in an interview in New York. “Support is building.
The travel restrictions steam from the embargo that was put in place by President Kennedy in 1962 after Fidel Castro came into power in Cuba. Over the years as a general rule Cuban-Americans could visit family once a year and a limited number of Americans were allowed to travel to Cuba only if they had special permits for certain cultural and educational programs. Then President Bush tightened the rules in 2004 which all but stopped most visits to Cuba for special interest groups and for Cuban-Americans.
President Obama has already lifted the travel restrictions for Cuban-Americans and intends to loosen other travel rules later this year. He does not intend to lift the trade embargo against Cuba but does intend to lift the travel ban for Americans by the end of 2009. There is now extreme pressure from advocates and special interest groups on the US government for greater openness with Cuba and the Obama administration has expressed a willingness to take a fresh look at Cuba.
Connecticut Democrat Rosa DeLauro is a co-sponsor for a bill in front of the US Congress for the scrapping of the ban on travel to the communist island, which has been under a U.S. trade embargo for almost five decades. "The proposal has support to pass because Obama and the U.S. business community favor it," said Representative DeLauro "This issue is being discussed in an absolutely brand new environment, which is drawing support that it has lacked in the past. Other Representatives and Senators have said they feel certain the travel ban will indeed be lifted before the end of 2009.
Cuba has about 48,000 hotel rooms. There are 15 hotels under joint venture contracts with foreign companies, and 49 hotels managed by international partners. Once the travel ban is lifted the Cuban government has said it may have to use visas to control the flow of U.S. tourists because it lacks sufficient hotel capacity to house them at this time. One Cuban official said at first Americans are not going to have massive entry, as we don't have the infrastructure for it. It was suggested that one way to control the American tourist is to give visas to those that have booked on a tour.
Cuba agrees with an estimate by the American Society of Travel Agents that 835,000 U.S. tourists a year, excluding cruise ships or Cuban-American family visitors, would come after an end to the travel ban. Cuba aims to build 30 new hotels with 10,000 rooms and 10 golf courses by 2014. Cuba has said "The Americans are welcome here," but we have to prepare for that.
For those of our clients that recall, we ran six railroad tours to Cuba in 2002 & 2003 which were Historic educational tours approved by the US government. We would have continued to run tours to Cuba but the Bush Administration cancelled most of these educational tours to Cuba On December 31, 2003. We are now looking forward to getting back in Cuba.

Day 1 Saturday May 1 : Arrival in Havana from Miami via air. Transfer to our downtown hotel for check-in and relax. Leisure free time in the city to explore. Welcome to Cuba Dinner in the evening.
Day 2 Sunday May 2 : Today we will present to you a full day Havana city tour which will include a visit to the Central train station . 2nd Overnight Havana.
Day 3 Monday May 3 : Departure by charter bus to the town of Hershey. Visit the vast electric workshops and all the installations for the Hershey Railroad. We then board our charter departing from the Hershey station with an electric pulled GE box cab with a mixed train running on the Caraballo and Bainoa branchlines and then onto the mainline for the run to the Havana Casablanca station, with photo runby's and stops in historic towns along the route. The Havana Casablanca station is just across the Havana Bay from downtown. We then return to our hotel and 3rd overnight in Havana.
Day 4 Tuesday May 4 : Transfer from downtown Havana back to the Casablanca station where we board a regular departure for Hershey by railcar. At Hershey we board our two charter Brill built railcars Nos 3008 & 3006, for the journey to Santa Cruz del Norte and then all the way to Matanzas at the end of the line. Photo run-bys and stops in interesting towns along the route will be made today. Overnight lodging in the seaside resort city of Varadero.

Day 5 Wednesday May 5 : Transfer by charter bus to the nearby sugar mill " Jose Smith Comas ", visit the old sugar mill and then board our charter train pulled by No. 1610, a baldwin 2-6-0 built in 1925, for a run over the system with photo run-bys. In the afternoon we return to our hotel in Varadero.

Day 6 Thursday May 6 : After a leisure breakfast, departure by charter bus to Santa Clara. On the way to Santa Clara we will stop in a number of historic and unique Cuban towns to allow you to visit. Then in the afternoon we visit the Santa Clara station and board our steam charter train pulled by No. 1549, an Alco 2-8-0 built in 1920, which will take us from Santa Clara to Remedios y Caibarien plantation oneway. Return by charter bus to Santa Clara and hotel check-in.
Day 7 Friday May 7 : In the morning we will visit some of the important attractions in Santa Clara including the square of the Che, beautiful downtown plaza and some historical locations of the Cuban Revolution before departing the city by charter bus to Moron. The Cuban rail system has based most of the classic American built Baldwin diesels here that still haul freight and passenger trains in all directions from this terminal. In the afternoon you will have a choice to ride the local passenger train pulled by a Baldwin diesel to Ciego de Avila or use our charter bus to follow this train for trackside photos. Hotel check-in at Ciego de Avila.

Above is a photo of one of the Cuban Baldwin diesels
which uses a EMD body with a BLW power plant.

Day 8 Saturday May 8 : After breakfast, we visit the Ciego de Avila Railway station, a quite unique station with the crossing of two mainline in the middle of the station platform. Now it is time to travel to the far eastern end of Cuba at Santiago de Cuba. You will have your choice to ride the local train or follow for photos using our charte bus. This is an 8 hour train ride so you will have the option to switch off between train and bus at several stations today. If the train is running late later in the afternoon we will transfer everyone to our charter bus and continue on into Santiago de Cuba for hotel hotel check-in. .
Day 9 Sunday May 9 : Today we will spend it in the city visiting points of interest and getting to know the people. 2nd overnight in Santiago de Cuba.
Day 10 Monday May 10 : We leave early morning by charter bus to Guantanamo (Cuban side) where a Charter Brill Railcar is waiting for us to ride the very scenic line back to Santiago de Cuba. This line has many bridges and tresles and we will make a number of spectacular photo run-by's and stops in towns along the route . 3rd overnight in Santiago de Cuba.
Day 11 Tuesday May 11 : We depart early morning from Santiago de Cuba on our charter bus for the trip to the sugar mill of Barlotome Maso, making a number of stops to visit small towns along our route. At Barlotome Maso we will have a steam pulled charter train waiting for us to board for a run into the sugar cane fields with some nice photos run-by. Locomotive No. 1590 , an Alco 2-8-0 built in 1926 will pull our train. After our train ride we continue on our bus to Camaguey and hotel check-in.
Day 12 Wednesday May 12 : Morning hours to relax . You will have the entire morning free to explore this very nice colonial city and the train station. After lunch we travel by charter bus to Trinidad and hotel check-in .
Day 13 Thursday May 13 : In the morning we board the scheduled steam pulled excursion train in Trinidad which is used by tourist but we have been given permission to stage a number of photo run-bys by railroad mangement for our group. Upon arrival back in Trinidad you will have time to visit this fantastic colonial city, considered one of the best in all of the Americas. After lunch we depart by charter bus to Cienfuegos and hotel check-in.
Day 14 Friday May 14 : We depart from Cienfuegos mid morning onboard the scheduled train for Havana. This will be a long day and in the afternoon we will offer the option of transferring to our charter bus for the journey on into Havana. Upon arrival in Havana hotel check-in and our hosted "Farewell to Cuba Dinner" in the evening.
Day 15 Saturday May 15 : Free time in Havana to relax, shop or explore the downtown until we head to the airport for our short flight back to Miami.

PRICES ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON Double room occupancy with air from Miami.......$4398 Double room occupancy no air....................$3998 Single room supplement with air from Miami......$1098 Single room supplement no air...................$ 698 Deposit once the tour is call a sure-go.........$1500 Final payment is due by February 1, 2010 All meals, lodging, transfers, train passage and sightseeing per the itinerary are included.

TOUR BOOKING CONDITIONS
TOUR PRICE: All tour prices are corrected to November 1, 2010 and are subject to change without notice, at any time. All prices based on double room occupancy. We reserve the right to change tour prices if necessary.
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE: Personal items, meals not listed in the itinerary, laundry, phone calls, excess baggage charges, rental cars, side tours, insurance, passport fees including visas, vaccinations, gratuities, medical costs, tips to train or motor coach staff, extra tour costs due to unanticipated changes in the itinerary for reasons beyond our control, including weather, travel conditions, or cancellations, government intervention, sickness, political disputes, and failure of transportation or other causes beyond our control.
TRAVEL AND HEALTH DOCUMENTS: A valid passport is required for our international tours. In some cases a visa is also needed. Consult your health professional for the recommended immunizations and documents. Trains and Travel International , here on referred to as TTI, assumes no other responsibility if a client is refused entry into a country. Cost and cancellation fees will be paid by the client in the event they do not have valid documents.
CHANGE OF ITINERARY: We reserve the right to substitute, alter or modify the tour if any unexpected and unforeseen conditions beyond our control preventing the completion of such. Conditions can include weather, train schedules, equipment, motive power, revision of train consist, train delays, labor strikes, political disputes, derailments, closure of a rail line, break down of railroad or motive power equipment, railroads not honoring contracts and bus equipment problems. We will always endeavor, in each case, to provide substitutes, if any changes take place. TTI is not responsible for canceled trains, delays, hotel rooms, route changes or missed connections, for any reason whatsoever. We will not give refunds if such conditions or cancellations take place.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is mandatory for all tours. This insurance will cover and give the tour members many benefits and protection. Benefits include baggage, accident, life, trip cancellation, sickness, bankruptcy, strike, weather conditions, employer termination or layoff effecting you or a person sharing the room with you, terrorist incident in your departure city or city of destination, jury duty, you are subpoenaed, hijacked, or quarantined, your residence or traveling companion residence is rendered uninhabitable, emergency military duty, traffic accident, single supplement upgrade when your traveling companion cancels their trip, trip interruption, trip delay, missed connections, itinerary change, emergency medical benefits, medical evacuation, baggage delay and loss, pre-existing medical conditions if enrollment is within 21 days of your invoice date, burglary of you or your companion before departure, felonious assault of you or your traveling companion before departure, 24 hour hotline emergency assistance, emergency cash transfer and more. We will supply you with a travel insurance brochure with rates and application when we mail you the invoice after trip deposit is received. Travel insurance protects your vacation investments and is a very good investment for your travel and vacation money. US law allows us to offer this insurance to all persons Worldwide. We will accept a "refusal of travel insurance wavier" if you do not wish to purchase any travel insurance. FOR CUBA: Because of the nature of these tours travel insurance is MANDATORY for everyone. We have a special American travel insurance company that will insure all folks going to Cuba on legal US approved tours. This insurance information will be sent to you upon receiving your booking.
RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: Accepting your payment represents an agreement that you understand all the conditions, to be a member of our tours. TTI gives notice that they are acting agents for the owners, contractors and suppliers, providing the transportation and all related travel services and assume no responsibility for injury, sickness, damage, loss, additional expenses accidental delay or irregularities which may be caused through willful or negligent acts or omissions on the part of the companies providing or engage in transportation, accommodations or services related to the accomplishment of the tour. Nor do we assume responsibility for natural disasters, social or political upheaval, acts of terrorism or acts of nature. TTI reserves the right to substitute hotels, tour leaders, equipment, motive power, trains, onboard accommodations, routes and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary without notice. The right is also reserved to cancel any trip or train prior to departure for any reason . TTI is not responsible for expenses incurred by tour members in preparing for the tour, including non-refundable airline tickets, visa fees, planning, phone calls, or any other expenses. TTI reserves the right to decline to accept, or ask to leave a tour, any person whose actions impede the daily operations of a tour, welfare or enjoyment of other tour members. TTI cannot give any refunds for any unused services. The terms contained herein shall serve as a waiver of liability to TTI. Assumption of risk on behalf of the client, their heirs, executor, administrators, successors, and assigns for any and all known persons injuries
RESERVATIONS: A deposit is due in our office within 14 days after you make your bookings. Full payment is due 90 days before departure. You will receive an invoice, reservation form and current tour bulletins with your confirmation and travel insurance forms. No notice for final payment will be sent to you. It is your responsible to make the final payment on-time.
CANCELLATIONS: TTI does not accept cancellations on the phone. Cancellations must be received by postal mail, email or fax before any refunds will be considered. Allow enough time if sending your written notice by US mail postal system. When a written cancellation is received in the Trains and Travel office this will be the effective date of the cancellation. Please take note that it can take up to 60 days to to process some refunds. Cancellation refund rules: 100 days prior to the start of any tour you will receive a full refund less a $100 per person administration fee. 99 to 61 days before the departure of any tour there will be a 80% cancellation penalty based on the full cost of the tour. Cancellations received 60 or less days before the start of any tour will not receive any refund. GW Travel Ltd has their own cancellation rules and these will apply. If booking on GW Travel Ltd ask for cancellation rules.
PRE-DEPARTURE TOUR BULLETINS: Tour bulletins will be sent to clients that have booked on tours operated by TTI. Bulletins include travel info related to the tour. Final documents will be sent out about two to three weeks before a tour begins. We offer tours operated by other companies and they may or may not send out tour bulletins and updates and most send out final documents only one to two weeks prior to the start of their tours.
PAYMENTS: Payments can be made with personal check drawn on a U.S. Dollar account, money order for U.S. Dollars, bank wire transfer, or credit card. We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover or American Express. Final payment for all tours is due 90 days prior to departure. If final payment has not been received 7 days after the due date, a late fee of $50 per week will apply.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: All prices are based on double room occupancy. We will try and match you with a roommate if one is available. If not, you may be charged the single room supplement listed for the tour you are booked on. Single rooms may not be available in some remote locations and on some trains.
TOUR REFUNDS: If for any reason tour members amend or delete any arrangements during travel, and leave the tour on their own, we cannot give any refunds on unused portions of the tour. If buses and trains are cancelled by the carrier or there is a labor strike or they go out of business, we cannot be held responsible and we cannot give refunds. Travel insurance will protect you for any of these reasons. If TTI needs to cancel any tour everyone will receive a full refund. Please take note that in some cases refunds can take up to 60 days to process.
PARTIAL TOURS: We will allow passengers to join or leave a tour at certain points. It will all depend on the tour and the conditions. Give us a call and we will try and work up a custom option for you.
MILEAGE COLLECTORS: Mileage collectors please take note that TTI does not cater just to mileage collectors. We cater to all folks that enjoy trains and Rail journeys. We give strong warning that itinerary and route changes do happen and this is totally beyond our control when it does. If the only reason that you would want to book a tour is to collect the rare mileage, you need to understand that possible route changes do happen.

03913 visits since August 4, 2009.

Last modified: Thursday, 12-Jan-2012 08:17:02 PST