Travel To Cuba Decoded By CNN!

TO TRAVEL TO CUBA...

TO NOT TRAVEL TO CUBA. 

THAT HAS BEEN THE LONG STANDING QUESTION IN MY MIND EVER SINCE OBAMA RESTORED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, BUT TRY TO DECIPHER ALL THE LEGAL LANGUAGE HAS BEEN BLOWING MY MIND!

Bless you CNN for decoding all the legal mumbo jumbo that is the Cuba travel laws! Now that I have read what the American travel rights are, I am confident I should travel to Cuba. Read the full article here for many more travel tips to Cuba!

To briefly sum up what Maria Sofferin wrote for CNN , travel to Cuba is allowed if you fall into one of these categories:

• Visiting family

• Humanitarian projects or to provide support to the Cuban people

• Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments and certain intergovernmental organizations

• Journalistic activities

• Professional research

• Educational activities by persons at academic institutions

• People to people travel

• Religious activities

• Public performance, clinics, workshops, athletic or other competitions and exhibitions

• Authorization to provide travel services, carrier services and remittance forwarding services

• Activities of private foundations, research or educational institutes

• Exportation of certain Internet-based services

THE BIG QUESTION IS THIS, HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU QUALIFY TO FIT INTO ANY OF THESE CATEGORIES TO TRAVEL TO CUBA? SIMPLE! YOU QUALIFY YOURSELF!

The traveler categories are self-authorizing.

What was once a formal application system has essentially been converted into an honor system whereby you conclude whether you meet the categorical criteria. Maria Sofferin // CNN

How incredibly genius is that? So basically, since I am a travel blogger and freelance writer I qualify to travel to Cuba under the "journalistic" category and would totally be in the clear. Wow! Now, what that doesn't mean is that you are free to lounge on the beach all day getting to know the local's favorite liquor or so they say. How can you be spotted out of the thousands of Canadians and Europeans sun bathing on the beach and be fined or worse?

Doesn't make sense to me!

BUT SIMPLY SPEAKING, IF YOU CAN FIT YOURSELF INTO ANY OF THE 12 LISTED CATEGORIES YOU ARE SELF-PROCLAIMED ALLOWED TO TRAVEL TO CUBA ANYTIME YOU WANT.

So apply for your tourist Visa, pay the $25, wait 4 weeks for it to arrive and BOOM off to Cuba you go!

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AND DON'T FORGET TO CALL UNITED MILITARY TRAVEL FOR ALL YOUR TRAVEL NEEDS! TRAVEL TO CUBA NOW THROUGH UMT!

16 Disney Resorts Offering Amazing Military Discounts All Year!

Disney's Polynesian Resort

I WANT TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE DISNEY VACATION THEME FROM LAST WEEK BY SHARING WITH YOU THE 16 DISNEY RESORTS THAT WILL BE OFFERING KILLER MILITARY DISCOUNTS THROUGH DECEMBER 2016!

It is pretty common knowledge that staying  at a Disney resort can cost a pretty penny, but it is well worth it! To be able to have breakfast, lunch and dinner with your favorite Disney characters should not be taken lightly, the kiddos consider it to be the Holy Grail of all meal experiences!

The corporation that is now Walt Disney strives hard to keep the magic available for everyone and that is why they are offering amazing Military discounts at 16 select Disney Resorts January 3 through December 19 of 2016!

These military discounts do have a small window of blackout dates where the offer is not available: March 20 through April 1.

DISNEY RESORT HOTELS THAT OFFER MILITARY DISCOUNTS IN 2016:

Disney's All-Star Movies Resort

Disney's All-Star Music Resort

Disney's All-Star Sports Resort

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village

Disney's Art of Animation Resort - Family Suites Only

Disney's Beach Club Resort

Disney's Beach Club Villas

Disney's BoardWalk Inn

Disney's BoardWalk Villas

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

Disney's Contemporary Resort

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

Disney's Old Key West Resort

Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows - Studios Only

Disney's Pop Century Resort

Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter

Disney's Port Orleans - Riverside

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Disney's Yacht Club Resort

The Cabin at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort

The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge

THATS' AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF DISNEY RESORT MILITARY DISCOUNTS ISN'T IT? DISNEY REALLY WANTS TO SHOW THEIR APPRECIATE TO OUR ARMED FORCES!

Disney's Wilderness Lodge

...BOOKING DETAILS...

Book By: December 19, 2016

Length of Stay Requirements: minimum length of stay requirements may apply and check in date must fall within valid offer travel dates.

Important Details: The number of rooms available for this offer are limited and may not be combined with any other discount or promotion. Also, additional per-adult charges may apply if there are more than two adults per room.

Offer Restrictions: Must register in advance and a valid military ID will be required upon check-in and military member (or spouse) must stay in the room.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THESE DISNEY RESORT MILITARY DISCOUNTS??

Eligibility
To book this offer, you must be an active or retired member of the U.S. Military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard. Effective as of January 3, 2016, active or retired members of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS) and the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are also eligible for this offer. Spouses of Military Service Members and PHS and NOAA Commissioned Corps members also quality if they are able to present valid and active U.S. Military IDs in the absence of the Military Personnel or Commissioned Corps members.  Walt Disney World Website

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BOOK YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION

WITH THE DISNEY PROS AT 

UNITED MILITARY TRAVEL 

AND SAVE BIG! 

Disney Cruise Line - Best In Show

ON FEBRUARY 10TH CRUISE CRITIC RELEASED THE WINNERS IN THE CRUISERS' CHOICE AWARDS. DISNEY CRUISE LINE BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE, ACCORDING TO THE CRUISERS' CHOICE, AS IT RECEIVED 20 AWARDS OVERALL, THE MOST OF ANY CRUISE LINE OUT THERE!

The awards were broken down into categories of: 

Best For Overall // Best For Cabins // Best For Dining // Best For Embarkation // Best Entertainment // Best For Fitness and Recreation // Best For Public Rooms // Best For Shore Excursions // Best For Service // Best For Value // Best For Families // Best for First Timers

Each category was given 10 winners ranked from highest to the lowest, so given that Disney Cruise Line won 20 awards that is pretty awesome!

DISNEY CRUISE LINE SPECIFIC AWARDS

Best For Overall: Disney Dream - ranked 1 of 10

Best For Overall: Disney Fantasy - ranked 2 of 10

Best For Cabins: Disney Dream - ranked 1 of 10

Best For Cabins: Disney Fantasy - ranked 2 of 10

Best For Dining: Disney Fantasy - ranked 1 of 10

Best For Dining: Disney Dream - ranked 3 or 10

Best For Embarkation: Disney Fantasy  - ranked 1 of 10

Best For Embarkation: Disney Dream - ranked 2 of 10

Best For Entertainment: Disney Dream - ranked 1 of 10

Best For Entertainment: Disney Fantasy - ranked 2 of 10

Best For Fitness and Recreation: Disney Fantasy - ranked 1 of 10

Best For Fitness and Recreation: Disney Dream - ranked 2 of 10

Best For Public Rooms: Disney Fantasy - ranked 1 of 10

Best For Public Rooms: Disney Dream - ranked 2 of 10

Best For Service: Disney Dream - ranked 1 of 10

Best For Service: Disney Fantasy - ranked 2 of 10

Best For Families: Disney Dream, Magic, Fantasy and Wonder - ranked top 4 of 10

It really is no wonder why Disney Cruise Line is the most popular because what do adults live for...their children! Any family who has kids will more than likely choose Disney Cruise Line as their vacation at some point in their children's adolescent life.

HAVE YOU TAKEN YOUR KIDS ON A CRUISE YET? WOULD YOU CHOOSE DISNEY CRUISE LINE OVER THE OTHERS?

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IF YOU WANT TO BOOK YOUR FAMILY A CRUISE VACATION THEY WILL NEVER FORGET, CALL UNITED MILITARY TRAVEL TODAY FOR YOUR PRE-APPROVAL! 

WE BOOKS HUNDREDS OF CRUISES A WEEK, SO JOIN THE OTHERS IN EXPLORING THE WORLD VIA CRUISE NOW PAY LATER MILITARY TRAVEL LOANS!

866-582-9579 

Apply Now

Open Now Letters For Valentine's Day

STILL SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT VALENTINE'S GIFT FOR YOUR SOLDIER? OPEN WHEN LETTERS ARE SIMPLE TO MAKE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY ARE HEART FELT...WHAT ELSE COULD YOUR SWEETIE WANT?!?!

Ok y'all, its no secret that i am a huge fan of Jo, My Gosh! - her and her blog contain some of the most inspiring and informative information for military individuals and families on the web, check her out!

Open When Letters are a great way to stay connected through a deployment, but also anytime. I know my husband loves it when I include a love letter in his lunch or slip a note in his pocket before he leaves, there is truly nothing he loves more!

This Valentine's Day give the gift of words to your love. Choose topics from all three Open When Letters categories, write the letters, label them sweetly, and package them up in a nice bundle - something that your partner can keep close, safe, and neat.

Thank you Jo, My Gosh! for the amazing, amazing ideas!

HAVE YOU CREATED OPEN WHEN LETTERS BEFORE? DID YOU FIND ANY OF THEM PARTICUARLLY HARD TO WRITE, DID THEY MAKE YOU TEAR UP AND DID SOME MAKE YOU SMILE?

How long were your letters? Most of my letters are only about a page or less, simple and straight to the point is the way I like them to be and so does my hubby. But you can create your open when letters however you like, you could even include some sort of gift that corresponds to the letter. Go big or stay small, that is beauty of DIY gifts...they truly are a reflection of the maker!

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Everyone at United Military Travel hopes that you have a wonderful Valentine's Day, no matter where you are or who you are with....just be happy and loved!