A Cuban woman residing in the United States has shared a powerful account on TikTok, strongly advising against traveling to Cuba. The young woman, identified as Elizabeth (@_eli85), states that her brief visit to the island—lasting less than a day—left her emotionally overwhelmed. Her video, which runs for over eight minutes and is tagged with #cubaduele, has quickly gained attention on the platform.
“If you're considering a trip to Cuba, let me give you some unsolicited advice: don't go, don't travel,” Elizabeth declared in the video, recorded from her car. Arriving in Cuba on a Tuesday afternoon, she was already on her flight back the following day, Wednesday. "I tried to avoid this trip to Cuba as much as possible, but in the end, I had to go," she explained.
During her short stay, Elizabeth encountered numerous challenges. She recounted how her family had to purchase ten bottles of water for 6,000 Cuban pesos, a sum she noted was significantly higher than her mother's pension of 1,500 CUP. “What I can assure you is that it's a lot because... imagine, six waters... I mean, ten waters, pardon me, 6,000 pesos, and her salary was 1,500,” she remarked.
Elizabeth was deeply troubled by the dire conditions she observed. “You can see with your own eyes that people aren't living; they're merely surviving day by day,” she expressed. She added that returning to Cuba was “unbearable, it's terrible.”
Challenges Faced During the Visit
One of the most distressing moments was enduring a sweltering night without electricity. “My mom is an elderly woman, 68 years old. She started feeling unwell, saying ‘I feel like vomiting’… I was feeling the same, with nausea and palpitations,” she recounted.
Additionally, she reported an attempted theft of the electric meter at her home, while a neighbor experienced a break-in during the blackout. “She heard the noise, realized someone had entered her house, but since there was no power, her phone was dead, and she couldn’t call the police,” Elizabeth detailed.
Reactions and Broader Implications
Elizabeth urged others not to travel to the island: “Don’t go to Cuba, you’ll leave feeling depressed, sad, and miserable. I can’t even begin to describe how you’ll feel after that trip.” The video sparked a variety of responses, with some commenters supporting her views and others downplaying the severity of the situation. Users like @damiselavenegas42 echoed her sentiments, stating, “Many of us who left Cuba more than 10 years ago and haven’t returned want to hear about the reality there.”
Conversely, others like @glenia.1991 minimized the drama, saying, “I went to Cuba 2.5 years after leaving, and for me, nothing changed except the prices... I didn’t feel it.” Several users emphasized that despite the hardships, reuniting with loved ones was paramount. “I’d endure heat, hunger, and anything just to be with my daughter,” one user commented.
Elizabeth's account aligns with another video by Thaimi Sánchez (@thaimisanchez), another Cuban living in the U.S., who recently shared her own disheartening experience after visiting the island. “Cuba is a disaster. There’s no life there,” Sánchez stated, describing the blackouts as “a form of torture” and lamenting the physical and emotional neglect of the population.
These testimonies have intensified a recurring debate among Cubans abroad: Is it worthwhile to return to a deteriorating Cuba? While some prioritize family reunions, others confront the harsh reality of a country that causes them pain, leaving them emotionally shattered.
Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling to Cuba
Why are some Cubans advising against traveling to Cuba?
Some Cubans, like Elizabeth and Thaimi Sánchez, have shared experiences of poor living conditions, economic struggles, and emotional distress encountered during visits, urging others to reconsider travel plans.
What challenges did Elizabeth face during her visit to Cuba?
Elizabeth faced high costs for basic necessities, such as water, as well as power outages, which led to health issues and security concerns, including theft attempts during blackouts.
How have Elizabeth's and Thaimi Sánchez's accounts impacted the Cuban community abroad?
Their testimonies have intensified discussions among Cubans living overseas about the value and emotional impact of visiting a country facing significant hardships, weighing family connections against challenging realities.