bergerman,
The prices on tours to Cuba are not out of line with comparable escorted tours to anywhere else. The price difference has to do with the elements of the tour. If you choose to travel independently, the cost is less but you then add on the cost of extras to the basic travel costs.
Legal travel for Americans has to be with a license. Yes, illegal travel is possible and may not have criminal consequences. However, many of us have our own reasons for wishing to travel legally. We should not be made to feel that we have to justify those reasons on this board.
Having made the choice to travel with a license, the licenses are available for independent travel only for family members, researchers, journalists, religious workers, and others who fall into specific categories. For those of us who do not fall within those categories, the structured People to People tours are available and they are now being offered at many price points depending upon what is included in the tour.
The OP has made their choice to travel legally.
It would be more helpful to give us your insight regarding the destinations than to criticize us for our decisions on how to get there.
Edited: 9 years ago