tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664019666098561247.post696586915204851754..comments2024-03-24T12:58:03.207-04:00Comments on East MoCo: Leggett's Cuba trip costs questionedRobert Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664019666098561247.post-82595240737028510632016-02-26T23:12:05.566-05:002016-02-26T23:12:05.566-05:00And not that the local Young Republicans are worth...And not that the local Young Republicans are worth responding to (or reporting on), but to answer their question: one would assume the vast majority of the $8700 is airfare, lodging, and then a local handler/driver while in Cuba. <br /><br />There still aren't any commercial flights from the U.S. to Cuba so there are at least 4 flights to pay for between the two of them - either flying into a different Caribbean/Central American country and then a separate flight to Cuba or flying to Miami and taking a charter flight into Havana ($3500-6000 total). Handler/driver is going to be $300/day, if you can find someone who covers both responsibilities. $400/day if you have to higher two separate people ($1500-$2000). $150-200 hotel rooms (two rooms, I assume 4 nights. $1200-$1600). Basic per diem $50 a day for two people ($500). <br /><br />So my back of the envelop comes out to between $7-10K; there are various smaller costs, e.g. transportation to/parking at Dulles ($100-200), travel/evac insurance (not sure of the cost considering I have no idea how negatively Cuba is looked at by insurance companies), etc. that I didn't bother factoring in. Maybe the Young Republicans should grow up and take a business trip or 50 before accusing someone of taking a "luxury, 5-day trip to Club Havana!" just because they don't know what real-world expenses look like.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664019666098561247.post-82992842810123480232016-02-26T22:43:17.232-05:002016-02-26T22:43:17.232-05:00Business trip. It's common for high ranking po...Business trip. It's common for high ranking politicians and/or their economic development dept. to take trips to various countries to meet with their political and business counterparts to try and foster growth and attract businesses looking to expand into the U.S. <br /><br />Trying to move fast and be one of the first to pitch Cuban business and political leaders on the merits of opening their U.S. operations in the DC area makes sense to me. Especially if we're just talking a few grand investment. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664019666098561247.post-34078924008448874292016-02-26T12:44:18.570-05:002016-02-26T12:44:18.570-05:00Why are they going there in the first place?Why are they going there in the first place?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com