(photo by Space Ritual/Flickr)

Today the big travel news story is that Obama has eased travel restrictions to Cuba. Now, Americans who have relatives in Cuba are allowed to visit them whenever they want. They are also allowed to send an unlimited amount of money to them. This is especially poignant when you consider that U.S. law did not forbid Americans to go to Cuba but prohibited them from spending any money once they got there, which is pretty impossible no matter how frugal a budget tourist you claim to be.

I know very few people who have been to Cuba, and the ones I know have mostly gone through tours that include a volunteering component, as humanitarian groups have long been able to obtain a special license. But for tons of Canadians and Brits, going to Cuba is often seen as no big deal, just another beautiful Caribbean island with lots of all-inclusive beach resorts and a very cool capital. If and when travel restrictions are completely lifted for Americans, I predict it will become a popular vacation destination for us too.