Stopping off in Cuba en route from Oz - options?

PaddyofNine

I'm going to Oz for two months during the summer, and am hoping to stop off in Cuba on the way home. USIT and Trailfinders tell me that a Dublin-Sydney-Cuba-Dublin flight could cost as much as €2400 :eek:

So I was wondering if I could get a flight that would be stopping off in LA anyway, and opt for a two-week stopover, would it be possible to backpack my way down to Cuba via Mexico and back in about 18 days?

I'm leaving Oz around August 15th, and have to be back in Ireland for college on September 1st. Anyone done this? Is it even doable?

The USIT girl was also telling me it'd be cheaper if she got me as far as Mexico City, and make my own way into Cuba from there - is this doable? Would it be cheaper?

RATM

Probably would work out cheaper if you got to Mexico City rather than LA. Check out www.attitudetravel.com to see what budget airlines fly into Cuba and then go check their websites to find out where in Central America they fly from.
If youre stuck for time why not just skip the first week of college? In my college we have until the end of the second week to register so the last 2 summers Ive extended my backpacking and then come home and registered on the last possible day. Its not as if a whole lot gets done the first 2 weeks anyway, just get a mate to pick up the handouts for you and it'll be grand.

PaddyofNine

Normally I'd agree but it's final med - they tend to get cranky if you miss hours, never mind weeks!