Cuba’s insurance warning to travellers has only served to spark further interest in the destination

The country announced that as of 1st May 2010, all travellers would be barred entry unless they possessed the appropriate medical insurance cover. Cheapflights UK, the UK’s leading search and comparison site in travel has found that searches to Cuba have increased by 29 per cent post announcement, indicating that the country’s entry ban on those without the necessary paperwork has only served to gage travel interest even further.
“Searches to Cuba have actually gone up since the announcement. Travellers remain undeterred by being banned entry if they don’t possess insurance documents and in a way, this is a positive move on the country’s behalf as being covered by medical insurance during your journey can save you a fortune should need to see a doctor for any reason,” says Nadine Hallak, Travel Expert for Cheapflights UK.
Those concerned about adding extra spend to the cost of a holiday need not be. Fully comprehensive travel insurance including medical (injury and illness), cancellation, and even baggage cover can start from as little as £20 or £30 for the whole year, which, in many cases, can save paying anywhere between £150 upwards for a single treatment or doctor’s visit while abroad.

“For the best deals it’s simply a case of shopping around as you would when searching for cheap flights. Intrepid travellers may have to dig slightly further as not all insurers will cover extreme sports like bungee jumping, but they can be found, and for the most part, an extra £30 or less for the year is a small price to pay for quite a large return,” adds Hallak.
And when the destination is Cuba, evidence indicates that travellers think it’s well worth throwing in a little extra.  The Caribbean’s largest island serves some up some of the world’s most exquisite beaches, mountain ranges, and world-famous art. It’s also the birthplace of salsa, with music and dance representing part of the foundation of Cuban culture.

Aside from all its natural attributes, the country’s turbulent political past seems to also make it more attractive to tourists with all-inclusive resorts around the area of Varadero proving immensely popular over the last few years. With flight prices starting from just £442 return, and ground costs of around just £7-10 for a mid-range dining, from £15 and up for top-end dining, and top-end hotels starting from £70 upwards, it’s easy to see why.
Cuba is also recognised around the world for its ecological footprint giving green travellers even more incentive to visit and learn about the huge strides it has taken in sustainable urban development, nature conservation, and organic agriculture to name but a few.