According to my Travel Insurance I'm off to a war zone..... Cuba!

ScarletBea

I'm really annoyed!
Early this year I got an annual travel insurance policy with Direct Travel, worldwide inc. USA and Caribbean. I wasn't sure where I was going this year, but I wanted to be covered.

A month ago we decided to go to Cuba, and now I've just realised that my policy doesn't cover war zones: Cuba, Afghanistan and Iraq! This is ridiculous!!!! :mad:

I had to buy a single trip one just for Cuba now...

Andy_L

I suspect your policy doesn't cover Cuba because it's provided by an American company & the're not allowed to get involved with anything Cuban.

ScarletBea

Thanks but nope, I've just checked and Direct Travel is an english company created in 93...

trisontana

ScarletBea wrote: »

Thanks but nope, I've just checked and Direct Travel is an english company created in 93...

But they are only brokers. They actually use AIG UK which is part of an American insurance company.

stephb34

We too are off to cuba and luckily my annual policy with thomas cook covers it, but i didnt know that all worldwide policies didnt cover cuba until someone complained to me about it and of course i havent read the small print yet but i will before i go now.
Do you know about the problem with bank cards and travellers cheques etc. As the previous posters say anything american is a no no and most people dont realise their building societies and banks are mainly american backed. I'm not sure of any company that could sell you travellers cheques to use in cuba and the only card i know you can use there is the thomas cook credit card other than that the option is the good old british £ but i dont fancy carrying that much cash and my insurance policy only covers £300 per person in cash.

FairyElephant_2

We've been to Cuba several times - love it, the country and people are wonderful!

Have never been able to find travellers cheques we could get here and cash there - all seem to be American backed....

Make doubly sute that any credit cards you use are not from an American-backed instituation, as that is the same problem. When booking trips etc we used UK bank debit cards (Lloyds & Halifax) with no problem, and the exchange rate was OK.

They used to love cash currency US$ (curiously enough!), when we first went there, but now they can't accept it, so take GB£ and exchange locally is best, or Euro if you have any left from other holidays. Don't change up too much though as you can't change it beck when you get home and you won't get a great rate changing it back before you come home!

Hope you have a great time!

PS - If you are going to go out and about and visit local schools etc, take some pens/pencils/ notebooks etc - nothing fancy, but they will be very grateful. Also nice 'smellies' & small gifts for maids & hotel staff go down very well, and anything 'English' like England baseball caps & t-shirts were loved where we went!!!!!