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When is the earliest I can go to Cuba?
- by Richard Knight
- Feb 24, 2021
- cuba
- Cruise Industry News qqqq
March's march to travel freedom
With successive lockdowns and COVID-19 cases higher than 2020's peak, people all around the UK have got used to leaving home for very specific reasons. If it isn't exercise, essential shopping, or work that can't reasonably be done from home, the local police authorities can even fine you.
The BBC article, entitled "When can I go on holiday in the UK or travel abroad?" comes after Boris Johnson's speech on the evening of 22nd February laying out the details of slowly easing the lockdown restrictions from March.
This easing of restrictions will be a layered approach and depends on the following requisites:
The vaccine programme continues to go to plan.
Evidence shows vaccines are reducing deaths and numbers requiring hospital treatment.
Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospital admissions.
New variants do not change the risk of lifting restrictions.
This unveiling of England's lockdown exit plan has got many people excited about taking a holiday and clears up the question many have been asking regarding visiting the Caribbean island of Cuba.
Leaving the UK to fly abroad
Depending on whether the government is satisfied as to whether the four above requisites are being met, the earliest date people from England will be able to travel abroad for a holiday is 17th May, when the country moves in to step three of its lockdown exit plan.
At the moment, there are lots of rules for foreign travel, including having to quarantine when you re-enter the UK, but obviously, this is subject to change over the coming months as restrictions continue to ease.
Coupled with the fact that Cuba is researching and developing its own vaccine, as well as the island's tourist industry being very well set up to meet COVID-19 rules and regulations, it's likely that Cuba will be one of the first places people consider when planning a trip abroad.
Already deemed to be a Winter hotspot, Cuba is likely to be one of the planet's top tourist destinations in Spring 2021 too.
Should you book a holiday now?
According to the BBC report, most holiday providers are offering flexible booking policies for future trips, in order to try to boost confidence in the market again.
The UK watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), states that under current circumstances, you should usually get your money back if COVID-19 restrictions change your holiday plans.
"The CMA says you should receive a full refund, with non-refundable deposits likely to be unfair, and therefore unenforceable. If you decide to cancel a holiday due to government guidance, you should not face disproportionately high charges for doing so. Vouchers or postponement can be offered, but you are not obliged to accept this over a cash refund. If the holiday provider refuses to pay or goes bust and you paid by credit card you can claim from your card company for services not rendered under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. You must have spent between £100 and £30,000 to be eligible."
To assist travellers with dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, CubaDirect has adjusted its booking terms and conditions, showing increased flexibility regarding flight changes or full cancellations.
Booking with CubaDirect means that you're protected by the 2018 Package Travel Regulations, meaning that your holiday will either go ahead as planned or you'll receive the choice of an alternative holiday, credit for a future holiday, or a full refund should there be a nationwide ban on travel.
For more information, check our COVID-19 promise for more details.
From staycations to full vacations, and hopefully to Cuba
The vast majority of us are looking forward to boarding aeroplanes and seeing distant parts of the world again. Although this looks feasible from 17th May, it's not known yet what the COVID rules will be when holidays abroad are finally allowed.
It's possible that guests will have to obey local social distancing rules depending on the country they visit.
However, as the BBC states, the earliest that all restrictions on mixing could be lifted is 21st June, the final stage of lifting lockdown. Holidaymakers looking for the Springtime sunshine, white sandy beaches, and unrivalled natural landscapes of Cuba will focus on May and June with bated breath.
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