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Canadians worried about Caribbean travel plans after U.S. attack on Venezuela. The actions and comments of U.S. President Donald Trump have led many Canadian snowbirds to steer clear of the United States. Now, military action in Venezuela is threatening to shrink travel options in the Caribbean too.
Travel Advisories and Concerns
Travel advisers across Canada say they’ve been fielding questions from people worried about losing money on winter getaways to destinations such as St. Lucia, Aruba, and even Mexico. This comes in the wake of U.S. Delta Forces launching a surprise capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela last weekend, causing travel by dozens of U.S. carriers to surrounding regions to halt.
Following the unrest, Global Affairs Canada warned Canadians to avoid all travel to Venezuela. Air Canada issued advisories for surrounding regions, offering a flexible rebooking policy for flights to several destinations, including Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic.
Insurance Recommendations
John Zeus Tokatlidis, spokesperson for Total Advantage Travel & Tours, advises travellers who haven’t yet purchased their trips to Mexico or the Caribbean to include a comprehensive, cancel-for-any-reason insurance package when they book. However, this type of policy isn’t for everyone. Martin Firestone, a travel insurance specialist, warns that it’s often expensive and often only returns 50 or 75 per cent of reimbursable costs.
Standard trip cancellation insurance or trip interruption insurance is usually sufficient, he said. It can generally be added after a trip has been booked. However, once a situation becomes publicly known, only insurance purchased before that date will cover the disruption.
Travel Alternatives
For those who want to visit the Caribbean but feel nervous, some travel advisers suggest cruises for the built-in flexibility: Ships can – and do – change routes if needed. Others are encouraging travellers to consider warm destinations in other regions such as the South Pacific and Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia.
While the flights may be more expensive, the Canadian dollar stretches further. Trips to Bali or Thailand can cost roughly the same overall as traditional Caribbean vacations.
What do you want to know about the situation in Venezuela and beyond?
On Jan. 3, United States forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in an early morning raid that included attacks on the capital city of Caracas. Do you have questions about the situation in Venezuela and its impact on Canada? Submit your questions below.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the chikungunya virus was airborne.
