Caribbeans

NEW travel advice has been issued warning Brits not to travel to a major destination in the Caribbean.

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) is advising against all but essential travel to Cuba – the Caribbean’s biggest island – as flights get cancelled.

On Gov.uk, the FCDO states: “Cuba is experiencing severe and worsening disruption to essential infrastructure, persistent nationwide power outages, fuel shortages, and increasing safety risks.

“These conditions significantly affect the ability of visitors to access reliable transport, medical care, communications, and basic services.

“Authorities have introduced fuel rationing, scaled back public services, and made temporary changes to healthcare, education, transport and tourism operations in order to conserve severely limited energy supplies.

“Flight schedules are also being disrupted due to aviation fuel shortages, with some airlines reviewing routes or temporarily cancelling services which risk visitors being unable to leave the country.”

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Flight cancellations include to and from Havana, with aviation authorities warning that no fuel will be available for the next month.

The shortage comes after the US sanctioned the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, as Venezuela is key supplier of oil to Cuba.

President Donald Trump later claimed that the “policies, practices and actions of Cuba directly threaten the safety, national security and foreign policy of the United States“.

He added that he would place tariffs as a punishment on any country that directly or indirectly sells or gives oil to Cuba.

And as a result, the country’s supply has run dry.

This has then impacted flights into and out of the country.

From February 10, jet fuel has been unavailable and this is expected to go on until March 11.

The notice was given by the island’s aviation authorities and impacts Havana, Varadero, Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Santa Clara, Cayo Coco and other airports.

For example, Air Canada has been forced to cancel its weekly programme of 32 flights.

Brits often travel via Canada to get to Cuba and if you have an upcoming flight with Air Canada or WestJet, you can get a full refund.

Anyone currently in Cuba who is due to fly home is having to catch ‘ferry flights’, with Air Canada carrying extra fuel to manage both outward and return flights.

For those travelling from Europe, flights are usually with Air Europa or Iberia from Madrid to Havana.

Alternatively, you can get a flight from Paris to Havana on Air France or from Istanbul on Turkish Airlines or from Moscow on Rossiya.

However, these flights are likely to be forced into making technical stops for more fuel.

If you already have a flight booked to Cuba and the flight will still be taking off, you unfortunately have no right to cancel and won’t get a refund.

The same goes for if you have a holiday booked with a travel firm and they can still provide the holiday that you booked.

However, if it becomes impossible to carry out your trip itinerary – such as certain activities – travellers should be given the option to cancel.

When FCDO advises against travel, your travel insurance will typically not cover you.

For package holidays, you are generally entitled to a full refund or alternative holiday when the FCDO issues advice against all but essential travel.

The FCDO adds: “If you are currently in Cuba, carefully consider if your presence is essential.

“Take precautions by conserving fuel, water, food and mobile phone charge, and be prepared for significant disruption.

“Check for messaging from your airline or tour operator.”

In other travel news, travel expert warns of scary holiday scam which could see you out of pocket and out on the street.

Plus, travel expert reveals five hidden risks on trips and how to stay safe when you’re enjoying your time abroad this summer.

ESCAPING the dreary UK for the paradise of the Caribbean might sound incredibly expensive.

However, on the cheapest island which is the Dominican Republic, you can get an all-inclusive February break from £155.57per night.

The Dominican Republic is one of the best places to travel to this year, and was voted as such in the ‘Best of the Best’ Travellers’ Choice Awards on Tripadvisor.

On what visitors can see there, Tripadvisor said: “Offering a lush interior with a mix of caves, Victorian gingerbread houses and the lore of pirates, plus 900 miles of coastline along its brim.”

“Island highlights include riding a cable car up Mount Isabel de Torres and basking on stunning Saona Island. Oh, and did we mention the D.R. is family-friendly, has just about perfect weather and is affordable?”

Tourists visiting the Dominican Republic will flock to Punta Cana on the eastern side of the island.

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This is where you’ll find white sandy beaches with bright waters and all-inclusive resorts – which are incredibly affordable.

On loveholidays you can get a seven-night holiday to the 3-star Bavaro Green hotel (room only).

Flights depart on February 23, 2026 from Manchester Airport.

The apartment-style hotel is in the heart of Pueblo Bávaro – it has an outdoor pool as well as one for kids and a playground.

It’s a five minute walk away from the city centre and Bavaro Beach is a 15-minute drive away.

On loveholidays, all-inclusive packages start from £1,089pp in February – which works out at £155.57pppn.

For this price you get a seven-night stay at the whala!bavaro including TUI flights from Manchester.

The 4-star hotel has 212 rooms which come with air conditioning, flatscreen TVs, private bathrooms and WiFi.

The resort has both an outdoor freshwater pool surrounded by sun loungers, and an indoor freshwater pool.

There are three bars, a buffet restaurant and it’s minutes away from the closest beach.

Compared to other destinations in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic is relatively cheap.

The average price of coffee in the Dominican Republic is £1.46 and a meal at an inexpensive restaurant can start from £4.65, according to Wise.

In comparison, a meal in Barbados is around £14.50 and a coffee is around £3.32.

It’s so affordable because of its low labour costs and local production of goods, which keeps operating expenses down for resorts.

February is a great time to travel to the Dominican Republic – it’s an incredible winter sun destination.

During February, there are daily highs of around 28C with minimal rainfall.

When it comes to exploring the island, one must-visit is one of the ‘World’s Best Beaches‘ – Canto de la Playa came in at number six.

Found on Saona Island it’s considered ‘one of the Caribbean‘s best-kept secrets’.

It’s been described as having noticeably soft sand along with calm waters for swimmers with vibrant coral reefs just offshore.

Saona Island is found off the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic and forms part of the East National Park.

It’s known for mangroves and coral reefs and of course, its palm-fringed beaches.

In the waters around the island, visitors can expect to see sea turtles, dolphins and even humpback whales.

If you want to get incredible views, head up the Mount Isabel de Torres cable car which in 10-minutes climbs 2,600 feet.

The cable car is in Puerto Plata on the northern coast of the island with views of the city, tropical forest and the coastline.

For more on the Caribbean, Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey checked out one of the least visited islands with zip lines, lobster bars and volcano hiking.

And this is the closest Caribbean island to the UK that has Maldives-like overwater villas.