Prices halved for holidays to Cuba as island feels impact of Trump and Irma
Massive discounts are available to travellers eyeing up a Cuban holiday this winter amid a souring relationship with the US and damage caused by Hurricane Irma.
Online travel agent Expedia, UK operator Steppes, and Cuban hotels and B&Bs, are among those offering savings on trips to the communist island. Expedia has launched a Cuban sale with discounts of up to 65 per cent on hotels and private guesthouses, while Steppes is giving customers 10 per cent off all Cuban holidays booked before the end of the year, along with a free meal voucher at renowned restaurant La Guarida.
There are also large discounts available at foreign- and state-run hotels for independent travellers. Spanish hotel operator Melia is offering more than 50 per cent off rooms in Cuban cities, and the resort of Varadero, for all 2018 if booked by November 20. Gaviota, which operates hotels in Unesco-protected Old Havana is offering a 15 per cent discount on bookings up to April 30, 2018.
The swathes of savings are available thanks to the prospect of a fallow year for Cuban tourism. The industry had appeared to be taking off with dozens of new flight routes launched late last year. However, Donald Trump’s reversal of Barack Obama’s stance on the island as well as the impact of Hurricane Irma, which hit the north coast beach resorts of Santa Maria, have tapered demand.
“This has been a hard year ever since Trump’s statement affecting US travellers in June; the hurricane has made it worse,” said Lea Díaz Ramírez owner of Suite Havana, a property on Airbnb. “We have lowered our prices on Airbnb, and are negotiating prices directly with clients, too.”
The damage caused by Irma, which also hit the Gardens of the King last month, may have deterred some visitors from the US, but worse has been done by Trump’s travel advisory last week, warning Americans not to visit Cuba due a series of “attacks” affecting US diplomats.
No private citizen - US or otherwise - has been affected, and the Foreign Office advice on travel to Cuba is a beacon of calm amid the Trump administration’s threat to Barack Obama’s December 2014 detente with America’s old Cold War foe.
In addition to Trump’s advisory, new detailed regulations on travel to Cuba for US citizens, announced on June 16, are expected to be published soon.
Meanwhile, Cuba’s government has headed a clear up of its Irma-wrecked beaches. Cayo Santa María’s 9,485 rooms will all be open for business by November 15, though some will reopen this week; the nearby Santa Clara Airport has already reopened. Cayos Coco, and Guillermo - hosting 8,820 hotel rooms - will gradually reopen from this week until November 15. The international airport on Cayo Coco will reopen on November 1.
The 25 best destinations for winter sun
In some respect the slowdown could be welcomed by Cuban citizens. Last December Telegraph Travel reported on a number of tour operators scrapping trips to the island, blaming an ailing infrastructure unable to cope with demand.
In April last year, it was reported that the island was even running out of beer after a surge in the number of tourists arriving from America.