For years Cuba has been a popular and low priced destination for Canadians. Now things are changing........besides the departure tax of approximately $ 25 U.S. imposed now, as of May 1, 2010 you will be required to purchase travel health insurance from the Cuban government on entry to Cuba or show proof of insurance from an insurance company recognized by the Cuban government.........The price for this insurance is still not know........see article below
Cuba Imposes Insurance for Visitors
www.havanatimes.org
March 7, 2010
By Circles Robinson
Cuba received over 2.4 million visitors in 2009.
HAVANA TIMES, March 7 — Without saying what it costs nor what it covers, the Cuban government announced it would obligate tourists to buy health insurance in order to visit the island.
The same measure applies for Cubans living abroad and returning home for visits and for foreigners living in the country.
The decision was taken at an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 16 and published ten days later in the Official Gazette.
According to the measure that takes effect on May 1, 2010, the government says medical insurance policies purchased abroad must be from insurance companies recognized in Cuba.
It also states that sales points will be established at points of entrance to the country for purchase from Cuban companies.
Diplomatic personnel and representatives of foreign organizations are exempt from mandatory insurance.
The Ministry of Finance and Prices is the entity empowered by the Council of Ministers to set the price of the insurance polices to be sold by Cuban companies.
Below is a Havana Times translation of the above mentioned measure:
ISSN 1682-7511
FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Information in this extraordinary
Official Gazette issue (No. 011 of February 26, 2010)
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Agreement
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
______
The Secretary of the Council of Ministers
CERTIFIES
Whereas the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers, making use of the powers granted it by Article 97 of the Constitution of the Republic, adopted on February 16, 2010, the following:
AGREEMENT
FIRST: For entry into the country, all travelers, foreigners and Cuban overseas residents are required to possess a travel insurance policy, covering medical expenses, issued by an insurance entity recognized in Cuba.
At points of entry into the country, the sale of these policies will be ensured by Cuban insurance entities.
SECOND: During their stay in the country, foreigners with temporary residence in Cuba are required to have a medical insurance policy issued by a Cuban or foreign insurance entity recognized in Cuba.
THIRD: Diplomatic personnel and representatives of international organizations accredited in Cuba shall be excluded from application of the previous regulation.
FOURTH: The Minister of Finances and Prices shall be made responsible for approving the forms of charging for medical services and evaluating insurance policies contracted through Cuban insurance entities, applicable to foreign as well as Cuban overseas residents and temporary foreign residents.
FIFTH: The ministers of Public Health and Tourism are authorized, in accordance with their respective responsibilities, to dictate the norms relative to the reorganization of medical care for travelers and foreigners, as well as for Cuban overseas residents and temporary foreign residents.
SIXTH: The present Agreement shall go into effect on May 1, 2010.
In order to provide copies of this agreement to the members of the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers and to all others for which it is pertinent, the present certification is being dispatched from the Palace of the Revolution on February 16, 2010.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
10 Travel Tips for March Break
March Break is just around the corner and many families will be heading for a well-deserved break down south. And if you’re one of them, here are a few tips.
1) If you’ll be the only parent traveling with your kids, depending on your destination, you may need a notarized consent form from your spouse. This is the case for the US, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic: for other countries ask your travel consultant who booked your trip.
2) Important items for your hand luggage: everyone’s I.D., prescription drugs, immunization records, and valuables including jewelry. If your child is prone to colds or allergies, bring some of your preferred medicine as you’ll be familiar with the brand and more comfortable giving it to your child.
3) If you’ll be getting to your hotel/resort before 3:00 pm, which is typical check-in time, take a change of clothes and perhaps a bathing suit in your carry on luggage so you can instantly start your holiday!
4) Airport food can be expensive and selection can be poor, so pack some snacks from home. Remember that airlines have stopped serving peanuts in flight and are doing their best to make their aircraft “peanut-free”, so please don’t bring any as snacks.
5) Leave extra time at the airport. Parking lots, check-in services and even the coffee shops will be operating at maximum capacity.
6) How to avoid in-flight boredom? Be prepared with “are we there yet” type activity books. Dollar stores are an excellent place to pack a bag full of activities and the children can have this bag as their own carry on.
7) Before leaving home, consider buying “one use” cameras for your kids. Be sure to look for the ones with a built in flash. Virtually indestructible, they give even little kids the chance to record their own impressions of the holiday. You may be surprised at the quality of the results!
8) When traveling, always have a recent photo of your kids in your wallet, just in case someone strays. In big resorts, it’s easy to get separated, so take a minute and have a family discussion as to where to go if that happens. Stay put, go to the lobby, go to the room, etc. Make it simple to remember but keep reminding everyone. If the kids have their own room at the resort, come up with a password you’ll use when knocking on their door so they don’t open it to strangers.
9) Why not give each child a day or a half-day to call the shots and decide what the whole family will do. Everyone gets treated fairly, it prevents arguments, and the “I'm bored!” syndrome is not so likely to set in.
10) Encourage each child to make a trip diary to include not only impressions but also autographs of memorable people (a tour guide, your waiter), coins, drawings and so on. In a country where English is not the main language, try to learn a new word every day and add it to the diary.
Enjoy your vacation………..you all deserve it!
1) If you’ll be the only parent traveling with your kids, depending on your destination, you may need a notarized consent form from your spouse. This is the case for the US, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic: for other countries ask your travel consultant who booked your trip.
2) Important items for your hand luggage: everyone’s I.D., prescription drugs, immunization records, and valuables including jewelry. If your child is prone to colds or allergies, bring some of your preferred medicine as you’ll be familiar with the brand and more comfortable giving it to your child.
3) If you’ll be getting to your hotel/resort before 3:00 pm, which is typical check-in time, take a change of clothes and perhaps a bathing suit in your carry on luggage so you can instantly start your holiday!
4) Airport food can be expensive and selection can be poor, so pack some snacks from home. Remember that airlines have stopped serving peanuts in flight and are doing their best to make their aircraft “peanut-free”, so please don’t bring any as snacks.
5) Leave extra time at the airport. Parking lots, check-in services and even the coffee shops will be operating at maximum capacity.
6) How to avoid in-flight boredom? Be prepared with “are we there yet” type activity books. Dollar stores are an excellent place to pack a bag full of activities and the children can have this bag as their own carry on.
7) Before leaving home, consider buying “one use” cameras for your kids. Be sure to look for the ones with a built in flash. Virtually indestructible, they give even little kids the chance to record their own impressions of the holiday. You may be surprised at the quality of the results!
8) When traveling, always have a recent photo of your kids in your wallet, just in case someone strays. In big resorts, it’s easy to get separated, so take a minute and have a family discussion as to where to go if that happens. Stay put, go to the lobby, go to the room, etc. Make it simple to remember but keep reminding everyone. If the kids have their own room at the resort, come up with a password you’ll use when knocking on their door so they don’t open it to strangers.
9) Why not give each child a day or a half-day to call the shots and decide what the whole family will do. Everyone gets treated fairly, it prevents arguments, and the “I'm bored!” syndrome is not so likely to set in.
10) Encourage each child to make a trip diary to include not only impressions but also autographs of memorable people (a tour guide, your waiter), coins, drawings and so on. In a country where English is not the main language, try to learn a new word every day and add it to the diary.
Enjoy your vacation………..you all deserve it!
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