It seems that Cuba is well on its way to coming back from the abyss regarding its tourism sector. We hear so much about how the numbers, especially for Canadians, have fallen off over the last few years since the end of the pandemic for various reasons. But this report involving Sunwing Vacations is a positive sign, even if exaggerated for obvious reasons as a piece of marketing PR, that things have finally bottomed out and are now heading in an upward direction with their bookings eclipsing last year when soon moving into high-season.

My booking for departure in December for 3 weeks is definitely now more expensive than when I firmed things up over a month ago. With the increased demand for Cuba brought on in no small part by Canadians now turning up their noses at their traditional trips south of the border to Florida and elsewhere through the winter months, it only stands to reason that the demand for getaways to Cuba will continue to increase - and so will the pricing! So any of you who haven't yet firmed up your winter trips to The Pearl of the Caribe, now would be a good time to do that before the pricing assuredly goes even higher. Get on it! Terry

https://www.travelpulse.ca/news/tour...ravel-strategy

I guess step one would be for more resort visitors to come back. Maybe the increase in government revenues could be plowed back into energy. As I mentioned in another thread, I'm waiting for less extreme power outages before I return to the cities.

Simon, wifey has been telling me that she is now getting about 12 hours on... and 12 hours off with the electricity there in Cam city. Certainly a marked improvement from the up to 22 hours without electricity as of before. Things are gradually improving there as we head into the cooler months. Who knows! Maybe by the time I get there on December 18th, I won't have to call mi socio Miguel after all to ask him for a solid and provide me and family in Camaguey with more juice on a daily basis. Terry

That is a huge improvement. I'll be booking a flight for my winter's vacation in mid November. Cuba might be going back on my list of possibilities.

I'm sorry, Simon, I stand corrected. I talked with my wife more about the recently improved electricity situation there, and what she told me is that there's only been more electricity within the last few days in Camaguey city because there are government officials visiting from Havana. That seems to be a regular occurrence - visiting ministry heads = more electricity available. But as soon as they leave, so does the power. It's then back to the old routine. Terry

Stop toying with my emotions Terry. Lol.

jajaja Bueno, I still think there will be at least TWICE as much electricity there on a daily basis by Christmas and through New Years, Simon. That's become the norm over the last few years. But unfortunately, a week after the fin de anos fiestas are in the rear view mirror, things will return to the old routine without electricidad en el centro y en el oriente - the same as what happened at the beginning of this year too. That's why I've been trying to interest you in coming during navidad through to at least the end of the first week of January. There's a window of opportunity there for both of us, Simon. If Cuba is still on your radar, I think it would be wise for you to come join me there at that time... even if you ultimately decide to stay elsewhere other than in Camaguey city - no hay problema. If you wait until later in January to make the plunge, bueno, you know what you'll then be faced with. That's a given. Terry

Please keep us updated on the situation in Camaguey Terry. Especially in regards to the power outages.

Simon, I know you've already decided to go elsewhere in Cuba for January - namely, Havana - but you asked me to keep everyone informed about what's happening in Camaguey. Bueno, two things!

First of all, the electricity was on all morning long today until approximately 1:00pm - then off until approx. 4:00pm - and is now back on again as I write (now 6:00pm). It seems that the electricity problem has now completely flipped the script where by my wife is receiving much MORE electricity than NOT. You see! Miracles do happen!

Secondly, I've just noticed that my booked flight with Air Transat for Dec. 18th from Toronto to Cayo Coco through Jan. 10th... has now gone down to LESS than what I already paid months earlier. I paid $745 base - it's now going for $733 base. Still time for you to change your mind again, Simon! It pays to remain fluid. Terry

Thanks for that update Terry. Typically I book my flight for my January trip in November. I might wait an extra month. I am leaning towards going to Havana again as of now. Nicaragua, Mexico and a big trip hitting Chile, Argentina and Uruguay are all still on the table though.

Bueno, Simon, there's now one other thing to consider when contemplating visiting Camaguey city - the epidemic of both the dengue and chikungunya viruses now plaguing that city. My wife has told me that her mother now has the chikungunya - and another family member as well. Apparently the hospitals and policlinicos there are swarmed with people every day looking for medical treatment and relief - especially from that not so affectionately nicknamed Chikungunya - the "bone breaker virus". It's a huge problem at the moment there - as if they need anything else. Hopefully it'll be a much better scenario by the time I get there later in December.

Of note though, I recently received my latest / greatest Covid-19 and influenza vaccinations, and when there in the pharmacy, I struck up a conversation with the pharmacist giving me the jabs, letting him know what's happening there in Camaguey with the epidemics. He then told me that there's a vaccine for the Chikungunya virus available in Canada . I quickly looked into that and found out that there was 1 dose left at the local Travel Clinic where I live - with a price of $300 too - unless of course one has the supplementary health and drugs coverage to pay for it. I checked with my company's medical health insurance provider - no such coverage for me on our group policy. It'll be 4 big cans of Deep Woods OFF with 25% DEET, and 3 boxes of the OFF mosquito coils going down with me to Cam instead. Terry

Those diseases and the power and water situations are tough to ignore.