Canada issues travel advisories for popular Caribbean beach destinations

As a deep freeze settles over Ontario, many people are dreaming of a Caribbean holiday.

Southern Ontario has had a cold and brutal winter so far, and there is still about two months left.

If you are planning a trip to get away from the cold, it’s a good idea to check out the latest travel advisories.

Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories website page helps travellers make informed decisions and travel safely outside the country.

They analyze trends and incidents affecting international travellers, monitor global events and collect updated reports from various sources.

Here are five warm-weather destinations with travel advisories:

Cuba

Risks: Shortages of basic necessities, including food, water, medicine, electricity and fuel, which can also affect resorts.

Reasons: Cuba faces chronic and severe shortages of ‎basic necessities, including food, bottled water, public water supply, medication, fuel and hard currency.

Resorts can be affected by shortages. The timing, location, and type of impacts on resorts vary and are difficult to predict.

Fuel shortages affect a wide range of services. Travelling across the island is extremely challenging. Public transportation services, including taxis, are often disrupted, leaving tourists with few options to travel. Some travellers have been temporarily stranded with a rental car. There are often long line-ups at gas stations that have led to altercations.

Food shortages or food spoilage, as a result of power outages and fuel shortages, can occur even in restaurants and hotels.

Trinidad and Tobago

Risks: Violent crime.

Reasons: Trinidadian and Tobagonian authorities declared a nationwide state of emergency after police uncovered a coordinated and highly dangerous criminal network.

Visitors should avoid certain areas, including Beetham Estate Gardens, Cocorite, Downtown Port of Spain, Laventille and Sea Lots, due to high levels of violence and gang-related crime.

There is a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and becoming the victim of gun-related crossfire throughout the country, even during the day. Emergency services’ response may vary.

Mexico

Risks: High levels of criminal activity and kidnapping.

Reasons: Kidnappings, including express kidnappings, occur frequently throughout Mexico. Kidnappers have targeted foreigners, including Canadians.

Virtual kidnappings are becoming more common and are a form of extortion. Victims are neither captured nor detained. Criminals use threats and knowledge of their victim’s personal information to create the impression of a kidnapping and demand ransom from the victim’s friends and family.

Large crowds expected at the FIFA World Cup 2026 from June 11 to July 19 could increase the risk of illness and injury. Reduce health risks by practising good hand hygiene, avoiding contact with sick people, and eating/drinking safely.

Dominican Republic

Risks: Crime.

Reasons: Violent crime occurs, occasionally targeting foreigners. Incidents take place mainly after nightfall in large cities. Criminals target cars for armed robberies on the roads, especially after nightfall. You should arrange to arrive and depart from the Dominican Republic during daylight hours.

Incidents of sexual assault and rape have occurred, including at major resorts and hotels. Employees of resorts and hotels have been involved.

Credit and debit card, as well as ATM, fraud occur frequently. Card reader tampering, also known as skimming, is a common scam. Businesses could try to save your credit or debit card information when you make a legitimate purchase through a compromised card reader. Be cautious when using debit or credit cards.

For a complete list of advisories and additional information, see the federal website here.

Lead photo of Cuba: Santi Gomez

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