Canadians Book Winter Sun Early as Cuba Sidelined
Travel insurance specialist Martin Firestone advises Canadians to book winter sun packages early as Cuba tourism remains sidelined.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Canada
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Travel insurance specialist Martin Firestone advised Canadians to book winter sun packages early, as Cuba tourism remains sidelined due to fallout from the U.S. embargo and sanctions. Tour operators are closely monitoring room inventory as this is the first full winter without Cuba as a sun destination option.
Why it matters
Canadian travellers who previously visited Cuba several times a year for its affordability are now spreading winter travel across a wider mix of destinations. Flight Centre Canada reports Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Barbados and Jamaica are picking up that displaced demand.
Durham Travel's Cuba sales fell from more than $389,000 last year to $24,000 so far in 2026, while its Dominican Republic sales rose from approximately $1 million to nearly $1.3 million. The source does not say how long the shift will persist.
The players
Martin Firestone
A travel insurance specialist who advised Canadians to book winter sun packages early.
Durham Travel
A Canadian travel agency whose regional sales data shows a shift away from Cuba toward the Dominican Republic.
Flight Centre Canada
The Canadian arm of the travel retailer Flight Centre, which reports displaced demand moving to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Barbados and Jamaica.
The details
Airline seat prices increase as seats sell out through dynamic pricing, and vacation prices are expected to rise as booking dates approach. Canadian travellers are spreading winter travel across a wider mix of destinations and trip types as Cuba is no longer an option.
Timeline
The winter sun destination season for 2026-2027 is under consideration.
CTV News reported this past weekend that Cuba tourism remains sidelined.
Seasonal Demand Shift
Canadian winter sun travel has long relied on Cuba as an affordable destination for repeat visitors, and the embargo and sanctions fallout now forces that demand toward Mexico and other Caribbean islands. The redistribution follows the pattern of seasonal booking pressure that intensifies as departure dates approach.
Canadians planning a winter sun trip should book early, as airline seat prices rise with dynamic pricing and vacation prices are expected to climb closer to departure dates. Travellers seeking an alternative to Cuba can consider Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Barbados or Jamaica.
The takeaway
Booking winter sun travel early helps Canadians lock in fares before dynamic pricing pushes them higher. With Cuba unavailable, flexibility across several Caribbean and Mexican destinations can widen the range of affordable options.
Further reading
Explore more on Canada for context on how Canadian winter travel patterns are changing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Travelweek.
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