Cuba
I was booked for a visit to Cuba this weekend. To my astonishment, the State Department issued a travel advisory for Cuba! I called Tauck to question the status of the trip this weekend. They had no idea about the travel advisory and stated that I could request a refund, but would keep $500, the travel insurance. I will never do business with Tauck, who took my $500. Pathetic customer service.
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Comments
Is Tauck going to do the tour? Or is it cancelled? If they're going but you're not, you exercised your insurance right to cancel for any reason and that's what you paid your travel insurance for.
With all insurance, you don't get back the money you paid for the insurance. If you have an automobile accident, the insurance company pays for your damage - they don't give you your insurance payments back.
If Tauck cancelled the trip, you should get all your money back. In that case, you did not exercise your right to cancel for any reason – Tauck did the cancellation.
According to the U.S. Department of State website, Cuba currently has a "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution" advisory.
This advisory was issued on MAY 7, 2025. The Tauck agent was probably unaware of any new advisory that might affect the travel...and they were correct. There are no new ones. Tauck has taken many groups to Cuba since the advisory was issued.
Incidentally, other countries that also have a Level 2 Advisory are:
Antartica, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Turks and Caicos, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vatacan City.
As far as I know, U.S. travelers are still going to all of these countries.
Regarding travel insurance, Mike is correct. You chose to purchase travel insurance when you booked your trip. You have chosen to make an insurance claim (cancel your trip and request a refund). Of course the insurance premium itself would not be refundable; that's how insurance works.
I am guessing that you aren't comfortable going to Cuba right now. That is completely understandable. Everyone has different comfort levels. Just be thankful that you were wise enough to purchase a high-quality travel insurance, and that you are getting a full refund for the tour cost!