Cuba travel safety just shifted from cheap vacation to rapidly changing risk calculation. You're comparing prices and Cuba wins. Lowest cost. Easy flight. Then the advisory drops. Wayne Smith, hospitality and tourism professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, warns it can change really, really quickly, and politically there could be some fireworks there very, very quickly. You're not booking a stable situation. You're booking uncertainty that's tough on their economy right now as people make different choices. Your credit card insurance that most people just use is actually usually pretty limited. You clicked "I agree" three times on Expedia without reading what it covers. Cuba is cash based economy. Brownouts getting more pronounced. Certain medications harder to come by these days.

Wayne's specific protocol: bring US dollars and euros in small bills, not big bills. Take photocopy of your passport because if there's brownouts and power outage or your phone gets stolen, you need hard copy. Bring extra medication and over-the-counter stuff because you may not be able to get it easily at just every drugstore. You can't go get intoxicated and have too good of a time all by yourself and expect to walk home at 2:00 in the morning and be okay. Common sense shifts when infrastructure becomes unpredictable. Tourism being safety industry means when uncertainty increases, bookings shift to Portugal, Vietnam, South Korea instead.

The price reflects risk you can't predict hour by hour. Specialized travel insurance plan costs 25 to 50 bucks per person for week in Caribbean. That's the coverage gap between what you think you have and what actually pays when situation changes faster than you planned.

Topics: Cuba travel warnings, travel insurance coverage, vacation safety, cash economy tips, medical preparation, alternative destinations

GUEST: Wayne Smith | Professor, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Toronto Metropolitan University

Originally aired on 2026-02-04

Cuba travel safety just shifted from cheap vacation to rapidly changing risk calculation. You're comparing prices and Cuba wins. Lowest cost. Easy flight. Then the advisory drops. Wayne Smith, hospitality and tourism professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, warns it can change really, really quickly, and politically there could be some fireworks there very, very quickly. You're not booking a stable situation. You're booking uncertainty that's tough on their economy right now as people make different choices. Your credit card insurance that most people just use is actually usually pretty limited. You clicked "I agree" three times on Expedia without reading what it covers. Cuba is cash based economy. Brownouts getting more pronounced. Certain medications harder to come by these days.
Wayne's specific protocol: bring US dollars and euros in small bills, not big bills. Take photocopy of your passport because if there's brownouts and power outage or your phone gets stolen, you need hard copy. Bring extra medication and over-the-counter stuff because you may not be able to get it easily at just every drugstore. You can't go get intoxicated and have too good of a time all by yourself and expect to walk home at 2:00 in the morning and be okay. Common sense shifts when infrastructure becomes unpredictable. Tourism being safety industry means when uncertainty increases, bookings shift to Portugal, Vietnam, South Korea instead.
The price reflects risk you can't predict hour by hour. Specialized travel insurance plan costs 25 to 50 bucks per person for week in Caribbean. That's the coverage gap between what you think you have and what actually pays when situation changes faster than you planned.
Topics: Cuba travel warnings, travel insurance coverage, vacation safety, cash economy tips, medical preparation, alternative destinations
GUEST:&nbsp;Wayne Smith | Professor, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Toronto Metropolitan University
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-02-04

Shane Hewitt & The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world—always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.

From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane’s signature style—thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.

If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt &amp; The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world&mdash;always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.
From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane&rsquo;s signature style&mdash;thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.
If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.