Some travellers are more adventurous than others, seeking out those parts of the world that most of us would consider too scary to contemplate. But those looking for a unique holiday experience may find a nasty surprise lurking when they come to look for insurance for their trip. Some areas of the planet ? tempting as they may be to some keen explorers ? are deemed so dangerous as to be excluded from travel insurance policies altogether.

Direct Travel Insurance Services have excluded four such areas from their policies. Countries falling into this uninsurable zone are Liberia, Afghanistan, Sudan and Cuba.

The inclusion of Cuba in this list is particularly puzzling to the UK's foreign office, who report that many thousands of Britons happily visit Cuba for holidays each year ? and return home safe and sound. According to the WHO and World Bank, Cuba actually has a comparatively low rate of crime, and a comparatively high level of healthcare.

It's easy to account for the inclusion of Sudan, Liberia and Afghanistan ? each one a violent and increasingly lawless place at present, but the inclusion of Cuba is beginning to raise eyebrows.

The reason for Cuba's inclusion in Direct Travel's list could well lie in its recent company history. Direct Travel was recently bought over by AIG ? it's important to note that AIG are an American company. American-Cuban relations are still as fraught as ever, with American citizens still effectively banned from visiting Cuba. For this reason, AIG may well be seeking to extend this anti-Cuban US policy to its business in the UK. In the current financial climate, holiday travel is down, so any travel insurance revenue is vital - and so some see Direct Travel's stance as a costly mistake.

For UK holidaymakers looking to take a break on this exotic island, this means that Direct Travel are a no-go if you're looking to travel with insurance. The good news is that there are no shortage of other British insurers who are happy to insure visitors to Cuba. It's not considered a high risk destination by most insurance providers, and so cover can be obtained reasonably cheaply.