Travel During Hurricane Season: The Pros and Cons

It doesn’t have to be a stormy vacation if you book your travel during hurricane season.

There are definite arguments for and against, let’s look at them and see if that time is right for you to travel.

When is the right time?

Choosing exactly when to take a vacation can depend on many factors. You might be tied to work commitments, and are only able to get away at certain times of the year. Perhaps you’re divorced, and can only take your children away when your ex-spouse agrees. Or maybe there’s only a week or two when you can get away from them! Choosing to travel during hurricane season can brew a whole new storm of questions – but the one thing we cannot predict on vacation is the weather. Let’s take a look at what the Pros and Cons of traveling during hurricane season might be.

The season

“Hurricane season brings a humbling reminder that, despite our technologies, most of nature remains unpredictable.” Diane Ackerman.

Hurricane season occurs between June 1 and November 30 each year. Whether or not you are tied to taking your vacation during this period, it’s good to know the advantages and disadvantages of booking your trip during that time. A holiday to somewhere warm and relaxing is always a good idea, just ensure that you are prepared…

Get covered

While the risk of hurricane happening during your vacation may be slim, it does happen. It just makes sense to protect your vacation investment, so the first thing to consider is travel insurance.

• PRO: Ensure your policy is fit to cover hurricane season, and you should be fully reimbursed if the worst happens.
• CON: The small print. If the storm was predicted when you originally booked your vacation, then it might not be covered – so check, and check again.

Choosing Your Location

Since by far most hurricanes or tropical storms occur in the Pacific Ocean (where they’re called “typhoons”), sticking to all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean (the Atlantic Ocean) will reduce your risk of a hurricane ruining your vacation plans, although nothing will eliminate the risk entirely.

• PRO: You can map out your trip and choose a location that’s not in the path of the storm.
• CON: Just because you have avoided the storm, you will probably be subject to travel delays arising from nearby affected areas.

Savings Vs. Cost

Most all-inclusive resorts in hurricane-prone areas offer significant savings during hurricane season, and many offer ‘hurricane guarantees’ that waive any cancellation penalties if your trip gets cancelled by a hurricane, or a reimbursement of some amount if your trip gets cut short by one. (BUT they won’t cover your airfare, you’ll need travel insurance for that.)

• PRO: You’ll almost certainly save money by booking during hurricane season, which is considered off-peak, and therefore cheaper.
• CON: If there are added travel delays due to a storm causing you to get stuck somewhere on the way home, then you may have to fork out extra unplanned budget on hotels and experience long delays on the way home. (Note: if your departure from your resort is delayed due to a hurricane, most resorts will not charge you for the extra nights.)

Tips for Traveling During Hurricane Season

If you do decide to go on vacation during hurricane season, then treat it with common sense.

• Choose that travel insurance policy wisely.
• Download a decent weather app to your smartphone.
• Check with the resort you’ll be staying at to find out what policies and procedures they have in place in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm. How will they ensure guests’ safety? How will they assist in the event of an evacuation?
• Don’t underestimate the value of working with a good travel agent – they’ll know how to get your trip re-booked or refunded if it gets cancelled by a storm, or how to help get you home quickly and safely if one occurs during your trip.
• Always ask the travel experts before you go – they’re the ones in the know!

Have you ever experienced a hurricane while traveling? Share your advice in our comments!