Hurricane tips for vacationers
CARIBBEAN SEA - AUGUST 24: In this handout satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows Hurricane Irene on August 24, 2011 in the Caribbean Sea. Irene, now a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 miles per hour, is projected to possibly clip the Outer Banks region of North Carolina before moving up the eastern seaboard of the U.S. (Photo by NOAA via Getty Images) Credit: Getty
Irene was the first big, bad storm of hurricane season 2011, which started in June and runs through November. Most likely, she won't be the last.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic hurricane season outlook, there is an 85 percent chance activity will be above normal this year. The agency is predicting 14 to 19 named storms, seven to 11 hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes.
Anne Banas, SmarterTravel executive editor, offers tips on what travelers need to know when a hurricane dares to trip up their holiday.
INSURANCE Make sure travel insurancepolicies cover natural disasters. You need to purchase insurance before the threat of the storm materializes, typically before it earns a name.
CHECK POLICIES On every booking, ask the company about its cancellation and refund policies. Some providers, especially in vulnerable areas, offer special dispensations during this season. For example, on the Cayman Islands, more than 25 properties and activities operators offer a Worry Free Hurricane Guarantee. The agreement reduces or eliminates penalties for last-minute cancellations and, in some cases, grants guests a free replacement stay.(Banas reminds travelers to collect all necessary paperwork before they depart, for proof of the aborted stay.)
FLIGHTS Watch for cancellations as well as changes in penalty fees. Banas says the carriers have become "really great about waiving change fees," but warns of potentially tight restrictions, such as the airlines covering only a sliver of departure dates. To jump on an earlier flight out, work every outlet at the same time: phones, online reservations, social media, airport agents.
CRUISES Rather than cancel, cruise lines often reroute their ships to avoid trouble spots. Consult the cruise line for updates, which could include embarking early or skipping ports of call.
STAY POWERED Take your chargers and set up your cellphone with a SIM card or stock up on international calling cards. Power up your gadgets whenever possible.
