Summer is a season of frivolity, family … and vacations. Unfortunately, hurricane season coincides with summer, and severe weather can wreak havoc on what is supposed to be a carefree time of year. With Hurricane Dorian projected to intensify over the 2019 Labor Day weekend, travelers heading to the Bahamas, Florida and the southeastern U.S. are rightfully concerned about their vacation plans and safety. We have some tips to be prepared if you’re vacationing during hurricane season - there’s nothing earth-shattering on the list, but practical recommendations to ensure you’re ready to weather the storm.
Trip Protection
Whether or not you’re travelling during hurricane season, you should seriously consider adding trip protection in case inclement weather interrupts your plans. You work hard to be in a position to take the trip of your dreams, so why not invest a little more to protect it? If you decline trip protection, please be sure that you read and understand the terms and conditions of your vacation package - whether it’s a Walt Disney World Resort trip, Disney Cruise or all-inclusive resort stay.
Book with a Travel Agent
Regardless of the time of year when you travel, why wouldn’t you book with a travel agent? Travelers do not pay anymore to utilize travel agent expertise, and they serve as your advocate - whatever the weather. Imagine that you’re stranded at the airport because a hurricane or snow storm has grounded flights nationwide. You’re standing in a queue with the airline, hoping for the best. When you have a travel agent on your side, he or she can be on the phone with other airiines trying to re-route you, as well as communicating with the hotel to modify your original reservation. All this at no additional cost to you.
Be Flexible
Unlike tornadoes or other natural disasters, hurricanes can be tracked in advance of their landfall. If you can be flexible on departure/return dates, you may want to depart your hometown to your travel destination a day or two earlier; or if you’re already on vacation, you may want to return a day or two ahead of schedule.
Preparedness Packing
If you are committed to make it to your vacation destination when a hurricane is scheduled to hit, you want to be prepared with everyday items at your hotel. Pack a flashlight, additional batteries for your mobile devices, non-perishable snacks and food items, drinks and extra cash for non-budgeted items.
Be Patient
The uncertainty of traveling during a potential hurricane landfall can be unnerving, to say the least. If you are scheduled to depart your hometown, you wonder if your flight will depart on time. If you’re in midst of your vacation, you question whether your hotel can accommodate your family for another night or two. And if you’re stranded at an airport between connecting flights, you hope and pray that there is a rental car available so that you can drive home. It can be frustrating when you don’t receive straightforward answers, or you receive answers contrary to what you were hoping to hear. Please, please be kind, understanding and patient with the airline, hotel and car rental employees whom you encounter. They are working their hardest, trying to get you where you need to be and extending your stay, so that you can be safe!