This hurricane season, Airfarewatchdog polled over 1,200 travelers to ask if they plan on traveling during storm season and nearly all (85%) said yes. Are you among them? Here's how to protect your trip and your money when bad weather strikes.
What to do when traveling during hurricane season
Don't think you can wait until the last minute to insure your trip. Once a storm has been named, you cannot buy travel insurance to protect against it.
If you do have travel insurance, it may include coverage for non-refundable purchases related to your flight, such as hotel bookings, rentals, and tours.
Many credit cards offer some form of coverage in cases of non-refundable travel losses including hotels and meals.
If your flight has been canceled, you are entitled to a refund even if you’ve purchased a non-refundable ticket.
Bad weather can wreak havoc on flight schedules across the board. Even if your flight wasn’t traveling to/from the hurricane zone, you may still qualify for a refund.
Stuck in the Storm?
If you’re already traveling and find yourself stranded in your destination due to a storm, travel insurance can help cover expenses incurred as you wait it out.
Still, an alarming 47% of travelers said they do not plan to buy travel insurance this season (see full poll results below).
Booking a Trip to the Caribbean During Hurricane Season
Sure, it costs a little extra to insure your vacation, but it’s nothing compared to what you’d potentially lose if a hurricane rolls in.
Shop around and find the policy that best suits your trip.
Sites like TravelInsurance, InsureMyTrip, and SquareMouth are all excellent places to start.
If you’d rather not take any chances, look beyond the hurricane zone to destinations like Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, Curacao, Trinidad and Tobago, or Panama.
*Airfarewatchdog polled over 1,200 travelers asking: Do you buy travel insurance when you’re traveling during hurricane season?
- 47% - No
- 33% - Never buy it
- 12% - Yes
- 8% - I always buy it
