Vacation Planning During Hurricane Season
Vacation Planning During Hurricane Season Safety
That said, the odds that a storm will arrive during your week or two of vacation there are still relatively low.
2. Read the policy's fine print. Look at what it actually covers so that there are no surprises later. 3. Consider booking through a ; a good one will know which policy would be best for your trip and can also help you with reimbursement logistics if a problem arises. 4. Take your time. “Never feel pressured by anybody to pick a travel insurance policy simply because they’re pushing it hard,” McDaniel says. “Do your homework and make sure you choose the right policy for you.” Christina Ianzito covers fraud and breaking news for aarp.org and is the books editor for aarp.org and 'AARP The Magazine.' Also a longtime travel writer and editor, she received a 2020 Lowell Thomas Award for travel writing from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation. Jacquelyne Froeber is an award-winning journalist based in Las Vegas, Nevada. She writes and edits travel content for AARP.org. Editor's note: This article was originally published on June 8, 2018. It has been updated to reflect new information.
AARP Travel Center Call: 1.800.675.4318 Search Flights Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: search Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: search Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: Flight 2 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Flight 3 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Flight 4 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Flight 5 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Add Another Flight search Search Hotels Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date Room 1 Room 2 Room 3 Room 4 Room 5 Room 6 Room 7 Room 8 search Search Packages Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date You didn't specify child's age Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: Room 1 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 2 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 3 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 4 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 5 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age You have more than 6 people total Please select a trip duration less than 28 days search Search Cars Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date search Search Cruises Select a valid location Select a month search Search Things to Do Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date search × Let's Go Reset Featured AARP Member Benefits See more Car Rentals offers > See more Travel offers > See more Hotels & Resorts offers > See more Gas & Auto Services offers > Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Protect Your Vacation From Hurricane Season
3 steps to minimize impact from major storms
William Potter A travel insurance policy can protect you if your trip is canceled due to severe weather. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), hurricane season doesn’t end until Nov. 30, so how can you protect yourself and your vacation plans? Take these tips from the experts.1 Timing
If you’re planning an East Coast beach getaway or a , know that the peak of hurricane season runs from mid-August through mid-October. That's when Category 3, 4 and 5 hurricanes are most likely to hit — and also why it’s a prime time for big cruising discounts. Don't get seduced by deals unless you understand that they come with a higher risk for weather-related trip disruptions. Cancellation of a cruise because of a hurricane is rare, says Colleen McDaniel, editor in chief of the Cruise Critic website, but it does happen. When cruises were canceled in Irma’s immediate aftermath in the summer of 2017, the major cruise lines offered customers full reimbursements. But itineraries may only be tweaked when tropical storms hit, as cruise lines are quick to move ships out of harm's way. “The cruise line might say, ‘Hey, we’re not going to be stopping in St. Thomas today, we’re going to be stopping in San Juan,’ ” McDaniel says. If you choose to travel in a hurricane-prone zone during peak time, and if you have important events afterward (a wedding, for instance), include a few buffer days in case you get delayed. Join today and save 25% off the standard annual rate. Get instant access to discounts, programs, services, and the information you need to benefit every area of your life.2 Location
There are certain areas more in the danger zone than others. If you truly want to lower your chances of your vacation being derailed by a storm, consider in the U.S. According to NOAA, these include North Carolina, Louisiana, Florida , Texas, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.That said, the odds that a storm will arrive during your week or two of vacation there are still relatively low.
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If you know the risks and still want to travel in these areas during hurricane season, travel experts recommend purchasing . Policies can be bought through cruise lines, home rental agencies, travel agents or online travel-insurance comparison sites, or directly through companies such as Allianz or Generali. The two main factors that determine the cost of a policy are the cost of the trip and the age of the traveler, says Stan Sandberg, cofounder of . A basic policy will usually be about 4 to 10 percent of the cost of your trip, according to Sandberg. Older travelers will pay more because health risks rise with age and cancellation for medical reasons is typically part of the package, as well as things like terrorism, the death of a family member and job loss. Most basic travel insurance policies reimburse you for your nonrefundable prepaid travel costs if you have to cancel before your departure — but only for certain reasons. Typically, they only cover cancellations due to severe weather such as a hurricane if the storm directly affects your destination and causes serious disruption to the trip. You won’t be covered if the weather simply looks threatening. “There are a few providers that do have trip cancellation coverage that would include a hurricane warning by NOAA that would impact your destination,” Sandberg says. “But for the most part, the standard plans will just provide for cancellation and interruption and trip delay when [your trip is] directly affected by a hurricane.” To protect your trip investment from absolutely anything — including changing your mind about going — buy a policy with a “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) upgrade, Sandberg says. You’ll be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of the total trip costs if you bail out for any reason at least 48 hours before your departure date. It typically adds 30 to 50 percent to the regular premium. (So if the basic policy is $100, you’d pay $130 to $150 with the CFAR upgrade.)A few more tips for hurricane season travel br
1. If you want travel insurance, buy it early. Once storms are predicted, it’s too late. (Insurance, of course, is for unforeseen problems.)2. Read the policy's fine print. Look at what it actually covers so that there are no surprises later. 3. Consider booking through a ; a good one will know which policy would be best for your trip and can also help you with reimbursement logistics if a problem arises. 4. Take your time. “Never feel pressured by anybody to pick a travel insurance policy simply because they’re pushing it hard,” McDaniel says. “Do your homework and make sure you choose the right policy for you.” Christina Ianzito covers fraud and breaking news for aarp.org and is the books editor for aarp.org and 'AARP The Magazine.' Also a longtime travel writer and editor, she received a 2020 Lowell Thomas Award for travel writing from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation. Jacquelyne Froeber is an award-winning journalist based in Las Vegas, Nevada. She writes and edits travel content for AARP.org. Editor's note: This article was originally published on June 8, 2018. It has been updated to reflect new information.
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AARP Travel Center Call: 1.800.675.4318 Search Flights Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: search Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: search Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: Flight 2 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Flight 3 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Flight 4 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Flight 5 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Add Another Flight search Search Hotels Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date Room 1 Room 2 Room 3 Room 4 Room 5 Room 6 Room 7 Room 8 search Search Packages Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date You didn't specify child's age Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: Room 1 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 2 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 3 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 4 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 5 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age You have more than 6 people total Please select a trip duration less than 28 days search Search Cars Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date search Search Cruises Select a valid location Select a month search Search Things to Do Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date search × Let's Go Reset Featured AARP Member Benefits See more Car Rentals offers > See more Travel offers > See more Hotels & Resorts offers > See more Gas & Auto Services offers > Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures