Technically, hurricane season runs from June 1 - November 30 and although hurricanes are not, generally speaking, predictable, it's fair to say that peak season varies by geography. In the eastern Caribbean and the east coast of the U.S., the busiest time of the season tends to occur in the mid-August - mid September time frame. In the Western Caribbean, it runs later, picking up in mid-September and stretching into early November. Early and late season hurricanes (June, mid- to late-November) are rare but not unprecedented.

An "average" hurricane season means we can expect eight to 11 tropical storms; of these five to seven could develop into full-fledged hurricanes. Note, however, that not all hurricanes ever strike land.

What to do When a Hurricane Changes Your Travel Plans

Hurricane season is upon us, and anyone who has scheduled a late-summer vacation in the Southeast over the past few years knows how a hurricane can wreck havoc with your vacation plans, regardless of where you’re traveling.

Hurricane season for 2006 starts on  June 1 to November 30, with the peak activity from mid-August to mid-October. Anyone scheduling vacations during this time should be aware that hurricanes could potentially affect your travel plans. One possibility is to consider destinations which we call "Hurricane Safe Destinations." Click here to learn more about these destinations.

When scheduling travel plans during hurricane season, find out the cancellation policies for the accommodations, car rentals, and airline tickets that you purchase. It’s always best to work with companies and businesses that allow you to cancel a reservation without charge until a few days before your vacation. However, in the event of a natural disaster, many companies will waive cancellation policies. For instance, airlines will usually waive change fees for anyone traveling out of or into locations affected by a hurricane during a specific time frame. Hotels and car rental agencies should do the same. If you must cancel a reservation due to a hurricane, be sure to tell the person that you talk to that it is storm related and you could save yourself a lot of penalty fees.  Click here for our hurricane-planning tips.

• When making travel plans, seriously consider purchasing a travel protection plan and specifically ask if the insurance will cover cancellation due to hurricanes. It is always a safe bet to purchase a travel protection plan regardless of a hurricane, as other potential emergencies may arise.  You want to be sure you have a policy that doesn’t just cover cancellation of a vacation only if your vacation is in a city that will be directly hit by a hurricane, since hurricanes can have extensive damage in locations far outside of the eye. Also, be sure to find out if you’ll get your money back, or will have to reschedule the exact trip only at a later time, which might not be possible in any cities recently devastated by a storm. Click here to learn more about travel protection plans.

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU

Planning a trip today can be confusing and time consuming. A travel agent not only arranges the various modes of transportation, but also may be able to save you money with early booking discounts, special fares, accommodation details and travel advisories. With the arrival of the hurricane season, WE ARE YOUR BIGGEST ADVOCATE, AND WE ARE HERE TO GO TO BAT FOR YOU! Your best interests are our priorities.  We will work closely with our travel suppliers to reschedule your flights, switch hotels, evacuate you if necessary, and to reimburse you the the unused portion of your vacation.    WHAT IF YOUR TRAVEL AGENT OR ONLINE AGENCY CANNOT OR WILL NOT ASSIST YOU?  CALL US AT 1-888-898-3628, WE'LL BE GLAD TO HELP YOU. 

In addition, we can:

Save you time and money! – Strong working relationships with travel suppliers and the latest in computer reservations technology enable us to access the most up-to-date information on how to get you the best value. At times, we may not offer the lowest prices, but we will get you the best value, the best worry-free vacation experience, and tremendous service.  We will go the extra mile to do everything possible to meet your travel needs. Do not hesitate to call us collect at 757-596-2774, or toll-free 1-888-898-3628 if we can be of assistance to you.