Hurricane plan can save a vacation

By BETH J. HARPAZ
Published June 3, 2007

Despite forecasts of a busy hurricane season, the idea of a summer vacation on a tropical beach appeals to many travelers. And there is one advantage: It costs less now than at other times of year.

"Many of these places - Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico - are warm-weather destinations, and this time of year is their offseason, so deals are abundant, " said Linda D'Arcy, a travel specialist with American Express Travel.

Here's what you need to know about making your vacation hurricane-proof.

- Associated Press

The forecast

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration predicts 13 to 17 named storms in the Atlantic this season, with seven to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to five expected to be major. Last year forecasters also predicted a heavy hurricane season, but they were wrong. The El Nino weather phenomenon, which warms the Pacific and calms storms in the Atlantic, kicked in unexpectedly.

Air travel

According to David Castelveter, spokesman for the Air Transport Association, if a hurricane is headed for your vacation destination and you're not there yet, air carriers "will generally, under any severe weather conditions, provide some sort of a period of time in which you can use that ticket without paying the penalty for changing a nonrefundable ticket."

If you're at your destination and you need to leave because a hurricane is en route, "they'll just rebook you on whatever flights they have to get you out."

But it gets complicated when the forecast is imprecise. Passengers usually can't rebook because of the threat of a hurricane.

Some passengers who tried to leave Cancun ahead of Hurricane Wilma in 2005 found airlines unwilling to rebook them without hundreds of dollars in additional fees. That's when it pays to have used a travel agent or tour company, or to have purchased insurance.

Insurance and other guarantees

For 5 to 7 percent of the cost of your trip, you can buy trip-cancellation insurance that will refund tickets and reservations if your vacation is canceled, delayed or interrupted due to severe weather or other reasons. You'll also be covered for rebooking flights, extra days in a hotel, and other expenses, loss of belongings or damage to rental cars, and certain medical expenses, according to Jon Ansell, spokesman for the US Travel Insurance Association. A comprehensive policy also usually includes 24-hour hotline assistance.

You can buy trip insurance through travel agents, tour operators, cruise lines, airlines and even travel-booking Web sites. Or visit www.ustravel insurance.org to see a list of member companies like AIG.

Cruises

Cruise lines can and do change their itineraries for many reasons, including to avoid bad weather. And passengers are not usually entitled to compensation.

But you might get some sort of onboard credit, especially if you have to spend a day aboard ship that you had expected to spend sightseeing or shopping on an island.

Policies vary by cruise line. Carnival provides a standard $20 per person credit for each missed port if other ports of call cannot be substituted.

On the other hand, even if the itinerary changes, you'll still get a vacation on a cruise, whereas a land-based trip wouldn't be so easy to salvage.

FAST FACTS

Storm ready trip

Lessons learned the hard way about vacationing in a hurricane-prone region:

1. Next time, I would buy travel insurance to cover emergency expenses like extra days in hotels and the $800 our airline wanted to charge when we tried to leave ahead of the storm.

2. Next time, I would get paper tickets. No one was allowed into the airport in Cancun after Hurricane Wilma without paper tickets. E-tickets - which we had - meant nothing.

3. If it looks like a hurricane is coming your way, go to the airport and refuse to leave until you get a flight out. Forget using the phone.

4. Ask one person at home to serve as a contact. That way, you only need to make one call or send one e-mail to explain your situation.

Beth J. Harpaz, Associated Press

[Last modified May 31, 2007, 13:52:05]