10 HURRICANE-PROOF TRAVEL TIPS
Safety first, then relaxation
Hurricane season doesn’t have to hamper tropical trips.
Baby, it’s windy outside … and rainy.
Bad beach weather could be the fate of some of your customers visiting “hurricane belt” destinations—areas bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
Between June 1 and November 30 each year, these regions are prone to “tropical disturbances,” ranging from brief episodes of heavy rain to tropical storms to full-fledged hurricanes.
That doesn’t mean Florida, the Caribbean and other tropical destinations should be off-limits during what also just so happens to be peak vacation season.
But a few planning tips can help you keep your customers happy and protected as they enjoy a vacation that’s hopefully soaked with sunshine rather than rain.
1. Safety first
Equip your customers with helpful hurricane safety tips—just in case. Make sure they’re aware of evacuation routes, and provide them with the emergency map for the hotel or resort where they are staying. Strongly suggest that your customers leave their detailed itinerary and contact information with friends or family staying behind.
2. Bottled water & batteries
Tell hurricane belt bound travelers to pack a few survival kit essentials in their suitcases, whether they are flying or driving to their destination. The American Red Cross recommends a flashlight, batteries, bottled water or water tablets, nonperishable snacks and a can opener. You might also suggest they keep cash on hand in whatever currency is accepted.
3. Go the refundable route
Purchasing refundable tickets doesn’t have to mean sky-high rates, especially through low-cost carriers. And since airline fees for changing tickets have skyrocketed in recent months, your customers may be better off with a refundable ticket—especially if the weather is going to be a factor.
4. Encourage insurance
You gotta love travel insurance. It’s relatively inexpensive to your customer, yet comes with a big commission for your travel agency—and in certain cases, it will ensure even non-refundable trips are “hurricane proof.” (Check individual policies for coverage information.) Amadeus Insurance is easy to add with one click from Amadeus Selling Platform. “Your customers will thank you in the event of an emergency, weather-related or otherwise,” advises Ronan Fradin, a product manager for Amadeus North America.
5. Avoid the higher ground
Mountainous and hilly regions in the hurricane belt are more likely to turn into danger zones when hurricanes strike, according to Forbes. The Dominican Republic has four mountain areas—and with them, a history of devastating mudslides. Whereas the Bahamas are smack in the middle of the hurricane belt, but with their relatively flat topography, aren’t hit nearly as hard as hillier destinations. Of course it’s impossible to say for certain whether one region will be safer than another during any given hurricane season, but odds will be on your side in flatter terrains.
6. Know your ABCs
The ABC islands—Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao—may be the best-known, low-hurricane-risk Caribbean islands. Stick with smaller destinations and your customers are statistically less likely to be stuck in the eye of a storm. But be pre-warned, if a hurricane does hit, it will be harder to leave a smaller island rather than a larger one.
7. Focus on the fall
No one knows for sure when Mother Nature will strike, but hurricane season tends to hit its peak in late summer. October and November can still host bad weather, but the odds are in your customers’ favor that they’ll be out of the woods by then.
8. Seek the “sunshine guarantee”
SuperClubs offers a “sunshine guarantee” for its all-inclusive properties in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Curacao. Vacationers are given a full credit for each day that isn’t sunny—good for a future stay. Hyatt has a similar policy at several of its Caribbean resorts.
9. Wild, wild west
If your customers are extremely anxious about tropical storms, this probably isn’t the best time of year to book a vacation in the hurricane belt. Hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University forecasted that the East Coast of the US and the Caribbean will get quite a battering during the 2010 hurricane season. Talk up Napa Valley or pretty Portland, Oregon, instead.
10. Don’t forget to have fun!
Leisure travel is supposed to be about letting go and enjoying life. Remind your customers that although bad weather is always a possibility, they should relax and enjoy their vacation. And if it’s too stormy to hit the beach, staying at a resort with a fabulous spa is the perfect silver lining to possible rain clouds!
