Heather Meliski, has some rules to follow when traveling during Hurricane season

By Heather Meliski

As I’m writing this article, Hurricane Fiona is bearing down on Puerto Rico. I typically keep an eye on tropical storms and hurricanes throughout hurricane season because I constantly have clients traveling to the Caribbean and Mexico. But I am paying extra attention to this one because I have clients porting in Puerto Rico next week during their cruise and my family is supposed to leave in a week for our fall break vacation in San Juan.

Hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from May 1 – November 30. Here are some tips for how to prepare for travel that may be impacted by the season.

Buy Travel Insurance! - I never travel outside of the US without it, and 99% of my clients don’t either. I recommend it not for lost baggage or trip cancellations, but for medical coverage and emergency evacuation coverage (which would also apply to hurricanes). If you’re on an island without power, flights, and basic supplies, paying a few hundred dollars for travel insurance means not paying tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to get home.

Have a Back-up Plan – when I heard that Hurricane Fiona could impact my family’s trip to Puerto Rico, I immediately went into ‘travel advisor mode’ and had plans B, C, and D figured out within a few hours. It’s still TBD which one will be our final choice, but having options figured out in advance means that we will be going somewhere fun instead of being stuck at home.

Allow for a Travel Time Buffer – if you need to be home for an important event, allow for buffer time with your travel dates. Having a flight back to the US the day before your child’s high school graduation isn’t the best idea because if there is a travel delay due to a hurricane or tropical storm, you may miss it entirely and you may not have power or cellular coverage to be able to watch remotely (true story from last year).

Be Flexible – be okay with possibly altering your plans, often at the last minute. Activities may need to be moved or cancelled, your trip may be shortened or extended, or you may have to change travel plans to a completely different destination. Going into your planning knowing that things may change will help ease the disappointment if they do.

Take Extras – always travel with extra medications and medical supplies, as well as a few extra items of clothing in case your travel plans are delayed.

Enroll in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) with the State Department before International Travel - this lets them know when you’ll be outside of the country, where you will be staying, who your emergency contact is, etc. so if there is an emergency, they will know to contact you.

Charge Your Devices – if a hurricane or tropical storm is headed your way, make sure to immediately charge all of your devices. I also recommend traveling with a portable power bank which can charge your devices if you are without power. Keep In Touch – call or text family and friends often as the storm is approaching and as you can during and after landfall. This lets them know you’re okay and, if needed, gives them the information they need to work with your travel advisor, airline, or the state department.

Book with a Travel Advisor – this one probably goes without saying, but booking with a travel advisor is incredibly beneficial if a tropical storm or hurricane hits. We will assist with rescheduling your vacation or extending your stay, and we have the expertise and connections to help get you home faster.

Make sure to read next month’s article to find out where we ended up for fall break!

Heather Meliski is a travel agent specializing in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, Australia, the South Pacific, cruises, theme parks, and more. She lives in Smyrna with her husband two sons. Heather@yellowshoetravel.com FB @ heatheryellowshoetravel IG @yellowshoetravelheather