Travel During Hurricane Season: Beating the Odds

Recent disasters have brought worldwide focus on the damage hurricanes can cause. Still, many travelers choose to go to the Caribbean and surrounding areas through the hurricane season. Some may wonder why people would knowingly put themselves in such danger, however the benefits associated with traveling in this season could outweigh the potential risks.

First, The Facts

Hurricane season in the Atlantic lasts throughout a lot of the entire year - June through November. It is now time of year when tropical storms can transform into fast-moving storm systems that can severely damage property if indeed they reach land.

However, it is important to understand that that don't assume all storm makes landfall rather than every strong storm becomes a hurricane. Tropical storms and even tropical depressions can make landfall and cause tornadoes and flooding problems but are much less severe than hurricanes.

Typically, the later months of hurricane season bring the strongest storms. September and October, for example, see spikes in the quantity and intensity of such storms, while damaging strikes are rare in the first months of the growing season.

Great things about Off-Season Travel

Although hurricanes could possibly be a deterrent to tropical travel, many vacationers choose to take their chances. Most years, travelers have little to worry about, and going for a gamble can be worth the relaxation of your tropical vacation.

Of all benefits associated with off-season travel, the most talked-about is cost. Travel through the hurricane season often includes the benefit for extremely low-cost vacationing. Hotels will often even cut rates in two, and tour operators, airlines, and rental companies usually follow suit.

With children on break from school in June, July, and August, the start of hurricane season could possibly be the perfect time for a family group vacation. And, of course, travel in the first part of the hurricane season reduces the probability of being damaged by storms.

Travelers seeking to avoid crowds throughout their vacation will see off-season travel a breath of oxygen. While there could be reduced hours at some island attractions, travelers who enjoy hanging out alone over a beach won't mind abbreviated hours.

Location, Location, Location

If you want to travel through the hurricane season, one other way to eliminate a few of the risk from hurricanes is to choose your destination wisely. The southern Caribbean usually avoids the brunt of hurricane season. Actually, there's a "hurricane zone" by which almost all of these tropical storms pass. Islands outside this zone are rarely hit.

The best-known of the islands will be the ABC Islands. Dutch territories Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao can be found just north of the coast of Venezuela, and each offer Caribbean flair minus the tropical danger.

Another way to get ready for the worst is to look at the hurricane policy of the hotel you decide to book. Many hotels have hurricane policies offering complimentary stays for the same variety of nights the next year, or they could offer other similar plans to help ease the sting of your disrupted vacation.

So even though many hurricanes cause trouble in the Caribbean, this is a sure thing that vacationers will be back during hurricane season next year. With so benefits, why not?.