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You can often get great rates for your family Caribbean Island vacation during the off-season starting in May through October or November. Part of the reason for the lower rates is that many people want to avoid the hotter times and the hurricane season is also a concern.
The heat is one thing...but you would be wise to take the hurricane season into consideration. Although locals can be pretty nonchalant about the whole thing, this video from Hurricane Katrina can serve as a reminder of how devastating a hurricane can be in one of our own top tourist destinations in the U.S.
Here are some things you can do to have the best chance of a great vacation in the Caribbean:
1. Know when hurricanes are historically most active in the area. According to the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), the official hurricane season is from June 1 through NOvember 30, but there's a "very peaked season from August to October", with:
* 78% of the tropical storm days * 87% of the "minor" hurricane days * 96% of the "major" hurricane days
I can vouch for that with my own personal story about a ruined honeymoon on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina in September, and a brush with a hurricane more recently on Labor Day weekend in Key West, Florida! On the other hand, I enjoyed a fabulous vacation in the Bahamas in July (only some storms, no hurricane) and in the Dutch Caribbean on Curacao in August!
2. Check out the hurricane forecast when you're planning your vacation. YOu can get an idea about the general sense of the projections for the year, and if you're close to the date of your travel, you can see what's brewing out there in the Atlantic ocean. The official forecast is: "We foresee slightly below-average activity for the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season".
3. Check the hurricane site frequently for updates and monitor the weather closely in the weeks before your trip. Decide in advance what you'll do if there is bad weather approaching your travel destination or if it actually hits.
4. Have a "Plan B" for some rainy and windy days in case you get some of the outer bands of a nearby storm. We spent a wonderful day in Key West exploring the butterfly sanctuary and art galleries when our outdoor kayaking plans were cancelled due to heavy rain. You may want to think about the possibility of loss of electricity and bring an extra battery for your cell phone, portable emergency radio, flashlight or other supplies. Our bed and breakfast spot did a good job of keeping us as comfortable as possible when the power went out on Key West for about 6 hours. They're very used to it there!
5. Consider trip insurance or venues with a weather guarantee. You will need to read the details carefully, as many of the guarantees only provide for a credit toward a future date and only in the event that travel into the area is cancelled or an evacuation is in effect.
6. Or, you can do as I do and remain optimistic that you will always have a wonderful vacation and great surroundings no matter what! I've never purchased trip insurance and I've travelled to Australia, Mexico, Canada, France, Germany, Bahamas, Curacao and all over the U.S. including New Orleans, California and the southeastern coast.
