Storm-proofing a vacation

NEW YORK

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 the 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.

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 are 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 are at your destination and must 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. “They’re not going to allow passengers to just change reservations because of a remote possibility that a hurricane could be near,” Mr. Castelveter said.

Some passengers who tried to leave Cancun, Mexico, 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 percent 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 because of severe weather or other reasons. You will 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 hot-line assistance.

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

Trips booked through Expedia.com are automatically covered by the Web site’s “hurricane guarantee,” according to Expedia spokeswoman Katie Deines.

“If there is a major weather-related incident and someone is unable to travel to their destination or the trip is disrupted by a hurricane, we will refund their payment, and if they’re in the middle of a trip, we’ll reaccommodate them and work with airline and hotels to do that.” She added that “there’s nothing special the customer has to do to be eligible. Anyone holding tickets for affected areas is covered.”

In addition, Expedia offers a package protection plan that allows you to cancel your trip for any reason, not just weather. That costs $49 a person within the continental United States, $69 to Europe and $89 elsewhere.

American Express Vacations also offers a “Cancel For Any Reason” plan. For trips $999 a person or less, the insurance costs $89 per adult, $109 for Europe. And you don’t need an American Express card to use American Express Vacations — it’s a travel company that sells to anyone.

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