5 Tips for Traveling Safely During Hurricane Season

If you plan to travel during hurricane season, it is important to take precautions and familiarize yourself with helpful hurricane facts and hurricane safety tips to help ensure a smoother trip.

Discover our top five tips for traveling safely during hurricane season to help you plan ahead and make smarter travel decisions: 

Safety tip #1. Learn when hurricanes are most likely to occur 

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hurricane season for the Atlantic is June to November, and for the Northeastern Pacific, it is May to November. Knowing these dates can help you plan your trip either outside of these times, or plan your trip with hurricane safety in mind. 

Safety tip #2. Learn where hurricanes are most likely to occur 

You may be wondering about safe places to travel during hurricane season given it’s such a popular time of year for Americans to travel. There are many areas where hurricanes will form, but you should use extreme caution if traveling to areas in the Atlantic Basin, Eastern Pacific, or Western Pacific – or avoid traveling to these areas altogether during hurricane season. 

Safety tip #3. Familiarize yourself with hurricane safety advice 

Before a hurricane approaches, it is important to know your destination’s evacuation routes. So, don’t forget to research what to do in the event of a hurricane before you arrive at your destination. 

It’s also helpful to prepare a disaster kit to take with you on your vacation, which includes a first aid kit, flashlight, extra clothing, canned food, and bottled water.

If you’re traveling during hurricane season, you can use AccuWeather’s hurricane tracker to keep track of hurricanes, tornados, and blizzard activity across the United States. 

If a hurricane does occur on your trip, it is important to avoid flood-prone areas and stick to higher ground when possible. Many hotels in hurricane-prone regions have processes in place to keep their guests safe. If you have any questions, you can consult your hotel’s staff. 

After a hurricane, it is important to remain indoors, avoid tap water, and stay away from standing water until the proper personnel have deemed it safe. 

Safety tip #4. Opt for a cruise holiday instead of a land holiday 

If you’re looking for a tropical getaway during hurricane season, a cruise can be a great option. Most cruise liners can and will adjust course based on a storm and detour to different ports, which can sometimes mean you’ll be safer at sea than on land.

If you want to avoid hurricane hotspots entirely, consider the best places to travel during hurricane season and choose a destination with a low likelihood of major storms. 

Safety tip #5. Consider purchasing travel insurance 

At Travelex, our Travel Select protection plan provides coverage for trip cancellation and interruption or trip delay resulting from a hurricane. 

Our trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits can provide coverage if: 

• your home is made uninhabitable by a hurricane; 

• a named hurricane causes a cancellation or interruption of travel to your destination that is inaccessible or uninhabitable. 

Our trip delay benefit can provide coverage if: 

• a natural disaster causes your trip to be delayed for at least five consecutive hours. 

Please note: Coverage does not apply — and claims will not be paid — if the hurricane becomes a named storm prior to buying travel insurance or if losses occur more than 14 days after the hurricane makes your destination inaccessible. Please see the policy wording for more details. 

_{Travel Insurance is underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, NAIC # 22276. Travel Assistance & Concierge Services are provided by the designated provided listed in the Policy. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy.}