I am going on holiday in a hurricane hot spot, can I get travel insurance for this?

Going on a holiday can have take people literally years to have saved for, so just consider what would happen if you were to be one of the many people who experience a hurricane or a tropical storm whilst on that long awaited holiday. So if you are one of the people who are unlucky enough to be in the middle of a tropical storm on holiday, then your holiday could be ruined, plus if your hotel is deemed to be a risk you could end up sleeping with many other guests who are like you in a secure shelter.

Your holiday insurance will not usually insure you for the inconvenience which has been caused by the hurricane but it should cover you for any possessions which have been damaged as a result of the storm, and any injury which has been inflicted upon yourself or your party.

It is worth knowing that some hotels which are located within the Caribbean do offer what is known as ‘hurricane guarantees’, this will not get you your money refunded but there are other benefits to staying in one of these hotels, for example:

• Depending on which hotel you choose to go with for your holiday, you could benefit from a free replacement holiday which is valid for around 12 months after your holiday is affected by a hurricane.
• Some hotels will give a holiday voucher which covers the amount of nights which were disrupted as a result of the hurricane.
If you choose to stay in one of the many hotels which belong to Bermuda Hotel Association were offer their own guarantee to paying guests.

The above are all subjects to terms and conditions, which can usually be found on the company’s website.

A good way to protect yourself against an eventuality such as a hurricane is to book a holiday packaged through a tour operator who is bonded and reputable. This way you are more likely to get a refund or alternative accommodation or destination offered if your holiday destination is to be affected by such as a tropical storm.

Some tour operators may arrange to evacuate you from the holiday location if you are affected by a hurricane. Back in 2005 when the Gulf of Mexico was affected by Hurricane Wilma tour operators arranged for British holiday makers to be airlifted back and they were consequently refunded for parts of their holidays which had been disrupted or lost.