When Can I Get the Best Price for My Tropical Vacation?

Ahhhh....If only I had a dollar for every time I am asked this question. If you want to take a Caribbean cruise or all-inclusive vacation, the time to save the most money is the autumn season! Most of the time, traveling in the late summer/autumn will score you the biggest savings. Kids go back to school and there is a lull in business until things start to pick up again for the holiday travel season. In fact, Caribbean cruises for the last week of July are often twice as much as those scheduled for the last week of August. Let me jump on that ship before it sails, right?

Hold up…...those great deals do not come without a cost. In addition to the cheap prices, you will be risking your vacation to a possible weather event. While this is possible for any trip at any time, traveling to the Caribbean in the fall puts you at a much greater risk of encountering a hurricane. While hurricane season technically runs from June - November, August - October are typically the worst months for hurricanes. Guess what??? It’s also going to be the cheapest time to travel!  While you might score big by getting a great deal AND great weather, there’s nothing worse than spending your hard earned dollars on a dream getaway only to have nothing but rain the ENTIRE week or worse, a hurricane blow through while you are there!   

Let me make this real for you….last September, some of my wonderful clients had an amazing cruise planned from Galveston to the Western Caribbean. The cruise was planned months prior, and they received a great deal, but a week before they were set to leave, Hurricane Harvey crashed through Texas. We anxiously waited as the damage and destruction compounded, feeling torn about whether they should go and whether or not it would even be possible. Thankfully, all worked out, but the wait was definitely not for the faint of heart.

My best advice is to take the risk, but know what you’re up against. Mother nature doesn’t mess around! Most importantly, ALWAYS purchase travel insurance! A great insurance policy is ESPECIALLY important when traveling during hurricane season. 

Other options for your fall Caribbean escape would be to visit an island that doesn’t get a lot of hurricane action (yes, there are a few), or look for another time of year to score a great deal. We would be more than happy to help you with the details so you’re able to have an autumn getaway that you will never forget!

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