TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums Southern Caribbean Hurricane season

As much as I hate the awful "h" word, I wanted to get insights from the experts here, especially the boaters who I assume have a better intuition regarding the hurricane season in the southern caribbean. I know that no one can really say or predict the likelihood of a storm, but I have heard so much that this will be an awful year and that the predictors have the southern caribbean in a 61% chance of a hurricane 'hit'. I know that trip insurance can help you save some of your investment, however, it doesn't save the trip people plan and look forward to.
So, is this year not a good year to plan a trip to Grenada? The really lower islands (Aruba, Bonaire) have the lowest chance, but what do you experts think for this Sept?
Should we just think of somewhere else? Even as I type this I know this is a rough one to answer, but wanted some thoughts from this group!
Thanks! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

I think you may be over reacting a bit. the odds of a hurricane or major tropical storm striking one particular island during a given week or so are relatively small. You can research the historical frequency of hurricanes that have affected any particular island at www.stormcarib.com - use the "Climatology" link on the top right of the home page then select "Hits & Misses", scroll down and click on Grenada (or whatever island you want to research). You'll be directed to a chart showing the dates of every major storm to affect that island since 1851. Compare the results to week you are planning to travel and you'll see how many (or how few) storms there actually have been during that period.

While I haven't traveled to the islands in September since 1998, when I found myself stuck on Tortola to ride out Hurricane Georges, my "normal" Caribbean travel schedule now includes a trip down island in November, which is still hurricane season, though not the peak.

I have had to cancel my November trips twice due to hurricanes. Both times, the trips were insured. Between generous cancellation policies during storms and trip insurance, I was not out any money. Not being out any money also helped me avoid the disappointment of not taking a trip during the scheduled week, because for me and my husband, actually getting the time cleared on the calendar is as big a consideration as anything else. With the funds free, I've been able to book a last minute trip somewhere else. Both times, it was Bahamian hurricanes that spoiled the trip, so we re-booked the day before departure to the BVI once and to Nevis another time (using FF miles, even, as seats become available at the last minute).

That said, Grenada is a pretty safe hurricane season destination, though a hurricane elsewhere might mess up your travel, depending on where you are transiting through. Trip insurance is helpful to cover those delays or interruptions.