Made it to Punta Cana yesterday. Worst part of travel was the Austin airport. Cloudy skies yesterday but we had a good time getting settled at he resort. Weather awesome today, though very hot. Next storm passing by soon and the next day or so may be dreary.
Hurricane Beryl
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108 Replies |
Last: 1 yr ago by Bayou City
Count me as one who sees travel insurance as a scam for most part. We bought it for a trip before heading down to Cozumel in October 2005. When the storm that became Wilma started to form SE of Coz, I checked with our travel insurance and was told that it would not cover anything if we decided not to go on the trip before there were any closures. I.e. if the hotel was open and the planes were flying, and we cancelled/postponed the trip, we would have no coverage.
We flew down to Coz with the overnight update being Wilma as a Cat 1 expected to go over western Cuba. We arrived in Coz with Wilma as a Cat 5 after the fastest rapid intensification from Cat 1 to Cat 5 in Caribbean history up to that point. The plane we flew in on was the last Continental flight to leave the island and we were stuck. We got to ride out 48 hours in the right side eye wall of the storm as it weakened from Cat 4 to Cat 2 while parked in the Yucatan Channel. It was not fun to say the least.
After that experience, I will never willingly fly into the path of what appears to be a minor storm ever again. The last bulletin before I went to bed for the night before we flew out was that there was "unusually good agreement" between the various models about the storm track. They were wrong. My experience since that time has been that when a storm is coming towards a destination in the Caribbean, the airlines and the reputable resorts and hotels are more than willing to be flexible and let you postpone your dates (usually with no change fees) to avoid being on-island during a storm. Because of that, I don't see travel insurance as valuable, except in the case where you have flown down into the path of the storm and need to spend extra money to get out. With the improved forecast skill and availability of better models these days, I don't see any reason for anybody to willingly put themselves into that position.
We flew down to Coz with the overnight update being Wilma as a Cat 1 expected to go over western Cuba. We arrived in Coz with Wilma as a Cat 5 after the fastest rapid intensification from Cat 1 to Cat 5 in Caribbean history up to that point. The plane we flew in on was the last Continental flight to leave the island and we were stuck. We got to ride out 48 hours in the right side eye wall of the storm as it weakened from Cat 4 to Cat 2 while parked in the Yucatan Channel. It was not fun to say the least.
After that experience, I will never willingly fly into the path of what appears to be a minor storm ever again. The last bulletin before I went to bed for the night before we flew out was that there was "unusually good agreement" between the various models about the storm track. They were wrong. My experience since that time has been that when a storm is coming towards a destination in the Caribbean, the airlines and the reputable resorts and hotels are more than willing to be flexible and let you postpone your dates (usually with no change fees) to avoid being on-island during a storm. Because of that, I don't see travel insurance as valuable, except in the case where you have flown down into the path of the storm and need to spend extra money to get out. With the improved forecast skill and availability of better models these days, I don't see any reason for anybody to willingly put themselves into that position.
The problem that I'm facing, is I have a 30 room wedding contract. It's not the same as a regular vacation. Groups don't follow the same terms and conditions.
There's a lot more to it, but if this were to be a full group cancellation, I am out thousands of dollars in transportation fees to the resort (not just losing commission, but actually costing me thousands).
Several rooms did arrive today. I'm betting the 7/5 flights will be canceled. The bulk of flights are tomorrow.
I have one that is causing issues right now and just hope it doesn't domino.
Yes, the problem is you can't cancel before the hotels or flights are canceling so that part of the pain. But if you get stuck there, your insurance will pay so much a day for you to stay there for up to five days. Typically, it can certainly vary per insurance company.
(I'm salty today lol ). Tomorrow will probably be worse.
There's a lot more to it, but if this were to be a full group cancellation, I am out thousands of dollars in transportation fees to the resort (not just losing commission, but actually costing me thousands).
Several rooms did arrive today. I'm betting the 7/5 flights will be canceled. The bulk of flights are tomorrow.
I have one that is causing issues right now and just hope it doesn't domino.
Yes, the problem is you can't cancel before the hotels or flights are canceling so that part of the pain. But if you get stuck there, your insurance will pay so much a day for you to stay there for up to five days. Typically, it can certainly vary per insurance company.
(I'm salty today lol ). Tomorrow will probably be worse.
Glad it's not too bad discobrob
Yeah, for you planning events and group travel it is probably a very different situation. As somebody who rode out a major storm in Coz, no amount they could pay me per day would be enough to be worth doing it again. Lying in the dark for hours on end (about 48 for us) on the floor (and later in the bathtub) in a hotel bathroom listening to windows breaking, glass and other furniture sliding down the hall, and having water coming in under the door and through the air vents while you can see and feel the impact of waves against the building is an experience I won't forget.JMac03 said:
The problem that I'm facing, is I have a 30 room wedding contract. It's not the same as a regular vacation. Groups don't follow the same terms and conditions.
There's a lot more to it, but if this were to be a full group cancellation, I am out thousands of dollars in transportation fees to the resort (not just losing commission, but actually costing me thousands).
Several rooms did arrive today. I'm betting the 7/5 flights will be canceled. The bulk of flights are tomorrow.
I have one that is causing issues right now and just hope it doesn't domino.
Yes, the problem is you can't cancel before the hotels or flights are canceling so that part of the pain. But if you get stuck there, your insurance will pay so much a day for you to stay there for up to five days. Typically, it can certainly vary per insurance company.
(I'm salty today lol ). Tomorrow will probably be worse.
Set to go to the Cayman Islands Aug 2, should I cancel and switch to a plan B? Don't get travel insurance, hoping United would let me change to a new location. Looks like I'd lose my one night deposit with the Kimpton Safire which grinds my gears. Any thoughts on how long it would take to recover and if I'd be good to go Aug 2? Thanks!
I would not change anything 1 month out. Or I would at least wait to see how the storm impacts the islands first. I would be surprised if there was enough damage from a brush from a cat 2/3 to cause any issues for you a month from now. With the storm forecast to go to the south of Grand Cayman, the hotels on 7 mile beach will not be getting direct wave action and storm surge because they will be on the leeward side of the island.J Peterman said:
Set to go to the Cayman Islands Aug 2, should I cancel and switch to a plan B? Don't get travel insurance, hoping United would let me change to a new location. Looks like I'd lose my one night deposit with the Kimpton Safire which grinds my gears. Any thoughts on how long it would take to recover and if I'd be good to go Aug 2? Thanks!
J Peterman said:
Set to go to the Cayman Islands Aug 2, should I cancel and switch to a plan B? Don't get travel insurance, hoping United would let me change to a new location. Looks like I'd lose my one night deposit with the Kimpton Safire which grinds my gears. Any thoughts on how long it would take to recover and if I'd be good to go Aug 2? Thanks!
It's not too late to get insurance. Typically, I only insure the non-refundable portion of the trip, which in this case would be the one night penalty.
Let's say your hotel is $1k a night.
Insurance to cover that is $86-$100 for two 45 year olds. So $100 or less for 2 people. Also includes medical coverage, trip delay, lost baggage, etc.
The kicker is here there might be three more hurricanes for more hurricanes before August 2. You just don't know.
Editing to add, once it's a name storm then you can no longer buy insurance for that particular storm. I had a Texager buy insurance 3 to 4 days before hurricane Beryl became a hurricane - and he is covered.
Prospect theory shows why insurance in general is a scam. It plays on non-rational human decision making. I think it won the Nobel Prize.
You still alive?
Hopefully it's just internet issues. Gotta get that Starlink.
I'm checking on her. She last posted about 17 hours ago.
Thanks for checking in on her. Keep us posted.
Lauren K '07
www.breezecustomtravel.com
@breezecustomtravel
www.breezecustomtravel.com
@breezecustomtravel
As best as I can tell, cell service is down there. I'm still digging for info.
This thing is holding together better than expected a few days ago. It is still a CAT 3 and bearing down on Cancun. Not seeing cancellations on AA out DFW for tomorrow yet but would bet some are forthcoming.
It's supposed to weaken quite a bit before it hits the Yucatan Peninsula tonight. Really hope it does. And it should move out pretty quickly.
Out of 17 flights today, 16 of them have taken off and/or landed. The 17th wasn't supposed to land until 8PM tonight, and has been pushed until tomorrow. I did email them yesterday and tried to get them to move their flights until earlier today.
Out of the 31 rooms booked, 1 canceled, 8 arrived yesterday, 17 have arrived/will arrive today, and 6 tomorrow. The rain chances are actually worse tomorrow than today, but I know they need to get the planes that arrive today back out before 7-8PM tonight. All in all, its going better than I had expected and praying this moves quickly with minimal damage. I've really only had the 1 canceled room that has given any grief so far.
On a side note, I still haven't heard from Brooke. I think cell service is the issue. The airport opened at noon today and its not far from where she is staying. I know some of the other Sandals fared well that I think were more in the path of the storm.
Out of 17 flights today, 16 of them have taken off and/or landed. The 17th wasn't supposed to land until 8PM tonight, and has been pushed until tomorrow. I did email them yesterday and tried to get them to move their flights until earlier today.
Out of the 31 rooms booked, 1 canceled, 8 arrived yesterday, 17 have arrived/will arrive today, and 6 tomorrow. The rain chances are actually worse tomorrow than today, but I know they need to get the planes that arrive today back out before 7-8PM tonight. All in all, its going better than I had expected and praying this moves quickly with minimal damage. I've really only had the 1 canceled room that has given any grief so far.
On a side note, I still haven't heard from Brooke. I think cell service is the issue. The airport opened at noon today and its not far from where she is staying. I know some of the other Sandals fared well that I think were more in the path of the storm.
It's a Cat 2 and weakening.
Actually, it's strengthening again. Probably back up to a 3 before it hits Mexico, or it could skirt the Yucatan.
There is increasing likelihood that it hits the mid Texas coast pretty hard.
There is increasing likelihood that it hits the mid Texas coast pretty hard.
Where do you see that? It's def not skirting the Yucatan. Were there right now… It's coming here full force somewhere between Tulum and PDC.
I REALLY want it to be a 1 before it makes landfall. Praying it slows down in the next few hours (and for sure before it continues up to Texas.The Chicken Ranch said:
Actually, it's strengthening again. Probably back up to a 3 before it hits Mexico, or it could skirt the Yucatan.
There is increasing likelihood that it hits the mid Texas coast pretty hard.
Mexico has a local law to stop selling/serving alcohol. I think the resorts have some ability to adjust, but I know the one my wedding is at is stopping alcohol at 5PM, dinner service ends at 8PM, and curfew 9PM. As of right now I just have one client left that did arrive 20 minutes ago at the airport, and should be at the resort in 1-1.5 hours. No one else is suppose to now fly out until tomorrow (hoping those don't get canceled but we shall see).
I still haven't heard from Brooke
(nor are there any updates in the Sandals "Fans" page, which leaves me again to believe no cellular service. If you go to the weather app, you can now see it will most likely be a 2 when it hits Cancun. If you scroll down to the "hurricane tracker", you can click on it, blow it up, etc.Bayou City said:
Where do you see that?
Also I started following this person too:
https://www.facebook.com/denisphillipsweatherman
Ley Seca is for all QR. the resorts don't get an expedition.
It's hitting Tulum dead on not Cancun. Cancun is still a decent ways away from the predicted eye wall landfall. That's where we are right now. The course has moved north some but its forecasting to go somewhere between Tulum and PDC most likely over the ruins or Akumal.
It's always been forecasted to be a 2 when it made landfall. Since days ago.
All of the resorts have different times they are stopping to serve it. I was told by a travel agent that lives there they have a little more reign as they aren't technically selling it. But that is just what I'm being told. I know the resort my clients are at is 5PM. I've seen others be 11PM or midnight. I'm sure its subject to change as well.Bayou City said:
Ley Seca is for all QR. the resorts don't get an expedition.
Bayou City said:
It's always been forecasted to be a 2 when it made landfall. Since days ago.
Everything that I've seen, until shortly ago, has shown it to be a 1. Including this photo I took this morning.
Everything they have posted here in QR since Monday has been forecasting a 2 or even a 3. Not once have they mentioned it making landfall as a 1. Maybe they use different metrics?
Midnight is the latest they are able to cut off. The law officially goes into effect at 12:01 tomorrow but some municipalites inside QR (Tulum & Solidaridad) started enforcing it early. Not sure what the resorts further up RM are doing. We're live PT at Bahia Principe.
Bayou City said:
Where do you see that? It's def not skirting the Yucatan. Were there right now… It's coming here full force somewhere between Tulum and PDC.
I typed that before its current westward jog began. I'd still prep for a 3 at landfall. Hopefully it won't be.
The storm has started at the airport/north of the airport. Per local travel agent, still sunny in PDC, but guessing not for long. I have one client waiting on luggage at the airport and hope to get on the road soon.
Praying it doesn't cause any damage at your resort Bayou City.
Praying it doesn't cause any damage at your resort Bayou City.
Looking like it's going to be a direct hit. It'd be huge if it moved towards PDC just a couple of miles to put us on the western vs the eastern side but right now we are just praying and praying and praying. We loaded up all of our friends that's didn't have cars and their animals and we're hunkered down at a friends in Cancun. We're miles away from the coast here so feeling good about making it through but really worried about our vecino. We have storm shutters for everything but the top story patio door. Hoping it makes it.
Yeah it just started raining here in Cancun. You can see it coming off the coast. Winds are picking up from the NE. Local reports are saying TS forced winds expected by 7pm local time so it's about to start getting real in the next two to three hours.
I got an email that all guests are safe at all Sandals locations, but some are without wifi. Brooke is at Sandals so all should be good! (minus the no internet thing).
Y'all hang in there. Be safe. The Texas coast isn't going to be fun in a few days.
Do you live there or just on vacation? You mention animals.
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