what to do in a hurricane in a hotel
Photo Credit: NOAA Photo Library
Currently a Category 4, Hurricane Matthew has thousands of travelers with upcoming trips to Florida scrambling to cancel flying reservations and hotel bookings. Of course, those who planned ahead by taking precautions such every bit purchasing travel insurance and tracking the storm are probably in the best shape every bit far every bit getting their coin back, but most airlines and hotels take policies in place to assist those who are forced to cancel or reschedule trips due to choppy atmospheric condition. But what about the vacationers who were already in spots like Haiti, Cuba, and the Dominican Commonwealth when Matthew striking?
The most important thing to exercise when you're in a destination impacted by a hurricane is to follow the instructions of the local authorities. Often, this information is provided via the staff of the hotel where you're holed up. So if y'all're on vacation and a hurricane strikes, hither are the things you need to know about your hotel and how information technology'due south going to handle the situation. It'due south all-time to get these questions answered correct when you lot check in (or -- fifty-fifty better -- beforehand).
1. Does it take a hurricane policy?
Hard Rock Cancun
Almost hotels in hurricane-prone destinations such equally the Caribbean, Mexico, and Florida have hurricane policies in place; after all, they want to encourage travelers to visit during the off-flavour, and so are willing to offer assurance via the options of re-bookings, refunds, etc. As Jim Hutton, Main Security Officer of On Call International, explains, "At that place doesn't seem to be a steadfast yardstick that holds hotels accountable on how much they demand to cater to customers' needs in the upshot of such emergencies. Although, based on brand reputation, it would exist safe to assume that to some extent the big name hotels will have medium to robust contingency plans in identify in order to deal with any potential fallouts that upshot from either man-fabricated or natural disasters."
The vast bulk of these policies address the situation of when a hurricane prevents a traveler from reaching his or her destination; for example, hotels comprising the Bahamian Hotel & Tourism Clan allow travelers to either rebook their vacations or cancel their reservations at no cost if they are kept from the destination due to a hurricane.
Frequent travel Sean Brown says, "Hotels are very flexible with leaving early, specially due to hurricanes. I've never been charged penalties and have received refunds on prepaid stays if changes due to hurricanes… In 2012, I was in the path of Hurricane Isaac while in New Orleans. My hotel allowed me to leave early without penalties."
Hurricane-prone Westin properties do non grant total refunds, but instead allow guests to rebook their travel within one yr, waiving whatever additional fees.
Harder to find are the hurricane policies that address bounty in the event that a guest'due south vacation is affected by a hurricane during his or her stay, whether it means leaving correct ahead of a storm or getting stuck in the vacation destination — but they do exist. Difficult Rock Cancun offers certificates to guests who cull to go out early on in the amount of unused nights, allowing them to rebook the belongings at another fourth dimension; Palace Resorts accolade the aforementioned policy. Beach View in Barbados has a similar policy every bit well, although the certificate only applies to re-bookings from July 15 to December xv.
2. Does it have an evacuation plan?
Equally has been the example with Hurricane Matthew, mandatory evacuations tin can mean that vacationers are required to relocate alee of the storm. Sometimes, the regime bug these announcements with enough fair warning that travelers tin return to the airport and catch the final flights dwelling. In this case, it's important to know if your hotel will provide proper transportation to do then, as cabs will probable be few and far between and public transportation may shut down. The Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino has this included in the holding's hurricane policy.
If an evacuation is issued after airports close, exist sure to bank check in with hotel staff about transportation to local shelters. Most volition, and should, provide it — or will assist guests in finding government-sponsored transportation. As traveler Azure Hawton Grayot recalls of her visit to Hotel Riu Palace Las Americas: "I went through hurricane Emily in 2005 while visiting Cancun… Nosotros were evacuated to a Mexican High School Gymnasium two hours inland from our hotel by bus."
Some hotels do not have evacuation plans, and it can pb to nigh-disaster. That'due south why Scott Hume, Manager of Security Operations at Global Rescue, encourages travelers to "accept [your own] programme. Follow local evacuation routes and know your destination." And as Hutton advises, "If you're being told to evacuate an area, y'all should certainly do then. Hurricanes cause massive impairment to structures, and even the strongest of buildings have been reduced to rubble with storms of this category. People who evacuate or plan to evacuate should also consolidate and transport important personal documents (deeds, wills, passports, titles, etc.) to safeguard them from damage or loss."
3. Does it have a plan for riding out the storm?
Xanadu Isle Resort
Of course, there are numerous cases where guests get stuck in the hotel and accept to ride out the storm at that place. If this happens, Mark Simoes, a Travel Advisor with Balboa Vacations, emphasizes the importance of listening to hotel staff for directions, as they volition likely have a program in place for such an occurrence.
During 2014'southward Hurricane Odile, Simoes says that many hotel guests in Cabo were moved to interior ballrooms; this not only ensures that all guests receive pertinent updates and information, but that they will too be protected from flying glass, as hurricane-force winds can easily break windows.
Some hotels in hurricane-prone destinations, such as Belize'south Xanadu Island Resort, are prepared with dome buildings designed to ward off high winds and redundancy generators. But this is non ever the case.
iv. Will staff be on paw to assistance?
Hotel staff in hurricane-decumbent destinations are almost always trained to assist guests in the event of a hurricane, whether that ways tracking the storm, leading an evacuation, or shuttling guests to the safest area of the hotel and providing them with water, food, and data. Information technology never hurts, though, to confirm this upon check-in, especially considering recent reports that staff at a belongings in Cuba abandoned the hotel equally Hurricane Matthew approached; worried guests posted videos documenting the storm.
Sentry: 5 Caribbean Islands That Are (Most) Hurricane-Gratis
https://www.youtube.com/picket?five=g9nkW__bAHk
Related Links:
- Which Destinations in Mexico Are the Safest?
- 12 Things to Ask for When You Check Into Your Hotel Room
- 11 Things You Need to Know Before Your Flight Is Cancelled
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Source: https://www.oyster.com/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-your-hotel-if-a-hurricane-strikes/
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