By Dalia Colon for the CheapTickets Blog
Trips to the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America are pretty cheap this time of year, what with June to November being Atlantic hurricane season. If you can't resist a great deal, you can still snag a bargain vacation and reduce your odds of getting hurricaned on. Just follow these tips.
1) Avoid hurricane hot spots. While there are no guarantees in life, some destinations are more hurricane-prone than others. To avoid islands outside of the so-called hurricane belt, focus on the southern Caribbean and remember your ABCs--Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are generally safer bets for avoiding a direct hit.
2) Book last-minute. Sometimes it pays to procrastinate. If your schedule is flexible, then check the extended weather forecast and book your trip when the coast is clear--literally. The CheapTickets Last-Minute Flight and Travel Deals page can help you find bargains in a hurry.
3) Get the insurance. You're already saving a bundle by vacationing during the off-season. Do yourself a favor and buy travel insurance. Packages generally cost between 5 and 10 percent of the value of your trip; insurance on, say, a $1,500 trip would cost around $150. Make sure your policy includes "trip cancellation and interruption," and check to see if your credit card company automatically includes insurance on trips you've paid for with the card.
4) Fly smart. If possible, book a direct flight and avoid checking your luggage to avoid needless hassles like missed connections and lost luggage.
5) Be an airport ace. When flights get cancelled, airports turn into an episode of Survivor. Stay one step ahead of your fellow passengers by arriving the your gate early and hanging out near the kiosk so you can hear updates and get your name on the list for food and hotel vouchers, should they be offered. Share your contact info with the gate agent, and keep your cell phone charged so you'll be accessible to the airline and. Also download the FlightStats app so you can see when seats become available.
6) Document everything. If you find yourself stranded, hold onto your receipts for food, cab rides, hotel rooms and other expenses so you can be reimbursed by your insurance company. Use an app like TinyScan to limit the paperwork.