brack

Does anyone think it is a bad idea to go to St. Maarten at the end of October? I know it is the rainy/hurricane season but is there a chance that I could get some good weather?

doug_stallings

Yes, there's a good chance you could have good weather, as well as a chance you would not. The actual chance that a hurricane will hit the island you have chosen for your vacation is impossible to forecast this far in advance, so you are taking a risk, but many people (including me) would consider that a risk worth taking.

Many people travel in October to save money, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'd recommend buying travel insurance for this trip to help reimburse you if you can't make it, but read the fine print to make sure you are covered for the conditions you are concerned about.

Since you are planning so far ahead, is this a trip using frequent flier miles? You can always make a change later (for a fee) if weather is going to be a problem. Make a hotel reservation that can be cancelled without penalty, and wait to see if there are any bargains later. Caribbean resorts rarely sell out in October.

brack

Thanks for your answer Doug. I have a free place to stay so cancelling the hotel is not an issue, just the flight. But I would be really bummed if I have to cancel the trip and don't have another one to go on instead as I really look forward to traveling. I am not as much as a risk taker as you so I think I will save my free place to stay for the following spring - thanks!

Barbara1

St. maarten does not really have a rainy season per se.
October still is hurricane season so of course there could be a storm which no one can predict.
The odds of that happening in October are much lower however than earlier in the year.
The height of hurricane season is August/early September.
I have lived on the island for 30 years and have experienced maybe 4 or 5 October storms in all of that time.
October is usually a delightful time on the island. the temperatures are comfortable and the haze and humidity of earlier in the summer usually lifts and the skies are bright and clear.

doug_stallings

The thing is, over the past few years, St. Maarten has gotten its rainiest weather during the winter and spring; the idea of a "rainy" season in the Caribbean is a huge misnomer. It simply doesn't exist as it does in Asia. There is no monsoon in the Caribbean. Tropical fronts can develop at any time of the year, though strong hurricanes are likely for only about half the year. Barbara1 is right ... hot, dry weather with occasional showers is much much more likely in October.