Hi all,
We have the option of a great deal to Grenada for the last week in August. We'd love to go as we went to St Lucia last December and loved it. However, we're a little concerned about the likelyhood of hurricanes in August and wondering whether we should take the risk. I know none of you have a crystal ball so can't predict the weather, but out of interest, would you take risk it? Thanks!

I would go to Grenada any time! I'm actually now considering going back in September at the height of hurricane season, instead of another island.

Well I am predicting that there will be a hurricane in July 2009 for sure because that is when we are going to Grenada. You can always study the history archives and predictions at :
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastall.shtml

i too would definitely plan to make the trip. get trip insurance that covers hurricane issues and you can't loose.

I can only tell you from our experience of being stuck on a caribbean island during a storm. It was not actually catorgorized as a "hurricane" but was a stationary storm that sat over the entire caribbean for 10 days -- yes the entire 10 days of vacation. We arrived during the 1st week of November. The storm was not a few rain drops, but heavy downpours up to 18 inches at time, winds that sounded like a freight train, surf that removed the sand from the beaches, a ground sea that made travel by water impossible meaning - many of the restaurants were out of food. The air was cold and you could not swim. Out room flooded from driving rain - and we were on the second floor! The flooding also made going anywhere impossible. The sky was dark with fast moving clouds swirling in all different directions and the only planes you saw were the weather planes. At night we could not sleep it was so freightning - the howling wind and driving rain were pounding against the heavy mahogany doors in our suite - one night I really thought we were going to die it was so scary. Well the sun did come out - the day we were leaving. We are going back to the caribbean this November (our anniversary) but later in the month.

Being in the caribbean during a storm is much different than being in the States. We were in Florida during a hurricane and felt much more secure. We found that in the caribbean you are on your own and there is no way out.

Most likely this will not happen to you, but it does happen and you should know what it's like.

I'd get trip insurance and go for it. The one 'nice' thing about hurricanes and tropical storms is there is usually lots of advance warning.

Just read the fine print on the insurance policy and make sure you can cancel if there's a storm approaching, even if it isn't a hurricane.

I was in Belize last month during Tropial Storm Arthur. It did rain for days, fortunately not ten, though. I enjoyed my stay anyway, but it would be a bummer if it was a first trip.

A major strike from a hurricane that far south is very rare. Trip insurance would cover you.

I have been to many many islands and early in my travel life use to book in September after kids go back to school and heart of hurricane season...We have been blown off of Barbados and St Lucia by storms and since have learned to book islands in April and cities in September.

TBS..Grenada does get hit by storms but less frequantly then some others more in the hurricane belt

johnb

I'd risk just about any number of hurricanes to visit Grenada. It's a fabulous place with real soul and consequently one of my favorite islands to visit.

Other than making sure you have trip insurance that will allow weather related cancellations, I'd definitely recommend seeking out a place that will provide a/c at least in the bedrooms. August gets pretty sultry and being without a/c can be trying if you're sensitive to heat.

Thanks everyone. We already have an annual policy for travel insurance so we'll check the fine print!

Where will you be flying out of...My nearest airport is Philadelphia and almost all carriers go only once a week..little tuff when you only get a week at a time vaca...

Thats why we can't chance it and tuff to get to for us..always wanted to go..Enjoy and post report when you get back

johnb

Hi John,
We would be flying from London, UK so flights are very limited for us too!

I kind of figured that..I have looked into going several times but air always stopped me and I booked else where.

Let us know how you fare...

BA (via Antigua)& VS (via Tobago) fly weekly. There are charters that fly direct (but some days also via TAB) eg Exel although it might not be pleasant to fly on their 767 longhaul. I've only ever been to the Caribbean in the hurricane season (about 15-20 trips over the years) and have not experienced any hurricanes so far but I know it is a risk. I usually only book 1 week-10days in advance and check www.stormcarib.com. Last year we were in Grenada early September and it was fantastic weather, hotel was quiet and beach was not crowded so there can be benefits.

Odin - thanks for the advice. It was XL that we were looking at flying with (realise it won't be fun, but we're really restricted on dates and they fly on the day we wanted to go). It's great to know that it might actually be a really good time of year to go there, and thanks for that website link - looks really useful.

We still haven't booked anything yet - hoping for a last minute bargain!

Weare in the same exact situation, needing to book today. I just found this on the US national hurricane center website.

That storm called 2 seems to be heading right there right now.

I have no idea what that means for August, but as I wrote elsewhere, many hotels and restaurants in Grenadines are closing down Sept-oct annualy. I tok that as a sign.

Here's the hurricane center link to today's storm.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo/gtwo_at...area2#contents