Hurricanes keep travelers on their toes

— -- With hurricanes threatening, those anticipating a fall vacation in the Caribbean and southern USA are keeping an eye on weather maps and checking cancellation fine print.

"It's a confusing mess," says veteran travel planner Arthur Mehmel, whose TourScan agency specializes in the Caribbean. "Resorts handle (hurricanes) in different ways."

Some, including Eden Rock on St. Barts and Hermitage Bay on Antigua, are closed this month, when storms can be plentiful. (The hurricane season runs from June to November.)

Others, such as Walt Disney World resorts, permit rescheduling or cancellation of packages without penalty though Nov. 30 if a warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area or a guest's home area within a week of arrival.

SuperClubs all-inclusive resorts also are generous. If guests can't arrive because of a hurricane, they can reschedule or come for fewer nights and get a future stay equal to nights missed. Should a hurricane strike, guests are repaid for disrupted nights and get that number free on a future stay.

SuperClubs also has a "Sunshine Guarantee" that gives vouchers for future stays for days with no sun. Priceline has a "Sunshine Guaranteed" policy for certain fall packages bought by Sept. 12: A half-inch or more of rain for more than half a stay gets you a full refund. Some restrictions apply.

The dozen Caribbean Sandals Resorts and four Beaches Resorts officially don't refund unless guests buy Sandals' "Cancel Anytime" insurance. If foul weather prolongs a stay, the insurance ($99 per adult; $79 for kids) reimburses certain expenses.

"We do evaluate" situations when insurance isn't bought, says Sandals spokeswoman Cristina Calzadilla. "For Gustav, we offered guests (in Jamaica) one free additional night." Those due at Beaches Turks & Caicos when Hanna hit this week could go to Jamaica's Beaches Resorts or reschedule with no penalty.

Airlines generally waive change fees when a hurricane threatens. But tourist hordes often get stuck trying to fly out of hot spots. Sandals chartered a jet to get stranded Turks & Caicos guests to Miami free today.