Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

Hi Ladies,

FH and I were looking into going to St. Martin for our honeymoon. We would be leaving the day after our wedding. Are we asking for trouble if we decide to go there that time of year. I know folks are predicting a teribble hurricane season this fall and I don't know if St. Martin is located in a part of the Caribbean where they are less likely to be hit seriously. I know a lot brides have chosen Aruba for this reason, but we really want to go St. Martin. Should we just scrap the idea and go to another part of the globe?

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Re: Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

If it were me, I'd head to Aruba. I wouldn't want to risk it. I'd do some extensive research on St. Martin and see how many hurricanes have it it in the past few years.

Re: Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

I visited St Martin about 2 years ago. Unfortunately they are located in the hurricane belt. They had one about 10 years ago, and they are still rebuilding from it.

Re: Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

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Posted by divabride

I visited St Martin about 2 years ago. Unfortunately they are located in the hurricane belt. They had one about 10 years ago, and they are still rebuilding from it.

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I was going to say the same thing! The one about 10 years ago destroyed everything. When I was there about 5 years ago they were still rebuilding the docks for the cruise ships to be able to go into port. We had to anchor and then take tenders to shore.

I would skip it and try some place else.

Let's just hope we dont' get a LI hurricane our wedding weekend!

Re: Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

October is the tail end of the Hurricane season - the height is August/September, so any other year I would probably say you're ok. But this year is supposed to be a busy one so who knows - we're already on Storm F!

Re: Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

Thanks ladies! I think that we will be looking elsewhere.

Re: Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

it is a shame since I had a great time in St Martin. We took a cruise over there 3 years ago the last week of August. We did not have any problems, it is really just the luck of the draw. I am leaving for Bahamas on Monday, and Tropical Storm Franklin in now scheduled to hit there.

I would go to St. Martin in October, since most of the hurricanes are already over. But I don't stress it(I was a Florida resident for 12 years)

If you are going to stress over it, then I would save it for March/April and head to Aruba.

Re: Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

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Posted by lanikai

Thanks ladies! I think that we will be looking elsewhere.

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no--don't give up!

I went last year-- I was on a cruise from October 10-October 17th. Last year was a CRAZY hurricane year. We had nt problems at all. We wer ein St. Martin on October 12th. They said they don't get hurricanes so much, but they did have that one years a go that was devasting.

It rained for a few minutes while we were there, but it was jstu in a very small area--you could see that down the raod it wasn't rainging. And then it stopped.

DH did a lot of research on this before we went & ntohing is 100% guaranteed, but by October, tht are is pretty much out of harms way.

St. Martin is gorgeous! you should go!

Re: Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao are out of the hurricane belt.

Re: Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

When you think about it statistically, about 15 hurricanes effect the Caribbean each year from July through November. That's 15 hurricanes over a 150-day span. Translated that means there is a 10% chance that a hurricane will effect the 'Caribbean' during any particular day during this span. Breaking that down even further, the chance of a hurricane actually effecting the specific island you will be at at the time you will be there is probably less than 1% for each day of your trip. Of course, the people who booked Cozumel or Playa del Carmen last weekend probably don't care too much about statistics.

Re: Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

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Posted by babydoc

When you think about it statistically, about 15 hurricanes effect the Caribbean each year from July through November. That's 15 hurricanes over a 150-day span. Translated that means there is a 10% chance that a hurricane will effect the 'Caribbean' during any particular day during this span. Breaking that down even further, the chance of a hurricane actually effecting the specific island you will be at at the time you will be there is probably less than 1% for each day of your trip. Of course, the people who booked Cozumel or Playa del Carmen last weekend probably don't care too much about statistics.

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Very well put!!!

Re: Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

My poor SIL called me from Cancun on Tuesday. The resort they had booked was completetly shut down and they had to fnd another hotel in Playa Del Carmen.

Re: Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

We are definately not going to the Caribbean for our hm? The weather has been so crazy lately that I don't think that we want to take a chance. We are actually thinking of going to Cabo San Lucas. October temp is 88-90 degrees and barely any rain.

Re: Caribbean in October-Bad idea?

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Posted by babydoc

When you think about it statistically, about 15 hurricanes effect the Caribbean each year from July through November. That's 15 hurricanes over a 150-day span. Translated that means there is a 10% chance that a hurricane will effect the 'Caribbean' during any particular day during this span. Breaking that down even further, the chance of a hurricane actually effecting the specific island you will be at at the time you will be there is probably less than 1% for each day of your trip. Of course, the people who booked Cozumel or Playa del Carmen last weekend probably don't care too much about statistics.

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While this may be true, as someone who grew up in the Caribbean I know first hand that the summer's weather is unpredictable - period. While an actual hurricane may be rare or may not form, there are Tropical Depressions, Tropical Storms, Flooding, Drought, etc. that do occur throughout the months of 6/1-11/30 (and actually, 'bad weather' can start as early as Spring Break and last until the winter - I remember my brother going surfing during Christmas because the water in some beaches was rough).

ETA: Travel insurance is always a smart investment when going anywhere.