HM FYI
I just received this email and thought that I would pass it along. Hopefully this will be helpful to some of you! It's from vacationstogo.com
Hurricanes Dennis and Emily barreled through the Caribbean last month, making landfall just over two weeks apart, each setting the record as being the strongest storm to develop before the month of August during the Atlantic Hurricane Season.
Most of the Caribbean islands and the Bahamas were outside of the hurricanes' paths, and were spared any significant damage. Popular destinations such as the US and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas are 100% operational and welcoming visitors as usual. Other tropical destinations such as Mexico's Pacific Coast, Hawaii and Bermuda were never threatened by these storms, and are great options for resort vacations in the coming weeks and months. Jamaica sustained moderate damage, but the major resort areas fared well. Cozumel and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula suffered severe damage and several resorts are closed at this time.
Below, you'll find a destination-by-destination status report and summary of damage for destinations in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. In addition, we have compiled a list of resorts that are closed as a result of damage sustained during the hurricanes in those destinations that sustained moderate to severe damage. The resorts listed will be closed for at least several weeks. Those that remain open in the hardest-hit areas may be operating with limited facilities and services. We will update our Web site with reopening dates as they become available.
Destinations that sustained little or no damage:
Anguilla
Antigua
Aruba
The Bahamas (including Nassau and Grand Bahama Island)
Barbados
Bonaire
British Virgin Islands
Curacao
Dominican Republic
Grand Cayman
Guadeloupe
Nevis
Puerto Rico
St. Kitts
St. Lucia
St. Maarten/St. Martin
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Turks & Caicos
US Virgin Islands
Destinations that sustained mild to moderate damage:
Cancun: Cancun braced for the worst of Hurricane Emily, evacuating tens of thousands of tourists and residents from coastal areas. The hurricane made landfall in Tulum, about 100 miles south of Cancun, sparing the city's hotel zone any major damage. The international airport is currently open, and the main tourist areas are fully operational.
Grenada: Hurricane Emily hammered Grenada on July 14th, causing damage to two hospitals and triggering at least one mudslide. Most of the effects of Hurricane Emily were felt in the north part of the island, which largely escaped Hurricane Ivan's wrath last September.
Jamaica: Neither hurricane hit Jamaica directly, but the island experienced heavy winds, rain and surf, which triggered flooding and mudslides in some areas. The main resort areas fared well, and we are not aware of any severe damage at any of the resorts we offer in Jamaica due to these storms.
Tobago: Trinidad and Tobago received 8 inches of rain and heavy winds July 13 as Hurricane Emily passed. Riverbanks overflowed, and some houses sustained damage.
Destinations that sustained severe damage:
Cozumel: After barreling through the Caribbean Sea, Hurricane Emily hit Cozumel as a category 4 storm, based on a 5-category scale, in the early morning hours of July 18. Trees were uprooted, thatched roofs were blown off and power was lost. The island's cruise port and airport have reopened, and most resorts were reopened over the weekend.
Cozumel Resorts Closed
Allegro Cozumel by Occidental
Iberostar Cozumel
Mexico's Mayan Riviera (including Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras and Tulum): After battering Cozumel, Hurricane Emily--still at category 4 strength--moved to the Mayan Riviera, making a direct hit on the resort area of Tulum. Approximately 70% of the coast from Cancun to Tulum was without power as a result of the storm, and the strong winds uprooted trees and caused damage to billboards, gas stations, street signs and thatched roofs.
Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras and Tulum Resorts Closed
Allegro Playacar by Occidental
Aventura Spa Palace
Club Oasis Akumal
El Dorado Seaside Suites
Hidden Beach Resort Au Naturel Club
Sunscape Puerto Aventuras
Viva Wyndham Azteca
Viva Wyndham Maya
Xpu-Ha Palace
Omni Puerto Aventuras
Fortunately, we expect that most of the resort areas in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula will recover quickly, as repairs and cleanup are well underway.
Hurricanes Dennis and Emily barreled through the Caribbean last month, making landfall just over two weeks apart, each setting the record as being the strongest storm to develop before the month of August during the Atlantic Hurricane Season.
Most of the Caribbean islands and the Bahamas were outside of the hurricanes' paths, and were spared any significant damage. Popular destinations such as the US and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas are 100% operational and welcoming visitors as usual. Other tropical destinations such as Mexico's Pacific Coast, Hawaii and Bermuda were never threatened by these storms, and are great options for resort vacations in the coming weeks and months. Jamaica sustained moderate damage, but the major resort areas fared well. Cozumel and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula suffered severe damage and several resorts are closed at this time.
Below, you'll find a destination-by-destination status report and summary of damage for destinations in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. In addition, we have compiled a list of resorts that are closed as a result of damage sustained during the hurricanes in those destinations that sustained moderate to severe damage. The resorts listed will be closed for at least several weeks. Those that remain open in the hardest-hit areas may be operating with limited facilities and services. We will update our Web site with reopening dates as they become available.
Destinations that sustained little or no damage:
Anguilla
Antigua
Aruba
The Bahamas (including Nassau and Grand Bahama Island)
Barbados
Bonaire
British Virgin Islands
Curacao
Dominican Republic
Grand Cayman
Guadeloupe
Nevis
Puerto Rico
St. Kitts
St. Lucia
St. Maarten/St. Martin
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Turks & Caicos
US Virgin Islands
Destinations that sustained mild to moderate damage:
Cancun: Cancun braced for the worst of Hurricane Emily, evacuating tens of thousands of tourists and residents from coastal areas. The hurricane made landfall in Tulum, about 100 miles south of Cancun, sparing the city's hotel zone any major damage. The international airport is currently open, and the main tourist areas are fully operational.
Grenada: Hurricane Emily hammered Grenada on July 14th, causing damage to two hospitals and triggering at least one mudslide. Most of the effects of Hurricane Emily were felt in the north part of the island, which largely escaped Hurricane Ivan's wrath last September.
Jamaica: Neither hurricane hit Jamaica directly, but the island experienced heavy winds, rain and surf, which triggered flooding and mudslides in some areas. The main resort areas fared well, and we are not aware of any severe damage at any of the resorts we offer in Jamaica due to these storms.
Tobago: Trinidad and Tobago received 8 inches of rain and heavy winds July 13 as Hurricane Emily passed. Riverbanks overflowed, and some houses sustained damage.
Destinations that sustained severe damage:
Cozumel: After barreling through the Caribbean Sea, Hurricane Emily hit Cozumel as a category 4 storm, based on a 5-category scale, in the early morning hours of July 18. Trees were uprooted, thatched roofs were blown off and power was lost. The island's cruise port and airport have reopened, and most resorts were reopened over the weekend.
Cozumel Resorts Closed
Allegro Cozumel by Occidental
Iberostar Cozumel
Mexico's Mayan Riviera (including Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras and Tulum): After battering Cozumel, Hurricane Emily--still at category 4 strength--moved to the Mayan Riviera, making a direct hit on the resort area of Tulum. Approximately 70% of the coast from Cancun to Tulum was without power as a result of the storm, and the strong winds uprooted trees and caused damage to billboards, gas stations, street signs and thatched roofs.
Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras and Tulum Resorts Closed
Allegro Playacar by Occidental
Aventura Spa Palace
Club Oasis Akumal
El Dorado Seaside Suites
Hidden Beach Resort Au Naturel Club
Sunscape Puerto Aventuras
Viva Wyndham Azteca
Viva Wyndham Maya
Xpu-Ha Palace
Omni Puerto Aventuras
Fortunately, we expect that most of the resort areas in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula will recover quickly, as repairs and cleanup are well underway.
