Caribbean tourists urged to check insurance this hurricane season

Tourists holidaying in the Caribbean during the hurricane season should make sure they have the necessary financial protection before heading to the sun, warns M&S Money.

The hurricane season normally runs from June to November and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is advising tourists to follow weather updates and FCO Travel Advice when planning journeys.

In the event of a hurricane, the FCO travel advice will be regularly updated if it approaches a populated area. They would only advise against travel to an area or region if it was considered that the risks of travel there were too high.

Tourists travelling to the Caribbean independently from a package tour should remember that they may not benefit from the protection provided via a package tour.

For example, an independent traveller whose flight is cancelled could find they are unable to claim for subsequent connections, facing the cost of new flights or accommodation.

The popularity of package tours has decreased in recent years. The 17.9million package holidays in 2008 made up 39% of all holiday trips abroad that year, compared with 20.6million in 2002 when 52% of all overseas holidays were of this type.

Independent Traveller cover is included as standard in M&S Premier annual multi-trip insurance*, and is available as an optional extra with single trip travel insurance.

M&S Travel Insurance customers who find their holiday disrupted by a hurricane are covered for the following:

If a flight is delayed then cover would be in place under missed or delayed departure

If there is a cancellation then this would be covered under the independent traveller section of the policy

If there is official advice not to travel then this would also be covered under the independent traveller section of the policy.

Andrew Ferguson, M&S Head of General Insurance, said: "Holidaymakers who have booked flights as part of a package holiday enjoy protection if they are unable to travel. However, travellers booking flights independently can often find themselves stranded and out of pocket and should make sure they have adequate insurance."

For more information about M&S Travel Insurance or to apply, customers can visit marksandspencer.com/travelinsurance.