NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Travelers are forced to readjust plans and consider canceling trips to parts of Florida and the Caribbean as Hurricane Dorian is expected to reach a Category 4 as it nears Florida.
Travel agent Genie Herron of Herron Travel Agency in Nashville said she is keeping a close eye on the weather after she already had to change plans for a couple of clients in the Caribbean. She said this is a great reminder why travel insurance and reviewing cancellation policies are important.
Getting a refund depends on the company, and it is not always guaranteed.
"Some refunds are the day before, a week, two weeks, a month or non-refundable. There's nothing set in stone so you need to know what your cancellation policy is and make a decision at that point," Herron told NewsChannel 5.
She advises to reach out to the vendor if you cannot make it to hopefully receive a refund or voucher.
If your flight is canceled, the Department of Transportation says most airlines will re-book you for free on their next flight. Because of the hurricane, airlines American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, Frontier and United so far are waiving fees up to a certain date for travelers to change their flights.
The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association has encouraged members to waive fees. AirBnb is also allowing cancellations in much of Florida for free until September 1.
Cruise lines have also readjusted their itineraries and switched routes to accommodate travelers including Disney and Royal. Herron says cruise lines can also provide vouchers.
"The good thing about the cruise lines though is they can change their routes so if the hurricane is coming one direction they can skip their port or go to another port," she said.
Walt Disney World Resort is another popular destination. If there is a hurricane warning for Orlando, guests can reschedule or cancel without a fee if it was booked through Disney.
To learn about any delays or cancellations at Nashville International Airport, click on this link.
