Have you booked a Caribbean Christmas getaway? Then you NEED to read this
IF YOU'VE booked a Christmas holiday to Florida, Mexico or the Caribbean then you may be worried about travelling to the area.
Hurricanes have wreaked havoc in the Caribbean and Florida, while Mexico has been hit by a devastating earthquake, so you may be looking to cancel your plans to search for the winter sun.
If you're going on a package holiday
If you've booked your holiday through a travel operator then it's worth contacting them to see what their policy is.
"If you decide not to travel to the destination, call your operator directly who may be able to help you make alternative arrangements," said Malcolm Tarling from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), which represents insurance firms.
"Where alternative travel arrangements are made, you can usually transfer your travel insurance to cover new dates."
If your hotel is damaged by a natural disaster
It's still early days, but some travel firms have already provided guidance to customers if you can't stay at your hotel because it's been hit.
Virgin Holidays is assuring customers that they will provide alternative accommodation if their hotel is damaged, or they will be entitled to a full refund.
Concerned Thomas Cook passengers are advised to call the operator directly to discuss their travel arrangements.
Thomas Cook has only provided advice to customers who are travelling in the next few days and continues to assess the situation.
The Sun Online also contacted First Choice and Sandals holidays and we will update this article if we hear back.
If your hotel is damaged now, you may have to wait to until the full extent of the damage is over before knowing how long it will be before it is fixed.
Timescale on when hotels will return to normal will depend on how badly hit the area is.
If you're unsure, check with your tour operator if you booked a package deal and with the hotel directly if you book separately.
If you think it's too unsafe to travel
If your hotel hasn't been damaged but you still don't want to travel, then there are fewer options.
You won't be covered by insurance but your holiday operator may be able to help.
If you booked your flights and accommodation separately
Independent travellers who didn't book their accommodation through an operator should be able to claim money back from their travel insurer - but only if they secure a letter from the hotel to prove the devastation.
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"People should get a statement from the accommodation provider saying that it couldn't provide the service to give to the insurer," said Kevin Pratt from MoneySuperMarket.com.
"And you should keep receipts for any additional expenses incurred."
Unfortunately you are only entitled to compensation for flights from your insurer if your flight is cancelled by the airline, or your holiday is directly affected.
The ABI advises that anyone planning to visit the affected region should "check with their tour operator or airline, keep up-to-date with travel advice from the Foreign Office and follow any local authority advice, including evacuation orders."
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