Squaremouth Warns of “Perfect Storm” for Travelers as Pandemic Causes Caribbean Travel Spike During Busy Hurricane Season

Squaremouth Warns of “Perfect Storm” for Travelers as Pandemic Causes Caribbean Travel Spike During Busy Hurricane Season

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. June 23, 2021 — American travelers are flocking to the Caribbean like never before due to ongoing border closures. Caribbean countries comprise 8 of the top 10 summer travel destinations, according to travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth.com.

However, an influx in travel to hurricane-prone tropical destinations, combined with an above average hurricane season and lingering impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic, could make for the perfect storm of travel disruptions.

Squaremouth Analytics identifies four key travel trends, along with travel insurance recommendations for trips this summer.

Caribbean Travel Stats and Highlights:

  • Turks and Caicos is the fastest-growing Caribbean destination, with a 2000% increase in travelers since 2019
  • US travelers are averaging $3,500 on trips to the Caribbean this summer, with the most expensive trips being spent in The Bahamas, and the least expensive in Costa Rica

Caribbean Travel Insurance Requirements

  • Despite being hurricane season, coverage for Covid-19 continues to be the most in-demand benefit travelers are searching for
  • Of travelers buying a policy for trips during hurricane season, 32% specifically searched for coverage for Covid-19, while Hurricane and Weather coverage dropped to 4.3%

Travel Insurance Tips for Summer Travel:

Squaremouth recommends the following benefits for travelers visiting the Caribbean this hurricane season:

  • Look for a short Travel Delay threshold. This benefit can kick in anywhere from 3 to 12 hours after a traveler is delayed, reimbursing for meal and lodging expenses. Travelers with a shorter time requirement are more likely to be able to use this coverage.
  • Purchase a policy before a storm is named. Most Cancellation policies include coverage for inclement weather that delays or prevents travel, but all policies require the policy be purchased before the storm is named. Otherwise, it is considered a known event and is excluded from coverage.
  • Understand what coverage for Covid-19 is available. In most cases, the only travel insurance coverage for Covid-19 relates to contracting the virus. For other impacts, like a new quarantine requirement or border closure, Squaremouth recommends a Cancel For Any Reason policy. Travelers can search for coverage related to Covid-19 here.

For regularly updated information about Covid-19 and travel insurance, please visit our Covid-19 travel insurance information hub.

–ENDS–


Notes to editors

Available Topic Expert: Steven Benna, inhouse data specialist is available for comment and interview. sbenna@squaremouth.com (727) 619-7262

Research Methodology: Squaremouth.com hosts the largest number of travel insurance providers and policies that offer coverage related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Squaremouth Analytics studied data from thousands of policies purchased between 1/1/2021 and 6/7/2021, and compared traveler behavior to the same period from previous years to identify changes and trends in travel insurance this hurricane season. If you would like a copy of the raw data, please get in touch by emailing media@squaremouth.com.

Other Relevant Research:

Top Caribbean Destinations for Travel in Summer 2021:
Mexico
Costa Rica
Turks and Caicos
Dominican Republic
US Virgin Islands
Jamaica
Bahamas
British Virgin Islands

Helpful Links:

About Squaremouth: Squaremouth.com has insured over 3 million travelers. Using Squaremouth’s intuitive quoting and comparison engine, award-winning support team, and verified customer reviews, travelers can save time and money to find the best travel insurance policy for their trip.