When Natural Disasters Change Your Travel Plans, Don’t Panic!
Traveling introduces new challenges no matter how short the trip is, from canceled flights to trouble with directions, missed trains, and many other unexpected obstacles. During a recent trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, I encountered a new traveling challenge: a hurricane.
Upon arriving at the newly renovated Tulum Airport in mid-June, there was no sign of a natural disaster on the horizon. The jungle was lush, the sky was bright blue, and the sun was blazing.
As we took a bus towards Playa Del Carmen, a popular resort destination, it was clear that the weather had affected the surrounding areas. The canvas on billboards was ripped and strewn into the nearby trees. Street signs and highway signs had been completely dismantled to prevent these sheets of metal from flying around in a storm. Nevertheless, we continued on our drive while observing the stunning landscapes around us.
Once settled into the hotel, we continued to hear murmurings of another hurricane forming in the near future. Hurricane Beryl was slowly pushing north towards the Yucatán Peninsula. However, since we were in vacation mode, we continued monitoring the storm while also enjoying the other activities we had planned.
This trip was jam-packed with adventures, from swimming with whale sharks to visiting Chichén Itzá and exploring Cozumel island off the coast of Playa del Carmen. We tasted the flavors of the area, the highlight being cochinita tacos, a Yucatán style of cooking pork. Spectacular sunsets, crystal clear waters, and tropical animals like iguanas and coatis made our trip such a lovely experience. Look up Coatis when you have the chance! They are the most adorable animal that looks like a cross between a raccoon and a ring-tailed lemur.
Travel Challenge Gets Real
After four days of adventuring, it was clear that the weather was shifting. The eye of the storm was luckily headed south of us, and it was only predicted to graze the area, but a category two hurricane was still going to cause damage. It was Wednesday, and I was supposed to fly out Thursday afternoon, about 12 hours before the storm was supposed to hit.
On my way to the airport Thursday morning, I went to check into my flight and saw that it had been changed. In tiny print, the flight had been changed from Thursday to Saturday. I panicked! Luckily, the group I was with had the hotel until Saturday, but regardless, I was going to be in Mexico for another three days, one of those being the day the hurricane was to hit.
After returning to the hotel room and reporting the news, one of our friends informed us that he read a news article from The Yucatán Times announcing a four-day closure of the Tulum Airport from Thursday to Sunday afternoon. That meant we had to change our flights–again–and do it quickly before everyone else scrambled to get home. After hours on the phone with the airline, we secured flights for Sunday afternoon and settled in to experience the storm.
The Hurricane Hits!
Thursday evening was calm, and there was no wind, but the ocean had massive swells. The resort boarded up buildings, put away all furniture, and sent numerous letters to every hotel room with updates about the approaching hurricane. There was a nervous energy in the air, but the hotel assured guests they would be safe.
As we went to bed Thursday night, there was some rain and wind, but nothing too wild…yet. At about 3 a.m., I woke up to the loudest wind I had ever heard in my life! It had been howling for about three hours, and the rain was pounding against the windows. I was unsettled, having never been in a storm that large before.
Upon waking up the next morning, it was clear a hurricane had hit. There were fallen trees and branches scattered around the resort, leaves covering every walkway, and the pools filled to the absolute brim with rainwater. It was eerie since there were only a few people out and about. The hotel lost power for several hours, and the roofs of a few buildings were damaged, but aside from that, everything remained intact.
In the days before our flight, we remained in the local area since the roads needed time to be cleared of fallen trees and debris. When Sunday came around, my group packed up our items and headed to the airport. The drive was similar to the one we experienced on the way in– billboards down, street signs being drilled back into their posts, trees being cleared, etc. The storm was just a blip in time.
What I Learned After Traveling During a Natural Disaster
Throughout my whole travel experience with Hurricane Beryl, I learned a few helpful tips for when weather changes plans.
Always check national weather applications or websites before and during your trip (weather changes on a dime).
If severe weather is predicted, call your airline or the airport helpline at least 2 days before your flight to see if there is a possibility of a change.
If your flight is pushed back, make sure the date you are set to fly out is a day when flights are running at the airport.
I was scheduled to fly out Saturday after the first delay, but the airport was closed for weather until Sunday, so I had to change my flight again.
Read the local newspaper or news outlet to get vital information about airport closures, road closures, and other weather-related closures.
Ask your accommodations about the possibility of extending your stay, and if not possible, ask for recommendations for other areas to stay.
Download movies and charge your devices before the storm is set to hit! Power loss is likely during hurricanes.
Finally, do not panic!
Traveling is always an adventure, and it requires being flexible! Remember that when encountering severe weather, safety measures are always in place to keep travelers and locals safe. Keep informed and plan accordingly!