When my daughter-in-law planned her and my sons Jamaica honeymoon, a few Octobers ago (smack in the middle of hurricane season), they took my advice and purchased travel insurance. I was willing to suggest a couple of different options, but she was a, shall we say, a independent bride. She wanted to handle the details herself. She did a pretty good job of it too, but there was one occasion before the wedding that stands out in my memory. There was some issue with the caterer that was stressing her out. She hadn’t purchased her travel insurance yet, and called me on a Friday night, a little hysterical. One of her friends (and I think it was one of her unmarried friends, you know the ones that have no idea, the types of things running through the brain of a bride to be), had told her one of those horror stories about a friend of a friend that had bought insurance, and they didn’t read the fine print and were out $6000.We went over the policies, I was able to explain the fine print to her and we were able to get them a policy picked out that covered the specific things that could go haywire for their trip (nothing did, by the way!). She thanked me and told me how lucky she was for having a travel agent for a new mother-in-law. You know I told her, this is pretty much my job, these are the types of things I do on a day to day basis for the couples I work with. That’s why they choose to book their honeymoons or vacations with me. Enough gratuitous self promotion (wink wink).

Last week we discussed hurricanes in the Caribbean and what you could expect booking travel in those areas. In general, travel insurance when you are travelling is a very good idea–unless, of course, you are doing a short domestic hop or weekend getaway. But as very few trips are as important to you as your destination wedding or honeymoon, the peace of mind travel insurance provides is completely worthwhile, and if it’s needed, worth its weight in gold. I highly recommend my clients purchase coverage for their trips.

It’s important, though, that you read the fine print before you purchase any policy. Travel insurance plans vary in their coverage, and you need to make sure that you understand what is covered, how to file a claim, your coverage limit, and how you will be paid or reimbursed before you purchase a plan.

As for hurricane protection, specifically, some travel insurance plans do cover hurricanes under certain circumstances. In the event of a covered hurricane or other unforeseen severe weather, travel insurance provides coverage under their “Trip Cancellation and Interruption” benefit. This benefit usually means that if your trip is cancelled for a covered reason, it will refund the pre-paid, forfeited, non-refundable trip costs trip up to the limit of coverage.

If you are worried about severe weather or a hurricane that is near your destination, know that your travel insurance will cover you if the weather directly affects your travel arrangements or accommodations. In other words, if severe weather impacts or delays your trip (because, for example, the airport is closed; you are forced to evacuate your hotel/resort; your hotel/resort is badly damaged; or roads are impassable due to high water), you are again entitled to your “Trip Cancellation and Interruption” benefit. In the case of delay, this benefit covers expenses incurred and reasonable, additional accommodations and travel expenses until travel becomes possible.

However, if you choose to cancel a trip based on what you think might happen–and not because inclement weather has directly affected your travel arrangements–that would be considered a matter of choice and not a direct loss to your arrangements. In most cases I’ve seen, this is not covered by a travel insurance policy and any changes you make come from your pocket.
There are limits as to how long you can wait to purchase travel insurance and be covered for that particular trip. In many instances, if you don’t purchase the insurance at the time you book the trip, you have 24 hours prior to when the hurricane has been named. Once the hurricane has been named, Trip Cancellation and Interruption losses resulting from that hurricane are excluded from the coverage of the policy.

This is where my years of experience come in–I know the companies that offer different types of policies and have personally dealt with their customer service and agents when an emergency has arisen. but I am happy to make personalized recommendations and advocate for my clients when navigating travel insurance.

I hope this information can help in some way.

Have a good trip and see you next time!

– Molly Sumption, Caribbean / Sandals Expert, Seattle / Portland / subscribe to RSS feed

Jamaica is a beautiful island with wonderful, gracious people. I send hundreds of honeymooners there every year and I visit Jamaica frequently. It’s a shame how the island can be misrepresented in the media because tourism is their economic mainstay. I have sent hundreds of honeymooners to Jamaica. If it wasn’t a safe island, I wouldn’t be able to stay in business!

Jamaica gets bad press because they have some political and economic problems that are centralized in the capital, Kingston. Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril, the tourism areas of Jamaica are located on the opposite side of the island, some 70 – 160 miles from Kingston. So the tourism areas are not really affected by what is happening on the other side of the island.

Many tourists do encounter local residents attempting to sell them marijuana as they are sightseeing or shopping. Marijuana is an integral part of the Jamaican culture and usage is not interpreted the same way it is in the US. However, the Jamaican government has made it illegal for locals to sell marijuana to tourists. The best way to handle some one offering to sell you marijuana is a polite, but firm, “no thank you.”

No matter where in the world you travel, it is always wise to read the news, stay safe and protect your property. Here are some tips to make your Jamaican vacation safe as well as fun:
(Courtesy of the United States Department of State)

Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.

Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. The State Department web site has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit —or ask your travel agent for advice. I love talking with clients about what to expect and ways to stay safe.

Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers. Don’t carry large amounts of cash.

Register so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Register your travel plans with the State Department through a free online service. This will help us contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling.

– Molly Sumption, Caribbean / Sandals Expert, Seattle / Portland / subscribe to RSS feed

When we arrived at the resort (once, via VIP Mercedes Benz private transfer and another time, a Rolls Royce!) our Butler took care of check-in…with champagne, of course!…while we relaxed in the suite. While we changed our clothes and headed for cocktails and dinner, he unpacked our suitcases, hung up our clothes and even spread tissue in the drawers before arranging our clothes there. He gave us a cell phone so we were always in touch. Our Butler reserved prime location lounge chairs at the pool and beach in our name. He delivered a cooler of our favorite beverages to the beach or pool, whether it be water, soft drinks, champagne or beer. One day our Butler called from the sandwich table at the buffet to ask exactly what I would like on my sandwich that I had asked be delivered to my lounge on the beach! Our Butler handled all of our dinner reservations with prime table locations and escorted us to dinner, where we discovered linen cloths covered in flower petals. Our Butler arranged private in-room meals – breakfast, lunch or a candlelit dinner – with a special menu personally served by our Butler. In the late evening we came back to our room to find that our turn-down service included towel art in the form of intertwined swans, surrounded by flower petals with candles with soft music playing in the background. My personal favorite? When the Butler prepared a bubble bath in the whirlpool tub, complete with candles and an iced bucket of champagne! Then, when regrettably we had to leave, our Butler packed our bags and escorted us to our vehicle for transfer back to the airport.

Butlers ensure that all whims and wishes will be met at all times…in short, a Butler will do anything you ask as long as it is legal! We had doubts prior to our first Butler experience but now we are enthusiastic converts. Butler Service makes an already special event that much more memorable!”

– Molly Sumption, Caribbean / Sandals Expert, Seattle / Portland / subscribe to RSS feed

– Molly Sumption, Caribbean / Sandals Expert, Seattle / Portland / subscribe to RSS feed

Jamaica’s Meet-The-People program is a free program where you can arrange to spend time with Jamaicans that share your interests or profession to get beyond the resorts and into the spirit of the country. All you have to do is contact the tourism board once you have confirmed your travel dates [visitjamaica.com] and the board will match you with one of the 700 Jamaicans that participate in the program (and it’s not just for adults! There are many Jamaican families who are registered with the program and have children who would love to meet your kids).

Our family has personally had two wonderful experiences with the Meet-The-People program. My brother-in-law, a firefighting professional, was “adopted” by a fire chief in Montego Bay and got to spend a few days seeing the ins-and-outs of Jamaican emergency services, as well as meet plenty of new friends. My son and daughter-in-law spent 2 days sightseeing and eating home cooked food prepared by an Ocho Rios activist and owner of a local bed and breakfast. They all agree it’s truly a spectacular way to see more of the island and go beyond the resort or arranged tours. All you need is a sense of curiosity and adventure and the Jamaican Tour Board will handle the rest.

– Molly Sumption, Caribbean / Sandals Expert, Seattle / Portland / subscribe to RSS feed

Want to get in the mood before your Sandals stay or try and recreate your favorite Caribbean dining experiences back at home? Both Seattle and Portland have their own celebrated Caribbean restaurants that satisfy every taste and budget.
In Seattle, try Casuelita’s Caribbean Café in Belltown (81 Vine Street, 206.770.0155) for a fusion of British, Dutch, French, Spanish, East Indian, West African, Portuguese, and Chinese flavors—try a rack of Shantytown jerk ribs or a plate on conch fritters. Or for a more casual experience, try the world famous Island Soul (4869 Rainier Avenue S., 206.329.1202) or Pam’s Kitchen (5000 University Way N.E., 206.696.7010).

In Portland, Salvador Molly’s(1523 SW Sunset Blvd.,503.293.1790) offers “pirate style” cuisine, combining dishes from Ethiopia, Hawaii, Thailand, New Orleans and Jamaica, while Cafe Cubano’s Caribe (5225 N. Lombard St.,503.286.2929) and Pambiche (2811 NE Glisan St., 503.233.0511) serve up Cuban style gourmet treats.

– Molly Sumption, Caribbean / Sandals Expert, Seattle / Portland / subscribe to RSS feed

• I charge no fees to my customers. All commissions come to me from Sandals.
• I am one of 50 Platinum Preferred Sandals/Beaches Specialists in the nation. This is a direct result of personal experience, familiarization with the product and sales performance.
• My travel agency has been operating in the Pacific Northwest since 1982 and we have been specializing in the Caribbean for over 20 years.
• One of the many benefits to working with me on your honeymoon or vacation is that I have stayed at all of the resorts many times and have traveled to all of the Caribbean Islands.
• I will give you unbiased information and advice about the Sandals and Beaches resorts based on my experience, I will contact the resort General Manager with any special requests or requirements you might have before your arrival and I will be available should anything unexpected occur while you are traveling to or staying at the resort. In short, I will be your local advocate

I look forward to working together in planning your perfect honeymoon or vacation.

– Molly Sumption, Caribbean / Sandals Expert, Seattle / Portland / subscribe to RSS feed

As a Sandals Platinum Preferred Specialist I have specific experience working with Seattle and Portland couples?

I am a Sandals Platinum Preferred Specialist, which means that I am one their top 50 representatives in the United States. One of the many benefits working with me on this very important occasion is that I have stayed at all of the resorts many times and have traveled to all of the Caribbean Islands. So I will be able to give you the benefit of my extensive experience in planning your perfect Sandals honeymoon. After all, your honeymoon is one of the most important trips you will ever take! I will give you unbiased information and advice about the Sandals resorts based on my experience, I will contact the resort General Manager with any special requests you might have before your arrival and I will be available should anything unexpected occur while you are traveling to or staying at the resort. In short, I will be your advocate.

Why not just book your honeymoon or destination wedding over the Internet?

Besides the personal handling and experience you will receive by working with me, my payment policy can be more liberal than the Internet. A $300 deposit for the resort is due when booked, with the final payment due 50 days before your departure. In order to obtain the best airfare, it must be paid for when reserved. If you prefer to search for your own airfare or have mileage, I am happy to handle the resort alone. If your resort should go “on sale”, I have the ability to pass the savings on to you, provided it occurs before final payment.

Isn’t it more expensive to use a travel agent to book my Sandals vacation?

No, my commissions come directly from Sandals.

– Molly Sumption, Caribbean / Sandals Expert, Seattle / Portland / subscribe to RSS feed

Pack for the Caribbean weather, primarily. Expect sun, sun, and more sun (sunblock, and plenty of it, should be on your packing list). Temperatures, depending on the time of year, average between 70 and 100 degrees, with varying humidity. Chances are, though, that this “varying humidity” will feel sticky to those of us accustomed to Seattle and Portland’s climate, and are stickiest during the winter months in the Caribbean—but the heaviest humidity days usually lead to tropical afternoon torrential downpours (quick, warm, and refreshing to get caught in) that leave the evenings pleasant.

You’ll spend most days at your Sandals resort on the beach, so bring a few bathing suits, so you have at least one change, and a light cover-up to toss on for lunch, a trip to the bar, or walking to and from your room. For women, a sarong is always a versatile choice—not only to toss on after the beach, but it can be tied as a skirt, dress, or even used as a beach blanket.

Sandals or flip flops are Caribbean footwear de rigueur. Any summery slip-on shoe, however, will be fine. If you are planning on snorkeling or boating, “water” shoes are nice-to-have, but not compulsory.

Sunglasses are essential. I also recommend bringing a sun hat, even though Sandals will have beach umbrellas available for shade. Bringing a small nylon purse or bag for daily necessities like your room key is also handy (if you are bringing a camera, a waterproof bag will be invaluable).

In the evenings, most guests dress up a little for dinner and resort activities. But even dress-up is “resort-casual” (close to what we consider “fancy” dress here in Seattle and Portland). Long peasant skirts with loose cotton blouses or sundresses are usually perfect choices for women, and for men, light khaki pants or shorts and a short sleeved collared shirt are usually fine. A wrap, light sweater, or jacket will be welcomed in the evenings, which can be breezy and cool.

If you are planning to take day trips off the resort, comfortable shoes, a water bottle, and a small day pack are a must.

My final Sandals preparing/packing tips? Pack light, easy care (no ironing on vacation, please!) clothes you will be comfortable and feel good in…and always leave extra room in your bag for souvenirs of your stay.

– Molly Sumption, Caribbean / Sandals Expert, Seattle / Portland / subscribe to RSS feed

The reality of hurricanes is that they are seasonal and they are possible. Although NOAA identifies “hurricane season” as June through December, hurricanes can (and do!) occur any time. In my experience, however, the hurricane activity that Caribbean vacationers should watch out for is concentrated in September and October. In fact, there’s a Caribbean saying about hurricanes: “June, too soon. July, stand by! August, look out, you must! September, remember. October, all over” (but do take that with a grain of salt–my son and daughter and law honeymooned in Jamaica in October and only saw gorgeous weather).

We hear a lot about hurricanes here in the US, and the reality is that it’s because more and more hurricanes have been developing over the Atlantic and Gulf and hitting us hard in the states. It’s very true that any tropical destination at the same latitude as the Caribbean islands is subject to potential hurricane activity–including the east coast of Mexico, the west coast of Mexico, Central America or Hawaii–however, over the last four seasons there has been only one hurricane per year that has affected the Caribbean. So, while hurricanes in the Caribbean are a possibility, they are not a given.

One of the benefits of booking a destination wedding or honeymoon through a travel agent is the services and support they can provide during hurricane season. For example, I start watching the developing storms and keeping tabs on them for my clients. I keep them updated as to anything that could be a disruption and do all the re-booking and rerouting as necessary. We can usually get early enough warning if plans need to be altered in any way because the computer model forecasts give a pretty accurate picture of what we can expect in that area.

Another thing to consider with hurricanes is travel insurance and resort guarantees. I plan to examine both of these topics in next week’s article, which can also be found on my website, www.mollyscaribbean.com.

– Molly Sumption, Caribbean / Sandals Expert, Seattle / Portland / subscribe to RSS feed