Hurricane Idalia is expected to make landfall in Florida early Wednesday, potentially leading to power outages, wind damage and flooding as it moves inland.
The storm, which was strengthening Tuesday after skirting western Cuba on Monday, is expected to approach Florida as a Category 3 storm. Landfall is expected to come along the state’s Gulf Coast between Tallahassee and Tampa. Still, the interior of the state will be affected, with flooding and wind damage possible for much of central and northern Florida. As the storm moves north toward Georgia and the Carolinas, similar threats could affect those areas through the end of the week.
While Hurricane Idalia’s arrival comes as the typical hurricane season increases the risk of storms, summer is a popular time for vacationers to visit Florida’s theme parks and beaches as well as to depart on cruises. With so many travelers visiting Florida daily, TPG compiled a guide on what you should do if you have travel planned to Florida this week.
Is it safe to travel to Florida?
While Florida’s tourist marketing corporation, known as Visit Florida, has not released an advisory against traveling to Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis did declare a state of emergency in 46 of 47 Florida counties. Florida’s Gulf Coast is expected to be most affected by Hurricane Idalia, but DeSantis warned that the storm could affect low-lying areas beyond where the storm makes landfall.
“This is likely going to cut across the interior of the state,” DeSantis said in a press conference Monday.
Those in Florida can expect heavy rain and winds as high as 115 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center described Hurricane Idalia as having a “Life-Threatening Storm Surge” with “Dangerous Winds.” Residents in the path of the hurricane should also be prepared to lose power, DeSantis said at the press conference.
“If you’re in a vulnerable area, you evacuate to higher ground in a safe structure,” DeSantis said at the press conference, offering advice to residents that visitors may also want to heed if they’ve not left before the storm.
In response to the hurricane, Florida officials have also deployed emergency utility crews and 2,500 Florida National Guard members who will bring planes and high-rescue water vehicles, according to Politico.
Despite the lack of travel advisories, travelers may want to reconsider travel to Florida since Hurricane Idalia is expected to have potentially severe conditions once it makes landfall Wednesday. More advisories and evacuation orders are possible as the storm nears.
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Airlines allowing changes to Florida flights
Most major U.S. airlines have posted advisories for travel to Florida and other portions of the Southeastern U.S. that may be affected by heavy rain from Hurricane Idalia. Check your airline’s website to see which flights have been affected.
Here’s a roundup of the travel advisories from the major U.S. airlines as of midday Tuesday:
American Airlines
Change fees for flights to the following cities are waived for travel taking place between Aug. 28 and Aug. 31:
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Daytona Beach, Florida
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Hilton Head, South Carolina
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Orlando, Florida
- Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida
- Savannah, Georgia
- Tampa, Florida
American will also waive the change fees for basic economy and for travelers who can fly from Aug. 28 to Sept. 4. Customers cannot change their origin city or destination if they want to qualify for the fee waiver.
Southwest Airlines
Customers flying to the following cities from Aug. 28 to Aug. 31 may reschedule their flights at no additional cost:
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Florida
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Orlando, Florida
- Panama City Beach, Florida
- Pensacola, Florida
- Sarasota, Florida
- Savannah/Hilton Head, Georgia
- Tampa, Florida
Southwest is also allowing customers scheduled to travel to and from Tampa to reschedule to one of the following different cities without any additional charges:
- Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Florida
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Miami, Florida
- Orlando, Florida
- Panama City Beach, Florida
- Pensacola, Florida
- Sarasota, Florida
- West Palm Beach, Florida
JetBlue
JetBlue is issuing change fee waivers and waiving fare differences for flights booked to the following cities from Aug. 29 to Aug. 30:
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Orlando, Florida
- Sarasota, Florida
- Savannah/Hilton Head, Georgia
- Tampa, Florida
Customers can rebook travel until Sept. 2, and to qualify for the waivers, the original travel dates must have been booked by Aug. 28.
Delta Air Lines
Delta is waiving fare differences for any travel booked between Aug. 28 and Aug. 31 to the following cities until Sept. 3:
- Brunswick, Georgia
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Columbus, Georgia
- Daytona Beach, Florida
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Gainesville, Florida
- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Key West, Florida
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Orlando, Florida
- Panama City, Florida
- Sarasota, Florida
- Savannah, Georgia
- Tallahassee, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
- Valdosta, Georgia
However, for any rescheduled travel booked after Sept. 3, Delta will waive the change fee, but a fare difference may still apply. If customers choose not to rebook travel, they may cancel their flight and apply the unused fare to a different flight booked within a year of when the original ticket was issued. Keep in mind that a fare difference may still apply if you decide to cancel your current flight and rebook a new one.
United Airlines
For tickets purchased by Aug. 27 with travel dates from Aug. 28 to Aug. 31 to one of the following cities, United will waive change fees and fare differences for rescheduled flights that take place between Aug. 27 and Sept. 4:
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Orlando, Florida
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Savannah, Georgia
- Sarasota, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
If you reschedule your travel to a different destination, United will still waive the change fees, but a fare difference may still apply.
Spirit Airlines
For any flights to the following list of cities with travel dates from Aug. 29 to Aug. 31, Spirit is waiving fare differences and change fees through Sept. 6:
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Orlando, Florida
- Pensacola, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
Any flights rescheduled after Sept. 6 may have a fare difference; however, change fees will still be waived.
Possible airport closures
In preparation for Hurricane Idalia, some airports may suspend operations. For example, Tampa International Airport (TPA) announced Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it would close starting at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday for the storm. So far, the airports in Charleston, South Carolina; Fort Lauderdale; Miami; and Orlando have not announced any closures.
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), both of which sit on Florida’s Gulf coast along with Tampa, also announced airport closures on Tuesday. SRQ plans to close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and reopen at 8 a.m. the next day. Starting at 3 p.m. today, PIE will be closed and reopen at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
Tallahassee International Airport (TLH) also suspended operations at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. The airport in Florida’s capital is located on the Big Bend, an area of the state that is expected to see widespread damage and flooding from Hurricane Idalia with up to 10 to 15 feet in storm surge, according to the National Hurricane Center.
What to do if you have a hotel booked in Florida
So far, none of the major hotel chains have announced any closures on their websites, but some smaller chains are providing discounted storm rates to Florida residents seeking shelter. Orlando area-based chain Rosen Hotels is offering “distress rates” starting at $69 a night to Florida residents looking to evacuate inland.
If you do happen to have a hotel booked, be sure to check your hotel’s cancellation policies, as they may vary by each individual hotel, and hotel chains may revise cancellation policies in light of Hurricane Idalia. You can call a hotel’s 1-800 number to either cancel or reschedule your stay. Florida’s Division of Emergency Management has a list of the evacuation orders for each county — if you have a hotel booked in an area that is expected to be heavily affected by the storm, you may have already received some communication from the hotel about your stay.
A Hilton spokesperson told TPG:
Hilton continues to monitor the progress of Hurricane Idalia. The safety and security of our guests and Team Members is always our top priority. Hilton properties in the storm’s projected path have implemented their hurricane preparedness plans and remain in close contact with local authorities and tourism partners.
For guests whose travel plans are being affected by Hurricane Idalia, modification and cancellation penalties may be waived for reservations arriving August 28, 2023 through September 4, 2023, for guests traveling to, from, or through Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Guests are encouraged to visit Hilton.com or contact 1-800-HILTONS for the latest information on specific properties. For information regarding Hurricane Idalia please visit the National Hurricane Center website at www.nhc.noaa.gov.
An IHG spokesperson told TPG that the chain is waiving cancellation fees for guests who booked hotels in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Hotels in those areas are also required to welcome pets without any additional charges, the spokesperson added.
“As Hurricane Idalia continues to progress, we are ensuring that IHG branded hotels are doing everything in their power to provide the highest level of hospitality for those seeking relief and comfort,” the IHG spokesperson said in a statement.
For bookings through a third-party travel agency or online aggregator like Expedia, be sure to check the cancellation policy. Rather than directly calling the hotel, you’d have to call the third-party site, since it owns your reservation prior to traveling.
Airbnb has an “extenuating circumstances” policy for natural disasters; however, it does not cover hurricanes that occur during Florida’s hurricane season because they are classified as foreseeable events. Typically, Airbnb hosts list the cancellation policy when you book, so the policy may differ for each booking.
What to do if you are visiting a Florida theme park
Based on Idalia’s current path, only Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has announced any plans to close due to the hurricane. At this time, other area parks are monitoring the hurricane and allowing eligible guests to reschedule their vacations if they prefer to visit at a later date.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will close at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, and remain closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, with plans to reopen on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. The park has also activated its Weather-or-Not Assurance policy, giving guests who have plans to visit during the impacted dates. You can contact Busch Gardens directly with any questions or fill out the form linked above to receive tickets to use at a later date.
Walt Disney World
Currently, Walt Disney World Resort is operating under normal conditions. If you have a visit planned with check-in dates between Aug. 28, 2023, through Sept. 5, 2023, you can cancel or reschedule your visit without change or cancellation fees. Guests who already staying at Disney World whose return travel is impacted by Hurricane Idalia may be able to receive a discounted rate to extend their stay through the evening of Aug. 31, 2023, by visiting the front desk of their hotel. This policy only applies to tickets and accommodations booked directly through Disney. Learn more here.
Universal Orlando
Currently, Universal Orlando Resort is operating under normal conditions. Under the park’s severe weather policy, any time a hurricane or tropical storm warning is issued or a state of emergency is declared either in the Orlando area or your place of residence, within seven days of your arrival, you can contact Universal to reschedule or cancel your vacation without any cancellation or change fees. This policy only applies to tickets and accommodations booked directly through Universal. Learn more here.
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld is operating under normal conditions.
Legoland Florida
Legoland Florida is currently operating under normal conditions.
Peppa Pig Theme Park
Peppa Pig Theme Park is currently operating under normal conditions.
What to do if you have a cruise booked
Like airlines and hotels, cruise lines have their own cancellation policies, so if you have booked a cruise that is sailing to or from Florida this week, you can check the cruise line’s cancellation and rebooking policies on their respective websites.
MSC Cruises has tweaked itineraries for the August 28 voyages of MSC Seaside and MSC Meraviglia, with the former extending its time in Nassau and the latter reshuffling its schedule between Miami and Nassau. Disney Cruise Line also altered Disney Fantasy’s schedule for its current voyage, which swapped Cozumel, George Town and Falmouth with Tortola and St. Thomas.
Carnival Cruise Line has switched around ports for Carnival Conquest and Carnival Valor. Carnival Conquest will visit Bimini instead of Key West. The ship will also skip a call on Cozumel and add a stop in Nassau. Valor will scrap Costa Maya and, instead, add a call on Cozumel later in the week. (Due to Hurricane Franklin, the line also made changes to Carnival Legend’s and Carnival Magic’s schedules, with both now visiting ports in the Bahamas instead of Bermuda.)
Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Equinox also made some changes, with altered dates for planned calls on Cozumel and Grand Cayman. Further, a stop at Falmouth was added, and a visit to Bimini was scrapped
Currently, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises have no ships in the area. Royal Caribbean has not yet responded to requests for information on potential port changes.
Cruise lines do not owe you compensation if they alter your itinerary, according to the terms of the cruise contract you consent to before sailing. For any changes, you’ll be refunded for any shore excursions you booked through the cruise line that were to take place in the ports you’re skipping. (Check with your tour provider directly if you’ve booked a third-party excursion.)
TPG’s guide on what happens if a cruise gets canceled is the next place to refer to for guidance if you receive notice that your cruise is canceled. You can also read up on what to expect on a cruise during hurricane season.
Will your credit card or trip insurance cover changes?
Travel insurance will cover hurricanes if you purchase it in advance. Each travel insurance agency has different policies for hurricane coverage, so check each site to see which option works best for you.
Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance covers nonrefundable expenses like accommodations, airfare and any planned activities in the event you need to cancel your trip due to a hurricane.
There’s also a type of coverage known as “cancel for any reason” coverage that can refund you around 75% of the trip cost, but it is a pricier option which may not be worth it for a trip to Florida. Allianz Travel Insurance’s website says its “cancel anytime” insurance can reimburse travelers up to $16,000 in expenses.
Keep in mind that you must have booked your trip before the natural disaster starts in order to be covered. For example, Travel Guard says you can purchase insurance up until 24 hours before a hurricane is named. Once a hurricane is named, Travel Guard says it will exclude trip cancellation and interruption losses from the policy. So, if you booked a new trip today, it likely wouldn’t be covered since there has already been a state of emergency declared for the hurricane.
Credit card insurance policies tend to vary, so make sure to check the benefits guide for the card you used to book your airfare or hotel for any exceptions.
TPG has a comprehensive guide on credit cards that covers trip cancellation and interruption and what might be covered in a natural disaster.
For filing a trip cancellation or interruption claim, here are some tips:
- Check your credit card’s benefits guide to see if you are eligible for coverage and what the limits are.
- Call your credit card’s benefits administrator or start a claim online.
- Determine which documents you need to collect.
- Submit the documents within the required timeline.
Related: 4 times your credit card’s travel insurance can help with travel woes, and 7 times it won’t
Bottom line
Hurricane Idalia is set to have potentially devastating impacts on Florida, so it’s best to avoid traveling there if you can. With evacuation orders in place, it is important to consider canceling or rescheduling your trip.
Be sure to follow state and local government guidance as they will update travel guidance as Hurricane Idalia makes landfall in Florida on Wednesday.
Additional reporting by Tarah Chieffi, Ashley Kosciolek and Cameron Sperance.
