Hello everyone,
I am planning my first round the world travel for next year and I would love to include some destination like Saint Maarten or Barbados, which I would hit in August/September 2009. As I am from Europe I'm not experienced with Hurricanes at all so I wanted to ask if you can give me some advice on if I should completely avoid the Caribbean or on of the destinations in August/September or if there are places that are not too dangerous. Is the risk lower in August than in September? Also I would be happy if someone suggested other destinations which are just as nice but have a lower risk (e.g. I could also imagine Mexico offers absolutely beautiful places but as it is such a huge country I just wouldn't know where to go).
Kind regards

Historically, the peak date for hurricanes in the Caribbean is Sept. 10.

The tracks also tends to move north as the summer progresses, so further south later in the summer isn't as bad. No guarantees, and that's a good reason to have travel insurance, but those destinations are relatively south which should help.

so what you're saying is i don't have to worry too much? to be honest i don't fear losing my life or something i just wanted to know if it is alright for a one week vacation in september

The islands of Aruba and Curacao are located south of the hurricane belt and are considered to be, in general, safe destinations.

Personally, I'd steer clear of the Caribbean in August, September and October. At least get trip insurance. As mentioned, Aruba and Curaco are probably o.k. You can check www.wunderground.com for lots of hurricane information. Click on "tropical/hurricane"...

thanks,everyone

And Curacao is an AMAZING place to visit. Far more interesting (and tranquil) than tourist centers like AUA.

I go to the Caribbean regularly via Cruise (2-3x year at least) and Curacao is one of the few places that I'd go back to on a non-Cruise vacation.

We own a house in Barbados and the island is so far to the east and south that it's out of the path of most hurricanes and tropical storms. I highly recommend Barbados--very safe, good economy, no malaria, English-speaking (if that's a concern).

I'm going there on Tuesday for a week! The rainy season is in full swing, but usually the mornings are sunny.

I would think the poster would know that and that the question is a level. Sort of like asking if there's any chance of hearing a rooster crow in the countryside at 6 in the morning.

Assuming that the poster was actually sincere, then another possible area that is south of the hurricane zone would be Trinidad and Tobago. I have visited Trinidad and can highly recommend it. Also English speaking. Be aware that traffic is on the British side of the road, if you plan to rent your own vehicle.

One more thing I thought of (someone else mentioned) is a cruise. Cruises are rarely cancelled during hurricanes, but will get rerouted instead. In rare cases, they will turn into a cruise to nowhere, but usually they try to at least rearrange the ports and keep the passengers safe.

Again, I'd get trip insurance. A cruise would be an excellent way to see several islands.

Again,thanks for your answers!
I definetely will get a travel health insurance as I will be travelling round the world for 9 months (Jan-Sep 2009). The Carribbean will be my last or second to last stop before going back to London so I will be there around mid-end-Sep.
I also did some research on the internet and found out that Barbados might be a good choice.If what I found is right,there is a direct hit like every 30 years and the last one even was back in 1955.
Also,as ESpen36 said,it is pretty much off all other islands and like that probably somehow safer, so thanks for making me feel good about his
A Cruise sounds like a fun thing to me but the thing is I am just 20 and probably won't be able to afford an extra Cruise vacation in addition to an already not cheap 9-month RTW trip. For the same reason, I would love to go to Curacao or Aruba but just couldn't find a lot of choices on somewhat affordable accomodation and I guess finding this on Barbados might be easier,isn't it?

I pretty much agree with that, I used to live there back in the late 80s. As for the rainy season, I recall days when it would rain 5 or 6 different times a day in one place, but not over the whole island, even though it is only 166 sq miles, and since it is basically always between 70 and 87 degrees F, you dry out quick. :-)

I was aware of the general idea that Sept and Oct are hurricane season in the Caribbean, but didn't realize that certain islands were generally outside the "zone." good to know for future planning. thanks.