What do you know about the impact of Hurricane Melissa on travel?

When Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica on Tuesday, it was one of the strongest hurricanes on record in the Atlantic Basin. In addition to leaving behind catastrophic damage in Jamaica, Melissa left behind a trail of flooding and devastation in Cuba and Haiti on Wednesday.

Melissa is expected to pass northwest of Bermuda on Thursday evening National Hurricane Center. It is currently a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph.

Here’s what you need to know if you have plans to travel to the Caribbean or Bermuda in the near future — and what you can do to help in the wake of the storm.

RELATED: Top travel mistakes to avoid during hurricane season

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Satellite images show widespread muddy floodwater flowing into coastal areas near Montego Bay, Jamaica, on October 29, 2025, following Hurricane Melissa. Vantur/Getty Images

Where is Hurricane Melissa located?

Hurricane Melissa is currently a Category 2 hurricane traveling on a northeasterly track toward Bermuda. The hurricane mostly affected the northeastern part of the Caribbean Sea in the Greater Antilles on Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving widespread damage in its path.

“Tropical storm conditions will begin in Bermuda late this afternoon or early this evening, with hurricane conditions expected there tonight,” the National Hurricane Center said Thursday.

last year, Hurricane Beryl took a similar path over Jamaica as a Category 4 storm and caused widespread damage to electrical and communications infrastructure. That storm headed northwest into the Gulf of Mexico.

Is it safe to travel to the Caribbean or Bermuda?

Since the Caribbean is one of the largest seas on Earth, stretching across more than a million square miles, many areas haven’t felt the full force of Melissa’s wrath. For example, islands like Aruba, closest to South America, saw some rain last week as the storm moved west, but suffered no damage.

However, if you are planning to travel to Jamaica, know that the island was hit directly by a Category 5 hurricane and electricity and other infrastructure may be out for weeks to months.

NHC issued a Hurricane warning For Bermuda.

In addition to Haiti and Cuba, which were also directly in the hurricane’s path, nearby islands that felt Melissa’s effects include the southeastern Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the Dominican Republic. Waves that could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions are expected to reach Bermuda on Thursday.

If you have a scheduled trip to the Caribbean, you will need to stay informed of developments at your specific destination.

Airport closures and airline exemptions

Jamaica’s two major airports were closed last weekend ahead of the storm. Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston reopened Wednesday for relief flights and Thursday morning Commercial flights With a limited schedule. Despite sustaining damage, Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay was expected to reopen on Thursday for relief flights, but remains closed to commercial flights.

Airlines serving Jamaica and other islands offer various travel exemptions. The details of each exemption vary, but generally apply to flights to, from or via various airports in Jamaica and other islands. With the waivers, travelers can change their flights without having to pay the fare difference.

Here are some examples of airline waivers:

• Delta Airlines: For the October 25 – November 2 travel schedule to and from Bermuda, Jamaica and Turks and Caicos, travel must be rebooked by November 5. There are no change fees, but passengers will have to pay the difference in ticket price for travel after November 5.
• United Airlines: For scheduled travel to and from Jamaica, Bahamas, Grand Cayman and Turks and Caicos from October 25 to 31 and Bermuda from October 30 to November 2, there are no change fees or price difference on flights until November 7 for most of the above islands and November 9 for Bermuda. United has also extended the travel exemption for flights to and from MBJ in Montego Bay for the period November 1-8, with no change fees or fare difference imposed on flights until November 21. (Note that there are no change fees on United at any time.)
• American Airlines: Change fees for flights to and from Bermuda will be waived for travel scheduled from October 30 to November 2, and changes must be booked by November 2.
• JetBlue: Change/cancellation fees and fare differences are waived for travel to and from Jamaica from October 25 to November 8; Customers can rebook their flights until November 16. For flights to and from Turks and Caicos, fees and fare differences are waived for travel October 28-30, and flights can be rebooked until November 5. For flights to and from Bermuda, fees and fare differences are waived for travel on October 30, and flights can be rebooked until November 7.

Check with your airline for more details if you have upcoming travel this week.

What to do if you have a flight booked

If you book directly with a hotel, first check their website to see if they have posted any updates. You can also contact the hotel directly or on the main reservation number. Keep in mind that many properties will likely manage a crisis, so contacting the property directly should be your last option.

If you booked through a third-party online travel agency or aggregator like Expedia or Travelocity, it’s important to understand the cancellation policy. the The OTA still owns your reservation before you travel; If you contact the hotel directly, they will likely refer you back to the OTA or travel portal for assistance.

If you have a cruise planned to the Caribbean or Bermuda, check with your cruise line for updated sailing plans.

RELATED: Sailing During Hurricane Season: What to Know

If you have already purchased travel insurance, you should be able to get a refund for all your trip expenses if you are traveling to an area directly affected by Hurricane Melissa. As mentioned earlier, the time to buy insurance is before the storm is named. Once it is identified, it becomes a “known event,” and you can no longer purchase coverage for that storm.

According to TPG’s comprehensive guide to credit cards that include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, this type of insurance generally covers non-refundable expenses if you need to cancel your trip (or the rest of your trip) due to a natural disaster. However, credit card insurance policies vary, so check your benefits guide for specific exclusions.

And remember, credit card travel insurance only applies to purchases made with that card, so if you use a different payment method for parts of your trip, you won’t be covered.

RELATED: 4 Times Your Credit Card Travel Insurance Can Help You With Travel Problems, 7 Times It Doesn’t

How to help

To contribute to the national relief efforts in Jamaica, donate directly through supportjamaica.gov.jm.

Here are other options to explore:

Airbnb.org – the non-profit arm of Airbnb – is also offering free emergency housing in the Caribbean to first responders in partnership with All Hands & Hearts and Haiti Air Ambulance. Airbnb.org is also collaborating with local governments and nonprofits to determine how best to assist displaced people with housing in the wake of the storm. To help, visit airbnb.org/hurricanemelissa To donate or provide accommodation if you are a host.

Bottom line

Hurricane Melissa, an incredibly powerful Category 5 hurricane, made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon and left a path of devastation on the island. The hurricane made landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday and is expected to pass northwest of Bermuda on Thursday.

If you have plans to travel to an area affected by the hurricane, it is wise to cancel or delay your plans until a later time.

For more helpful tips on navigating during hurricane season, read: