Is anyone considering canceling a trip because of Tomas?

[SashaS]

Is anyone on this forum scheduled to go to St. Lucia anytime soon, and if so, are you considering canceling (because of Tomas)?

The damage looks pretty bad. Twelve people were killed, and there was a lot of destruction in the southern part of the island. Also, many roads are impassable, including the road from the main airport to the northern part of the island. More info is here:
Hurricane Tomas kills 12 in St Lucia - Breaking & Current Jamaica News - JamaicaObserver.com

I guess it's a little shallow to be thinking about your own vacation when people have died and communities and homes have been severely damaged.... but does anyone think that this sort of storm will have an especially bad impact on snorkeling conditions? If so, would you expect conditions to be back to normal within a few weeks? I'm supposed to be there during the last week of November. I expect that I probably will still go as long as the road between the airport and my hotel is restored (likely, though not guaranteed) -- I'm just wondering if anyone else is in the same boat and has any insights.

 

[sarahw]

I was scheduled to go to the Sandals St. Lucia Regency (La Toc) this Friday (the 5th - 10th November), but found out today my flight was cancelled.

I called Sandals and was told that there was no structural damage to the resort, but the airport is still closed. (I'm flying into Hewanora, on the southern end of the island.)

On a positive note, I was rebooked for December 3-8 with no penalty. I can't say enough nice things about the Sandals staff! Everyone I've dealt with has been incredibly accommodating!

As far as the impact to snorkeling / scuba - I'm hoping that things will settle down in the next couple of weeks, too.

 

[Laurie S.]

I'm headed there on November 23rd on a Holland America cruise. We get to St. Lucia on the 27th and I'm scheduled to dive with Frog's Diving. They say that the ships will be allowed back to the island on November 7th, so I'm hoping things will be better by the time we get there. It's so very sad to see the destruction and loss of life.

 

[SashaS]

Sarah, that's really cool about Sandals -- they sound like a great company. Are you planning to dive/snorkel with them, or are you using a different dive company?

Laurie, I will also be there during the last week of the month, so I guess we'll find out at the same time! I agree about the destruction.... I was just reading that Tomas is supposedly the worst natural disaster in the island's history, and there are still people missing in Soufriere. It's very sobering.

Sasha

 

[sarahw]

I've had good luck with the Sandals / Beaches resorts. (I've been to the Beaches on Turks and Caicos as well.) They're well run and beautiful with good food and great staff!

I'll probably just dive and snorkel through the resort. It's hard to resist since it's included, though I plan on bringing my own gear. I hope to do a night dive as well!

Best of luck to both of you ladies - I hope you have a great time and safe travels!

 

[SashaS]

Thanks Sarah - you too!!