Hurricane Simon: What It Means for Puerto Vallarta Trips
Simon has strengthened again off Jalisco and Nayarit, to 105 mph, and is barely moving. What travellers to Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo should check before they fly.
Hurricane Simon is still sitting off Mexico’s Pacific coast, and it has strengthened again. At 5 a.m. MST on 14 October (Advisory 28A), the National Hurricane Center placed it at 19.8° N, 108.1° W, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, drifting west-southwest at 3 mph. Overnight, the NHC said Simon was “almost a major hurricane again.” The NHC says interests in west-central Mexico and Baja California Sur should continue to monitor the hurricane, and warns of life-threatening surf along the coast.
Behind it, Tropical Storm Trudy is expected to become a hurricane within about a day.
A slow storm is the problem. It keeps rain falling on the same places, and it keeps flight schedules in limbo. If you are flying to Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit or Manzanillo this week, here’s what to check.
Before you fly
- Check your airline, not the airport board. Delta has a waiver for Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta: travel 10–12 October, tickets issued by 11 October, rebook by 15 October with no fare difference. WestJet’s advisories page showed none in effect on 14 October. Air Canada, Sunwing, Flair and other US carriers post their own.
- Don’t cancel first. If the airline cancels, you’re usually entitled to a refund or rebooking. If you cancel yourself, you may get neither.
- Call your hotel. Ask about power, water and access roads, not just whether it’s open.
Insurance
Simon is a named storm, so it is a “known event.” Many policies bought after a storm is named won’t cover claims caused by it. If you bought cover before Simon formed, check your trip-interruption and delay benefits, and keep every receipt.
For advisors
- Who’s affected: clients in or flying to Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Manzanillo and the Jalisco and Colima coasts this week.
- What to do: check each carrier’s waiver window and rebook within it; confirm hotel operations directly.
- What to watch: each NHC advisory, every three hours while warnings are up.
This story is updated with each National Hurricane Center advisory. Last update: Advisory 28A, 5 a.m. MST, 14 October.
Sources
Jeff Cameron is a chief operating officer who writes about the business of travel: operations, pricing, loyalty and the decisions behind the trips, seen through an executive lens.