November 3, 2025
Hurricane Melissa left vacationers in Jamaica dealing with expensive prolonged stays with restricted or no facilities.
The destruction from Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica left many vacationers stranded, dealing with expensive prolonged stays with few facilities obtainable.
When Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Oct. 28 as a Class 5 storm with winds reaching 185 mph (295 kph) — one of many strongest Atlantic hurricanes on report — it prompted intensive harm to infrastructure, together with airports and key amenities. With airports closed, vacationers have been stranded and confronted prolonged stays, as understaffed motels charged as a lot as $500 per evening for rooms that had been far cheaper earlier than the storm, WRAL reported.
Halifax County couple Bridgette and Wayne Todd have been among the many vacationers stranded on the island and have been knowledgeable they’d must pay $500 per evening for his or her room till the Montego Bay Airport reopened.
“They’ve jobs right here… We shouldn’t be allowed to remain totally free. But it surely’s undoubtedly going to get just a little costly for the subsequent few days,” Todd stated.
Journey agent Nita Cooper of Stars N Skye’s Journey Company at all times advises her purchasers to purchase journey insurance coverage, noting that conditions like Hurricane Melissa are exactly when it proves useful.
“In the event that they did have journey insurance coverage, this might not be a difficulty,” Cooper stated. “That is what it protects you from. Within the occasion of any unexpected circumstance, your insurance coverage would kick in and canopy regardless of the further price can be.”
Amid the chaos, a number of American vacationers stranded in Jamaica have turned to TikTok to share their experiences. In one video, a traveler was seen complaining to Riu Jamaica employees about being served pastries for breakfast as a substitute of the same old sizzling meal choices whereas nonetheless being charged full value for his or her keep.
@raindropsmedia1 American vacationer goes off on Jamaican resort employees after getting pastries as a substitute of the same old luxurious breakfast-just hours after Melissa, the worst hurricane (Melissa) in Jamaica’s historical past. 👀🏝️
One honeymooning couple shared that their resort evacuated all company, sending them to a shelter with solely a small bag of necessities, as they weren’t permitted to convey their suitcases.
“Okay, so replace, they gained’t allow us to take our suitcase. So we needed to put all the things in Chase’s toiletry bag,” one girl shared. “They’re on their method to get us proper now to go to the shelter. So everybody’s ready outdoors.”
Rocky Mount resident Zabdiel Dewar, a Jamaican native with a number of kinfolk working within the resort trade, encourages vacationers to stay affected person because the previous week has been devastating for the nation and its individuals. He urged vacationers to indicate empathy towards resort and resort employees throughout this tough time.
“You’re making minimal wage at a job, and there’s a pure catastrophe. And as a substitute of being at dwelling with your loved ones, you must be at that job,” Dewar stated. “Put your self in these footwear and consider the way it will be just right for you. How simple that might be for you.”
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