Club Med Columbus Isle

Hello everyone,
I am planning my first trip to CI on August 30....and with a handful of days before departure, here comes Tropical Storm Gustav, with CI well within its cone of doom. Pretty much any way you look at it, it's bad for the Bahamas.
I have all my CM paperwork in front of me with respect to policies and such, but in practice, when would CM/CI announce something with respect to next week's travel?
How close to the storm making landfall does CM typically wait before making any sort of announcement?

Sorry - I'm kind of freaking out...
Thanks.

I just caught the latest info on Gustav on the Weather channel, and it looks to me like CI is on the rather extream (right/eastern) fringe of the possible path. And that possible path is a very wide one. In other words, I sure would NOT make any travel changes based on what I see now. At the speed it is moving now, you will know for sure well before your departure date.
Relax and look forward to a great trip next week!

Amateur GO ( Professional GM )
http://www.hammocktree.us/amateurgos.jpg

the weather is great here now!

All who wander are not lost

Yeah here too (Gulf Coast)...so looks like Gustav took a turn and is potentially coming for my house now! Geeeeez.

In 2004, I was in Punta Cana with Tropical STorm Jeanne. They did not evacuate us. However, over night it changed to Hurricane Level 1. Normally, we would have been removed if it had all ready been a hurricane. I dont know if their policy has changed since then or not. We were stuck for 3 days and able to get back credits for the lost time. But now they have hurricane insurance as part of their basic package, I believe. Just go and have a wonderful vacation. You can call them to check it out, but if they dont contact you, then assume it is safe to go.

Jim

How many gold bar beads?

Don't worry CI is nowhere near the new path of Gustav which is going to pass between Jamaica and Cuba and continue up the Caribbean Sea and pass between Cancun and Cuba into the Gulf. After that the worrying should begin for people living in the Gulf States and west coast Florida.

Was in Hurricane Francis in Turkoise. Had a blaaast!! Partied on the balconies outside the rooms in my buiiding for one night and it was over.

Have a great vacation!

quote:

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Originally posted by Mister Bro

After that the worrying should begin for people living in the Gulf States and west coast Florida.

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Unfortunately...I'm one of those people too. So, CI is safe, but what about my house? I live near Galveston, TX. I'm watching the models closely, hoping and praying.

Sorry to hear that. No sure what track its going to take once it enters the Gulf. I believe it will be entering the Gulf on Saturday.

On our first visit to CI (in 1994, I believe) we made good use of the TV in the room (the first CM village we had been to with TVs at that time). We watched hurricane Opel go up the gulf, go inland around Mobile and then pass about 50 miles from our house NW of Atlanta... So, we went to the Caribbean in the peak of Hurricane season to "avoid" a hurricane. :-)

Amateur GO ( Professional GM )
http://www.hammocktree.us/amateurgos.jpg

It now looks like tropical depression 8 is well formed and near Puerto Rico. It will be called Hanna if it makes tropical storm level, which is very likely. This storm is on a more northerly path which could take it over the Bahamas. Watch it very carefully.

John

Problem is....I can watch it very carefully, but what am I supposed to do when my trip is supposed to start in 2 days? I called Club Med and they said as of right now everything is still on.

Hey if it gets here,we'll have one hellva Hurricane Party!The bar is OPEN!

All who wander are not lost

USUALLY THE PROBLEM IS NOT A DIRECT HIT ON A CLUB LOCATION, BUT WITH THE AIRLINES GETTING YOU THERE. THE CLUB IS VERY GOOD ABOUT TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE WHO MAY BE IN HARM'S WAY, BUT MY CONFIDENCE IN AIRLINES, WHICH WAS NEVER VERY GOOD, IS EVEN WORSE NOW. DOUBLE CHECK ON THE AIRLINES TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY D E L A Y . YOU ARE PROBABLY BETTER OFF WITH A MAJOR CARRIER AS OPPOSED TO A BARGAIN CARRIER. BARGAIN CARRIERS HAVE VERY LITTLE SLACK OR BACKUP. IF THE AIRLINES GET YOU THERE, CLUB MED WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

JOHN

PS: Pardon the strange appearance of the text.

The only flights here are BahamasAir or our charters,Im sure arragements will be made for our charters to evacuate if necessary,in the mean time we are open for business!

All who wander are not lost

Apparently, the weekly charter flight from Paris scheduled for tomorrow, September 3, has been cancelled due to the TS. Airport closed?

The GMs due to leave for Columbus were 'offered' La Caravelle instead.

D-33!

Yep !

I confirm you that the flight from Paris on 3rd Sept is cancelled.
Unfortunately...no CI this year
So, we will spend 2 weeks in La Caravelle, departure tomorow (actualy, the same aircraft rerouted to "Point a Pitre").

No news about new flight to CI in the forthcoming days

What about GM already in CI ?

Patrick

Let There Be Rock

Patrick,

If you can go to La Caravelle for what you paid for Columbus (I understand there are special offers right now), good for you.
Besides, the CDV at La Caravelle is better (personal opinion).

I suppose if there's no inbound flight to San Salvador from Paris, the GMs will have to stay in the village. Oh well, there's certainly worse than that like waiting somewhere in an ugly airport...

Have a great holiday.

I hope my bunch of friends will be able to leave on September 17 though.

Kiki,

We've got Suite Room at La Caravelle with no other charges.
But, we prefer CI...because of dive sites and also too much french tourists in Guadaloupe (we're french...)

Patrick

Let There Be Rock

Oh perfect.

But then, I know what you mean about wanting to go to a certain village and then, it's not possible.

I hope Phuket will be back to normal, when I leave.
The airport closure and the general situation stressed me quite a bit over the past weekend. Who knows, maybe I'll end up in Cherating. But that's not where I want to go or return.

Bonnes vacances et profitez bien!

Looks like there is another storm, Ike, that may go by the Bahamas.

http://news.aol.com/article/new-hurricane-forms-could-hit-us/154635?icid=100214839x1208854553x1200497491

Jim

Kiki,

A bit off of the target in this thread, but I did hear from Robin in Phuket. They haven't had anybody arrive at the club in the last three days. The airport is closed by people just sitting down there. They are thinking about busing the people currently at the club up to Bangkok, which is a 12 hour ride. Ugh!

John

John,

Yes, off target, but I knew Phuket Airport was closed over the weekend and some 15,000 tourists were stranded.
Now, from what I understand, things are back to normal, at least transportation wise.

D-32!