Vrbo® just released a new cancellation policy to further protect travelers who can’t complete their trips due to large-scale travel disruptions including some natural disasters. When Vrbo determines the new Extenuating Circumstances policy is activated, hosts must provide refunds for impacted reservations regardless of the property’s cancellation policy. Vrbo will also refund the traveler service fee for impacted travelers. For non-covered events, the property’s cancellation policy will still apply. Examples of when Vrbo would activate the Extenuating Circumstances policy would be mandatory evacuations or large-sale power outages. The Extenuating Circumstances policy goes into effect on June 15.  

Hurricane Season Guidance 

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is likely to be one of the most active in recent history with up to 25 named storms, of which there could be 8 to 13 hurricanes, as forecasted by the NOAA. 

• Consider buying travel insurance – review details of an insurance policy before you buy it to make sure it provides the right coverage for your needs. If a problem comes up with a trip, carefully document extra expenses and contact your insurance company as soon as possible. 

• Review the property’s cancellation policy – a property’s cancellation policy is set by the host and can vary so, before booking, check the policy and understand that it may apply even when reservations are affected by a natural disaster. The most flexible cancellation policy provides a full refund 14 days before a trip. Travelers that need to cancel or make changes to a booking outside of the cancellation policy window need to work with the host. Vrbo will only override the cancellation policy if the Extenuating Circumstances policy is activated – not all hurricanes and/or significant weather events qualify. 

• Download a weather app – before traveling, monitor the weather for your destination and stay on top of changing conditions by downloading a weather app, like the FEMA mobile app, or bookmarking the National Weather Service website. These resources provide real-time weather alerts and more information on safety precautions.  

• Communicate with the host – always keep an open line of communication with the host for the most up-to-date information. Travelers that have not yet arrived at their destination, or are unsure if it’s safe to travel there, should contact their host for more information regarding their reservation. If guests are having trouble reaching the host, or have other questions, they can also contact Vrbo’s 24/7 customer support team for assistance. 

• Be prepared – when arriving at the vacation rental, get to know the property and the area, and make an emergency plan in case there is potential for a natural disaster during the stay. Also consider packing and bringing an emergency kit, or ask the host, as they may already have one prepared for the home.  

“The two most important things travelers should do to protect their trip are to make sure they understand the cancellation policy for the property they’ve booked and to buy the right travel insurance for their needs,” said Melanie Fish, Vrbo’s travel expert.