• Hurricane season is the time to be spontaneous. Book your vacation the week before you leave, and if there are no hurricanes on the weather map, you can be sure you won't experience one.

• Make reservations directly with the hotel. Hotels, not Internet agencies, are more likely to negotiate with you in hopes you'll postpone rather than just cancel your trip. Good luck trying to get a real person on the phone who will help with immediate problems at an Internet agency.

• Use a travel agent for cruises, flights and hotels. You will have someone working on your behalf, and they can often arrange what you can't. They can offer immediate assistance and help with alternatives. I was in the Caribbean and had two flights canceled when Miami International Airport closed because of Hurricane Ivan. The travel agent called my hotel with alternative flights and made sure there were no additional fees. If using a travel agent costs $20 more, pay the $20 for peace of mind.

• Use a credit card. In theory, you can't be charged for something you don't receive, such as a hotel room. But this, too, can be tricky when you're trying to get a refund on your non-refundable deposit because you say a hurricane was coming but the hotel said the weather was beautiful. At least, though, you have the credit card company to speak for you.

• Buy travel insurance. Insurance offers some peace of mind, but read the fine print, preferably with Nancy Grace, before you buy. Travel agents can suggest a variety of companies such as Access America, HTH Worldwide, Travelex Insurance Services, TravelGuard and CSA Travel Protection.