Hurricane Isidore ripped through Mexico's Yucatan peninsula and Cuba at up to 120mph last week, leaving a trail of damage to hotels and at least one city struggling with limited water and electricity supplies.
A separate tropical storm in the Caribbean has caused days of torrential rain, muddying coastal waters and affecting diving holidays.
Although many holidaymakers were confined to their rooms during the storms, the worst had passed by this weekend. In general, tourists should not need to change their travel plans, though some itineraries have been altered.
Worst hit was the Mexican city of Merida, on the Yucatan peninsula. It still only had 30 per cent of its normal water supplies restored by the end of last week. 'In some places, there are shortages of water for showers,' said tourist board director Manuel Diaz Cebrian. Windows were shattered at the Holiday Inn, and the lobby of the Conquistador was damaged.
The travel company, Exsus, which has changed itineraries to avoid the Merida region, said it was now a matter of clearing up the debris. 'Every second tree has come down, as have pylons. There is water everywhere,' said product manager Sue Lyall . 'September is not the best time to be going to Mexico. We try to put people off.'
In Cuba, two hotels, the Maria La Gorda and the Horizontes Rancho San Vicente, were putting a freeze on new reservations because of damage.
The travel operator Trips Worldwide, which uses the Maria La Gorda, said the hotel recommended holidaymakers to delay their arrival for at least two weeks to allow the seabed to settle for good diving visibility. Where the firm could not honour a reservation, clients were offered an alternative holiday or a chance to cancel.
Diving was also affected off several Caribbean islands after tropical storm Lili swept through. 'The beaches are dirty and the diving isn't good - it usually takes about a week to clear up,' said a tourist official for St Vincent and the Grenadines.
· See whether hurricanes will affect your holiday. Check the National Hurricane Centre website.
