3 guides Updated October 20, 2026

Island trip guides

The method, storm seasons and paperwork

How the scores are made, when the hurricane, typhoon and cyclone seasons hit each island, and which islands need a passport.

An open notebook with a hand-drawn bar chart and no words or numbers, a pencil and a small seashell on a wooden table

How we score islands

The method behind every ranking: four factors from data, two from our editors, fixed weights, a storm deduction by ocean basin, and a small penalty when our own verdict is only conditional.

Six factors, fixed weights Ten years of airport weather 64 islands on one scale
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Pairs well with

The best islands in the worldHurricane, typhoon and cyclone seasons by islandThe best islands to visit in October
A swirling tropical cyclone seen from space over a blue ocean

Hurricane, typhoon and cyclone seasons by island

One storm, three names. Here is when hurricane, typhoon and cyclone seasons run for each island on this site, how the risk changes month by month, what 2026 brought, and what travel insurance will and will not do.

Every basin, month by month Atlantic peak: September 10 What insurance covers
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How we score islandsWhich islands need a passport? Rules for US citizensThe best islands to visit in September
A brown leather luggage tag

Which islands need a passport? Rules for US citizens

Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and three mainland islands need no passport. Everywhere else does, with validity rules, online arrival forms and fees that differ by island. ETIAS is still not running.

13 islands: no passport REAL ID or passport to fly ETIAS: not yet running
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The best islands to visit without a passportThe best islands in the USThe best islands in Europe

Build the rest of the trip

Everything else on the site, with what is in it.

Islands 64 Rankings 77