Just as many people are scoping out one of the best spots for a trip, one of many world’s most premiere seaside locations will get referred to as into query… once more.
In early 2024, The Bahamas and The U.S. butted heads over a journey advisory because the normally secure island nation was rocked with rampant crime seemingly out of the blue.
As such, The Bahamas fired again, basically stating that vacationers weren’t targets for violent crime, implying that there was no want for an advisory.
Well, right here we’re but once more across the identical time in 2025 and it would not seem the messaging has modified all that a lot with the U.S. State Department’s newest advisory.
Covering extra crime upticks, potential seaside hazards, and a few recommendation on what undoubtedly to not carry with you in your travels, the State Department has re-issued a Level 2 advisory for The Bahamas.
2 Travel Warnings In 4 Months – Cause For Concern?
Normally a Level 2 tag is not something to get labored up about or flat out change journey plans; it is merely beneficial perception to absorb on the off-chance you end up in a sketchy state of affairs.
Level 2 is a standard designation. Punta Cana and Cancun — each mega fashionable locations listed as Level 2 and unlikely halting many journey plans.
That being stated, it is not that always that the U.S. Embassy and State Department work so intently in tandem, even unintentionally.
For instance, we just lately reported on a brand new journey safety alert for Peru. The Embassy issued the alert, however the State Department hadn’t (and nonetheless hasn’t) up to date their advisory for Peru since November 2023.
So, the actual fact there’s been a journey safety alert issued by the U.S. Embassy in Nassau in December 2024 and now a separate journey advisory from the State Department just below 4 months after that might be trigger for concern irrespective of the extent of gravity.
In quick, the Embassy was warning of potential crime waves. If the State Department is correct of their newly issued advisory on March 31, 2025, then it sounds just like the ‘potential’ became actuality.
For what it is price, the aforementioned advisory triggering the back-and-forth bickering was issued in February 2024, adopted by a Embassy-issued alert in December 2024, and now one other advisory issued yesterday — this marks 3 journey warnings for an island usually deemed secure in only a 13 month span.
The Deets: What The U.S. State Department Is Warning About
Let’s dive into the small print. It’s necessary to not mischaracterize any vacation spot, particularly one which’s a vastly fashionable trip spot the place locals rely closely on tourism to make ends meet.
Per the U.S. State Department, these are the next locations to be cautious of ‘violent crime’:
Nassau:
Avoid “Over the Hill” in Nassau, south of Shirley Street, attributable to excessive presence of gang-related exercise
Violent assaults have been reported taking place in and round downtown Nassau seashores
In different phrases, you are completely secure at Atlantis. Once you allow, pay attention to your environment and keep in mind you are not in Kansas anymore.
Freeport:
No particular vacation spot was listed to keep away from; stay conscious of your environment always when exterior Freeport resorts as ‘armed robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults can happen anyplace in The Bahamas’, in keeping with the U.S. State Dept.
Not solely are there warnings for crime, however doubtlessly harmful seaside hazards too. The State Dept. is urging Americans to comply with the following tips when visiting Bahamian seashores:
Beach security:
Don’t swim alone and watch out for jet skis or different watercraft close to shore
Keep conscious of your environment, particularly public restrooms as sexual assaults have been reported
Know your bodily limitations when swimming (swimmers have snorkelers have drowned)
Be looking out for sharks (shark assaults have precipitated excruciating accidents and loss of life)
Check climate reviews and water situations
What To Know When Renting Boats And Vacation Homes
It’s necessary to know jet skis and boats should not effectively regulated in The Bahamas.
Operators might not even be correctly licenses, and what’s much more alarming is assaults by guides have been reported on this discipline.
Circling again to one of many solutions above, some guides care extra about being paid than your security and have operated boats throughout unsafe climate, so in case your Spidey-senses inform you one thing would not appear fairly proper, it is best to not hop aboard.
As far as renting a trip dwelling, it is also necessary to remember when and the place safety is current. You by no means know who’s watching.
What Not To Bring When Traveling
It begs the query of why anybody would wish to convey firearms into the Bahamas, a spot not precisely recognized for searching.
Spearfishing? Maybe. But do not pack warmth in your flight right here, not even a single spherical of ammunition.
The State Dept. is reminding vacationers Bahamian forces implement the letter of the regulation on this matter. However, satirically, their very own nation’s crime ranges reached some extent to set off one more journey advisory — go determine.
Point being, should you do not wish to find yourself on a brand new season of Locked Up Abroad, maintain your Second Amendment rights within the nation they belong in.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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