by Helena Handbasket

Created on: February 04, 2009   Last Updated: February 14, 2009

The Caribbean tourism industry works extremely hard on promoting and maintaining nominally safe oceanfronts and natural beauty sites. But behind the wide smile offered to tourists is the empty belly known to islanders. When exploring the Caribbean on your own, hotels are often a brief walk from slums, and risk can increase dramatically with minor miscalculations.

Crime can even affect those who follow tour guide advice fully by remaining in "safe" areas, but ordinary responsible precautions for personal safety are easy to learn. Do not stand out as an attractive foreign target for theft; be prepared for power outages, or unprofessional police; stay with a known group. However, when you desire to travel more freely, and if you accept the associated risk, you should learn the local character of the Caribbean in detail, so you can steer your craft carefully.

The United States Department of State issues Country Specific Information for tourists; other countries offer comparable services. Their suggestions are valuable supplements to your own networking research. Learn more about your selected travel destination below.

Cuba: Travelers assume the risk of plane and vessel hijacking, like the 2007 attempt at Marti International. Nearby boaters are also sometimes grounded due to difficult navigation. Old Town Havana and Prado are prime pickpocket locations. Cuba is best traveled with someone who knows it already.

Bahamas: Be more wary at nighttime destinations, and avoid hitchhikers and unfamiliar offers of taxis or equipment rentals. Avoid isolated areas and deserted beaches. The Turks and Caicos are safer but offer less infrastructure for tourism.

Jamaica: Gang warfare threatens several ghettos, such as Mountain View and Cassava Piece. Keep an eye out for disreputable sections of Kingston and Montego Bay. Jamaica deals with drug trafficking, and reports of police corruption are common; the nearby Caymans have much lower crime rates.

Hispaniola: Virtually all of Haiti, excepting the best region of Port-au-Prince, requires such extreme caution and preparation as to warrant its own article. In the adjoining Dominican Republic, urban areas are relatively safe. Avoid rural areas, side routes in cities, and large street crowds, which have occasionally become violent demonstrations. Watch out for strangers at celebrations or nightclubs. Police bribery and excessive force has also been reported.

Puerto Rico and the Virgins: Take ordinary precautions as you would in potential crime

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