State Dept. Updates Bahamas Travel Advisory

Above, a shopping area in Freeport, Bahamas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When a friend and I went to the Bahamas on a cruise last summer, the country was under a Level 2 State Department Advisory at the time. 

While there, we saw no problems or potential dangers. 

The State Department has revised its advisory for the Bahamas. 

According to AOL:

The U.S. government wants you to be extra careful if you're visiting the Bahamas. So much so that it updated its travel advisory for the popular destination on March 31, alerting travelers to the dangers of violent crime, beach safety, and ammunition laws across the Bahama Islands.

The Bahamas has been at a level 2 advisory warning since January 2024, and the new update does not change the level.

"What do the advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State mean?

Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions)

Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution)

Level 3 (Reconsider Travel)

Level 4 (Do Not Travel)"

“Violent crime—like armed robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults—can occur anywhere in The Bahamas. Most crime occurs in Nassau and Freeport on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands,” the travel alert states. “Stay alert in the 'Over the Hill' area in Nassau, south of Shirley Street, where gangs have killed residents.”

We visited both Freeport and Nassau during the cruise.

To read more, go here.