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Just as many of us are scoping out the best spots for a vacation, one of the world’s most premiere beach destinations gets called into question… again.
In early 2024, The Bahamas and The U.S. butted heads over a travel advisory as the usually safe island nation was rocked with rampant crime seemingly out of the blue.
As such, The Bahamas fired back, essentially stating that tourists weren’t targets for violent crime, implying that there was no need for an advisory.
Well, here we are yet again around the same time in 2025 and it doesn’t appear the messaging has changed all that much with the U.S. State Department’s latest advisory.
Covering more crime upticks, potential beach hazards, and some advice on what definitely not to 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 isn’t anything to get worked up about or flat out change travel plans; it’s simply valuable insight to take in on the off-chance you find yourself in a sketchy situation.
Level 2 is a common designation. Punta Cana and Cancun — both mega popular destinations listed as Level 2 and unlikely halting many travel plans.
That being said, it’s not that often that the U.S. Embassy and State Department work so closely in tandem, even unintentionally.
For example, we recently reported on a new travel security alert for Peru. The Embassy issued the alert, but the State Department hadn’t (and still hasn’t) updated their advisory for Peru since November 2023.
So, the fact there’s been a travel security alert issued by the U.S. Embassy in Nassau in December 2024 and now a separate travel advisory from the State Department just under 4 months after that could be cause for concern no matter the level of gravity.
In short, the Embassy was warning of potential crime waves. If the State Department is accurate in their newly issued advisory on March 31, 2025, then it sounds like the ‘potential’ turned into reality.
For what it’s worth, the aforementioned advisory triggering the back-and-forth bickering was issued in February 2024, followed by a Embassy-issued alert in December 2024, and now another advisory issued yesterday — this marks 3 travel warnings for an island typically deemed safe in just a 13 month span.
The Deets: What The U.S. State Department Is Warning About
Let’s dive into the details. It’s important not to mischaracterize any destination, especially one that’s a hugely popular vacation spot where locals rely heavily on tourism to make ends meet.
Per the U.S. State Department, these are the following places to be wary of ‘violent crime’:
Nassau:
- Avoid “Over the Hill” in Nassau, south of Shirley Street, due to high presence of gang-related activity
- Violent assaults have been reported happening in and around downtown Nassau beaches
In other words, you’re perfectly safe at Atlantis. Once you leave, be aware of your surroundings and remember you’re not in Kansas anymore.
Freeport:
- No specific destination was listed to avoid; remain aware of your surroundings at all times when outside Freeport resorts as ‘armed robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults can occur anywhere in The Bahamas’, according to the U.S. State Dept.
Not only are there warnings for crime, but potentially dangerous beach hazards too. The State Dept. is urging Americans to follow these tips when visiting Bahamian beaches:
Beach safety:
- Don’t swim alone and beware of jet skis or other watercraft near shore
- Keep aware of your surroundings, especially public restrooms as sexual assaults have been reported
- Know your physical limitations when swimming (swimmers have snorkelers have drowned)
- Be on the lookout for sharks (shark attacks have caused excruciating injuries and death)
- Check weather reports and water conditions
What To Know When Renting Boats And Vacation Homes
It’s important to know jet skis and boats are not well regulated in The Bahamas.
Operators may not even be properly licenses, and what’s even more alarming is assaults by guides have been reported in this field.
Circling back to one of the suggestions above, some guides care more about being paid than your safety and have operated boats during unsafe weather, so if your Spidey-senses tell you something doesn’t seem quite right, it’s best not to hop aboard.
As far as renting a vacation home, it’s also important to be aware when and where security is present. You never know who is watching.
What Not To Bring When Traveling
It begs the question of why anyone would want to bring firearms into the Bahamas, a place not exactly known for hunting.
Spearfishing? Maybe. But don’t pack heat on your flight here, not even a single round of ammunition.
The State Dept. is reminding travelers Bahamian forces enforce the letter of the law in this matter. However, ironically, their own country’s crime levels reached a point to trigger yet another travel advisory — go figure.
Point being, if you don’t want to end up on a new season of Locked Up Abroad, keep your Second Amendment rights in the country they belong in.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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