We told the ship's security what happened and they remained professional and also said it was not uncommon as they have incidents like this each time the ship docks in Nassau and it even happens to their fellow crew members. Are things really bad there ? Re: What is the law concerning carrying a knife in the Bahamas? check it here: so much advantages of Bahamas. So I'm just wondering should I still plan a Bahamas cruise what are the best spots if not some ideas on other locations would be greatly appreciated, Nassau sucks period as soon as you get off the cruise ship locals will harass you nonstop and you won't be able to enjoy much. Limit public displays of affection, regardless of your sexual orientation. If, however, you find yourself the victim of a violent crime, report it to the nearest police station. We had no experience with the Bahamas and picked Eleuthera after seeing an HGTV show. Nothing scary about Nassau just don't be stupid and go places tourist don't belong. :spyder: Control the HEAD.and you control the SNAKE! Laws in general are pretty loose in the . Neither assailant spoke to either of us. I always pack a Swiss Army knife in my checked, luggage and carry it while visiting (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Nassau is where 70% of locals live, and the best place to learn the customs and history of the country. I wouldn't recommend staying on Paradise Island if you like to swim on the beach. Where I'm pretty sure no tourist would ever go by themselves because it's like one of the worst places in Nassau. There are other places just as beautiful that respect human life/ safety. The islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama were particularly badly damaged by Hurricane Dorian in August 2019, which was the most intense tropical cyclone on record to hit The Bahamas. Yes, there are kind and interesting people everywhere, but some places pose a higher risk of unpleasantness or danger than others. If you are street smart then you can maneuver in places like Nassau. The Florida Keys is suddenly looking very inviting. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, robberies and gang violence, tends to happen most in Nassaus Over-the-Hill neighborhoods and are mainly targeted to Bahamians. The Bahamas is a male dominated culture so be ready to experience a myriad of overly loud, forward and aggressive men wherever you roam. It is illegal to carry a knife with a blade longer than 3 inches (7.62 cm) on your person in Canada. It's cheap tourism for middle class Americans. It all depends who you are as a person. In traveler hubs, like on Paradise Island, you will definitely attract higher costs for food at supermarkets or restaurants, If you want to catch a cheaper meal, then eat where locals eat. This aint tough math Wow, these reviews and stories I JUST read are horrible, especially the sexual assault stories. Which I just read has been issued a travel advisory. We have swam on the public beach, walked the streets, and toured everywhere on the island. I seem to remember a year or so ago someone had one on a dive I was on and was asked to keep it at the shop and not take it on the boat. When he ran OFF the property I knew he DIDNT work there! I plan to walk to Junkanoo Beach and I will have it with me along with a few other things. Go to Key West if you want the climate. I have traveled Europe and St Maartin alone and never experienced anything like this. Using arm floats on younger children, for example, does not guarantee that your child is fully protected from drowning. I don't look tough at all. I felt very safe. Much different than in the states. Just came back yesterday from paradise island and went to new providence three weeks before that. I promise you there is more to the Bahamas then they've said. Keep your money in your front pockets of in your shoes. I am planning my 40th next year and booked a house for all 15 of us, am wondering if it's worth the stress. The police officer didn't bother to report it at all and didn't tell her to go to the hospital. I just started planning a surprise cruise vacation for my boyfriend is it possible to take a safe trip to the Bahamas if so what ports are the safest. I will go where they do care/ do their jobs. We were in Nassau this week (two females). Perhaps I need to visit wherever you guys are from to see how it compares. The main beach on Harbour Island was also amazing along with cute shops, town, and houses. We never saw anything that made us feel uneasy. NYC for example (where I live) had 333 murders in 2016. I find Mexico worse. The four wheeler would not start. In The Bahamas individuals may be in possession of dive, utility, kitchen and survival knives once they are utilized for these purposes otherwise knives are considered dangerous weapons. I'm a 5'8 160 African American male. After they caught him I indentified him from a line up and I'm assuming he was aressted. Had some of the most delicious authentic food of the trip. Just because you went "Nassau" doesn't meants you went to the Bahamas you only went to 1 island out of the entire Bahamas. I would strongly suggest, you leave it at home. I just returned from a Royal Caribbean cruise there last week and encountered a criminal incident as well. Never put money in a back pack. With a murder rate of 128 sad souls, that equates to 1 murder for every 2,000 people. It is a small island about 7-9 miles, but I had the best time, we were told by locals that the crime rate there is extremely low and I witnessed a woman leave her purse in a golf cart and go back inside building an no one bothered it. Alternatively, you may use. Pack insect repellant and apply at dawn and dusk liberally to avoid mosquitoes at their most active time. It took all I had to try and function at this point to make it to the main buildings for help! It states in the article, and the stories prove: people are safe in groups, or if uninteresting- most valuable possession is a book bag and you are male. My daughters girlfriend lives in Nassau. There are however THREE online e-books, one of which I have started reading. We left our bag on the beach while we swam and no one bothered it. Everything we took off the boat except my phone. They headed back east on west Bay Street toward town- ships/port. We had our beautiful wedding on the beach!!! The deaths here are more in line with car accidents, primarily at night time when the Bahamians are drinking big-time & driving like crazy-nuts every day of the week, Sundays no exception! Some how I was able to get out of his grip and ran as fast as I could to the lobby. So the furthest safe walk would be to Senor Frogs and I wouldn't walk north past Conch and Kalik Bar & Grill on that street. Im currently planning my second trip. Prohibition of Importation of Poultry. Animal Contagious Diseases (Prohibition of Meat Imports) Order. . Also I would not get off the boat if I went back nothing there worth seeing for that level of harassment. We decided to take the walking tour we were not going to risk going any place near the danger zones like "Over Hill" etc.. To avoid prolonged encounters, I suggest confidently responding not interested to their advances and keep it moving. There is gunfire each day, robberies, rapes, drugs and murder. I felt a tug on my phone from behind and I instinctively yanked my phone back. You know what, youre on your ownI get the feeling its a norm and not much will be done. I never had any troubles visiting there. Travelers love going drinking and clubbing in The Bahamas, and the addition of alcohol and lowered awareness can reduce your alertness substantially. You'll need to slap on plenty of sunscreen to avoid getting a sunburn. With hundreds of vendors, and a range of cultural Bahamian crafts to choose from, get ready to bargain for the best deal. Children are prone to accidents. It was great! Unfamiliar areas or high crime areas doint go wondering about that much after dark especially alone I've always faver purses that go across you doint keep more cards or on you then necessary type thing. So I wouldn't listen to the reviews saying everything is great and safe in Nassau. You might want to check with the dive shop to see if you can even bring the knife with you on the dive. My boys always like to see how their bargaining skills are so they try to get some items cheaper than they have marked. Do not attempt to leave the islands with marijuana, and reconsider buying any from locals as it will be difficult to verify the quality, You must be 18 years or older to drink alcohol in The Bahamas, but laws are often not enforced. Look at the states there's bombing, mass shootings, and so on but if you dear say anything bad about the US people will let you have it! The locals are very friendly; more so than Mexico. Please note that not all content is translated or available to residents of all countries. Some Bahamian men can be more direct in their advances and you might find yourself navigating awkward conversations with sexual innuendos. Please educate yourselves before speaking, should I blame Chicago for all the crime rate in the United States? Stupid and aragence is failure as they are experiencing and have been for over 30 years. Based on most of these comments, the trip to Nassau that I had planned after watching the James Bond movie Thunderball will be cancelled. I just returned from Nassaulet's just say I am sad to be home. This article states that 128 people were killed here in 2015. Jun 28, 2012 (Edited) Add to quote; Share Only show this user. He was 20 years old, 6'3" and a good looking Canadian man by any standards. http://confiduss.com/en/jurisdictions/bahamas/. As we got another block away another man on the corner told us to watch out as the drug selling men were waiting for us to go down an alley or side street to rob us and he told us to stay on the main path until we get on Bay street the main tourist area. I can't stand salesman in my face well this is even worse. punishment.I can see the blue smoke rising on my way to work in the morning and I knew someone was hung that morning.I only assume it was burning the body.That was just after independence.However, just after they banned capital punished,Crime went out of control with over seventy murders this year so far.Don't go there it is just too dangerous.T & C islands is just as bad.Lived there but will never go back. Most of the serious crimes committed in The Bahamas center largely in Nassau (New Providence). Cat calls, suggestive comments to my wife by a guy running a store when I was around the corner, aggressive people at the straw market in your face finally had to tell them to F off. However, across the bridge on Nassau Paradise Island, this resort-filled town is home to safe hotels, like the Atlantis hotel. Thanks - Alan Esav Benyamin MidniteSuperMod Joined Apr 6, 2000 Messages 90,915 Aug 28, 2004 #2 To carry around down there, I would suggest nothing more ferocious than a SAK or an Opinel. Prohibited and Restricted Goods Prohibited Goods Meat, provisions, fruits and vegetables, and any articles intended for human food, which are unfit for human consumption. So if you get knock down today or tomorrow you going to sy that you will never step a foot on the road again? He had the day off and chose to spend it on his own at the beach. A no go place for me and my family ever again. Individuals that are bad are everywhere but not all govt officials/ police lack luster to their jobs: don't care. As we kept walking to the entrance two thugs grab my wife and daughter and put knives to their stomachs demanding their phones and backpacks. Rabies and Hydrophobia Prevention Regulations. You won't get it in Nassau. There was a nightclub in that area and is probably the source of a lot of crime at nighttime from what I could tell. Just like everyplace you go stay vigilant. The phrase its just a game is such a weak mindset. I honestly think my size (6'5, 340) deterred anyone from robbing us. Definitely be careful if you go and stay at Atlantis. Instinct warned me of a scam brewing against me that involved a resort bar tender, front desk worker, taxi driver. The Bahamian dollar closely matches the US dollar, which means you may not get as much bang for your buck as you expected. I caught a Taxi and went over the hill to Berthas Go Go Ribs and I returned in one piece. Try going to downtown areas for more affordable options. You just need to use common sense drinking, be aware of surroundings. Not everything you hear is true. Why bother with them? Just thankful we got back to our port in one piece. Afterward, we went right back to the boat. In a nutshell, what they mean is that switchblades are not allowed. The Bahamas gets about 340 sunny days per year and average temperatures of 83F (28C). For me the scariest thing I encounter when I go is the driving. All of this was caught on the hotel security cameras. Point of the matter is, there is crime and bad people everywhere. Get one of the Spyderco H1 bladed knives or a small SAK to take and pack it in your shaving kit. That said, it's still possible that you may be offered drugs outright when you're in The Bahamas, whether it's out on the street or at the bar or club. Jamaica has a better tourism corridor (although the crime is fairly high outside the hotel areas). The straw market isn't even worth the time. But will leave you alone if you tell them your not interested. where is safe and not? As a result, police presence has increased in the traveler hubs for the safety of visitors, Yes, marijuana is illegal although it is commonly smoked by some Bahamians. what's the murder rate in the state you live in? Most black-governed places are sh*tholes, ridden with crimes, robberies, rape and so on. If you walk out the port DO NOT turn left and go in that direction as it is all closed up shops and people hanging around up to no good. Catcalling and rude remarks and rude noises are a constant at women. Ive been to Nassau 13 times a single mother and my daughter traveled there alone. We frequented Atlantic from 2004-2009. We purchase the huge shells and star fish the locals have right on the docks. we SHOULD point out the statistical and OBJECTIVE facts and we SHOULD let others know the truth! If you think stating the facts is 'racist' then you're a part of the problem. Firstly, before we get into the various types of knives, we must ensure that everyone is knowledgeable about the laws of carrying knife. There are bad people in every country. I have friends who like a small bottle of alcohol (Ricardo) from the local ABC. For example, walking into a crowded market or street where its easy to become separated, saying the code word will help children be alert and stick close to older family members, Keep constant watch of your family members, especially children, at marine parks or the beach. They are just lucky they didn't experience something like terrible like we did. Don't be paranoid and don't be careless..just keep cool and be sensible.