Are you planning on going to The Bahamas and wondering what the best safety tips and areas to avoid are? You have come to the right place!
The Bahamas is an incredibly picturesque archipelago, composed by 700 islands, even 2000, if we include all the cays in the area.
These islands are worldwide famous for their crystal and turquoise coastlines, surrounded by palm trees, including pink and white sandy beaches, all year round warm weather, delicious cuisine and unique culture. The Bahamas are any tourist's dream.
This archipelago’s striking landscape, is not only, known for the food, lively people, and historical landmarks, but also, for its heavenly beaches. They are rich in coral reefs, abundant wildlife and overall full of the endless water sports possibilities! Those, range from scuba diving, kiteboarding, kayaking, snorkelling, fishing, boat tours, swimming with pigs and lastly, wild dolphin and shark excursions.
Having said all that, it is important to note, that, there are also somethings to be aware of when travelling alone in The Bahamas. Although, considered a paradise, travelling alone to The Bahamas, can be pretty intimidating. But worry not! We have put together this safety guide post, to help you understand the things you should watch out for. This is the best way to travel smart and to prevent trouble.
The are some social issues in The Bahamas, like burglaries to tourists, a big gap between the wealthy population and the poor ones, thefts, raping and drug issues. Not only, criminal issues are still prevalent in the country, but also, environmental and social ones. These are, poorly regulated water activities, that can put visitors in a spot where their physical integrity could be compromised, poorly regulated food and water sources, also, some weather phenomenons, like hurricanes, strong monsoons and storms do happen often in The Bahamas, which are a source of risk too.
As a solo traveller, who wants to go to The Bahamas, reading about all these issues, can be pretty intimidating and scary. It makes you fear planning a trip to this delightful country and it makes you believe that it isn’t a safe place worth considering travelling to.
But in reality, in the last couple of years the overall political and social situation has improved, specially, after the big waves of tourism after the pandemic in 2019. The country has improved all the attractions and general vibe, to ensure a wonderful experience for the tourist.
Before you go to The Bahamas and when planning this trip, there are a couple of things you should know:
1- Bahamians do have their own dialect but they speak English.
2- Paying for a taxi ride is always in cash.
3- Unlike the US, cars in The Bahamas drive on the left side of the road.
4- USD are allowed as currency in The Bahamas.
5- Credit card frauds do happen, it is advised to have a credit card for this trip only.
6- Dress conservatively as a woman traveller, as well as, avoid walking alone at night in Nassau.
7- Purse snatching, small theft, sexual assault and verbal abuse can happen in the country.
Doing your homework before jumping into booking this trip, can go along way to avoid trouble. Do some research in blogs, such as, this one! travel sites, social media, government safety sites and forums. Travel forums are a great source of information and personal opinion to get a good idea of how most people feel about a place.
These steps are crucial, do not let yourself get carried away by only social media input, remember that pictures can be tricky and they only show the good side of things. Many of those people, do get paid to say and show that good side of things. Don’t be fooled.
What are the most important safety tips when travelling in The Bahamas?
1- Know the unsafe places in The Bahamas.
Nassau is the capital of The Bahamas and where more than 70% of the population reside. If you want to really understand and learn about the Bahamian history and origins, Nassau is the place to do so. However, it is also the place where most of the trouble occurs, such as, pickpockets and ATM scammers, due to the high number of tourists.
Although, the safety levels have improved and increased over the last couple of years, Nassau is, still, somewhat dodgy, depending where and when you go. Not only, Nassau, also, Freeport, in Grand Bahama, can be challenging.
What neighbourhoods should you avoid in The Bahamas?
Over the Hill area in Nassau.
Although, this area has one of the biggest cultural importance of the city, where the iconic Junkanoo festival comes from, still, is one of the most violent and problematic communities in the Bahamas. This area is where most of the gangs hang out and the homicide events are still prevalent. Despite being more of a local issue, burglaries, robberies and sexual assaults are not than uncommon, both in the touristic and not touristic areas of this place. If you happen to have your holiday rental property in this area, with no security, ensure you lock up every door and window and to keep your valuables safe. Also, in hotel rooms, where there is not security cameras or reception 24 hours.
Definitely, avoid walking alone at night in this area, if you go out, try to do it with a group of people or to have your taxi take you from door to door.
Sand Trap area in Nassau.
The Sand Trap area in Nassau is an area that should be explored or walked with caution, if not, consider it as off limits. There have been numerous incidents with known local gangs, even, recent shootings, usually, targeted to local residents. However, it is recommended for tourists to watch out for this zone.
This area is also the origin, for some of the operating companies that have seen themselves involved in some incidents related to their jet ski non-regulated business, where tourist have been put at risk. This area is located in the intersection of West Bay Street and Saint Albans Drive, where some cases of sexual assaults have occurred with female tourists and it is advised not to be frequented.
Freeport in Grand Bahama.
In the outer islands, the criminal rates are much lower than in the highly populated Nassau, however, still, a fair level of incidents and rape do still occur in Freeport, Grand Bahama. This is, particularly, true by poorly regulated jet ski operators, who have been involved in several of these assaults in the last a couple of years on this island.
Your awareness of the surroundings are a valuable skill to develop, particularly, when travelling to these islands. It is important to ensure that your water fun is done in government regulated companies, even, if that implies a higher cost for those activities.
Be aware of your belongings and really travel with only the essentials to your day trip adventures, to avoid snatching and “mysterious disappearances” in boats, jet skies and so on.
It is, also, important to note that, petty thefts have decreased in Freeport from 2019 but sexual assaults have increased slightly in the same period of time. Police surveillance has also increased in the city and it is quite prevalent in the touristic areas. Simply, extreme precautions, avoid dodgy places and people.
2- Know the safest places in The Bahamas.
The rest of the small islands in the country and the ones located a bit further out in the archipelago, such as, Abacos, Andros, Eleuthera, Exumas, among others, are usually more trouble free than New Providence or Grand Bahama.
Much less frequently, some small crimes can happen, once again, related to unregulated scuba diving, jet skiing and other boat tours operators.
Ensure you book these through your hotel guide or from the official tourist office of The Bahamas. This way, you will avoid scams in price, time and equipment.
3- Know the safety tips for women and solo women travellers in The Bahamas.
We get asked constantly, if a woman should travel alone to The Bahamas. Generally speaking, a solo female traveller is safe, it is rare to encounter situations of aggression. Having said that, as mentioned earlier, being aware of the surrounded is crucial, as sexual assaults do happen.
Make sure to dress a bit more conservatively and to go low profile, as some men in these islands, think of a solo female traveller, as a single lady. Do not flirt with males, if you don’t intend pursuing a relationship of any kind.
Always, avoid wandering by yourself alone in the streets of Nassau or even secluded beaches.
It goes without saying, that alcohol consumption should be done in moderation, and to this matter, watching out for your drinks at all times.
It is very common in The Bahamas, especially, at night, and targeted to solo female travellers, to sexual assault them in the forms of drink spiking. I would, absolutely, recommend to never leave food or drinks unattended or handed over by strangers.
Meeting new people is great and being friendly is excellent, however, be cautious of being offered snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new “friends”.
Always, use your common sense and take precautions at night, never ever, ride an unlicensed taxi by yourself (or with others, for that matter), do not accept rides from strangers or even “new friends”. This, also, applies to hitchhiking, or walking in poorly lit areas.
Please note, that some Bahamian males can be a bit too expressive in their sexual remarks to women. Some even take so far as being verbal abuse.
Simply, do not confront or engage with them, as they can become aggressive, especially, if drunk. Also, suggest you have a parter or husband and by no means suggest that you are by yourself or where you stay at.
Lastly, do not answer your hotel room door, if you are not expecting anyone, and if they claim to be from the accomodation, call them first to confirm.
4- Know how to be safe while on a tour in The Bahamas.
There are tons of possible tours in The Bahamas to make of your vacation a living dream. They can range from and not limited to, culinary tours, beer tours, history tours and the wide array of water fun tours. Even though, they might be regulated and recommended by the tourist office or your accomodation, still, some precautions need to be put in place to ensure you have a great time.
First of all, it is important to stress out, to always book your activities through reputable companies. Viator or Expedia are very good sources of these sort of tours, if you are booking online. You can also do this through your hotel reception or tourist office in the country, although, this way it will potentially be more expensive.
Always, double check your tour itinerary and schedule. Ensure you understand the instructions given and how your excursion would look like.
Always, make sure you are keeping a low profile and be low key to avoid calling for attention. Don’t be overly flashy with your belongings and women should be cautious of engaging in flirtatious conversations with males, if you don't intend to proceed on the relationship.
5- Do not ride unmarked taxis or any form of transportation in The Bahamas.
As a tourist, you will quickly realise, how amicable Bahamians are. They are friendly and warm people. If you ride a cab or even in a restaurant, locals will tell you stories and be super approachable. They have been trained to provide hospitality and to care for the tourists. For which tourists should respond accordingly and always be respectful with the locals in The Bahamas.
Having said that, no matter what, no matter how friendly the driver is or how much small talk they do to convince you to hop on their vehicle, never, ever, use an unlicensed transportation in The Bahamas.
Even if licensed, always ensure to arrange and negotiate the price before you jump on the cab. This is, particularly, important, when you go out at night and you might be in a hurry to get to your hotel, if you don’t agree on a price upfront, you might see yourself in a sticky situation with a driver.
Alternatively, use private cabs, they are, usually, very safe and from reputable companies. Still, ask the driver for their credentials and to negotiate the fare upfront.
Avoid getting on a taxi alone, as solo traveller, as much as possible, especially, if you are not convinced that the taxi is certified. Simply, get a private cab instead.
It applies exactly the same to buses, particularly, on isolated beaches and areas. It is, strongly, recommended to always arrange a private transportation with your hotel for these sort of excursions.
6-Be aware of credit card fraud in The Bahamas.
Credit card, cheques, unauthorised debit card transactions and ATM fraud is one big issue against tourists in The Bahamas. It has, in fact, increased from 2019. This is, particularly, prevalent in Nassau around ATMs or even stores and restaurants.
It is, strongly, recommended to have a debit card made just for this trip in which the tourist, should put some of the money allocated for this trip. In case of issues, only some of the money will be frauded and it will be easier to be retrieved.
Always, cover your pad with your hands when withdrawing money from an ATM. I would do this close to big hotels, inside banks and well lit areas. Never during the night time in the streets of Nassau.
Watch out for those who handle your card, let’s say, paying the bill in a restaurant or in a retailer. Avoid using card readers of dodgy appearance and of course always double check check for any transactions made on your account.
In the unlikely scenario, in which you might have to purchase or check something over the phone, do not give your credit card number or bank account details. Same applies to public wifi providers, whilst on vacation in The Bahamas, do not use your personal information. Also, clear your logins from the computer and reset the whole network when you leave.
It is advised to have cash handy whenever you go out for food or drinks to avoid using your cards. Pay in cash.
7- Know the right season to travel to The Bahamas.
On an environmentally oriented safety tip, understanding the seasons in this tropical paradise, is crucial. Unfortunately, the cheapest time to travel to The Bahamas is also the most challenging one, as it is the hurricane and rainy season. This one, runs from June to November, peaking in September and October. Especially, Grand Bahama, gets hit by strong storms during this season.
Always, ensure that you don’t travel in the peak of this season, if travelling during the rainy weeks, be very cautious about the use of mosquito repellants and avoiding dusk and sunset escapes, as Chikungunya virus and Dengue Fever mosquito activity, will be at its highest.
Having said all this, if you minimise these risks, travelling off-season can pay off pretty well, as the prices will be quite low, the weather will be fresh but still fairly warm and potentially, way less crowds.
If you decide to travel around this time, ensure to regularly check local reports and to monitor the upcoming forecast. Double check with your airlines and accomodations of the status of your trip to avoid cancellations and to know what to expect.
Lastly, if going to The Bahamas in this season, it is a must to get travel and health insurance, especially, covering storm and hurricane disaster events, as well as possible reimbursements for cancellations.
8- Be aware of the road conditions. Road safety in The Bahamas.
Although, the roads of Nassau are usually well built, the rural paths in the outer islands, might be in a poor state. That, together with the fact that in The Bahamas is pretty common to see drunk drivers on these roads, leading to accidents in a frequent manner.
It s advised to operate rental cars, scooters or bicycles with a lot of precaution. When it comes to security of your vehicles, ensure you lock your car fully and don’t keep anything eye sight. Sometimes, there can be plots, where there are obstacles in the roads, so that, tourists get out of the vehicles to remove those obstacles and their belongings get stolen.
9- Know the cultural norms and social particularities in The Bahamas.
When in the Bahamas , tourist should respect Bahamians local cultural aspects and their way of living. This, implies to be respectful with their times and norms.
Some of these include, the time it takes to get something done in The Bahamas! Expecting promptness in The Bahamas, is only going to lead to frustration! Their lifestyle is very easy going, which is great when intending to disconnect in your holiday break.
This can be extrapolated to, pick up times for your day trip excursions, restaurant reservations and general delivery of services. Don’t despair, embrace it, instead!
Bahamians are famous for their kindness, friendliness and their sense of humour, however, they do appreciate certain standard of decorum, when it comes to their hospitality. That is the reason why outside of the beach areas or in a more formal environment it is required to dress up accordingly and behave well mannered.
On another note, it is social accordance to always tip Bahamians for the delivery of their services, whatever they might be. They can become a bit “salty” if this step is skipped.
The best way to behave and stay safe here is to always have some coins with you to tip after your service is completed, in a taxi, restaurant, day excursion, even, porters and housekeepers. Their monthly wages are quite low.
There you go! Now you know the best tips to stay safe when travelling to The Bahamas paradise! Although, crime rates have decreased in recent years in the country, always, remember to exercise precautions, particularly, on the islands of Grand Bahama and New Providence.
Watch out for robberies, burglaries, bag snatching, fraud and sexual assaults, as the main form os small crimes, especially, around the really busy touristic times and around the areas of “Over the Hill” and Fish Fry (Arawak Cay) areas.
Lastly, do not carry flashy jewellery with you and a lot of cash, avoiding doing this, even more so, at night. Solo travellers should not walk alone at night in the streets of Nassau, Freeport or secluded areas in the outer islands.
Be on guard all the time, being aware of your surroundings and if in trouble, don’t resist and don’t confront. There is an increased police presence, which should make of your trip a relaxing break.