To think the Caribbean isn’t that safe?

[Senderandme]

My DH and I want some winter sun over Xmas hols. We have a 4 year old. My DH wants to go somewhere ‘really hot’ so ha suggested the Caribbean but I can’t help but think I’d end of worrying about my child’s safety when I’m there. AIBU? Are there any places people have been before that they felt safe in and would recommend? TIA

What exactly is your concern?

if your in one of the resorts then you will be very safe
outside the resorts depending on where you are it may be unsafe thats where an invention called google as well as trip advisor will come in handy

The Caribbean is a bit of a broad term @Senderandme do you have more specific islands in mind?? If you are staying in an all inclusive hotel on most of the islands then you’ll be fine.

I went to the Riviera Maya in Mexico last year. There was a heavy police presence in Tulum and Playa del Carmen and on the main highway. The resort felt very safe and we had no trouble on our various outings in our hire car. I wouldn't hesitate to take my DC there.

OTOH I would never take DC to the Dominican Republic and I'd also be a bit wary of Jamaica.

You'll be fine in a resort. We just had our honeymoon in Mauritius, was much cheaper and less jet lag. And very safe, we went out a lot on our own.

Barbados is fine - BF has multiple relatives there & they've been there for 150+ years .

Jamaica not so much...

Google safer Caribbean locations. Trinidad & Tobago are probably next safest after Barbados.

My DH was thinking of Jamaica, Dominican Republic, St Lucia. My concern I suppose is being mugged!

Ive been many times to the British Virgin Islands with small dc, lovely and felt very safe all the time.

Antigua, the same

Jamaica, the hotel staff warned us to not leave the resort unless we were with a resort driver.

beyond that I have no idea as every island is different

Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, Virgin Islands you'll be fine. Some of the bigger islands have greater safety concerns though like Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico etc in which case you'd want to stay on resort and do a bit more research on where to visit/stay.

Of your husband's choices go St Lucia, it's beautiful and very safe.

We went to the Dominican and were strongly advised not to leave the grounds of the hotel.

Jamaica is dangerous. My friends inlaws lived there for years (white couple who moved from America) and then were assaulted, tied up, and robbed in their home by a gang targeting the "rich" villas a few years back. They now live in the UK.

But I guess anywhere can be unsafe, I had a bad experience in Egypt whilst on an excursion. There were the terror attacks on the beach in Turkey etc.

But my advice, if the Caribbean, stay on site.

I think asking if ‘the Caribbean‘ is safe is like asking if ‘Europe‘ is safe

some parts, yes, almost certainly and other parts really are not

Just been to Barbados - perfectly safe. Resort was full of British and US tourists and beach outside. Often went for a walk outside and always felt safe.

My friend has been mugged twice in Bath where she lives. You're not likely to be mugged on a holiday resort.

St Lucia is fine, the other 2 not so much.

I have been to the Dominican Republic if you stay in the resort and go on organised trips you will be fine ,I wouldn't recommend you go out and about by yourself.

Dominican they don’t tend to let you leave the resort. Mexico is nice. Always felt safe there tbh. Lots of police around in the towns, the resorts are safe. St Lucia is apparently safe. Had a few friends go and never any issues.

What makes you think the entire Caribbean is unsafe?

Like any resort the relatively rich pickings of tourists attract criminals.
Law and order are not great across most of the Caribbean islands with a high degree of corruption and low success of solving crime.
If you act appropriately and don't wear jewelry and flash your riches then Barbados, is probably safest.
In all the resort areas tourist safety is important for the hospitality industry. Outside of these areas it's best to seek advice and be more mindful.
The Caribbean is a beautiful place with lovely friendly people but there is a high per capita crime and rate mainly due to the drug trade.
If you want to stay in compound type resort then you'll not experience the local life which is a shame.
I've had great vacations in Barbados, Tobago, Grenada and St Vincent but was very aware of my safety since I worked in Trindad for a number of years.

It's really variable. I would look at Anguilla, Antigua/Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, BVI (and USVI, but maybe avoid St Thomas), Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guadelupe, Martinique, Monserrat, St Barts, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Maarten, Turks and Caicos.

I'd also look at Mexico and Honduras, particularly Roatan.

People get mugged every day in England?

Went to Barbados in January and felt incredibly safe . Walking in the evening, no concerns at all. Happy to leave the hotel to explore

Well I definitely left the resort in the Dominican Republic and spent an amazing time travelling around the country using public transport... I guess if you're super flashy and all blinged up, don't leave the resort?
Don't think you'd get mugged in a resort.
And whilst I'm not trying to make light of it, muggings happen everywhere, they are hardly country specific.

We stayed in a 5 star resort in Dom Rep , left the hotel many times on organised tours and also hiring a private taxi to do trips ourselves they wait for you and take you back when you have finished , however I would research where you plan to visit carefully if doing your own excursions . Certainly it’s not a free for all wander around anywhere type destination , and you can expect armed security guards at the hotels , and certainly on a par with other destinations we have travelled to . Like everywhere , I would take serious notice of areas you are told to avoid , and not flash expensive items around , just common sense precautions really.

We've been to Antigua a few times and that feels very safe. We hire a car and go out and about independently most days, including in evenings. We visit beach restaurants in the evenings, and drive through quieter towns and villages. Never had an issues.

We went to Jamaica earlier this year and at the time their covid rules meant you could only leave the resorts on organised tours, not on your own. It didn't feel as safe as Antigua at all though.