“Life is either a 
daring adventure 
or nothing at all.” 
Helen Keller

Prior to my visit to Nassau in March 2025, a friend warned me that the United States had issued a travel advisory for The Bahamas, stating that Americans were at risk of becoming victims of violence and crime. I considered that advisory… for about three seconds. Yes, there is a chance that American visitors to The Bahamas may find themselves victims of violence or crime. The same can be said about San Francisco, San José, Los Angeles, or just about anywhere else in the world. The potential for danger is always present. So should we all cancel our travel plans?

Any time any one of us walks out our front door, we put ourselves at risk. Despite this, we go about our days doing the things we need and want to do without obsessing about the possible dangers of the world. We do so with an awareness of the possibility, so we act accordingly.

To avoid becoming a victim of crime, it’s best not to flash the cash we are carrying. Be discrete, and keep the bulk of the cash you carry out of sight. This is common sense.

Do your homework. Know where you want to go and how to get there. If in unfamiliar territory, ask those who would know whether or not walking, or even driving, a certain route is generally a safe thing to do.

For young adult travelers, alcohol often plays a role in their becoming a victim. One of the stories that accompanied the advisory to avoid The Bahamas described two young women who had been raped by a jet ski operator. Both had been drinking excessively. In no way does this justify what happened to them, but their decision to forfeit their good judgment may have played a significant role in the incident.

My experience in Nassau over the past fifty years has led me to feel quite safe here. I’ve stayed in different parts of town. On this trip, for example, my condominium is a 10-minute walk from West Bay Street. The road is well-traveled and anyone I have encountered has been more than hospitable. When I get to West Bay Street, it’s a 20-minute walk to downtown Nassau. Again, the road is a busy one and others walking this route are inevitably polite and friendly. For a number of reasons, I choose not to walk these roads, or any other roads, at night. Sidewalks, if they exist at all, are most often not well-paved, and street lighting can be unpredictable, so it’s essential that I be able to see where I’m stepping. 

Nassau does have a police force. Especially in the downtown district, they are a visible presence throughout the day. I have never seen them called into action to deal with anything more serious than a minor traffic violation. More often than not, they are providing assistance to visitors trying to find their way around town. The women and men who wear the uniform of the Royal Bahamas Police Force do so with a tremendous sense of pride. They are goodwill ambassadors for this island nation.

The rules of safely traveling in The Bahamas, or anywhere else, are quite simple: (1) be observant of who and what is around you; (2) if something looks suspicious, step into one of the shops as though you were shopping there; (3) don’t fear people just because they look or sound different than you — rather, look them in the eye and acknowledge them as you pass by; (4) try not to draw undue attention to yourself; and (5) know where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. These same rules apply wherever you are.