Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The State Department has issued a travel advisory for those heading to the Bahamas. Recent crime has prompted the call to exercise increased caution.
Elizabeth Carey with AAA of Western and Central NY tells WBEN there have been 18 murders recently in the Bahamas. She notes most have been among the local population, nevertheless, US travelers could be targeted. "Keeping a low profile and not being really obnoxious out in the streets and not confronting any people on the streets. being very courteous to the people on the islands, that goes a long way," advises Carey.
Carey notes those who like an AirBnB experience should note there's no security there, unlike at resorts like Atlantis. "You have to be aware, keep the door locked, don't answer the door, unless you know who it is," warns Carey.
There have been watercraft issues as well. "Atlantis does not put their stamp of approval on any of those operators. Because the Atlantis property bucks up against more public beach, they tend to go up and down in those watercraft to take your parasailing. I did it once, it was a lot of fun, but it's all unregulated," notes WBEN 7 Weather Meteorologist Josh Nichols, who just returned from a vacation in the Bahamas. "Because it's unregulated, you never know if the operator is going to be careful with the equipment or not. So it is definitely a risk."
While Nichols stayed inside the secure resort, he heard a tale of a man who stepped out. "One young baseball player who was very tall, you probably don't want to mess with him, very, very muscular, was holding a beer in each hand, about 10 o'clock in the morning. I said, 'You must be starting early. Looks like you're enjoying your vacation.' He said, 'I'm just happy to be alive.' I kind of gave him a strange look. And he said that he'd gone downtown to a nightclub, and at two o'clock in the morning, got into the cab, to be brought back to the resort and the cab driver pulled a knife on him," says Nichols.
Carey says she has not seen mass cancellations at AAA, but travelers have been calling in asking about safety measures and inquiring about it because it's been all over the news.