While a heat wave is currently moving through many parts of the U.S., airlines are already thinking of the winter sun-seeking season and the growing traveler interest in new destinations across the Caribbean and Central America.
JetBlue Airways (JBLU) and Southwest (LUV) launched new routes to Nassau in the Bahamas earlier this spring. At the same time, American Airlines AAL just announced a spate of new flights to St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Barbados, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from different parts of the U.S. A few months earlier, the airline had also added a spate of new flights to St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Barbados and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from different parts of the U.S. A few months earlier, the airline had also increased the routes its runs to the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago from Miami.
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The Caribbean and other regions south of the States are seeing unprecedented demand from U.S. travelers — Jamaica's Montego Bay, Mexico's Los Cabos and Dominican Republic's Punta Cana recently all landed in Delta (DAL) 's list of most-trending destinations — but as the U.S. State Department continues to remind citizens in its advisories, is not equally safe for travelers in all countries.
State Department advisory: Terrorists may attack with little or no warning'
Last week, the State Department re-upped its travel advisory for the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. While the level three "reconsider travel" rating has been in place for years, the government agency in charge of citizen safety abroad reminded Americans to "exercise increased caution" amid rising crime.
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"Violent crime, such as murder, robbery, assault, sexual assault, home invasion, and kidnapping is common," the advisory reads further. "Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants."
Those who are in Trinidad and Tobago as official representatives of the U.S. government and government workers vacationing on their own time are explicitly prohibited from visiting areas such as Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots, and Cocorite in Port of Spain and the interior of Queen's Park Savannah.
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Have a trip planned? Be vigilant around strangers and do not walk alone
Due to the higher rates of crime and drug activity, those areas carry high risks for travelers. The State Department recommends that visitors to Trinidad and Tobago remain aware of their surroundings, not wear overt displays of wealth like jewelry or expensive watches, and remain vigilant when taking out money around ATMs or coming out of banks. Some tourists have also landed in dangerous situations by meeting up with local strangers met through social media.
"Use caution when walking or driving at night," the State Department writes further. "Be wary of meeting individuals met through social media or dating apps."
While prevention should always be the first priority, those who do find themselves getting attacked are told to "not physically resist any robbery attempt," as that could escalate the situation to an even more dangerous and potentially tragic outcome.
Similar advisories are also in place for popular vacation destinations such as Jamaica, Barbados and the Bahamas in the Caribbean. After the capital of Nassau saw a record number of murders in the first half of 2024, the State Department changed its rating for the Bahamas from "take normal precautions" to "exercise increased caution."
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