Note: Today’s photos are from the post on this date, ten years ago.
We’ve spent years chasing sunrises around the world, learning that paradise isn’t a place immune to turmoil. It’s a place where people still live, work, adapt, and sometimes struggle just like anywhere else. And right now, the Caribbean feels like a crossroads of beauty and global tension, a region caught between its postcard beaches and a cascade of warnings that have ripple effects on travel, comfort, and the journeys we used to take for granted.
If you’re thinking about booking a last-minute escape or already have sandy-toed anticipation in your heart, here’s what is actually happening on the islands and why so many countries have slapped up travel advisories:
1. High Alerts and Crime Warnings
The U.S. State Department has recently raised travel advisories for several Caribbean destinations, including Grenada, where visitors are now being urged to “exercise increased caution” because of crime incidents like armed robbery and assault.
These are islands that for decades welcomed travelers with open arms. But now, like lots of places in the world where economic disruptions and local safety challenges intersect, violence and opportunistic crime have risen in some spots. Governments are signaling, yes, the sunsets are stunning—but keep your wits about you.
2. The Venezuela Factor — A Region-Wide Shockwave
One of the biggest shocks to the usual rhythm of Caribbean travel has nothing to do with reefs or resorts, and everything to do with geopolitics. In early January, a U.S. military operation in Venezuela culminated in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, sparking airspace closures and widespread flight disruptions across the Caribbean for a time.
Planes were rerouted or cancelled, leaving travelers unexpectedly stuck in airports or on islands, waiting for updated schedules. That disruption, however temporary, served as a stark reminder that even idyllic skies can be torn by events far beyond a resort town’s control.
3. Hurricane Aftermath and Ongoing Health Risks
Many islands are still recovering from Hurricane Melissa, which barreled through last year as one of the strongest storms in decades. Places like Cuba, Jamaica, and others are grappling with both infrastructure damage and public-health concerns such as dengue and Zika, which spread more easily in post-storm conditions.
Even if an island doesn’t have a high crime warning, there can be health risks and supply chain disruptions that make travel more complicated than it once was.
4. A Patchwork of Warnings—not a Blanket “Don’t Go.”
Here’s where nuance matters. Travel advisories are not monolithic across the Caribbean:
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Some islands (such as Grenada) are at Level 2—meaning exercise increased caution.
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Others are at Level 1 — normal precautions — with advisories on petty theft, mosquito-borne diseases, and driving safety, but generally safe tourist zones.
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Venezuela itself is widely labeled Level 4 — Do Not Travel by multiple Western governments due to extreme instability.
So it isn’t that the whole Caribbean has imploded, more that each island has its own landscape of risk, from sunshine safe to caution-flag territory.
5. What This Means for Travelers
If you are reading this as someone who still wants to travel, here’s the honest, seasoned advice:
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Do your homework on specific islands, not just “the Caribbean” as a whole. A beach vacation in Sint Maarten and a cultural trip to Haiti are entirely different experiences with different safety profiles.
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Expect more vigilance at airports. Even if advisories are lifted, airlines and governments may still enforce extra checks or rerouting.
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Prepare for changes. Travel insurance, flexible tickets, and up-to-date advisories are worth every penny.
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And most importantly, listen to locals and official guidance first—because the lived experience on the ground is always more nuanced than the headlines.
We’ve learned from years on the road that travel’s magic isn’t just in ticking destination boxes, but in understanding places deeply, respectfully, and safely. The Caribbean’s allure hasn’t vanished; it’s just asking us to look beyond postcards, be smart, and travel with a blend of curiosity and caution.
Your diligent research is vital to ensuring a safe and joyful experience in this part of the world.
On another note, thanks to our many readers who wrote to us
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Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, January 14, 2016:
