Antigua
 

Has anyone heard anything about the crime level in Antigua? Is it any higher than other Carribean Islands?

Petty crime does occur in Antigua, and if you leave valuables unattended on beaches you may have a theft issue. If you're talking violent crime, that can take place anywhere in the Caribbean. On Antigua it is not directed towards visitors. And, just as on any Caribbean island, it's good advice to stay alert to your surroundings.

You can check out our trip report below:

http://www.fodors.com/community/cari...rt-01-2009.cfm

We didn't find Antigua unsafe, so long as you exercise caution. There are some marginal neighborhoods in downtown St. John though, and that the level of poverty seemed higher on the Island, as compared to say, Virgin Gorda.

During our visit last year a boat Captain was shot as he and his wife left a restaurant near the Nelson's Dockyard area, close to where we stayed. Apparently her jewelry attracted attention.

I hope this helps.

Crime occurs in Antigua, both petty and serious. But I don't think Antigua is any less safe than any other Caribbean and considerably safer than some.

The yacht captain was killed after he pursued a mugger who stole the wife's jewelry; the captain then confronted the mugger, who had initially attempted to flee without killing the captain. That's when the violent incident occurred.

The more recent incident of the cruise-ship passenger being killed was different. She merely walked out on her own and was attacked opportunistically.

And a year or so ago, a British couple were killed in their hotel room by an intruder.

But you are talking about three horrific crimes against tourists in the course of 3 years. I'm sure (positive, actually), that you could find incidents of similarly violent crimes against tourists in virtually any tourist destination on earth, including places we consider "safe" like Paris and London and Rome. The fact that these incidents occur in the Caribbean somehow magnifies them. There have even been car-jackings and parking-lot robberies in Orlando, which has developed a problem with gangs in the past few years.

While I would not consider Antigua among the safest islands in the Caribbean, even so-called "safe" destinations (such as Provo in the Turks & Caicos and Anguilla) have seen their fair share of crimes in the past couple of years.

In no case would I hesitate to visit.

Thank you!