I laughed when I read this thread because I have been afraid of insects since I was a toddler. It all started with a Palmetto bug or very large cochroach sat on my tiny foot, covering half of it. I can see the image clearly to this day. Then all insects became scary and loathsome to me, including spiders. The funny thing is, in my experience, love does conquer fear. My family can't get over how I actually invested in a home in the Caribbean and LOVE being there. I've seen many (they call them ground spiders here) and they're usually scampering away from me asap, and yes, I've seen many Palmetto bugs and other insects in the islands, but I love the Caribbean so much... if it has bugs, so be it. Sort of like when you get married to some guy who is definitely not perfect... ya love him, bugs and all. You do realize spiders exist just about everywhere in the world. They are funny-looking, but most are quite harmless. IMO, I'd see an expert about addressing your fear. There's an excellent chance you can overcome it. I'm proof. Also, your fear may be exagerating the idea of "prevalence." I didn't see a tarantula until maybe my fifth or sixth trip. One trip report I read described how one little tarantula was ogled by a huge crowd of people. (You don't get that kind of attention if you're a common sight.)You may have read some reports from tourists who have seen one, but there are millions and millions of tourists every year who never come across one. That being said, some islands may have more than others, such as Antigua, but in the USVI's, there're not "allover" the place.

Tuxedo, Thanks for your input! Your right, love does conquer fear, and Im sure my chances of running into one are one in a million...and if I do , will it kill me? Of course not..But I always say they may have to take me away in a straight jacket...I guess I just fear waking up in the middle of the night with one on me..Im trying to view more pictures of them, but I stil get the chills..Im glad to have read your story because it gives me hope..There are so many places I want to travel, but always thinking about the tarantulas!

I don't recall any reports of any human ever dying from a tarantula bite. We ran across many ground and wolf spiders, and a few tarantulas in the southern Abaco Island (Bahama) coppice forests late at night while cat hunting, while trying to save the endangered Abaco Parrot. They weren't aggressive and it took a lot to provoke them. I heard it's like getting bit by a wasp or bee. No worries! There here to stay, so don't fret. Females lay up to several thousand eggs. Robert

During our stay in Vieques PR I got to see my first tarantula - on our front deck. I was creeped out a little at first but then fascinated with it. Sadly, it must have gotten poisoned by the pesticides they apply to keep the bugs away and it was dying. We asked our innkeeper to leave it alone but the poor thing died (or so she told us). Then the following week in Culebra PR, we had a very healthy active one in our driveway at night. That one moved much faster and it was interesting to watch it out hunting at night for food. As long as they're not in my room, I'm fine with them. But there are sure plenty of them on Puerto Rico!

Thats what concerns me, running into one on the hotel grounds, or esp. a patio or deck...I think that would bother me enough that I might not be able to sleep peacefully...Oh well, I guess I ll have to get over it eventually