Caribbean islands are not the relaxing, sun-kissed paradise destinations most travellers dream about.
The truth is crime against tourists is out of control on islands like The Bahamas, St Lucia and Honduras, according to the US State Department.
The US government warns tourists and business travellers that they should consider whether they should go to Honduras at all because crime and violence is so high.
“Thefts, assaults, break-ins and murder occur too readily,” said a spokesman.
The State Department has issued lower level alerts about The Bahamas and St Lucia.
Official allege American visitors are regularly robbed at gun or knife-point in downtown Nassau and near cruise ship docks.
Last year, says the US embassy, four women were sexually assaulted by jet-ski operators.
Visitors to St Lucia are also targeted for petty crime.
Peter Isaac, president of the St Lucia Vendors Association has spoken out and claims crime is so bad many cruise operators are thinking about quitting the destination.
He claims street robberies happen daily and that many visitors and locals are frightened to walk around the capital, Castries.
Four drown off Spanish beaches
Four swimmers have drowned in three separate tragedies off beaches in Spain within a week.
The latest casualty was 48-year-old British holidaymaker who went into the sea at Salou ignoring a red flag danger warning.
Earlier in the day, a Lithuanian man, 50, drowned in the water off Lloret de Mar.
Two British women, aged 35 and 32, drowned off the same beach earlier in the week.
Local police and coastguards have warned swimmers to stay on land as strong winds and storms have whipped up strong current off the Spanish coast.
Bangladesh terror alert
A host of foreign governments are curbing diplomatic activity in Bangladesh and warning expats and visitors to remain on alert following security warnings.
Although the Bangladeshi government has announced measures to step up security for the 224,000 foreigner in the country, the British, Australian, Japanese, German and Canadian embassies are warning of a high risk of terror attacks.
Find latest travel warnings
- To check out the latest British government worldwide travel warnings, go to the FCO web site and select a country
- The US government also issues regular travel warnings
- For ABTA travel information, visit their web site
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