Crime

• In 2009 the "Washington Post" reported a "rising tide" of Caribbean crime that officials were working hard to tackle. Stories of a honeymooning couple murdered in Antigua and crime expected to rise in Jamaica were highlighted as recent examples of incidents that needed to be addressed in a region that relies heavily on the tourist industry. State Department spokeswoman Laura Tischler said that despite some areas of concern, "Millions of people travel to Caribbean destinations safely and have a good time every year."
  
  

Types

• According to the Caribbean Guide website, many islands in the region are virtually crime free, but crime rates do vary. The guide states that the majority of incidents reported are hustling, pickpocketing and theft, but some islands, such as Jamaica, have a reputation for a higher crime rate confined to certain areas.
  
  

Drugs

• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported in 2008 that countries in the Caribbean were “suffering the consequences of the international drug trade.” It went on to warn that, without action, Caribbean tourism may suffer.
  
  An Associated Press article on the ABC News website in January 2010 reported that drug trafficking could soon intensify in the Caribbean as Mexican drug traffickers are expected to send more drugs through the region. The article went on to confirm that foreigners were rarely affected by violent crime in the Caribbean.
  
  

Hurricanes

• A pressing problem for potential visitors to the region is hurricanes, the worst feature of weather in the Caribbean. Hurricanes occur between June and November and are most frequent in the months of August and September. The BBC weather center states that during the worst of these storms, 10 to 20 inches of rain may fall over a period of two or three days. Individual islands may go several years without experiencing a severe hurricane and, on the larger islands, their worst effects may be confined to only one area. Over the area as a whole, however, two to three hurricanes may occur each year.
  
  

Cost

• Traveling between Caribbean islands is expensive, according to the Lonely Planet guide to the region. Accommodation will be the biggest part of your budget, with St. Barthélemy and the Virgin Islands proving the most costly and the Dominican Republic and Cuba offering more value for your money.
  
  The guide advises tourists to sample local street food because eating out can be expensive in the Caribbean. Tourists also should factor in the local hotel taxes, departure taxes and hotel service charges.