US adjustments journey recommendation for common Caribbean vacation spot

The U.S. State Department has updated its journey advisory for Jamaica, altering the extent of danger attributed to the favored Caribbean vacation spot.

Jamaica was beforehand allotted a Level 3 advisory, because the State Department had suggested Americans to “reconsider travel” to the island, as a result of issues about crime, well being, and pure disasters.

On January 17, the division diminished the advisory to Level 2, that means that vacationers ought to “exercise increased caution” on the vacation spot, however not that they need to rethink their journey.

Why It Matters

The division’s journey advisories for Caribbean islands range amid rising U.S.-Venezuela rigidity, with some like Barbados, and Dominica listed as Level 1 international locations, whereas the Bahamas is listed as a Level 2 nation. Grenada was just lately up to date by the division to a Level 2 nation, up from Level 1, because of the “risk of crime” on the island.

What To Know

While the advisory degree has been decreased, the State Department famous in its replace that there are not any adjustments to the chance indicators—crime, well being and pure disasters—in Jamaica.

On October 28, 2025, Jamaica was hit with probably the most highly effective storm of the 2025 Atlantic season, Hurricane Melissa, which, after making landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, left a path of devastation and flooding.

The island is continuous to recuperate from the hurricane, the division wrote in its advisory. “The hurricane caused widespread damage to the western part of the island. Some areas are still experiencing post-storm impacts on infrastructure and services,” the division wrote.

Crime additionally stays a danger in Jamaica, and the State Department mentioned that the murder fee reported by the federal government of Jamaica is among the many highest within the Western Hemisphere. The division famous that vacationer areas “generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country.”

Armed robberies and sexual assaults are additionally reportedly “common,” and the division mentioned the U.S. embassy “routinely receives reports of sexual assaults, including from U.S. citizen tourists at resorts.”

The division added that U.S. residents have reported “slow or unsatisfactory response to serious criminal incidents” as nicely.

In regard to issues round well being on the island, the State Department mentioned that “basic and specialized medical care” will not be obtainable in lots of elements of Jamaica, which incorporates “slower emergency service response times and less availability of care for illness or injury.”

It notes that well being care amenities had been “badly damaged” by Hurricane Melissa as nicely, and advises that U.S. residents ought to carry additional prescription medicine, as many sorts will not be all the time available on the island.

While the division’s common advisory for Jamaica is Level 2, some elements of the island have a Level 4 danger as a result of excessive ranges of crime, and the State Department advises Americans to not go to those locations underneath any circumstances.

The State Department advises Americans to not journey to:

• St. Ann’s Parish – Steer Town and the Buckfield neighborhood close to Ocho Rios.
• St. Catherine’s Parish – Spanish Town, Central Village, areas inside Portmore, together with: Naggo Head, New Land, Old Braeton, Portmore Lane, Gregory Park, and Waterford.
• Clarendon Parish – All of Clarendon Parish, besides passing by Clarendon Parish utilizing the T1 and A2 highways.
• St. Elizabeth’s Parish – Vineyard District Community, between the communities of Salt Spring and Burnt Savanna, St. Elizabeth.
• Hanover Parish – Logwood and Orange Bay.
• St. James Parish/Montego Bay – Inland aspect of the A1 freeway and The Queen’s Drive from San San to Harmony Beach Park.
• Kingston and St. Andrew Parish – Cassava Piece, Duhaney Park, Grants Pen, Standpipe, Swallowfield, Elleston Flats, August Town, and downtown Kingston, outlined as between Mountain View Avenue and Hagley Park Road, and south of Half Way Tree and Old Hope Roads. Downtown Kingston contains Arnett Gardens, Cockburn Gardens, Denham Town, Olympic Gardens, Seaview Gardens, Trench Town, and Tivoli Gardens.
• Manchester Parish – Green Vale and Gray Ground neighborhoods of Mandeville.
• St. Thomas Parish – Black Lane neighborhood in Seaforth, Grands Penn, Church Corner neighborhood close to Yallahs, Town of Yallahs, besides when driving by on the principle freeway.
• Trelawny Parish – Clarks Town.
• Westmoreland Parish – Russia group in Savanna-la-Mar (The Southeastern quadrant of Savannah la Mar east of Darling Street and south of the A2 freeway/Barracks Road), Morgan Bay, Kings Valley, The Whitehall, Bethel Town, and Red Ground neighborhoods of Negril.

What People Are Saying

The State Department mentioned in its advisory: “If you decide to travel to Jamaica: review our information on Crime Abroad and for Victims of Crime; do not physically resist any robbery attempt; do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition (this includes stray rounds, shells, or empty casings – the penalties for carrying firearms or ammunition, even by mistake, are severe, and can include long prison sentences); avoid walking or driving at night; avoid public buses; avoid remote places; stay aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile; have a plan to depart in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help (review our information on Crisis and Evacuations.)

What Happens Next

The State Department evaluations its advisories for Level 1 and a pair of international locations no less than each 12 months.