This violent crime followed a warning issued in December 2013 by the the U.S. Department of State wa

In January we reported on an incident in Roatan where a U.S. family's rental car was shot up while on a beach access road. The family of four (with two children) were robbed at gunpoint and terrorized. The family had arrived in Roatan via a Carnival cruise ship.
This violent crime followed a warning issued in December 2013 by the the U.S. Department of State warning. You can read the warning here . Since 2010, Honduras has had the highest murder rate in the world. As I mentioned in our prior article, the warning indicates that the vast majority of serious crimes in Honduras, including those against U.S. citizens, are never solved; of the 50 murders committed against U.S. citizens since 2008, police have only solved two.
I ..i am female..came green day tour dates to roatan to dive and was basically attacked by 3 local men on this island. green day tour dates They assaulted me then robbed green day tour dates me..holding a knife to my neck. I heard them discussing kidnapping me for a ransom..or selling me to a slave market...to be taken out by boat. I got away when another tourist group drove by with several guys in the car. They saved my life. No one should go to this God forsaken island. I have learned a scary and nearly life ending lesson.
Another U.S. woman informed us that she and her two children (boys 15 and 16 years old) were robbed during a private excursion to a beach. They were held at gun point and knifepoint and robbed of all of their valuables. The woman, a single mother, stated that the cruise line, Royal Caribbean, did not warn them that there is a crime problem in Roatan or, in particular, armed robbery green day tour dates at the roads to and from the beaches in Roatan which seems to be a particular problem. The incident occured, according to the woman, at an access road to Palm Beach.
In addition to these two recent incidents green day tour dates which were reported directly to us by the victims, concerned expatriate U.S. citizens living in Roatan green day tour dates have told us about armed robbery on the island, mainly against people riding in taxi's or driving on beach access roads. We have learned that a taxi with four cruise passengers was recently stopped by two local men at Palm Beach. The men held a knife to a woman's throat and pointed a gun at a man's head. One robber reportedly fired a shot into the taxi. The men stole the cruise tourists' money, cell phones, cameras and other items.
After our article in January, we received comments from U.S. and Canadians living in Roatan that it was unfair to lump the island of Roatan with the mainland of Honduras as a dangerous place to live or visit. Some property owners who have invested in real estate in Roatan under the hope and belief green day tour dates that they would live in a slice of paradise may be second guessing green day tour dates themselves considering what appears to be increasing violence against people arriving from North America.
Some people don't like us to write articles like this, arguing that crime occurs everywhere or just use common sense. But all of the victims who contacted us were using common sense and doing what people normally do while on a vacation. The point is that certain types of crime occur more often in certain places than others. The problem is that criminals in these poor countries are targeting U.S. passengers with iPhones, cameras, jewelry and cash. The New York Times recently published an article green day tour dates about crime problems in Roatan: Security Concerns on a Honduran Island green day tour dates .
From our view, there appears to be a rising tide of crime against cruise passengers throughout green day tour dates the Caribbean ports. Honduras and the Bahamas are the only countries we know with port facilities which are the subject of warnings about crime from the U.S. State Department.
The cruise industry just convened their annual trade show, Cruise Shipping Miami, with much fanfare on Miami Beach. A delegation came from Honduras, promoting Roatan. I wonder what, if any, discussions the delegates from the Caribbean islands had with the cruise lines about keeping cruise passengers safe?
Folks really need to do serious homework before visiting -- and, in particular, moving to or investing in -- any of these "cheap pieces of paradise." Cheap is cheap for good reasons. The problem is, it is really difficult for people to find solid, credible, timely safety/security information green day tour dates about these destinations because the people who have the funds to promote and search-engine-optimize their promotions are the ones who have a personal/financial stake in drawing people, not in keeping them safe. Thanks, Jim, for reporting on these topics!
As an Ex-Pat living in Roatan. I can personally say that it is not safe to travel to Roatan. It is an absolutely pristine green day tour dates Island however, I suggest anyone thinking of traveling or investing in the Bay Islands; Have your affairs green day tour dates in order. There is not a functioning legal system in the Country. When you enter the Country you are totally green day tour dates on your own, if something should happen to you or your loved ones. Honduras has the highest murder rate per capita in the world. green day tour dates Cruise ship visitors think there is a safety net for them but I can not count the victims that have been left on there own, when jacked up by guns and machetes pointed at there heads.
53 days ago the mew Major of Roatan took office with the commitment to make Roatan a CRIME FREE territory. A plan has been put in place where hi tech security cameras have been placed all across the Island with its corresponding monitoring system and a call center green day tour dates to access the security forces. The Municipal police is being selected among those that have impeccable police records,higher education as a must, fully bilingual and well paid. 6 Police green day tour dates Posts are in the process of construction on the main road of the Island from Oakridge (East) to West End.12, well equipped Police patrol vehicles will be constantly patrol the Island. Beach vendors are being forced green day tour dates to bear the merchant licence green day tour dates given by the Municipality green day tour dates after a deep background investigation is performed. green day tour dates Shortly visitors will be scanned when arriving and leaving the Island. Those with criminal records will not be allowed to visit Roatan and invited to leave by the same means they came, immediately.
Sad to say but Roatan burdens the fact that it is part of Honduras where the crime rate is very high, however if the statistics were only for Roatan,the Island is one of the safest havens green day tour dates in Central America.
it is not totally safe anywhere. You have to be careful, even at home, so don't believe that these so called "paradise" destinations are perfectly safe and crime free. Unfortunately, some areas invites more press coverage than others, and the cruise industry is being targeted more than others.
Roatan is safe. This article is old news. I have lived on Roatan for 9 years and have never had a problem and I am in every village at all hours. Stop scaring people away from a very great place. All you are doing is taking food out of peoples mouths green day tour dates by trying to be an authority on crime. You are all off the mark. How many foreign people live on Roatan and have not had an incident? This is a great place to live with really great people. Come and enjoy and do not let the world make you not live "YOUR DREAMS"
Yikes! I just got off the Carnival Dream yesterday,April 5,2014. One of my stops was in Coxen Hole-Roatan. I didn't think I was ever going to see home again. Once I passed the security point and entered the district, I attracted a pseudo-travel guide. The man seemed friendly enough but wasn't quite understanding that I had no interest in his services. He continued to follow my every step knowing that I wanted to be left alone. He started to ask for money for the services he claims to have provided me ie:companionship. When I fervently protested that I had no money other than 10 dollars American, he insisted that he walk me to the bank to withdraw more. While making my way to the bank I became extremely nervous as he described a location called the Happy Frog. When we were at the Happy Frog I was told that the Hookers are kept here. I was one push away into the door. The establishment was secured with thick unpassable vertical wooden bars. There were women of all nationalities walking around aimlessly, with men who looked like they were in a meat market. I hoped that my debit card would provide me with money while in a foreign area. Once at the row of banks lined with police bearing green day tour dates machine guns, another problem arose. green day tour dates I couldn't read the word prompts on the ATM machine. My escort started poking at the screen telling me what to withdraw. When the police saw this transaction green day tour dates they intervened and told the man to back off. I hoped for reprive when I explained my ignorance and thought it wiser to just go into the bank. Yet another problem, tellers didn't speak English- NADA word! Unbenounced to me an undercover officer was watching. Because my escort wasn't allowed inside the bank the undercover green day tour dates took advantage of the timing and explained what he witnessed was something to be wary of and started to ramble off a list of possible outcomes and commenced with advice to me. He started to talk to one of the police officers as if to say, Yes she understands. I was then given a super fast lesson on the value of a Lempiras. 10 Lempiras = .50 cents I explained how the escort was asking for a tip and didn't know what to do. The undercover told me that it was up to me to make that decision. I hadn't the foggiest idea was WAS a norm if you were to give a tip for services rendered. In the end I had given 400 Lempiras and that seemed to be suffice. Albeit, he never left my side. My pseudo-travel green day tour dates guide walked with me from the moment I stepped out of security till the second I took one step back into the port. This gentleman, I'm glad to say, sat with me in the hair salon while my hair was being cut which was where I hoped to have given him the slip. Because of his persistent insistance of his presence an insurmountable amount of fear and tension weighed heavily upon my yoke the whole time I was in Roatan. I must say I will never de