Is it dangerous to run off site in a tropical resort town?

juice springstein wrote:

I am going on a vacation to Nassau, Bahamas soon. Work trip paid in full, no business. There is a gym with treadmills but ideally of course don't want to just run on the mill. Have a marathon in about 3 weeks.

I want to run outside of the resort. My co workers, family, and girlfriend are all apprehensive about my desire to do this. I think their point is well taken, but also think everyone is paranoid to a degree. I do not run with valuables; just clothes and a stopwatch. I think the odds of getting mugged/kidnapped are in my favor. Anyone have any real experiences with running in Nassau or Jamaica or the like?

I am street smart/not a moran. I know a sketchy neighborhood when I see one.

I was staying at Cable Beach, a few miles away from the Atlantis resort. Ran along the water to Atlantis and back, didn't have any issue. Don't imagine folks out running like that are totally commonplace but at no point did I feel unsafe. Just hot.

I've run in every Caribbean country I've been to and have only had a few problems. The biggest problems are getting lost and people trying to engage you while you are running. Nassau in particular I felt very safe. However, in my first run from East Nassau to Paradise island heading out at around 8am; I had to dodge a lot of traffic, the streets aren't built for running. The following day, I ran at 6am before the traffic and didn't have a problem. My advice for Mexico, Jamaica , PR and DR, get your run in early, because criminals sleep late. Don't go too far beyond the tourist area and don't stop running. You are most likely to get in trouble when you stop running, criminals usually avoid a moving target. Btw, running is the best way to see a country and when I vacation somewhere I always look forward to my run.

Carolinaman wrote:

I've never been to the B, but I've run off-the-resort in Jamaica, S Thomas, and D Republic...never had a problem. However, I always ask the guards/security at the entrance/exit gate....don't bother asking the front desk, they'll always say "it's best to stay at our resort." And, I usually run very early...around 5:00 am.

Good for you but I don't think I would leave the resort in Jamaica or D Republic. These are extremely poor countries and you just never know. A 5:00 am run would certainly minimize your risks though.

Bahamas is different though I and have walked around there with my family with no problems as there are a lot of tourists walking around.

I ran and cycled in The Gambia once. The biking went badly. Got a mile down the road and two kids started chatting to me. One distracted me briefly whilst the other one suddenly reached down and let my back tyre down. I panicked and shot off even though the tyre was totally flat. Couldn't go that fast of course and they caught me up, apologised and offered to pump it up for me - down this little track to their shanty town. Yeah right. Eventually I shook them off and got back to the hotel.

After that I took to jogging along the beach at 6am as I figured I could see people approaching more clearly then plus less risk that time of day. That all went well. I used to turn off the aircon in my room otherwise the shock going outside was too much.

I have stayed at Cable Beach too, and no freakin' way would I run on the road there.

Must get used to traffic driving on left side (like England). Jitneys that stop anywhere (no bus stops), tourists everywhere and looking at scenery and not paying attention to people on the road.

juice springstein wrote:

I am going on a vacation to Nassau, Bahamas soon. Work trip paid in full, no business. There is a gym with treadmills but ideally of course don't want to just run on the mill. Have a marathon in about 3 weeks.

I want to run outside of the resort. My co workers, family, and girlfriend are all apprehensive about my desire to do this. I think their point is well taken, but also think everyone is paranoid to a degree. I do not run with valuables; just clothes and a stopwatch. I think the odds of getting mugged/kidnapped are in my favor. Anyone have any real experiences with running in Nassau or Jamaica or the like?

I am street smart/not a moran. I know a sketchy neighborhood when I see one.

just lol at stupid mericans who fly all the way to a foreign country just to stay in their gated disneyland community.

if you have to ask, don't leave.

Not a Rasta Man wrote:

No issues at all in Nassau. Last year stayed at the Hilton in downtown. Daily I would exit the hotel to the left, run through the pier area and all the way down to the large steep bridge that crossed over the Atlantis. Ran over the bridge and around the other island and back. Enjoyable runs daily.

That was part of my route, I was starting out from the Baha Mar hotel. I really enjoyed running over that bridge to Atlantis. The situations were I have seen guys get themselves in trouble is going out alone at night alone looking for cheap girls in Jamaica and the DR. The girls closer to the resort areas are more expensive, but safer.

Went there and did all runs on the treadmill. Did not know the area well enough and wanted to stay by the resort.

juice springstein wrote:

I am going on a vacation to Nassau, Bahamas soon. Work trip paid in full, no business. There is a gym with treadmills but ideally of course don't want to just run on the mill. Have a marathon in about 3 weeks.

I want to run outside of the resort. My co workers, family, and girlfriend are all apprehensive about my desire to do this. I think their point is well taken, but also think everyone is paranoid to a degree. I do not run with valuables; just clothes and a stopwatch. I think the odds of getting mugged/kidnapped are in my favor. Anyone have any real experiences with running in Nassau or Jamaica or the like?

I am street smart/not a moran. I know a sketchy neighborhood when I see one.

You'll be fine. Wife and I stayed near Love Beach a few years ago - I didn't run but we walked from Nassau most of the way to our hotel with no issues. Remember to run on the right side of the road.

joedirt wrote:

I have gone on runs in the Caribbean every time I have been there with no incidents (that being said, I have never been to Nassau). If you are running during the day with no valuables (go ahead and leave the watch in the room while you are at it, because after all, you are on vacation) you should have nothing to worry about. Most of the people who get in trouble outside of the country are typically either drunk, looking for drugs or looking for escorts. If you are not doing those things, you typically have nothing to worry about.

"Those things," are what a vacation is all about, ya big dummy.

I've run off resort in Mexico (Mayan Riviera) and Cuba. No problems what so ever. I go out early, before breakfast, so the main issue was finding a route with enough lighting to see the road ahead. The only locals I would see would be the resort workers coming in for the breakfast shift.

Whenever I travel, I try to run around as it is one of the best ways for getting to know a place.

I carry 10 dollars, a water bottle and a hotel card, just in case. No watch, no electronics, old shoes and old clothes. In the Caribbean (been to Martinique, Barbados, Cuba, Bahamas, Virgin Islands and a few other places) I usually go out well before sunrise, when it is still a bit dark, otherwise it gets too hot and too crowded. Only problems I ever had are stray dogs. Never felt unsafe. As other pointed out: a fit guy, running at 5:00AM, wearing a ragged shirt and shorts and nothing else is probably not a prime target.