With so many states creating new laws and curfews for visitors, you need to know what to expect if your spring break plans include a visit to Myrtle Beach, the Bahamas, or beaches in Florida.

Over the past few years, things have gotten especially crazy and out of hand in many of these places. Last year in Miami Beach, for instance, there were 2 shootings, leaving the city with heavy curfews and in a state of emergency. Closer to home, Myrtle Beach has had increased drug and gang violence, leading to tighter regulations for tourists. 

In order to protect the locals as well as the visitors, some popular vacation spots have put regulations in place specifically to deal with spring break crowds. Some examples of the rules include increased parking rates, stricter rules about alcohol use, a nightly curfew, increased security, and a larger police presence. Not being able to totally close their beaches for spring break, some of these hotspots are trying their hardest to encourage spring breakers (especially teenagers) to go somewhere else this spring break. Myrtle Beach is strictly enforcing alcohol laws and is prioritizing public decency by prohibiting the wearing of too-revealing swimwear. Sending a strong message for future years, there have already been 250 arrests of spring break tourists who did not comply with the new rules in Miami Beach.

Other popular destinations are unintentionally discouraging visitors. Right now, some cities in the Bahamas are seeing more gang violence and kidnappings than ever before. The U.S. Embassy recently raised the danger level for Nassau to a 2 (exercise increased caution) and Jamaica to a 3 (reconsider travel). Although the high homicide rate is mostly affecting locals, authorities say that Americans need to stay vigilant when staying on rental properties. It is best advised to only stay on resort properties in these places and not venture beyond their boundaries. 

Although the problems some places have experienced might sound a bit scary, the fact is that it’s important to stay alert and adhere to local laws wherever you are–vacation or not. Stay safe and rest up over break; the end of another successful school year is just around the corner!