The boook " the World's most dangerous places" ( fielding) echos your warnings. They greatly prefer the Carribean

Teacher

And you NEVER say you've never been there before! EVER! Even in U.S. cities. ESP you mention to the cab drivers that "Oh, yeah, I come here a lot to visit my sister/parents/best friend". And if they happen to ask where that person lives, you casually mention an area you've gotten from a friend or looked up: "Oh, she lives over by the Hilton/Space Needle/Disneyland".

Sue