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relocating to USVI — where to start?
Question:
Hi. I am new to this group and I hope my posting this question isn’t inappropriate. My girlfriend and I are planning to move to one of the US Virgin Islands for a year or two. We’re graduating from college this spring and we figure that there will never be an easier time for us to drop everything and move to paradise. We’ve focused on the USVI because we’re Americans and it seems like many of the foreign islands will be more complicated in terms of employment permits, currency, language, etc. I’m trying to decide which of the islands will be best for us. St. John appeals to me the most because it is the least developed. But I figure that St. Thomas or St. Croix offer more and better employment opportunities. We don’t have too much money, so we’ll need to find work quickly, and I expect that means we’ll have to work at a restaurant or hotel that caters to tourists. Is it very hard to find work on these islands? When is the job market most competitive? It’s very important for us to have a place for our two year old golden retriever to run around off his leash. Is any one island better than the others for that purpose? I know about the national park on St. John, but I think that may be unsuitable if, as in many such parks here in New York State, leash rules are strictly enforced. Are there many fresh water lakes or ponds on these islands? What is the cost of living like? How much could we expect to pay for a 1 bedroom apartment? How about crime? Is there a real problem on any of these islands or is that just exaggeration? Any other tips for relocating? We’ve never tried anything like this before, and I’m sure we’re not thinking of everything we should be. Thanks in advance. Zack Brown
Response:
Zack, I li ved on St. Thomas for a year and travel there every month now for work. I strongly suggest that before you move there you go spend a few weeks there. You are in for some big surprizes. There is a difference between visiting Paradise for a week, and living in a third world country. Rents for any place near safe will be in excess of $1,000 per month. And as far as your dog goes…if you let him run off a leash he will live about 10 minutes before someone either steals him…..or shoots him. I personally like St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St John. And work there several weeks out of the year. A lot of good people, exciting times, and beautiful weather. But you should go there for a while before you move there. I moved there sight-unseen 10 years ago and it took about 6 weeks for me to realize what I had gotten myself into. I strongly suggest to anyone thinking of moving to the islands to first consider what you are leaving…and what you are getting yourself into. Just some thoughts from somepne who has lived on St. Thomas and St. Maarten. And who works on many others all year. Robert James CGI
Response:
You should wait until you can get cheaper airline tickets. This is the high season and prices are high. I agree that you should go there to visit and see if it what you want to do. You can check out living costs. You did not say what you and your girlfriend have trained to do. Bob
Response:
> I am new to this group and I hope my posting this question isn’t > inappropriate. My girlfriend and I are planning to move to one of the US > Virgin Islands for a year or two. We’re graduating from college this > spring and we figure that there will never be an easier time for us to > drop everything and move to paradise.
Good for you! My wife and I moved to St. Thomas in early 1995. We *really* enjoyed our time there. We had originally planned to stay for one to two years, but Hurricane Marilyn interrupted our plans after we had been there only six months. We still miss the island life. :-( > We’ve focused on the USVI because we’re Americans and it seems like many > of the foreign islands will be more complicated in terms of employment > permits, currency, language, etc.
True. That’s one of the main reasons we picked the USVI too. We also had some friends that were already living there. > I’m trying to decide which of the islands will be best for us. St. John > appeals to me the most because it is the least developed. But I figure > that St. Thomas or St. Croix offer more and better employment > opportunities. We don’t have too much money, so we’ll need to find work > quickly, and I expect that means we’ll have to work at a restaurant or > hotel that caters to tourists. Is it very hard to find work on these > islands? When is the job market most competitive?
I concur with your plans. IMHO, living on St. John would be the most appealing, but the business opportunities there are fewer and farther between. If you want some additional information about what it’s like to live in USVI, you might want to read an article I wrote entitled "Living and Working in Paradise"… http://www.caribguide.com/articles/livingandworking.html …and an article about our experiences during Hurricane Marilyn while we were living on St. Thomas entitled "Batten Down the Hatches!"… http://www.caribguide.com/articles/battendownhatches.html > It’s very important for us to have a place for our two year old golden > retriever to run around off his leash. Is any one island better than the > others for that purpose? I know about the national park on St. John, but > I think that may be unsuitable if, as in many such parks here in New York > State, leash rules are strictly enforced.
We took our dog with us when we moved to St. Thomas. We never had any problems with her on the beach, but we never took her to any of the busy areas either. > Are there many fresh water lakes or ponds on these islands?
No. Not ones you would want to swim in anyway. ;-) > What is the cost of living like? How much could we expect to pay for a 1 > bedroom apartment?
A decent one-bedroom with a nice view was renting for $600-$750 while we were there in 1995… it’s probably higher now. > How about crime? Is there a real problem on any of these islands or is > that just exaggeration?
There is crime, but if you’re careful, you probably won’t have any trouble. We never had any serious problems during the six months we were there, although we did hear about some others who weren’t as fortunate. > Any other tips for relocating? We’ve never tried anything like this > before, and I’m sure we’re not thinking of everything we should be.
Just do it. It’ll be an experience you’ll remember the rest of your life. Even though our stay in the islands was cut short by Marilyn and life after the storm was very difficult, I wouldn’t trade the experience of living in the Caribbean for anything. I’d love to do it again someday (and probably will). Good luck! Kent CaribGuide ~ 5104 Saddleridge Cove ~ Austin, Texas 78759 Office: 512.342.0170 ~ Mobile: 512.626.3914 ~ Fax: 512.342.0890