job opportunities as licensed MASSAGE THERAPIST

Hi Todd!

Fellow LCMT here, although I am not practicing right now and I'm on STT. I know there are a few small spas on STT and the Ritz has a spa.

I always thought that if I were to start practicing again, I would probably try to do it on my own, rather than with an established practice. It would take some seriously heavy and savvy marketing, but it could be lucrative if you offered to travel to where your clients are, rather then them coming to you. Your demographic is primarily going to be 40-50 years old, visitors rather than repeats, so you need to consider that they will be unfamiliar with the island/don't have transportation. It might be worth it to check out a few smaller hotels and see if you can offer your services through them, have a lovely flyer placed in the hotel rooms, etc. You probably could get away with $1 per minute, which would be decent if you have no overhead and no kickback to a spa. Check out chiropractors as well, maybe?

Hope this helps.
Pam 🙂

Licensed massage therapist here. I lived and worked on STT for 8 years, now on STX for the past 2 1/2. I have to say that it was MUCH easier working on STT!! The poor economy here on STX has people not wanting to spend money on a 'luxury' like massage - you also have a great deal of therapists here on STX who are unlicensed and work for cash; they charge a dollar a minute for work (which is what my rates were 20 years ago in NC!!) - tough for those of us who remain licensed and charge $80 an hour because we try to comply with VI law. I charged $95 an hour on STT without clients complaining about my high prices - here on STX, I have people balk at $80 an hour!! I can only give insight as to working for myself, not in a spa setting (never did that on either island so perhaps there is a better opportunity within a spa organization - however, there are not many spas here on STX, in comparison to STT). And, the predominate clients here on STX are TOTALLY different than those on STT! Plenty of tourists on STT to boost your client base with (locals were my base there, however, I also had tourists - predominately yacht crews/charter guests, as my practice was in Yacht Haven and Crown Bay Marina). No offense, Pammerjo, but STX is a TOTALLY different animal than STT in this industry!! Since I have experienced both, I do have a different perspective than others in this regard. ToddN, I don't mean to be discouraging, however, as an established, licensed LMBT in the VI for 10 years now, it has been an uphill battle to get a client base here on STX. Just keepin' it real...

Good info, pilatesgal, and rather what I expected.

I've known many, many massage therapists here on STT over the years and they've all done very well with - as you pointed out - a big resident following as well as good business from visitors. I can well understand that there would be a huge difference in the customer base between the two islands. Many of the therapists I know and have known don't associate with any spa but are traveling therapists who go to residents' homes and visitors' condos and villas. It's a good business on STT once you've established your niche.

Many thanks, Pam! Good ideas. Todd

Thanks so much for the detailed info and insights... incredibly helpful. So it seems pretty clear that you found massage work easier to sustain on STT, but what about the comparative quality of life in general on STT? I know that's a big question, but if anything comes to mind, we'd find that really helpful. We were leaning to STX mostly because we've read that the crime is less of a problem, and cost of housing lower, but given that my work is as a LMT, maybe we need to reconsider STT. Todd

Thanks for your input!

but what about the comparative quality of life in general on STT? I know that's a big question, but if anything comes to mind, we'd find that really helpful. We were leaning to STX mostly because we've read that the crime is less of a problem, and cost of housing lower, Todd

I can believe that housing can be cheaper on STX.
Crime may be more or less on STT or STX but the level of it being a problem is equal.

The quality of life is hard to compare and depends on what your interests are:
more golf on STX
more convenient boating destinations in STT -- BVI & STJ & SVI
more pasture land and farming on STX
more concentrated traffic congestion on STT
STX is 3x the physical land mass of STT
more visible economic activity on STT
better airline connection opportunities on STT
STT is more mountainous terrain
larger active sports fishing community on STT
food shopping is about equal in price and variety - more local products in STX
shorter driving trip distances are more likely on STT

Don't intend these observations to spark a inter-island controversy, but I did choose my words carefully and it only reflects my long residential experience.

As ExitZero said, I don't want to spark inter-island controversy either, however, from my experience living on both STT and STX, I have to say I prefer STT. This, of course, is MY experience and I cannot speak for others. Understand, ToddN, that it will be different for each individual so it is virtually impossible to say whether your quality of life will be better on one island versus another. I will say that I don't think that crime is any worse on STT than on STX (I may get some people riled up with THAT comment!) - housing is more expensive on STT. As for why I prefer STT to STX - I found my niche (as OldTart said) quickly on STT and was very successful in my business there. The sense of community that I found there was also much stronger than my experience has been here on STX. Now, I am sure you may ask why I moved to STX...well, I met the love of my life on STT, however, he lives and owns a business here on STX. The 'commute' to see each other every weekend got to be quite a chore and I had the much more 'portable' career, so, here I am on STX. I miss STT very much (and STJ, of course!) and if my relationship circumstances were different, I never would have left. But, I did find the love of my life so...I'm very happy about THAT part!!

Licensed massage therapist here. I lived and worked on STT for 8 years, now on STX for the past 2 1/2. I have to say that it was MUCH easier working on STT!! The poor economy here on STX has people not wanting to spend money on a 'luxury' like massage - you also have a great deal of therapists here on STX who are unlicensed and work for cash; they charge a dollar a minute for work (which is what my rates were 20 years ago in NC!!) - tough for those of us who remain licensed and charge $80 an hour because we try to comply with VI law. I charged $95 an hour on STT without clients complaining about my high prices - here on STX, I have people balk at $80 an hour!! I can only give insight as to working for myself, not in a spa setting (never did that on either island so perhaps there is a better opportunity within a spa organization - however, there are not many spas here on STX, in comparison to STT). And, the predominate clients here on STX are TOTALLY different than those on STT! Plenty of tourists on STT to boost your client base with (locals were my base there, however, I also had tourists - predominately yacht crews/charter guests, as my practice was in Yacht Haven and Crown Bay Marina). No offense, Pammerjo, but STX is a TOTALLY different animal than STT in this industry!! Since I have experienced both, I do have a different perspective than others in this regard. ToddN, I don't mean to be discouraging, however, as an established, licensed LMBT in the VI for 10 years now, it has been an uphill battle to get a client base here on STX. Just keepin' it real...

I would GLADLY pay over $100 for a "luxury" massage in STX! Sadly there are no such facilities here. Even carambola is just, eh. Marriott and Ritz in STT are where it's at! I wouldn't pay $100 for a massage in some random weird hotel room or at home.

Can't really compare STT to STX in this regard because STT is a vacation destination... based on numbers I don't (personally) believe STX is.

I agree with you on missing STT!! We should hang and commiserate 😉

Oh and Todd - it's REAL easy to decide on an island:

Do you:
A - want to feel retired? Have spread out flat easy driving and a very quiet island (most things are closed by 8-9pm and closed for a month or two in off season) - then STX is for you.

B: want lots of stuff to do? Better availability to goods (clothes and harder to find groceries), cheaper flights to mainland and close proximity to 4 other beautiful islands - STT is for you.

C: if crime is THE factor - STJ is for you but bring three times your start up money. You get both A and B with C.... except flat roads. That's only option A.

I'm a B girl for sure. I miss STT every day. Like PilatesGirl my fiancé is on contract so I am on STX until we can get back to STT. I will miss STX diving and local meats/veggies. As she mentioned, STX is much more economically depressed that STT. Is the count for next years STX cruise ships still 20-something? 🙁 ouch.

Wow! Todd's wife here... can't wait to read this to Todd in the morning (seems I've become a USVI-info insomniac)... love how you put this into such a neat little nutshell! No, crime isn't THE factor (we currently live in Las Vegas after all, so it's not like we're exactly sheltered from crime), it's just one factor of many we're trying to consider. If I had to name our "main" factors, they'd probably be affordable housing and employment opportunitoes in our respective fields (massage therapy and marriage counseling)... hence the sudden dilemma I guess, because from what we gather, seems like housing will be more affordable on STX, but work more plentiful (and perhaps better paying) on STT. Decisions, decisions. You all are amazingly helpful and gracious, many thanks. MayaN

As ExitZero said, I don't want to spark inter-island controversy either, however, from my experience living on both STT and STX, I have to say I prefer STT. This, of course, is MY experience and I cannot speak for others. Understand, ToddN, that it will be different for each individual so it is virtually impossible to say whether your quality of life will be better on one island versus another. I will say that I don't think that crime is any worse on STT than on STX (I may get some people riled up with THAT comment!) - housing is more expensive on STT. As for why I prefer STT to STX - I found my niche (as OldTart said) quickly on STT and was very successful in my business there. The sense of community that I found there was also much stronger than my experience has been here on STX. Now, I am sure you may ask why I moved to STX...well, I met the love of my life on STT, however, he lives and owns a business here on STX. The 'commute' to see each other every weekend got to be quite a chore and I had the much more 'portable' career, so, here I am on STX. I miss STT very much (and STJ, of course!) and if my relationship circumstances were different, I never would have left. But, I did find the love of my life so...I'm very happy about THAT part!!

Todd's wife here... we thank you kindly for the additional info! Interesting about the greater "sense of community" you felt on STT ... good to know... but hey, no greater sense of community than finding a soul mate!

" ... Is the count for next years STX cruise ships still 20-something?...." 🙁 ouch.

The count remains at about 23 ships from one in October to three in April...
http://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruises-to-st-croix-us-virgin-islands.html

I can believe that housing can be cheaper on STX.
Crime may be more or less on STT or STX but the level of it being a problem is equal.

The quality of life is hard to compare and depends on what your interests are:
more golf on STX
more convenient boating destinations in STT -- BVI & STJ & SVI
more pasture land and farming on STX
more concentrated traffic congestion on STT
STX is 3x the physical land mass of STT
more visible economic activity on STT
better airline connection opportunities on STT
STT is more mountainous terrain
larger active sports fishing community on STT
food shopping is about equal in price and variety - more local products in STX
shorter driving trip distances are more likely on STT

Don't intend these observations to spark a inter-island controversy, but I did choose my words carefully and it only reflects my long residential experience.

Thanks for taking the time to share this excellent comparison, it's great to hear from a long-term resident. Todd's wife here by the way... we hadn't expected so many helpful replies to our recently posted forum questions, so I'm helping him write his thank you notes, ha ha. Your commentary about the crime is interesting and is equal parts reassuring and concerning, haha. I'd like to ask you a follow up question on that one, but since that'd put us far afield of the original topic, I'll save it for another post.

I will ask you this, though, if you (or anyone) has the time to reply... between STT and STX, which seems to be (to you personally, as I know folks may differ!) the best "walk about" island... we will have cars of course, but I want to enjoy being able to walk around, not so much in the "going for a hike" sense (although that's great too!) but in the everyday sense, where you can exit your front door and walk someplace interesting (the beach, shops, a cafe, whatever) and have the walk be pleasant or at least not unpleasant. That's something I cannot do here in Las Vegas, since the city was "designed" (and I use that term very loosely) for motorists, and everything about it discourages pedestrian exploration.

My opinion on 'walkability' is that NO island is truly walkable (in a NYC, walk out your front door, go to the corner grocery, coffee shop, yoga studio kind of way). That being said, if you lived in town (Frederiksted/Christiansted, STX or Charlotte Amalie/Red Hook area, STT), you would be able to have some sort of semblance of walkability, or, of course, if you lived out East on STT on or near one of the beaches...well, that is certainly 'someplace interesting', in my opinion (a pretty beach, cool beach bar, SUP rentals, etc. - like a Secret Harbor kind of place). These islands are not exactly pedestrian friendly...

"No offense, Pammerjo, but STX is a TOTALLY different animal than STT in this industry!!"

None taken, Pilatesgal318! I know there are differences but I've only ever been to STX once, so I was commenting more "in general". Am glad to hear you're earning more than $1 per minute - that's encouraging!

we thank you for your input on walkability, pilates girl! We totally get the picture now! MNeal

It is not easy to find a home that is walkable to beaches and cafes,shops -- on STT where I have spent most of my life anyway. I am sure someone can chime in on living near the 2 towns on STX.
You can find one or the other though if you look.
Living in or near Charlotte Amalie,Frenchtown or Red Hook it can be done on mostly flat land. There is a lot of walking available surrounding the STT harbor and town and although I live in the mountains I often walk the waterfront and downtown but I have to drive and park.
Walking out my front door I face a steep downhill exit to anywhere but we have taken exercise pleasure walks but face an uphill slog back home.
It is usually a hot sunny walk anywhere here even on the flat land between UVI and Havensite and that is something to consider. Many people do walk Magens Bay especially in the morning and along the airport road and Lindbergh beach in the early evenings. Both offer calm water for a cooling dip which helps make it more fun to walk/exercise.
Finding a home that is convenient to work/school is usually a more important factor to most of us.

I live 3 min driving from Fsted. I guess I could walk but I am lazy. If you lived closer to Csted it would be fine as theres much more to do there. Fated its pretty dead. Only really one place to lime - Lost Dog Pub, opens at 4 and open till early AM. Many a fun nights I've spent there but Red Hook is a blast (STT) and so many great pubs. You can actually do a pub crawl if you wanted to there - in STX... you really cant.... I guess the boardwalk area has 2-5 places to get a drink. I probably should have lived in Csted because I get so freaking bored BUT I needed to be near the pier to scuba and the beaches out west are to die for.

i know some people who live or have lived on stx and got/get by without a vehicle. it can be done. 1 lives in frederiksted and works in christiansted. a few of the others lived in christiansted. so dont count it out if you are in good shape.

also, sounds like you are wanting to work for yourselves?? no individual health insurance here. dont know if that was you on the other thread or if you have been following it. keep that in mind.

we thank you for your input on walkability, pilates girl! We totally get the picture now! MNeal

I can believe that housing can be cheaper on STX.
Crime may be more or less on STT or STX but the level of it being a problem is equal.

The quality of life is hard to compare and depends on what your interests are:
more golf on STX
more convenient boating destinations in STT -- BVI & STJ & SVI
more pasture land and farming on STX
more concentrated traffic congestion on STT
STX is 3x the physical land mass of STT
more visible economic activity on STT
better airline connection opportunities on STT
STT is more mountainous terrain
larger active sports fishing community on STT
food shopping is about equal in price and variety - more local products in STX
shorter driving trip distances are more likely on STT

Don't intend these observations to spark a inter-island controversy, but I did choose my words carefully and it only reflects my long residential experience.

Thanks for taking the time to share this excellent comparison, it's great to hear from a long-term resident. Todd's wife here by the way... we hadn't expected so many helpful replies to our recently posted forum questions, so I'm helping him write his thank you notes, ha ha. Your commentary about the crime is interesting and is equal parts reassuring and concerning, haha. I'd like to ask you a follow up question on that one, but since that'd put us far afield of the original topic, I'll save it for another post.

I will ask you this, though, if you (or anyone) has the time to reply... between STT and STX, which seems to be (to you personally, as I know folks may differ!) the best "walk about" island... we will have cars of course, but I want to enjoy being able to walk around, not so much in the "going for a hike" sense (although that's great too!) but in the everyday sense, where you can exit your front door and walk someplace interesting (the beach, shops, a cafe, whatever) and have the walk be pleasant or at least not unpleasant. That's something I cannot do here in Las Vegas, since the city was "designed" (and I use that term very loosely) for motorists, and everything about it discourages pedestrian exploration.

There are places on STX where you can walk out the door to a beach and bar. I have several miles of beach and limited traffic roads near my house on STX. You can find the same experience in STT and STJ neighborhoods though the treks are MUCH steeper.

I'm a walker so that was a serious consideration in choosing STX. My husband is a boomerang back to the VI. He lived on both STT and STJ previously. Love all three islands though,

The Fred has opened a spa in Frederiksted. The developers seem to have a positive vision and cash to back it.

"There are places on STX where you can walk out the door to a beach and bar. I have several miles of beach and limited traffic roads near my house on STX. You can find the same experience in STT and STJ neighborhoods though the treks are MUCH steeper.

The Fred has opened a spa in Frederiksted. The developers seem to have a positive vision and cash to back it."

This is encouraging. And super interesting about the spa, thanks for sharing.

i know some people who live or have lived on stx and got/get by without a vehicle. it can be done. 1 lives in frederiksted and works in christiansted. a few of the others lived in christiansted. so dont count it out if you are in good shape.

also, sounds like you are wanting to work for yourselves?? no individual health insurance here. dont know if that was you on the other thread or if you have been following it. keep that in mind.

Living vehicle-free would be an absolute DREAM, since some of the roads do look a tad treacherous to me on the videos we've been watching, due to the "no shoulder" situation, but I expect that's something one gets used to. Yes, we would want to (eventually) work for ourselves in the usvi, if at all possible, since that is what we currently do here in nevada. And yes, that is me on the thread about health insurance, we're learning a lot! thank you!!

 

It is not easy to find a home that is walkable to beaches and cafes,shops -- on STT where I have spent most of my life anyway. I am sure someone can chime in on living near the 2 towns on STX.
You can find one or the other though if you look.
Living in or near Charlotte Amalie,Frenchtown or Red Hook it can be done on mostly flat land. There is a lot of walking available surrounding the STT harbor and town and although I live in the mountains I often walk the waterfront and downtown but I have to drive and park.
Walking out my front door I face a steep downhill exit to anywhere but we have taken exercise pleasure walks but face an uphill slog back home.
It is usually a hot sunny walk anywhere here even on the flat land between UVI and Havensite and that is something to consider. Many people do walk Magens Bay especially in the morning and along the airport road and Lindbergh beach in the early evenings. Both offer calm water for a cooling dip which helps make it more fun to walk/exercise.
Finding a home that is convenient to work/school is usually a more important factor to most of us.

Thanks for the detailed info! Paints a good picture.