making the move to stt

You'll need to check with the airlines if you decide to bring your dog as most won't ship dogs during the summer months. If you have the option to re-home her, you'll have way more rental options.

Insurance depends on whether you're just going to carry basic liability or the full package. I pay something like $225 a year for basic liability on a '98 vehicle. The license cost is minimal - haven't gone that route but you just basically "trade in" your stateside license and it's a simple process.

Internet can be anywhere from $50-$100 a month. I can easily Skype on the $50 basic deal.

Quick response and I'm sure you'll get more. Good luck!

OldTart is right on the airlines and shipping dogs this time of year. You will probably have to wait until October-December.
I think that if it is over 85 degrees at any point on the itinerary, the airlines will not take a pet as baggage. The rules are pretty strict. If your dog is small enough to carry on, that is more easily done.
Here are the AA pet policies.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/specialAssistance/travelingWithPets.jsp?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=pets

As for insurance, we insure a 2008 Explorer Sport Trac and it was $1200 per year on STX with less than desirable coverage.
All the auto coverage is subpar compared to the States. We went with an AARP affiliate on PR and it dropped it to $843 annually for a little better coverage. Still not good but o.k. for here.

hmm, i see dogs on all the beaches i visit, but i am on stx. you should be able to find a rental that accepts pets. just know that, as old tart said certain restrictions with weather in cargo, but also certain restrictions with type of breed of animal at least with american
not difficult at all for me, i carried my pet on. you just need a cert from vet within ten days of travel.

we use broadband and skyping is no problem

wondering if it would not be cheaper for you to bring your own car? one of the other posters did not and wished that they had and i think it took them about 3 weeks to find a car. i know another person who moved here about 2 months ago and as of 2 weeks ago still had not found a car.

Thanks for responses. We ate going to debate the dog situation. The quality of life is what I'm most concerned with. Now she has the run of 3/4 acre. Mom with baby there and hoping to pick up babysitting job may make it tough to walk dog.
Insuance will be basic. Not comprehensive commission.
Good news on internet prices. Those thieves at Comcast charge more than that here
I debated bringing car but I have a truck that isn't paid off.. I have a family member who wants to just assume payments and my wife has a little Neon that may not be worth the costs if shipping once we get it there.

If you have a good home for your pet there, as hard as it is, it may be best to leave your pet there with good people.
Most rental properties are not fenced and if there is any fenced in options, it may be quite small or shared with other people with pets.

Plus depending on the size of your pet, many rentals (most condos) won't accept and/or charge you an pet deposit in addition to 1st, last and the security deposit plus not include utilities.

As OT and others mentioned, transporting a dog during this time of year will not be an option unless dog fits size regs for transport in cabin. so if you have people you trust to keep your beloved pet, come without, explore the options in your price range and then make a decision that is in your dog's and your best interest.

My dog is WAY to big to transport in cabin. 65 lbs. She must know I'm typing about her because she just put her nose on my arm. I think we may explore option of leaving her with friends. Sad but it is in her best interest.

Will make apartment search easier as well because I am "frugal" or cheap as wife says

If cheap/frugal is how you live, depending on what you make working in the VI, it may not be the perfect place so don't burn bridges at home.

what I meant was just because I can afford X dollars doesn't mean I will/want to spend that. We both want to downsize

As far as internet service, you may be pretty much confined to what your landlord already uses or has in place to hook up to as some may not wish to have BBVI service since they must drill thru the wall to install. Some locations do not get either great internet or cell service so something to check when apt. hunting before deciding what to rent.

If you bring or buy a car, just make sure it is not a low to ground model and has some power as our roads are not the best.
Our roads are moutainous and steep with sharp corners, dropoffs on the sides of the road, blind corners, no sidewalks to speak of, ill lit at night and pot hole ridden. Our drivers are not the best either.

Good news on internet prices. Those thieves at Comcast charge more than that here
.

There is no good news here about the internet speed, latency, availability or prices. You will soon wish you had Comcast cable internet service again!

Im ok with unreliable overpriced internet. No difference

If you have a lien on your car/truck most lenders will not let you ship the vehicle from the mainland to the USVI's unless you pay off the loan.

Also, you mentioned you had a relative "willing to take over the payments" on your truck. While that may sound like a solution just be aware that you will still be responsible personally responsible for the loan so if your family member defaults it will go on your credit record.

I understand taking the truck is not an option. I could sell it for more than I owe. I also understand risks by letting someone else pay off my car note. I guess I'd be willing to take that risk and trust in the family member.

famous last words

I guess im just a naive man that I still trust in the inherent goodness of family...

Buy a used car state side and ship it. There are ton's of higher mileage cars on craigslist (mainland) that you can buy, fix up and ship. I just bought an Isuzu for 2k and we instailled new tires, brakes, shocks, changed all the fluids. I have about 2,800 into it plus $1,400 to ship it. You'll be hard pressed to find a decent vehicle on the islands for less than 5k. As Alana said, the roads are all mountainous and the cars really take a beating. 20k island miles is equavelent to about 150k state side.

I wish I could really buy a car state side and ship it or ship one of ours but the situation is this. I leave July 30. I work at current job until July 29. So I can't get a car from Michigan to Florida. When wife comes she has six month old baby. Tough to drive across country with baby. In theory that's best option. It just won't work for us unfortunately. I guess I could ship from Michigan to Florida to STT but that seems very pricy

I guess im just a naive man that I still trust in the inherent goodness of family...

All you have to do is watch a few episodes of Judge Judy to see to see how often family members default on car loans of other family members or claim the car was a "gift" and therefore they didn't have to make the payments in order to figure out having someone assume your payments is not always a good idea. A relative may "assume" the payments but YOU still assume all the risk!!!

And, yes, shipping your car from Michigan to Florida and on to STT is costly but that's the price you pay for "living in paradise". As others have implied, trying to live frugally in the Caribbean is not easy. Life isn't simple in the islands - it has its own set of challenges.

Good luck.

Ok, the horse is dead, quit beating it.

If you do purchase a car locally, be sure to take it to a good mechanic to have it checked out prior to purchase.
It may cost you a little bit of money to do so but will save you more in the long run than paying for any costly repairs you were unaware it required. Make sure it has good brakes. Very Imp. on our steep roads.

Wow... I have been accused of being jaded and cynical but holy cow. Maybe my question should have been. Will any of you do all the work for me because I'm obviously an idealistic moron? Thanks for your replies. I will have a mechanic look at any car I buy. Just an FYI.. I am not chasing "paradise" like a lot of bright eyed continentals. I have a unique career opportunity that doesn't happen often and can advance my job opportunitues in the future immensely. I will be working more and harder with less... as far as my frugality comment.. I was simply trying to say us that just because I can spend x amount doesn't mean I will.. I will not be coming down with a couple hundred dollars in my pocket. I am not coming unprepared. I appreciate the honest answers here though

If you do purchase a car locally, be sure to take it to a good mechanic to have it checked out prior to purchase.
It may cost you a little bit of money to do so but will save you more in the long run than paying for any costly repairs you were unaware it required. Make sure it has good brakes. Very Imp. on our steep roads.

Good advice and I disagree with all the posters advising to buy a car stateside and ship it here. Particularly at this time of year when people are leaving, there are many, many good deals on cars and as long as you spend the $50-$100 to have a good mechanic check out something you're interested in you can get some really good deals. In 30 years I've bought six used cars here which have served me very well and the most expensive was the one I have now which, three years ago, cost me $2900. I've put $1200 into it in "major" repairs (which I expected eventually based on the mechanic's estimate), all I need to have done right now is a quick front wheel alignment and right now I could sell the vehicle and easily regain my initial investment. The only vehicle I lost out on was one which was stolen and stripped (hint, stay away from Acuras which are prime targets for the lowlifes!) and all the others I resold.

When I look for a car, I'm interested in what's under the hood and its general running condition - not concerned with dings and dents as those are perfectly normal here given our road conditions. I don't even consider brakes a "major repair" and whenever I've needed them I've just ordered the parts stateside to avoid the generally much higher retail price here. If suppliers don't ship here I have the parts shipped to stateside friends who pop them in a USPS priority box and send them on.

Anyway, that's my true story and I'm sticking to it!

Wow... I have been accused of being jaded and cynical but holy cow. Maybe my question should have been. Will any of you do all the work for me because I'm obviously an idealistic moron? Thanks for your replies. I will have a mechanic look at any car I buy. Just an FYI.. I am not chasing "paradise" like a lot of bright eyed continentals. I have a unique career opportunity that doesn't happen often and can advance my job opportunitues in the future immensely. I will be working more and harder with less... as far as my frugality comment.. I was simply trying to say us that just because I can spend x amount doesn't mean I will.. I will not be coming down with a couple hundred dollars in my pocket. I am not coming unprepared. I appreciate the honest answers here though

I had to smile reading this thread as I got responses in a largely similar vein when I was looking to move down a year and a half ago. No one here knows you, or knows your situation of course, so often times you'l see responses that make you say, "what the...?" Take what you can from them and try not to get irritated by the otherwise well-meaning reponses that just don't really apply to you or your situation.

Feel free to reach out to me anytime

UMgrad93 😉 Nice Rose Bowl this year.

Thanks Chris. A few simple questions and next thing I know I'm on judge Judy and chasing paradise. Any chance I get to network with local people I will. I can't and won't know everything upon moving so it is nice to have someone reach out in a genuine way. Even if they represent that other Michigan school. People laugh when I tell them that day of the Rose Bowl was best day of my life.. Michigan State winning was great but was also the first time I got to hold my son after being in NICU.