moving to St. Croix

How much is gas? $1.39 for High Test some stations are a little
cheaper with cash.

How much are groceries?I really don't look any more. I'd guess, a little more than state-side
but then we do not have the sales tax at the register. Overall, I'd say
about 3%-8% more. The big kicker is the availability of what you want.
There will NOT be six brands of green beans on the shelf from which to
choose. A coke is .75 anywhere and a $1 at the quick shops. A honey bun is
.90. A can of Campbell's Tomato soup is $1.09. The part you miss the most
is the availability of fresh fruits and veggies. Some weeks they are great
... others, they just aren't there, at all.

What do you pay for a gallon of milk, 2 and change for a half gallon I think. and a pound of cheese, $ 4.89 for American singles.

Are the roads paved? Most of them though many are in need of repair.

What are the insurance requirements? Vehicles are require to have liability insurance. I have two cars and it's about $1045 for the pair.

What does it cost to register a vehicle? Shipping and all import fees
from Miami for the Suzuki was about $1100 and about $1400 for the Buick, both vehicles were made in Canada. It's less for US made cars.

We have two vehicles we could take. Should we take both? Yes! If not what is better for most driving purposes, a car or truck? If you have to choose, bring the truck!

What kind of shopping is available? Very little. That's why we go to STT or SJU.

What are the medical facilities like? We recently acquired a heart specialist on the island. The jury still out on how effective he'll be. I'm not to keen on the medical services; I personally go back home to my
family physician of 30 years.

In Texas, we say hello to the people we pass on the street, are the people that friendly in St. Croix? Yes, for the most part; except they say "hey
mon!".

I've heard the crime is kind of bad. Is that true? Certain parts of any
town should be avoided at all cost. St. Croix is no different. I would not
walk down 3rd street in Memphis, especially after dark. The Bessemer side of Tuscaloosa AL is no place for anyone excepting rednecks in pickup trucks
with gun racks and a Redman decal in the window. Certain parts of the south side of Chicago would certainly be off limits. New York.....D.C..... you get the idea. It's just prudent to steer clear of trouble areas.

What kind of seafood do you get and how much do you pay for it? Sorry,
I'm allergic so not much help on the seafood bit but local lobster is
around $24 at the fancy eating establishments.

What kind of internet service is available and how much does it cost? AOL,
MSN,wirelessworld, Cobex, VIPowernet, ATT. At this time, Wireless world and
VI powernet are the only ones to offer DSL; and then, only in certain areas
of town at approx. $59. The rest is dial up; From 14.95 to 21.95,
monthly.

Hope this helps!

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. It has really helped.

Jerry your response to Jen's questions were terrific! We are planning our first trip to St. Croix. In the research I have done I have read several reports about areas we need to use caution. The sad thing is no one has mentioned specific areas. We use caution and common sense in our travels but it would sure be nice to get a good report on where to stay away from. We are staying in the area of Pelican Cove and the Hibiscus, at Cruzan Princess. I guess you have to go through some back streets to get there and we were told to be careful. Aside from that if you know of dangerous areas could you please let me know? I would really appreciate hearing from you. However, if you chose not to respond I understand.

Laura