Moving to St. Thomas

Well, welcome to the funhouse, Tex.

Yes, all buildings, condos, houses, apartments will have a cistern. Kinda like your little local water supply. There is a water pump to get the water out of your cistern, so you should ask about generator back-up at the place you are renting. No power, no wahtah! This water goes to your sinks, showers, etc. If you live in a place with a grey water system, there is a separate system for the toilets and the treated waste water is reused in the toilets and for watering outdoors. I have a filter at the sink and drink my cistern water, but some people are squeemish. I have never had any problems with cistern water here.

You should ask your landlord about what is available at your new digs for TV and internet. Since you are working in Red Hook, you will probably gravitate to the Caribbean Saloon, which appears to be the hideout for young people like yourself. They have plenty of sports.

Bring your chef tools and clothes, most everything else you can get here or ship down if you decide to stay.

Thank you for the info! One more thing: My cell provider is AT&T and by all accounts I've heard on here they work. But will I be charged roaming or how is the service?

Thanks again!

Check your AT&T plan to be sure. Usually the national plans include the USVI (both ways) with no roaming charges. Beware, however, being picked up by the BVI towers...then you're roaming at $3.50 per minute. Always be sure that your phone is on "AT&T".

Red Hook is a nice area to live & work.

I'll check with them. I assume I'll be alright, I have the Unlimited Plan.

Thanks for the info!

How did you get a job so fast? ... that is great. Where in Texas are you from. We are from Colorado. Where in Redhook are you moving? We have a one-way ticket flying into STT on November. We still havn't decided if we are going to STT or STJ. Currently looking for jobs. We are both 24, single, no pets...and ready for a change from Colorado. Look luck with your new job!

They found me actually. And I'm from Houston. As for exactly where I'm moving I'm not too sure, they said they would take care of it. I've been playing phone tag the past couple days so I can find out. It's looking like within the next 2 weeks I'll be down there.

If you have ATT service you will be fine everything is free, turn off data roaming. The internet is fine, not as fast or as cheap as the states but adequate. Cable or satellite is readily available with all the bells and whistles, expect to pay more monthly. As a matter of fact expect to pay more for everything except alcohol and cigarrettes

Thanks for the info! Is there also smokeless tobacco? Like Copenhagen and Skoal? It's my only vice.

Wow! Texas, Colorado...my husband and I are moving to either St. Thomas or St. Croix in the next couple of months from Arizona! We're still looking for jobs, too. My husband's background is FOH Management in 4 and 5 Diamond resorts and high end restaurants. We're hoping he finds something soon as we want to get there as quickly as possible. If anyone has any leads, let me know! Congratulations to Texasboy on your job! You managed to ask a lot of the same questions I had....especially the sports one! I'm a diehard football fan and I can't miss a game! Good luck to Coloradomovers on finding jobs and getting there. Let's hope we all have good luck in that aspect!

reaader30, where in AZ are you from? We just moved here (STX) from Phoenix a couple of months ago, and I still go back occasionally to work in NE AZ.

That's so funny! We're from North Phoenix, or "NoPho" as we call it! Around the 32st and Bell area. What about you? We were living in Sedona for a couple of years and we just got back. We're wanting to head to the Islands asap, but we'd like to have jobs before we go. Any advice or help you could give us would be greatly appreciated! Did you ever go to an irish pub called The Dubliner? We're old regulars and really good friends with the owners.

Thanks Reader! Yeah, as stupid as it sounds while I surfed for information on St. Thomas everybody was asking about utilities, insurance, jobs, etc. All I wanted to find out about was sports. I will go crazy without them. If I can't get the right packages I'm going to have arrange stateside with a Slingbox. And now my date is set, Sept. 21 I'm there.

Texasboy, my husband and I just found out yesterday that he got a management position at one of the restaurants in Red Hook! We're so stoked. He's leaving on Sept 22, I think, and I'm flying in Sept 28. Looks like we both found good luck! Did you find a place to live? We're going to need something fast and cheap that will accept a small cat. We don't have much money saved up, so we may need one of those weekly or monthly places until he starts getting a paycheck. Any suggestions?

Reader, that's pretty neat that we'll both be there a day a part from each other. Small world. Which restaurant? And they are helping me on the residence front. They are lining it up for me. I did find some apartments on Craigslist that are in Red Hook before I knew they would help me. Might still be available.

He'll be at The Cellar. What about you? Where will you be cooking so we can come eat your fare? We've found a lot on craigslist, but we need something quick that won't need much of a deposit right up front.

Well I'll be damned, that small world just got smaller. That's where I'll be. Unbelievable.

Did your husband ask if they can help find temporary housing or an apartment for y'all?

It is surprising to me and many locals that a restaurant in STT would have to bring in off islanders to take jobs here in a restaurant - when so many people here are out of work - shouldn't the 'Cellar' have to post with the Dept. of Labor or advertise locally before scouring the online job market??

Well I know with other islands such as St. Martin, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, etc., the employer has to make a concerted effort to hire locally and if there is no one qualified for the position that then is when they may search elsewhere.

Wow! I'm completely blown away! What a coincidence! Looks like we'll be making friends sooner than later after all, huh? My husband did mention that finding a place to live might be a little issue that we would need help with and they've been very nice about trying to steer us in the correct direction, but not in a financial way, thus far. That's ok, they are flying him in and that's saving us some money. I guess we'll figure it out. As for the person who commented on them bringing in outside help.....maybe they did look for talent on island and these people just happened to be the best fit for the job. I'm looking forward to meeting you, Texasboy....maybe we should pm henceforth?

Two people coming from off island for management jobs at the same restaurant at the same time? Does this raise red flags for anyone else??

I thought one is the new chef and one is going to manage.

Well, I am a big Cellar fan. (tu) Hope you all keep the small plates. And change around those little bites (whatever they are called)- the risotto ball is good, but it is the same thing each night. Used to be different creation whenever you would come in. Would love to see some new wave Texas cooking. And the chairs are comfortable, but annoyingly loud when someone scoots back. And, love the loyalty plan, but how about a bigger discount for your slow(er) nights or something? (See what happens when you out yourselves!)

And I believe that an employer should have the right to employ anyone they wish. 😉

I agree. I just found it a little odd that the restaurant had hired 2 people at the same time from off-island. Expecially given the unemployment rate here. I was actually questioning whether the jobs were legit.