moving to St. Thomas

Read through the postings, there extremely helpful. You should be able to find answers to the majority of your questions.

Jeremy

Hello Angela,

Check out the section on this web site about apartments, it gives a good description. Click on the home page link at the top, left corner of this page you are on right now. And then from there you can choose apartments, transportation, cost of living. Those three sections should help with the questions you asked. After reading them if you have other questions, feel free to post. You might want to order the Settlers Handbook also, its the book shown at the top.

Having a car makes getting around a lot easier. You can depend on public transportation if you live and work in areas close to the route.

--Islander

Thanks for the input--I read all the stuff on this site, but was just wondering what people who live on the island thought. Thanks again! 🙂

Hello Angela,

Lets see: $700 rent plus groceries, cell phone, home phone, cable, internet, car gas, a little for spending... perhaps $1450/mth. (This doesn't include things that are paid for all at once; car insurance, security deposit, furnishings for apartment, deposits for setting up phone, mail box fee...)

Any other rough monthly figures?

Apartments vary considerably from one to the next because the standard apartment here is part of the landlords home so depends completely on the age of the home, how well its maintained, location ect. There aren't really any apartment complexes like the large ones I have seen in the states (ones with 100+ apartments, management office, pool, indoor basketball, etc.). Apartments here are typically made of cement, painted a solid color - most white or tan that I have seen... some of them are freshly painted some show age (hand prints, dirt etc.) Some are furnished with good looking things and some its old stuff and some aren't furnished at all. Most have tile or lenolium floors as opposed to carpet. Typically you have a living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom... dining rooms are hit or miss as a separate space from the kitchen or living room. Some have tubs/shower and some have just showers. Some have balconies. Condos are also an option, they would be more inline with apartment complexes... might have pool, laundry facility, tennis courts.

What did you have in mind for a car/transporation... you shipping a car, want to buy here, were you thinking no car?

--Islander

Hello, Islander--
Thanks for the details! 🙂 As far as a car goes....not quite sure yet! The plan is to stay and work on the island for a month to try it out. (I'm a dental hygienist--dentists are particular who works for them, and hygienists can be particular about who they work for.) 🙂 And also, of course, to see how I like living on the island. So, for that month, I'll have to rent a car. (any suggestions there???) If I do decide to stay, I can't ship my car (according to this website) because it's not paid off....which means I'd have to get one. (How much are cars down there, anyway?) Are the studio apt's one big room with a separate bath or do they have some division to them? Not to ask a stupid question, but people's defintion of 'studio apt' tends to vary. 🙂 Also, in your opinion, if I came down there for a month but decided not to stay, do think it'd be worth the expense? Things just seem to be so high there....then again, it is an island with fabulous weather... 🙂 Thanks again!

Hello Angela,

There are a number of car rental agencies. You might see if they offer any special rates for a month rental. Compare rates/deals... Budget, Avis, Dependable, Amalie...

Shipping a car with a loan is possiable if you get permission/documentation from the loan company. A few people have done it... Teresa who uses this message board comes to mind. Her moving story is #13 and she mentions what she had to do.

https://www.vimovingcenter.com/what_to_expect/movingstory13.php

Cars down here will be a few hundred to a few thousand more then what they go for in say Florida, depending on car, if its new or used etc. What do you have in mind - a new car or a used car? You can get a good used car for several thousand ($2500-$4000).

Studio apartments here that I have seen have a small kitchenette usually separated by a counter of some sort, regular sized bathroom with door and one room.

As for whether coming down for a month and deciding not to stay would be worth it. Yes, you would have tried and found that it wasn't for you and moved on/grown/seen a new place... rather then always thinking what if, I could have, maybe I should have.

--Islander

Islander--
Thanks for the input! I read Teresa's story--bless her heart, she had about a million things that were just a pain in the neck! (to put it nicely!) Thanks again for the info! 🙂
--Angela

how do i find Teresa's story/

Hello Ann,

We have a section of the site with about 30 stories from people who have moved, made a pre-move visit... and wrote about their thoughts and experiences.

Teresa's is #13

The link to the Moving Story section is:

https://www.vimovingcenter.com/what_to_expect

OR click on Home at the very top of this page on the left hand side and then from our site's navigation options choose "what to expect"

--Islander

Hey this is Teresa! If you all have any questions - feel free to ask away. Last August seems like 10 years ago! 😉 Moving was not fun, but thinking about moving was so exciting.

I will tell what I would have done different - less blankets. I brought way too many. Don't know why really, but many were handmade by family, etc. I would have not brought so much framed art. You can't hang much on cement walls. I would have brought more bookshelves to put things on since I don't have any way to hang things. I would have bought more sandals for me and the kids. I wear shoes to work, but for everyday - it is sandals. I would have brought the kids bikes. There are places for them to ride and they were cheaper back home. I would not have brought so many dishes. In order to conserve water, we buy paper plates, cups, etc. Washing dishes by hand gets old quick. I also would have bought smaller furniture and space saving items like stackable shelves for clothes, etc.

Anyway, don't know how much this info helps anyone, but maybe you get the idea that you can't really know until you come and visit to see what you need to bring or not to bring.

Bringing the truck (which was brand new) was still a savings compared to the prices of new trucks on the island. Getting Ford Credit to approve of shipping the truck was a nightmare, but it is possible. Good luck to all of you moving this year. May warm ocean breezes ease your tension and melt away your worries. It is good to live here - even if only for a little while.

Teresa

"I would not have brought so many dishes. In order to conserve water, we buy paper plates, cups, etc. Washing dishes by hand gets old quick."

Another alternative is putting a small rubber tub in the sink and soaking/washing dishes in there, then the water only needs to be run to rinse. Makes less garbage 🙂

Thanks Ann,

I actually do conserve when washing dishes. The problem with soaking dishes is that mosquitos get in the water if left overnight. Also, fruit flies or gnats seem to spring up instantly and of course the ants come marching one by one. When washing dishes I have the smallest amount of water to wash with and a small tub of water to rinse with. I have a family of five so the dishes are more than a sinkful for one meal. I try to keep our waste low. The paper plates are at least biodegradable (spelling is horrible I know) and made from recycled paper. The cups we reuse all day instead of a new one with each meal or snack. I still use 'real' utensils because they require less water to wash. We really do try to conserve water and waste and everything else. I have seen the landfill and it makes me sad to see how much waste for such a small area. If I could figure out a way to recycle cars than this island would be 50% cleaner (IMHO). Any ideas are appreciated involving recycling or conserving.

Teresa