Moving to STX June 2015

Flash,
Welcome to the forum, and an early welcome to the island.

My wife and i just moved here in May. Here are a couple hurdles we had to overcome, and I hope our experience helps smooth your transaction.
First, get rid of about half the things you are planning on bringing/shipping here. You just don't need a lot of stuff and houses here seem to run about 20% smaller than on the mainland.

Second, book everything with Berry at Flemings transport and don't fall for an other companies lower prices, they tend to creep up after you book. Also if you get a cargo container, INSPECT EVERY INCH before you start loading, ours wound up with a sizeable leak that ruined our mattresses and damaged some wood furniture.

Third, don't bother looking for road signs, they don't exist or are poorly placed. Get directions from a local, which usually involves turns based on gas stations and big trees.

Fourth, when the stress of moving sets in ( and all moves are stressful ) just find a nice quiet beach and let the sound of the waves wash all that stress away.

Flash,
Welcome to the forum, and an early welcome to the island.

My wife and i just moved here in May. Here are a couple hurdles we had to overcome, and I hope our experience helps smooth your transaction.
First, get rid of about half the things you are planning on bringing/shipping here. You just don't need a lot of stuff and houses here seem to run about 20% smaller than on the mainland.

Second, book everything with Berry at Flemings transport and don't fall for an other companies lower prices, they tend to creep up after you book. Also if you get a cargo container, INSPECT EVERY INCH before you start loading, ours wound up with a sizeable leak that ruined our mattresses and damaged some wood furniture.

Third, don't bother looking for road signs, they don't exist or are poorly placed. Get directions from a local, which usually involves turns based on gas stations and big trees.

Fourth, when the stress of moving sets in ( and all moves are stressful ) just find a nice quiet beach and let the sound of the waves wash all that stress away.

Yeah, my wife and I plan to only bring smaller stuff with very little furniture. We will probably sell nearly everything else. We are hoping to minimize our life quite a bit.

Flemings transport, eh? I will certainly look them up.

That is an interesting comment about the road signs which I really like to hear. You can't get information like that from any book or website. I suppose the lack of road signs goes right along with the simplistic yet complicated beauty of the Caribbean.

We have been moving for on average every 2-3 years with the military. So we are well acclimated to the stresses of moving a household. The stress that we are not as acclimated to is moving to a location without having a pre-planned job. From what I have read online, it seems most employers in STX are not very interested in hiring anyone unless they are physically on STX. Regardless, we are going to roll the dice and go all-in. I am confident I will be able to find some type of work once I arrive on the island.

Thanks for the advice Optimus! I will take it to heart.

Keep in mind, when finding work the norm is that pay rates will be much less than a comparable job on the mainland. I know this seems counter-intuitive due to the higher cost of living, but that's the market.

Your move date is a long way off - the other side of an election cycle and who knows what could be happening with Hovensa by then.

But you've chosen the best island for sure. Wouldn't want to live anywhere else. 😎

Welcome! If you use International Logistics, with Meme, you can pack up your vehicles with household goods. All the others do not bother with the stuff cause of the hassle and will tell you it is not allowed. It is allowed!!! Smooth transition for us from Ark. to STX! They have an ad on this site!

welcome, it sounds like you will have no problems adjusting.

i just met someone yesterday who moved here after seeing an hgtv show. how cool is that

LOL:"Third, don't bother looking for road signs, they don't exist or are poorly placed. Get directions from a local, which usually involves turns based on gas stations and big trees."

When I first moved to St Thomas, someone told me to write down the directions I was given even if it didn't make any sense. So I dutifully wrote down :"Look for the pink whale"and "turn at the blue truck" (what if the truck moves? "It won't" ). Well, it will all make sense when you drive down the road.

Welcome to STX! Its a great island with great people. Just ignore all the political nonsense. Since you won't be able to change or influence it.

Thanks everyone! Good thing in my case is I will be drawing Army retirement pay to supplement my income. I plan to get some type of job on STX. I am hoping the timing might be right with some of the upcoming plans for the island that I have read about (Hovensa, new marina, new hotels, etc). Even if the timing isn't right, we are still coming to STX in June! It's just a matter of time.

We just want a nice simple life and to enjoy the awesome Caribbean environment! Living in the Caribbean has been a dream of ours for too many years. So we have decided to go for it while we can.

Thanks for all the tips and info!

Just an update to a previously discussed topic relating to loading your car with personal and household items.
.

From Meme at International Logistics:

I’m sorry, as of May last year, none of the lines allow anything to be left in the vehicles.

Just an update to a previously discussed topic relating to loading your car with personal and household items.
.

From Meme at International Logistics:

I’m sorry, as of May last year, none of the lines allow anything to be left in the vehicles.

That's good to know. Thanks.

My husband and I are planning to move to STX in February of 2015, I just read some of the posts to your post and they have been very helpful. I just started on this forum today and am looking forward to getting as much info as possible. Good Luck! Also, send any good tips my way! Thanks!

JUST KEEP READING HERE FOR TIPS

I have found a lot of information on this forum. Use the search feature and you will find all kind of info.

I have found a lot of information on this forum. Use the search feature and you will find all kind of info.

And don't forget to read ALL the information in the pull-down menus at the top of this page starting from "Home" on the left to "Message Board" on the right. Some of the moving stories are dated by several years and the majority of the posters are long since gone but the stories are as relevant today as they were when written. The essence of daily island living is consistent.