Moving to VI with 7 pets

Board your pets @

http://www.bobbisworldkennels.com/_index.php

They will package them and take them to the airport for shipment on:

https://www.amerijet.com/

Not cheap but excellent service and easy on animals.

They fly @ night to San Juan and over to STX by 2 the next afternoon.

CD

I appreciate all the advice on here. I definitely know that I would love to attempt to live there and will move forward in trying to make it happen. I'll most likely plan for a private charter flight and when the time comes, attempt to coordinate it so that someone else uses the other leg of the flight to save us some money.
Since it definitely sounds like it would be extremely difficult to rent (which obviously makes sense) we would likely attempt to purchase a house even though I know it isn't the best option when first moving there.
I'm hoping to get some advice on location on St. Croix. I know there is a ton of info on the forum, but since neighborhoods can change so much in such a short period of time, I thought I would ask it now just so I can get a general reference of some good neighborhoods and then find some house prices in those neighborhoods.
I have read a lot of different things about crime rates and unsavory areas, but too much of this info comes from people who were only on the island for a short period of time. I can't really trust a tourists perspective on the crime rate anywhere, but especially some places like the VI where the overall atmosphere is so different than we are used to stateside.

I'm hoping to get some advice on location on St. Croix.

Try a real estate agent. They're pretty good with this kind of stuff.

True.
Plus, you'll want a location nearby or at least, within an easy commute to work. For example, I doubt you'd want to live in Fredericksted and work in Christiansted or vice versa.

You were budgeting $1k/mo for rent, what do you expect to spend on a house? Take a look at the MLS listings for houses in your price range and people can provide better feedback. I second contacting a Real Estate agent. Buying a home in the VI is a different animal Vs the US

Not saying you cant do it but you are encumbered with (7) pets, have no jobs lined up and dont appear to have a trust fund. One or 2 of these can/have be over come, all 3 are going to make a serious uphill climb.

Might be worth trying to set up a budget to see how much it will cost you just to get to the island and then try and figure your monthly burn rate and see if its feasable

Pet food costs and veterinary bills, alone might set you back!
We have heartworm here in islands plus various areas are more susceptible to fleas and ticks than others.
Your animals will need to have preventative meds and protections.
Something to budget.

Pet food costs and veterinary bills, alone might set you back!
We have heartworm here in islands plus various areas are more susceptible to fleas and ticks than others.
Your animals will need to have preventative meds and protections.
Something to budget.

We live in FL right now so all the pets are already on annual preventative. It is a huge expense though. I never want to mess around with heartworm.

@Nic295 -I'm hoping to get some advice on location on St. Croix. I know there is a ton of info on the forum, but since neighborhoods can change so much in such a short period of time,

I do not think the neighborhoods change much in short periods of time in STX.

Nor in STT/STJ.

That's good to know. I've done some house hunting for fact finding purposes and houses can range (on STX) from $40k (in pretty rough condition) up to however much you want to spend lol.
My biggest concern would be the neighborhood, which seems to be the hardest thing to understand as an outsider. Obviously I will get more info when I can get some time off work and do a PMV or two.
Honestly, I would like to buy a "cheaper" house like something under $200k that requires some repairs/cosmetic improvement, but with cheaper and more beat up houses it can be hard to tell if it's like that because of the neighborhood.
I enjoy doing cosmetic repairs and with the convience of Home Depot of the island, that doesn't seem like it would be a super big deal. Plus then you end up with a house you love completely.

You'll know when you see it.
Just don't burn any bridges.

You'll know when you see it.
Just don't burn any bridges.

Are you referring to bridges back stateside?

Yes.
Island life isn't for everyone.

Yep because most don't last more than two to 5 years before heading back home running and screaming pulling their hair out hahahahahahaha.

Nic - I am sorry but I feel like it has to be said... you're like a speeding train and we can all see that the upcoming bridge is out. If you have a half million to blow, by all means, charter a plane, buy a house and come on down. Otherwise you are looking at one of the most difficult situations I've ever seen on this board. I don't say that to be cruel but to save you and mostly your pets the traumatic experience of island moving with all you have to deal with.

there are a few decent neighborhoods. judiths fancy, st george and queens quarter come to mind. there are a lot of projects. a lot of the areas ( not neighborhoods ) seem to be self segregated. and a lot are a great mixture of people. there are not a lot of stateside neighborhoods.

but if you are going to buy ( really wish you wouldnt ) at least buy near where a job is for either of you or maybe just choose mid island.

I enjoy doing cosmetic repairs and with the convience of Home Depot of the island, that doesn't seem like it would be a super big deal.

:D:D:D

Nic, listen carefully to what folks are sharing. Things that "don't seem like" something in your stateside experience can be wildly different in the Virgin Islands. Come down and get some island experience before deciding to invest in living here.

but if you are going to buy ( really wish you wouldnt ) at least buy near where a job is for either of you or maybe just choose mid island.

I would definitely prefer not to buy and will definitely still try to locate someone willing to rent with so many pets (assuming we are able to move forward with a move). Unfortunately, it just doesn't seem overly plausible for us to rent.

I plan on gathering as much info as possible before and during our PMV.
Thanks for the info.

Definitely do more research and a PMV.
Island living is very different from stateside living in many ways.
Moving with so many pets adds to the challenge, just in getting them here and then back, again if island life wears thin.

Contact a Realtor to see if they can be of help in your search for a rental property before buying.
Something fenced would be best.
Lots of roaming dogs and people who don't value animals.

Anything you really want, you can make happen but just be sure you really want it.

Good Luck to you and your pets.

Thank you for this information! Perfect timing and great relief for me.

We are working with bobbis world kennel to move our 5 small pets to STX (2 dogs and 3 cats all under 20 lbs) next month.

There is no issue shipping our Shih Tzu with this service.

Still working on a quote, but it should be around $1600 with us delivering our pets to the Ft. Lauderdale facility the evening before shipment and then picking them up at the STX airport. We're using our own crates.

They ship every Tuesday and Thursday.

Board your pets @

http://www.bobbisworldkennels.com/_index.php

They will package them and take them to the airport for shipment on:

https://www.amerijet.com/

Not cheap but excellent service and easy on animals.

They fly @ night to San Juan and over to STX by 2 the next afternoon.

CD

Can't you bring 2 on plane in cabin with you and the other 3 in cargo on same plane you're traveling on?
You can't fly on an Airbus plane but you can fly with 5 animals.
Just get there very early.

Can't you bring 2 on plane in cabin with you and the other 3 in cargo on same plane you're traveling on?
You can't fly on an Airbus plane but you can fly with 5 animals.
Just get there very early.

its hard to fly with brachycephalic breeds ("short nosed".. aka the Shihtzu). a lot of airlines do not allow them.

This place was awesome for information. Obviously we don't have any idea when or even if we will move, but I was able to get a quote from Bobbi's World Kennels and it seems extremely reasonable for what they are offering. They are even able to ship Bully breed dogs (one of mine is a pit). I will almost definitely use this company if we do decide to make the move to the VI and I recommend anyone with too many pets or pets that cannot fly on commercial airlines to contact this company. I was very pleased with the quick response and precise information.

For anyone considering it, definitely acquaint yourself with all the risks before putting your pet in an airplane cargo hold, especially a snub-nosed breed. This report details the number of deaths in the past 10+ years: http://www.thirdamendment.com/AnimalReports.pdf

I would stay put rather than risk death for any one of my animals. In-cabin pets are a different story. If my cat could get frequent flier miles too, I'd have platinum status. :@)

My girl, Hershey, is part Pit.
There is a picture of a pit bull on the American Airlines website showing banned breeds that looks exactly like her. On her documents required to fly she is listed as a Terrier mix. No issues getting her on the plane.
No mention of the word pit bull exists on her paperwork.

I forgot about Gator's Mom having the brachyocephalic breed but don't they allow in cabin if at acceptable weight? Much better and less stressful than cargo.

I was so worried they were going to lose Hershey in Miami.
(And that we wouldn't get on the flight in STT!)
When I got to the departure gate in Miami, I notified the agent that I was traveling with a dog and that if dog wasn't on board, I wouldn't be either. The pilot walked up and I told him he couldn't leave unless my girl was on board. He laughed but he said he'd check and he did. He sent the stewardess back to let me know before take off that she'd been brought aboard. I sat on the left side of plane so I saw her loaded in STT, offloaded in Miami, loaded on our flight to Tampa and offloaded when we got there.
Much relieved to have her arrive, safe and sound and to get her out of the kennel for the 2.5 hour drive back to Lady Lake. Long trip for both of us.