New Yorker going to the island

Mike: It depends what area of medicine you are in...there are definitely opportunities.

Well first I would recommend reading through the online information on this site concerning moving. Also order a Settlers Handbook so that you are educated and informed about island living and moving here... it will help greatly. Read the newspapers when you can, keep reading on this board so that you can read what others are asking and the advice they are getting - might ask questions you didnt think of. Medical work - like East Ender said depends on type of work... nurses are in high demand... the hospitals have web sites so you could look there for details.

Apartments are easier to find once on island and many either come down for a pre-visit and secure things OR they come down stay at a short term place and then find an apartment for themselves once living here.

--Islander

I am a new Yorker too planing to move there. I am also looking for answer to similar questions like you. I did go the twice before & not looking for a job. I am looking for a studio to stay Aug 15 t o the end of Aug. Rent a car & will be looking to buy a peice of land to plant some fruit trees & flower plants to build a house later. Any one can contact me in relation to what I am looking for.

I have 6years experience as an administrative techncian in themdical field and am going to school forthe clinical aspct of it. My goal is to become a nurse specifically an R.N.

what part of new york are you from?

New York City - work in Manhattan & live in Midwood,Brooklyn.

I have a vacation studio on the water at Sapphire Village. It's available for short term rental. If you're interested you can visit my new website at http://www.condodelmar.com. Specials are always available. Just let me know.

I don't know about administrative technician? Respiratory? Lab? Radiology? If you can get your R.N. and some experience before moving here, you are golden!

Hey guys

I am from Manhattan and moved to St. Thomas recently for a new job. I was also getting tired of the City and wanted a change. The pace of life is frustratingly slow at times, after coming from NYC, but the fabulous weather and beautiful surroundings will make you glad to be here.

If you are looking for an apartment on the island, there are some good real estate companies that can help you. You don't have to pay a broker fee to them when they find you a rental. Of course there are many others, but for myself and for a colleague who recently moved here from the States, we used John Foster Real Estate (775-9000) as well as Real Estate Center (775-1717).

Like Islander, I would suggest getting a short term rental if you are unfamiliar with the island, then looking for a long term apartment once you've been here a while and decided where you want to be. The short term rental you can get within a few days of showing up, if you want to stay in a hotel initially. Call a realtor ahead of time to set up some appointments for you. For long term, there are many apartments for rent in private houses, usually at cheaper rates than apartments in condo complexes. They are advertised in the local paper (the VI Daily News) as well as a free paper that you can pick up when you are here.

I am also from New York (OK, it's been over 10 years, but I spent my formative years there so I consider myself a New Yorker).
The pace of life is SIGNIFICANTLY slower on-isle. While I appreciate it, the lack of urgency on anyone's part makes me want to scream at times (but then I get over it). The lack of cultural activites can get frustrating too. I am making my 2nd trip in one year to NYC at the end of this month so that I can see as many musicals, foreign/indie films, and do as much shopping as my wallet can afford. What the VI doesn't have in shoe stores though, it makes up for in bird varieties. There's nothing like waking up to the bizarre chirp-screech of wild parrots.
Also, if you are a NY TImes junkie, you will have to develop a habit for its on-line version. The cost for a hard-copy is, in my humble opinion, prohibitive. $13.25 for Sunday is insane.
All in all, we need more New Yorkers down here... to balance out the Texans. (smile)

Hi Rita

I will be interested - lets see if the price & location ok for me.

Onika

Thanks for your posting. I got so many things all together for my trip to STX - I am still looking for a short term studio or 1 bed, Furnished or atleast semi-furnished for a reasonable cost for two weeks - I am coming to buy some land, so I need to watchout my spendings. Do you have access to any resources in this direction ? For example - Round trip ticket, apt, car/zeep, land owner, if you can mail classifieds of few days of a local paper etc. You can tell me if you need any help from me.

i'm glad you worte me back i have so many questions to help prepare me for my move down there. like how bad is the weather when the storms come. you know right now we are experiencing some terrible thunder storms in the city and flooding in parts of new jersey can you believe that? It seems like weather wouldn't be much of an issue when adjusting to island life what do you think?

The studio is located at Sapphire Village and it's on the water, walk-in level unit. It is a vacation rental, but I also accept monthly rentals. Sapphire has two pools and a pool side restuarant and bar located at the main pool, and laundr facilities. The studio is locaed across from the main pool and a short walk to Sapphire Beanc and marina. Sapphire Village is 1/2 mile from Red Hook and ferries to St. John and British Islands, Tortolia and Virgin Gorda. The unit is completely furnished, cable TV, VCR, AC, etc. and It rents for $100 per night plus $50 cleaning fee; $1,100 per month plus security deposit of $100 and cleaning fee of $50

Mike,
I forgot to tell you that Sapphire is located on the east end of the island. I also live on the east end and find that it's a very desirable location. If you don't have a car, you can catch the safari, or $1.00 ride, at the main road to get you where you want to go. Red Hood has most of the services you need, market, mail, hardware, doctor, etc and it's a half mile from Sapphire village. You're 7 miles to Charolette Amale and the cruze ships.

rita

Thanks for the info . Would you say that the east side is a good neighborhood?

Are there any really bad neighborhoods I should look out for?

As in Dubuque, Iowa, there is crime here on St. Thomas. I have lived on island for a year and I like the east end. I have lalso ived in San Diego, Los Angeles and Phoenix. The crime here is no worse than I saw in Phoenix and I haven't heard much if anything about gang activity. Actually, I feel safer here. However, if you don't have a car, I wouldn't suggest riding the safari taxi after dark. I would take a regular taxi. My husband and I love to being near the water and our studio is on the water and across the marina is beautiful Sapphire beach. We also live on the east end. Red Hook has a nice market, banks, postal services and other services we like being close to as well. Not to mention the ferry to St. John and other islands and all kinds of water sports, charters and so on. There are a lot of nice neighborhoods, it depend upon if you perfer hills with fantastic views or being close to the water.

FYI - I quoted our standard price, but we do make concessions.

Hi Moshtak,

Are you looking for short term or longer?
The studio is located on the east end of St. Thomas at Sapphire Village. It's a vacation rental but we have rented it by the month. Thestudio overlooks a marina with views of Sapphire Beach, St. John and other islands. It is fully furnished, fully equiped kitchen, AC, cable, etc. The standard rate is $100 per night plus $50 cleaning fee; monthly at $1,100 plus $100 security depost and $50 cleaning fee.