PMV to St. Croix this summer?

Welcome,

The answer to the first one is easy. Stay as long as possible. Of course, a part-time job will help with that. Summer is not "High Season" for the VIs but it isn't super-slow either.

Landing a job, even if it is a part-time, is not that easy but it is not impossible either. It all comes down to how bad you want it. A job in the service industry will give a lot of help to mingle and get to know the people.

Ask more, please, give more details and we will try to help you as much as possible...

🙂

There's not set time period for a PMV - the longer you stay the more you'll learn - stay as long as YOU deem necessary - certainly a few weeks at the minimum and as much as a couple months if your budget and time table allows.

Try not to stay at a resort - instead look for an efficiency unit or a small condo (not on the beach unless your "full time" budget will allow such extravagance). Don't spend your time sitting under a palm tree on the beach sipping pina colodas as you won't be doing much of that if you relocate (unless you are "retired and have a big nest egg). Spend your time checking out banking, utility companies, housing costs, grocery shopping and driving around during "rush hour" as those will be the types of activities that will occupy your time if you decide to relocate.

If you are only coming for a couple of weeks (for your PMV) it's doubtful you'll be able to find a part-time job but if your stay will be for several months your chances improve. That doesn't mean you can't scope out opportunities for full-time employment during your PMV. It's a good time to make contacts and get a feel for what types of jobs are available in your chosen field and what pay levels you can expect.

Good luck with your PMV.

I think for most people, one week is enough for a PMV, if you're researching the whole time, and not vacationing. I don't think you'll learn much in the second and third week that you didn't figure out in the first week. It also depends on the individual. The OP has already lived on STT, and knows about VI living, so may not need a lot of time to check out STX.

Unless you're living, working, commuting, shopping and paying bills here, it's difficult to get the full island living experience with all the ups and downs of doing so. As has been mentioned many times, island life is not for everyone and quite different from vacationing or being here for a short period. Good luck for a great pmv and island life.

I wanted to stay from May-July. I'll look at how feasible that is. I lived on St. Thomas in the past, but everyone I speak to from St. Thomas keeps saying how "different" Cruz is. So I've tried to wipe everything I know about the VI(from just living on St. Thomas) out of my head and looking at it as a whole nother place. Thanks for all of the feedback!

Yes, there are differences, even if some are little ones, and besides the obvious ones due to geography. No big deal, just come on down. IMHO it is a good idea to come in with a clean picture. A clean slate and an open mind goes a long way.

Of course, it is always good to bring some $$$ as a cushion for a possible longer PMV, but I have a feeling you knew that one. And, again, try to kind of "drop anchor" ahead of time and make connections for a summer job before your arrival.

If you've lived in Stt, then you're ahead of the game in terms of realizing the costs associated with living in the VI, setting up shop and have a pretty good grasp of what it takes to live here.
I think you'll find rents in stx less than in stt but driving distances greater. Hopefully, their roads are more user friendly!

Hopefully, their roads are more user friendly!

Some of our roads are pretty bad, with potholes, overgrown brush, and non-existent striping. On the other hand, our drivers will stop and let you into traffic.

So will ours! 🙂

On the other hand, our drivers will stop and let you into traffic.

Then obviously no different than on STT.

I wanted to stay from May-July. I'll look at how feasible that is. I lived on St. Thomas in the past, but everyone I speak to from St. Thomas keeps saying how "different" Cruz is. So I've tried to wipe everything I know about the VI(from just living on St. Thomas) out of my head and looking at it as a whole nother place. Thanks for all of the feedback!

from my experience it's a bit friendlier, and even more relaxed.

there's some pretty large differences from the west end to the east end on STX alone, so keep that in mind while you stay here.

I've only recently started going out east more & it's a much different experience than F'sted is (east of C'sted) in both ecologically and "people".

when you get here (or before) feel free to contact my wife ( www.cruzancowgirls.com ) we've helped a few island newbies with the tidbits of info we've gathered in our (short) time here and she loves playing tour guide.

the ups and downs of the island should be pretty similar to STT just "toned down" a bit and with much easier to drive roads and cheaper "everything".

Didn't realize WAPA, other utilities, groceries, dining out etc., were so much cheaper in STX. Sounds like an illogical fallacy to me.

On the other hand, our drivers will stop and let you into traffic.

Then obviously no different than on STT.

I'm glad! I was in a STT taxi once, the driver in front of us stopped to let another car in, and our taxi driver honked (not in the good way) and complained about the other driver's action. I've never seen that on STX, so I assumed that letting others into traffic was frowned upon on STT. By the way, STX taxi drivers can be painfully slow, so you've got that to look forward to.

Didn't realize WAPA, other utilities, groceries, dining out etc., were so much cheaper in STX. Sounds like an illogical fallacy to me.

an illogical fallacy would basically make it logical (two negatives canceling each other out).

yes, all those things are cheaper on STX except for Wapa from my experience (not sure what "other utilities" covers, I hear some people have city water, I don't and no one I know does.. so maybe that?).

My wife and I can go out to the Pink Spot in F'sted and eat an amazing dinner for around 50-60$ (drinks and tips included) cooked by one of the best chefs on the island.

I've been to STT 4 times for a total of about a month so I'm very probably missing quite a few restaurants, but everything seemed either a bit more, or a lot more expensive there.

... yes, all those things are cheaper on STX except for Wapa from my experience ...
... I've been to STT 4 times for a total of about a month so I'm very probably missing quite a few restaurants, but everything seemed either a bit more, or a lot more expensive there.

Yes, I guess coming over here 4 times for a total of a month allows you to make a comparison. Maybe you can cease and desist with the rude comments as they're unnecessary and unseemly.