Random questions about the islands

Here is a quick general overview:

St Thomas (STT): The city island. Has the most tourists. Has the best shopping. Is cheaper than St John but more expensive than St. Croix. It's quite crowded, and crime can be a problem. However, it still has nice places and good beaches. A lot of fun can be had here if you have the right mentality. It also is the most accessible island as far as air travel goes.

St. John (STJ): The pristine jewel. By far the smallest, most crime free and quietest island. There is not one single traffic light on the entire island. 3/4 of the island is a national park, which is why it is so pristine, and has the best beaches overall. However, that means that the other 1/4 is where all the people have to live, so it is quite crowded in the inhabited areas. Finding a parking space in town is a real pain in the ass sometimes. STJ is also the most expensive island by far. Lots of rich people from the states have been building luxury second homes in the last 10 years, and as a result, property taxes, home prices, and basic goods and services have skyrocketed in price. STJ also has a large amount of tourists, although not as many as STT. A word about the crime thing: it can be misleading. While it's true that STJ has by far the least crime of the three islands, much of that is simply because it has LESS PEOPLE. There are 4,000 people on STJ and 60,000 in STT and 60,000 in STX. So naturally, STJ has less crime -- but it also has much less going on. You wouldnt compare the crime in NYC to the crime in a rural town in Pennsylvania without taking into consideration that NYC just MIGHT have a few more things to do and see. So it is with STJ.

St. Croix (STX): The country island. It's by far the largest island. It's three times bigger than STT and ten times bigger than STJ. It's large enough that you can live on the East end and drive to the Wast end and actually feel like you're "getting away". Because of the island's size, it has two distince climates. In the East, it is more arid and desert-like. In the West, it is rainer and greener. There are plenty of areas that are still untouched by development, yet there is plenty of nightlife and things to do. Crime can be a problem, just like STT. There are FAR fewer tourists on STX than on the other two islands. STX is more of a working island with more locals going about their lives. STX is also by FAR the cheapest island to live on. Property taxes, housing prices, basic goods and services are very affordable compared to the other islands. STX is by far the most isolated island. It's 40 miles away from STT and STJ, so you can't just hop over to the BVI's for a quick daytrip like you can on the other islands. STX also has a rainforest -- it's a very special place that doesn't exist on the other islands, and I have yet to see a newcomer who isn't touched by it. The beaches are not as nice or numerous as those on STJ, but there are a handful of beaches that are outstanding. This island happens to be my favorite of the three. The people just seem a bit more down to earth there, at least to me. That could just be me, though.

Hope that helps! 🙂

Which island has the most job opportunities? (I'm 22 and I work as an administrative assistant.) Probably STT or STX but all three could probably use administrative assistants.

Which has the "safest" neighborhoods? All have safe neighborhoods. As has been mentioned on other posts it's difficult to pinpoint good neighborhoods. You could have a shack next to a palace. Totally possible the shack dweller is 100% honest while the palace owner might be under indictment. 🙂

General price range of 1 bedroom apartments or condos? Check the classified board on this site. It can vary a lot but rentals are probably cheaper on STX overall. However, you might earn more on STT.

Is there Nextel phone service? Not that I'm aware of.

Are there Wachovia banks? No.

Does it pay to have your car shipped from the states to the islands? Am I better off buying a new car once I get there or should I rent a car/take cabs until I get settled in? In most cases, you'd have to have the car you presently own paid off but check with your lender. You could pick up an island car that might not be pretty but serviceable on island. In general (and this is a broad statement) lots of people are unimpressed with fancy cars. There are plenty here but the guy driving the rusty beater could very well be one of the wealthiest on the island.

honk: You should really plan a longish visit to see the lay of the land, also known as a PMV. Each island has plusses and minuses. You alone can decide what you are willing to give up in order to live in a home by the sea.