St. Croix - visiting and moving

Welcome, Gjax70!

0. October is not a terrible time for a PMV, but it depends on your exact goals. If "looking for affordable accommodations" is your main goal, and you're moving here permanently soon thereafter, then October if fine, because there will be more units available in October than a month or two later when seasonal workers come down. But there's such a glut of rentals available now that there will still be plenty of choices in high season.

1. I've never lived in Frederiksted, but many people do, and they love it. Others may hate it. It would mean a longer drive to many parts of the island vs. living more centrally (like around mid-island).

2. High season starts somewhere between December 1st and 15th.

3. Treat the trip more like a research project, and less like a vacation. Come Thurs to Tues if you want to experience the weekend the way locals do, often at the beaches, bars or restaurants. Come Mon to Fri if you plan to visit a lot of government offices and/or banks that are generally closed on weekends.

If you are considering school for your daughter you may want to come during the week so you can attend a class or 2 at one or more schools - also if you are considering public school your choice of living area will determine what school she would attend.

Some of your questions are very subjective rather than objective so it's difficult to give you definitive answers but I'll try:

a) October is probably not the best time to make a visit as it is "Low Season" so you won't get an idea of what it is like when the tourists and snow birds come down to escape from the winter. Many hotels and restaurants that cater to the tourists are closed. However, visiting in October is better than not visiting.

1) Difficult to answer - Many people live in the Frederiksted area and like it very much, others prefer to live in different areas. It all depends on what YOU want and what type of lifestyle your are seeking.

2) Pretty easy to answer - High Season generally begins around December 15 and last until the week after Easter. There's also what most people refer to as Shoulder Season which starts after Easter and runs until about mid-June and again from around November 1 until December 15. Low Season usually runs from June 15 until November 1. September and October is considered the "lowest" of Low Season with some hotels being closed. Note, the dates are not written in stone and can vary from hotel to hotel and from year to year but you get the general idea.

3) As far as the length of your visit is concerned, the longer you can stay the more you'll get to experience. Given the choice, I'd visit Monday through Friday rather than Thursday through Tuesday. Being here on weekdays will give you a better chance to find out what it is like to conduct "everyday" chores. It's no different that back home in Texas - on weekends businesses close, people are in a relaxing mode.

Now for some hints on how to get the most from your visit - First, don't come as a tourist. You are making a fact finding trip not coming on vacation. Don't spend your time on the beach sitting under a palm tree drinking pina coladas but rather check out housing areas and housing costs to see what you can get for your budget, visit the grocery stores to check prices, investigate banking, check out traffic patterns during rush hour (yes we have rush hours here) so you know what commuting will be like, check out car prices, visit utility companies. If you can, don't stay at a resort but rather try and find a condo or "efficiency apartment" where you make your own beds, cook your meals and do your own housekeeping and laundry as you'll be doing those same chores once you make the move. Spend your time finding out what living on an island is actually like.

Before you go, use the dropdown links on the top of this forum and "read everything" so you will be better prepared for what lies ahead.

Good luck with your visit.

Now for some hints on how to get the most from your visit - First, don't come as a tourist. You are making a fact finding trip not coming on vacation. Don't spend your time on the beach sitting under a palm tree drinking pina coladas but rather check out housing areas and housing costs to see what you can get for your budget, visit the grocery stores to check prices, investigate banking, check out traffic patterns during rush hour (yes we have rush hours here) so you know what commuting will be like, check out car prices, visit utility companies. If you can, don't stay at a resort but rather try and find a condo or "efficiency apartment" where you make your own beds, cook your meals and do your own housekeeping and laundry as you'll be doing those same chores once you make the move. Spend your time finding out what living on an island is actually like.

I agree with most of that, but skip the visit to the utility company. It's a (hopefully) one-time thing. And don't force yourself into housekeeping. You already know what it's like to shop, cook and clean. Do window shopping instead, which will tell you almost as much as actual shopping. Your PMV will be short, so make productive use of your time.

I actually see value in the suggestion to do your own cooking, cleaning, and laundry while on a PMV. Doing those chores here with 75% humidity and 85 degree temps is very different than doing them in a cool, climate controlled home in the states. October is the perfect time for that exercise 🙂 If, under those conditions, you decide a/c is a must, then you can turn your attention to figuring out if you can afford to live here.

I usually recommend that you put together a typical weekly shopping list where groceries are concerned. Pick a supermarket, take a calculator and tabulate the results (I'm not suggesting you buy anything, just do it as an exercise). You'll quickly find that it's highly unlikely you'll find everything you need under one roof. To even come close to completing the list (not usually possible) you usually have to hit two or three different stores. And of course then there's sticker shock. Know what you pay at home and then compare and weep a little!

Where you might decide to live is dependent on many factors. School for your daughter if that's relevant; work for you if you plan on getting a job (and for her if she's of working age). It's wise to start off in a short term rental until you're at least a little settled, have a vehicle, know your way around, etc. As far as which part of the week to come, I don't think a few days or a week is anywhere near enough time to make such an important decision if you have a dependent daughter (which may not be true in your case). But I would definitely take a Monday-Friday visit over a weekend if those are your only alternatives.

Good luck and hope it all works out for you!

If you are used to 'fast paced' living, STX may not be for you. Life is much slower paced here.

Think weeks/months to get some projects/plans accomplished here, as opposed to the mainland.

Patiences and understanding goes a long way.

And if you rent a car, keep left. :}

Hope your visit/PMV is a gratifying experience.

Thank you for all the wonderful advice. My daughter is 19 so he first priority is work, and taking classes online for college. The job situation is the most important, then a condo/apartment to rent. I have found a lot of nice ones fully furnished. We'd like to live in an area where we can keep the windows open for the breeze and minimize the use if the A/C.

Also, we are not looking for a fast paced lifestyle. I'm going through a heartbreaking divorce and my daughter thinks this would be perfect for me, as well as her. The goal is to enjoy the quality of life, and not material things. She said we could try living there for a year, then see if we would stay or come back home. I'd have a job waiting for me if we came back, so that's not really a worry.

I'd like to work, relax, make some friends, and just enjoy the simple things in life.

From what I have read, a year would be a true test if island living is for me(us).

Again, all of this info is very helpful. Thank you!

Also, may I add that my 19 year old daughter is very interested in getting into the hospitality buisness. Hotels/Resorts. So if anyone has something in mind please let me know. I have worked in the restraunt buisness before as well, working for a Marriott.

i think this might be a good at least year long visit, if you have a house back home-just rent it out for a year while you live here to see if it really is something you want to do.
just do your research here for crime, cost of food, electric etc. luckily you do not have to worry about the public schools and read about the health care on island.

enjoy and relax

We have an apartment so we would not come with much, and when/if we make there, then it will be an easier move. Plus, coming back won't be hard.

I see more positives then negatives in this so as long as we have the $$ to get there, and find employment, the rest of the adventure will be a day by day process, something we accept, and actually look forward to. As I said, we would like to get plugged into the local/social scene and meet people. I'll be 43 and she will be 19, so making friends, living an adventure, etc...it's important to us. We're also looking forward to "Island Time". Just what the doctor ordered.

oh, btw, your daughter will be legally allowed to drink here.
as long as you have the money you will enjoy your time here. social scene-most people hang at bars or beach bars it seems. we dont hang at bars much

We're also looking forward to "Island Time". Just what the doctor ordered.

Interested in hearing what your definition/understanding of "island time" is. Many would disagree that it's "just what the doctor ordered" and would in fact say the opposite! 😀

Gjax70, it sounds like you're in good shape to try island life. If it doesn't work out here for whatever reason, you have a good exit strategy with a job back home.

As you've probably read, living here is expensive, and good jobs are hard to find, so bring lots of money to start, at least $10,000 (more is better).

I was led to believe that Island Time is much slower, in many aspects. And I was also told it requires patience. Adapting to it may be trying at first, but then, since its just way things are there, it would be welcomed. Is that about right?

I think my daughter and I would like to save up 15 to 20 thousand combined (probably more in the 15 thousand range) would be a good plan.

We are already going to start scaling back the "things" we pay for gradually. Saves money, and helps both realsise that happiness is not paying top dollar for cable and having every known channel there is, etc.

We are also gonna watch our water consumption both drinking, cleaning, taking long showers, etc.
Little things like that will help us regardless. It's easy to get spoiled with all the "gadgets" out there.

There are jobs in hospitality for hard workers who show up every day. I suggest you try the Buccaneer after you arrive. You will not be able to nail down a job before arrival.

I was led to believe that Island Time is much slower, in many aspects. And I was also told it requires patience. Adapting to it may be trying at first, but then, since its just way things are there, it would be welcomed. Is that about right?

That's part of it. Things do move a lot more slowly and in some respects that's not so bad and not so difficult to become accustomed to. Then you take a half day off work so you can be home when an installer/plumber/electrician/whatever says he'll be there to fix what needs to be fixed. The whole day goes by and you're still waiting. All the voice mails you left have gone unanswered, you've lost a day of work and your fix still ain't fix. Multiply that by a few thousand and you'll get the general idea! This may sound "welcoming" but becomes very old very fast. 😀

We are also gonna watch our water consumption both drinking, cleaning, taking long showers, etc.
Little things like that will help us regardless. It's easy to get spoiled with all the "gadgets" out there.

I would spoil youself with long showers while you can -- and you actually need to make sure you drink plenty of water here - I dilute my dish soap 5/1 to make it easier to clean most dishes with less rinsing water - most people do live with less gadgetry here IMO - electricity is quite expensive in comparison so you may want practice conserving that to see if you can reduce your bill.

i do not conserve the water, i take showers as long as i want. usually isnt that long anyhow. i flush the toilets after every use and i wash dishes the way i normally do.
when we were on cistern, we never ran out.

i do not conserve the water, i take showers as long as i want. usually isnt that long anyhow. i flush the toilets after every use and i wash dishes the way i normally do.
when we were on cistern, we never ran out.

But this is also costing you in bigger electricity bills. You may have a solar system for hot water and a good big cistern but that water pump doesn't run on air ...

I know a family of four who lived on the east end of STX, and they bought water frequently. When they moved to the Cane Bay area (north shore, towards the west), they never bought water.

It depends on where you choose live, what cistern size you have, whether you live in a single family home that has its own dedicated cistern or you choose to live in an apt. building where you share a cistern with multiple persons or a condo where you pay for your individual usage. There are some residences also connected to potable water provided from WAPA so you could pay for that as well. Some apt. rentals meter their water same as condo units. Some apt. rentals have you share cost of water when it has to be purchased. You may be conservative but the other person(s) living in your building may not be.

Figure somewhere around $15K to secure a rental (1st, last and security), buy a car (a $2K vehicle that runs and won't have you taking it in for constant repairs and is dependable, will be few and far between so that's not a realistic figure to plan on), then you have deposits for WAPA, Cable or Dish TV, Internet service, propane for your stove (which is preferable to an electric stove and paying WAPA every time you turn it on plus when power goes out you can still cook) and other utilities unless they are included in the rental for which you shall pay more for, if they are included. The costs of monthly WAPA, gas for car, buying the basics to get you set up in an apt. as even if furnished you still need linens, towels, toiletries, dishware, cookware, glasses, utensils, the basic food items, (spices can be pricey), etc.

Will you be sharing a car and both working? That could prove challenging depending on where you both work and your schedules so you may need 2 cars? What kind of jobs will you be looking for?

Will you need furnishings? There are always house sales to check out but you still have to put out $$ for these even at reduced prices.
Guess it depends how simply you wish to live but just the basics run more here than most places in the states tho STX does have better prices for gas and rentals, compared to STT.

After all that is done you should be able to live quite well on $4K per month if you can find jobs that pay that especially during off-season. Not trying to discourage but being realistic so you can be prepared. Most places, start hiring in Oct. for the upcoming "high season"
which is pretty short, say mid November to mid April then things drop off drastically.

oldtart, right now we are on filtered city water. we do have a cistern though. the landlord pays for the water and since our elderly neighbor died, the water bill he pays is not too bad. she did water her garden twice a day every day. we really do not use much water.
even when on the cistern, i used the water as described above. right now out electric is about 200. we do conserve in other ways. my shower only lasts for about 10-15 minutes, unfortunately i do not get to take baths either.
but either way, its not bad