Thanx for reading

I would venture to guess STJ is much more expensive than Colorado to live. Worst part of hurricane season is Sept. & Oct. but it officially starts earlier & ends in November. I know nobody who's afraid of rain. Have you ever been here?

Hi no I havent been there. I am looking to live there year round or on St Thomas if I have to...So Hurrican season I guess I will have to stick out...hopefully not to bad... I have lived on a Island for 7 years b 4 moving here I love Island life and all its intraccisies hahah spell? Where is your local hang? is it supper hard to find a pad? My resume looks great for a resort Island I read I have to take a stool sample to bartend there hehehe thats funny to me anyways where is groovy to go do you all ahng at woodys n skinnys? could you use another groovy locals hang? Im super stoked to come there! thankyou for writting! xo me

I'd suggest you come here for a visit before moving here. Islands are all different.

And, on STX at least, we have very few "groovy" hangouts. Is that word coming back???

Seagirl, welcome to the forum. You have a lot of work ahead of you before moving here. Do not take lightly any advice given here, not that you are. The islands in general are all different. You should know since you worked on an island. Where were you, if I may ask? It has been said before, cash is king on STJ. Honestly, I would not even think about moving here with less than $10000.00 at my disposal. Probably more since I think I saw you have a child? Not sure if I read that or not. Most landlords want first, last and a security deposit before giving you the keys to an apartment. At any rate, I moved here in August, the slow season and hurricane season. It is easier to find an apartment then, but harder to find work then. Can you move here with less cash? Sure. But at considerable risk of not making it if you don't find a job quickly. It took me a couple months to get my job (mgmt). You may have needed skills for STJ, but is there a business that has an opening for those skills? Below is a list of websites I perused before moving. I also read the book "Don't Stop The Carnival". A must read! It is true in many respects for today even though it was written many years ago. Check Amazon? The VI Daily News publishes the 'Island Trader' a free weekly paper that has classifieds in it, and the link to the Trader is on the VI Daily News website. Plus if you haven't read EVERY one of these... https://www.vimovingcenter.com/what_to_expect/ ...you need to. Even if it bores you. 🙂

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/

http://www.stjohntradewindsnews.com//index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/

http://barnako.typepad.com/news_of_st_john_usvi/

http://www.gotostjohn.com/index.htm

http://www.onepaper.com/stjohnvi/?v=d&i=&s=News:Local&p=%28null%29

Puddlejumper
St John

Puddleumper thankyou so much I will check those out. I have looked at alot of the papers, but am excited to see some new ones I didnt know of thankyou again 🙂 I started with BVI and found St. John it just seems fitting for me. I would love to move w/ more $ but, I will have to come with what I accumulate b-4 I leave. I saw that June is off season...I am hoping to find a place on St. John small cute beach shack? how hard is that. Do apartments seem like the only option? I am in desperate need of dirt to grow in again 🙂 I Do i need a car I think I read a blog from you saying it is a good idea. Will a bike do? Are the local hang outs on St john woodys and skinnys in Cruz? Also, I'll check out STT looks like alot going on but StJ if definatly where my pull is. I have not been b4 and intend to arrive sometime in the first 2 weeks of June and make it happen. XO

You really should visit before you decide to make a move. I have lived in three different Caribbean islands, one of them in the USVI, and they were all totally different. If you are a diving instuctor or something like that, there are many islands you could choose from, just make sure you check them out first!

You're unlikely to find any "beach shack" that's affordable, cute or otherwise. You better visit first. What are your skills?

If you move here w/o a visit to check it out [PMV] just bring whatever you want to carry home with you should you decide it is not for you. I came with a suitcase and a 30 day window and have been here for decades. Do not bring a bike. Cash and paid off credit cards will certainly help.
Get a job as soon as possible - it will help you network and solve some of the other 'next plans'.
A comfortable place to settle and live in is a decision best made after you have found which island and which area you prefer. Buy a R/T ticket - if you stay you can always use the back 1/2 to go home to pack the things you want to bring down here after seeing what you really need.
Many prospective new arrivals find the book - A Settlers Handbook - useful reading.
Should your priorities be which bars are groovy a 2-3 week visit with no job hunting should easily solve your dilemas.

The ringing advice here is do not come without a pre move visit and lots of cash. I could not agree more. If you are thinking there are cute beach shacks here, you definitely need to do the PMV. If you are thinking a bike would do, you definitely need a PMV. Apartments here are not traditional stateside apartments. Usually it is a small space below someones house next to their cistern. The space was built or converted for someone to rent for around $1000 per month. Probably less than 800 sq ft. if that. After you have read every post here... https://www.vimovingcenter.com/what_to_expect/ ...you will know a lot more about what you don't know. Hope this is all helping and not read as negative. Those of us on island are telling you the truth about PMV's and cashola.

Exit Zero gave great advice.

Puddlejumper
St John

Yeah, we just got here and cannot believe the prices. New cars are about $10,000 more than the mainland (sticker price) and used cars are a ton more expensive too. Restaurants aren't cheap, rents are not either... this is definitely not a cheap island getaway!

Good luck with the move if you decide to go for it, but I definitely agree about coming down with just a few suitcases. You may have to move a few times before you find the right place for you, and moving is SUCH a pain. Try to minimize the amount of things you bring at first - most places I have seen come furnished and kitchen gear is often included.

Trade, I wish you lived on St. Croix. I want to hang out!!

I saw a beach shack for sale the other day for $1.5 million. I'm sure it was cute.

And I think riding a bike everywhere would be a blast on St Thomas...if I only knew how to ride up 90 degree hills and didn't mind getting myself and everything else I was carrying wet....oh, and if I didn't mind cars zooming around me like I wasn't there and having to bike for 3 hours just to go to the grocery store. LOL

Excuse the sarcasm, seagirl. The questions are good ones if you know absolutely nothing about STT, but if you really know that little about the island...you should DEFINITELY come for a visit before you move!!! The USVI are a totally different world than you are probably used to (and I say that having lived in Co and on other islands myself.) Read a LOT, talk to a LOT of people on this board...and then still expect to be totally surprised when EVERYTHING is still different than you expected when you get here.