Living in the Caribbean
Sep 14th, 2017, 04:13 AM
#1
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Living in the Caribbean
My husband would love to move to an island. I'm looking for suggestions as we have only begun our research. We will not be working and have 3 young kids who we homeschool. #1 concern is a safe place for the kids to grow up with a welcoming expat and local community. Also on our wishlist would be easy travel back to NY and Florida and decent healthcare for unplanned needs/emergencies. English speaking is a plus but not a deal breaker. And if all was perfect, reasonable cost of living/housing prices would be nice! We have a couple places in mind but looking for more before we start our in person research. Thanks!
Sep 14th, 2017, 06:10 AM
#2
You need to truly stay (not at the beach) at least 2 mo the at island of choice to determine that
Island life is much different than imagined--salt air destroys appliances, can't fix for months, hot and a/c is 3 times more than anywhere
Food is expensive. Laws make you leave every 60-90 days overnight off island
Things happen slowly, just a different way of life.
Most families take their kids off island by high school--hard to get proper supplies, etc
You can't work if you wanted too without costly permits
Living costs are high--there is no reasonable costing place. Wages are low
And then there's hurricanes! Many islands recently destroyed
Island life is much different than imagined--salt air destroys appliances, can't fix for months, hot and a/c is 3 times more than anywhere
Food is expensive. Laws make you leave every 60-90 days overnight off island
Things happen slowly, just a different way of life.
Most families take their kids off island by high school--hard to get proper supplies, etc
You can't work if you wanted too without costly permits
Living costs are high--there is no reasonable costing place. Wages are low
And then there's hurricanes! Many islands recently destroyed
Sep 14th, 2017, 06:30 AM
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Click on my screen name and scroll though the list of all my posts. You'll find scores of threads on this same topic. Read through them for lots of useful information.
Also, go to the US Virgin Islands Relocation website - wwwvimovingcenter.com - it's a website dedicated to living/working in the US Virgin Islands but much of what you find there is applicable to anywhere in the Caribbean.
As a US citizen You'll find it infinitely easier to relocate to Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques and the US Virgin Islands as you'll already have residency status. All other islands will require costly and time consuming "Red Tape".
Good luck following your dream.
Also, go to the US Virgin Islands Relocation website - wwwvimovingcenter.com - it's a website dedicated to living/working in the US Virgin Islands but much of what you find there is applicable to anywhere in the Caribbean.
As a US citizen You'll find it infinitely easier to relocate to Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques and the US Virgin Islands as you'll already have residency status. All other islands will require costly and time consuming "Red Tape".
Good luck following your dream.
Sep 14th, 2017, 06:50 AM
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Have to agree with blamona - there is NO place in the Caribbean with "reasonable cost of living/housing" - that's a pipe dream. Likewise if you require serious medical care you leave the island as quickly as possible. We ExPats all go back to the US/Canada or Europe for our major health care and we all have Medical Evacuation Insurance for emergencies. You don't want to be treated for anything other than basic first aid and common colds.
Applying for residency on islands that are not US Territories usually requires substantial investment (think in terms of $500k+) in real estate or a business that provides jobs for locals. As blamona pointed out without residency you can't stay for more than 3 to 6 months on most islands. Citizenship is even more difficult and costly to obtain.
Applying for residency on islands that are not US Territories usually requires substantial investment (think in terms of $500k+) in real estate or a business that provides jobs for locals. As blamona pointed out without residency you can't stay for more than 3 to 6 months on most islands. Citizenship is even more difficult and costly to obtain.
Sep 14th, 2017, 09:24 AM
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Thx for the responses! RoamsAround- I have read sever of your responses on other threads.. Good info!
I should have clarified "reasonable"... I meant compared to other islands, not the US. I do realize cost of living will be high, but have seen that some islands, especially for housing costs, can be significantly higher than others.
We are prepared to invest in our island of choice, just trying to figure out where that might be. Trying to find somewhere that we could find other young families for our kids to socialize with. Right now Roatan and a couple places in Puerto Rico are high on the list. Trying to figure out if there is anywhere else we should be researching/traveling to.
I should have clarified "reasonable"... I meant compared to other islands, not the US. I do realize cost of living will be high, but have seen that some islands, especially for housing costs, can be significantly higher than others.
We are prepared to invest in our island of choice, just trying to figure out where that might be. Trying to find somewhere that we could find other young families for our kids to socialize with. Right now Roatan and a couple places in Puerto Rico are high on the list. Trying to figure out if there is anywhere else we should be researching/traveling to.
Sep 14th, 2017, 11:06 AM
#7
Have you been to the Caribbean before?
How long did you stay?
On what islands?
If you are interested in Roatan and Puerto Rico, I would make plans and go take a "vacation" there with your family and stay for at least one month.
You are aware of the severe damages done to may of the islands because of the recent hurricane, right?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/10/u...e.html?mcubz=0
How long did you stay?
On what islands?
If you are interested in Roatan and Puerto Rico, I would make plans and go take a "vacation" there with your family and stay for at least one month.
You are aware of the severe damages done to may of the islands because of the recent hurricane, right?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/10/u...e.html?mcubz=0
Sep 14th, 2017, 12:54 PM
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Your biggest challenge is trying to find an Ex-Pat community that has families with children the same age as yours. Because of stringent laws that restrict and severely limit employment by "non-belonges" (the term most used to describe foreigners) you won't find very many families with young children on most non-US Territorial islands. Most simply cannot afford to live in the Caribbean without working and it is extremely difficult for them to get Work Permits.
To put things in perspective, on the island where I live you can count the number of US Ex-Pat children on your two hands and have plenty of fingers left over. Most of the few families that do have young children send them to boarding school in US, Canada or Europe. As I said in my earlier reply most Ex-Pats are retired or close to it.
If access to Ex-Pat children is a high priority concentrate your search in the USVI's or Puerto Rico (but for most areas in PR outside of San Juan a fluency in Spanish would be very helpful).
I've been to Roatan - heed advice about visiting for extended time BEFORE making any commitment- it is very third worldish. So too neighboring Belize. And, not many Ex-Pat families with young children.
To put things in perspective, on the island where I live you can count the number of US Ex-Pat children on your two hands and have plenty of fingers left over. Most of the few families that do have young children send them to boarding school in US, Canada or Europe. As I said in my earlier reply most Ex-Pats are retired or close to it.
If access to Ex-Pat children is a high priority concentrate your search in the USVI's or Puerto Rico (but for most areas in PR outside of San Juan a fluency in Spanish would be very helpful).
I've been to Roatan - heed advice about visiting for extended time BEFORE making any commitment- it is very third worldish. So too neighboring Belize. And, not many Ex-Pat families with young children.
Sep 17th, 2017, 02:45 AM
#10
Turks and Caicos has a huge population of expats with children, but most around 12 years old send kids off island from school then they come back. (The islands popular with families act like this)
But a couple of problems with this--
Although no taxes, extremely expensive island
Currently it was hit by Irma and in recovery, and Maria is in its path (Maria seems to want a piece of other islands. It hit by Irma too)
You'll find that islands take longer to restore power, come back to "normal" take time to fix things, kind of a trapped feeling
You also should consider that while technically safer than most cities in US, Caribbean islands do suffer from crime quite a bit and political corruptions. It's a different set of rules
This is why we recommend a trial run first
But a couple of problems with this--
Although no taxes, extremely expensive island
Currently it was hit by Irma and in recovery, and Maria is in its path (Maria seems to want a piece of other islands. It hit by Irma too)
You'll find that islands take longer to restore power, come back to "normal" take time to fix things, kind of a trapped feeling
You also should consider that while technically safer than most cities in US, Caribbean islands do suffer from crime quite a bit and political corruptions. It's a different set of rules
This is why we recommend a trial run first
Sep 17th, 2017, 05:37 AM
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Highly recommend that trial run people are suggesting. Rent a place for two or three months at a time in different places to see how daily life will be.
The first time I went to St Kits, I did not want to come home.
The second time, I had a great time, but started to feel a lack of cultural activities that I enjoy, great theater, world class musicians, great museums, etc. Even though it does not offer all of that, Puerto Rico has much more appeal for me now, and each time I go, I like it more.
Third time, It was a great vacation and I love the warm weather, but living there is another reality. I started to feel isolated. Great for a vacation, not for everyday for me. I love some of the other islands, but most have the same issues. If what you want is a lot of water activities and find an island that offers that, it might work for you though.
One big advantage of island life is to interact with other people. That really enriches your experoence. With homeschooling, your children will have little to no opportunity to meet other kids. Some islands actually do have very good educational opportunities, and many locals are very well educated. Consider a local school.
Also consider looking for a place that has a university of some kind that attracts an international student body and faculty and also offers a preparatory school for grade school children of faculty and students. There is absolutely no guarantee of acceptance because you would have last priority, but some do take other children if they have space. One example is Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on St Kitts. These little schools have an international student body and faculty. Great opportunity for your kids if you could make it happen.
The first time I went to St Kits, I did not want to come home.
The second time, I had a great time, but started to feel a lack of cultural activities that I enjoy, great theater, world class musicians, great museums, etc. Even though it does not offer all of that, Puerto Rico has much more appeal for me now, and each time I go, I like it more.
Third time, It was a great vacation and I love the warm weather, but living there is another reality. I started to feel isolated. Great for a vacation, not for everyday for me. I love some of the other islands, but most have the same issues. If what you want is a lot of water activities and find an island that offers that, it might work for you though.
One big advantage of island life is to interact with other people. That really enriches your experoence. With homeschooling, your children will have little to no opportunity to meet other kids. Some islands actually do have very good educational opportunities, and many locals are very well educated. Consider a local school.
Also consider looking for a place that has a university of some kind that attracts an international student body and faculty and also offers a preparatory school for grade school children of faculty and students. There is absolutely no guarantee of acceptance because you would have last priority, but some do take other children if they have space. One example is Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on St Kitts. These little schools have an international student body and faculty. Great opportunity for your kids if you could make it happen.
Sep 17th, 2017, 06:02 AM
#12
Besides all the legal and financial issues you will have to figure out I see this as the biggest hurdle:
<could find other young families for our kids to socialize with>
I just don't think there are loads of ex-pat families with kids moving to the Caribbean. Also homeschooling then eliminates the one main way your kids would be able to meet other kids. If you add a language barrier (Puerto Rico) that's yet another layer that will isolate you socially.
<could find other young families for our kids to socialize with>
I just don't think there are loads of ex-pat families with kids moving to the Caribbean. Also homeschooling then eliminates the one main way your kids would be able to meet other kids. If you add a language barrier (Puerto Rico) that's yet another layer that will isolate you socially.
Sep 17th, 2017, 08:45 AM
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Sassafrass makes some interesting and important points about how one's attitude towards island life can change over time. That's why those of us who live in the Caribbean tell you it is wise to make a Pre-Move Visit and actually spend time (not just a week or so) experiencing island life BEFORE making the move more permanent and certainly BEFORE purchasing any property. Living on an island is far different then being there on vacation and often far different than people imagine it to be.
It is not unusual for a good percentage of the people who move to the "islands" (seeking paradise or trying to escape from something) to find out island life is not at all what they expected and they are gone within a year. Often with couples one partner loves island life and the other either tolerates it because he/she loves their spouse/partner and wants he/she to be happy or even dislikes island life so intensely that he/she has to leave immediately. If that happens to you, ask yourself what is you alternate plan???
These's something we islanders call "Rock Fever" - that's a feeling some people get when when they begin to feel trapped on the island and the only cure is to fly back to the US, Canada or Europe to get a dose of "civilization". Island life is a bit like living in a small town without the ability to easily leave that small town - there's nowhere to go!!!
Most islands are small, you can drive around them in less than an hour, you keep diving the same roads all the time hitting the same potholes, your views never vary, there are no big shopping malls and the shops you do have are poorly stocked, most islands don't have movie theaters, performing arts centers or even any museums (of substance). You get the idea.
Anyway, you've been given lots of useful information it's now up to you to either heed the advice given and DO REAL FIRST HAND RESEARCH (not just ask a few questions on a Travel Forum) or you can ignore what you've been told and take the plunge and hope that following your dream doesn't turn into a nightmare. It's your choice!
It is not unusual for a good percentage of the people who move to the "islands" (seeking paradise or trying to escape from something) to find out island life is not at all what they expected and they are gone within a year. Often with couples one partner loves island life and the other either tolerates it because he/she loves their spouse/partner and wants he/she to be happy or even dislikes island life so intensely that he/she has to leave immediately. If that happens to you, ask yourself what is you alternate plan???
These's something we islanders call "Rock Fever" - that's a feeling some people get when when they begin to feel trapped on the island and the only cure is to fly back to the US, Canada or Europe to get a dose of "civilization". Island life is a bit like living in a small town without the ability to easily leave that small town - there's nowhere to go!!!
Most islands are small, you can drive around them in less than an hour, you keep diving the same roads all the time hitting the same potholes, your views never vary, there are no big shopping malls and the shops you do have are poorly stocked, most islands don't have movie theaters, performing arts centers or even any museums (of substance). You get the idea.
Anyway, you've been given lots of useful information it's now up to you to either heed the advice given and DO REAL FIRST HAND RESEARCH (not just ask a few questions on a Travel Forum) or you can ignore what you've been told and take the plunge and hope that following your dream doesn't turn into a nightmare. It's your choice!
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