Suggestions for a 1 month first visit?

Old Feb 20th, 2017, 10:18 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Suggestions for a 1 month first visit?

Hi there. We are Canadian and spend 6 months a year in Arizona. Love the desert but it would be nice to spend a bit of time near the ocean. Some day we might like to switch from the US and spent 6 or 7 months a year in the Caribbean.

So it's time to start with a 1 month trip to start investigating.

I'd be looking for a place that allows us to buy property if we like it and stay for up to 7 months a year. Price is always important but even more important - a place where it's reasonably safe to lock up and head back home.

Things we think are important:

1) Weather
2) Beaches/Snorkeling/Scuba
3) Modern Internet (I work a bit from home)
4) Pet Friendly if possible (2 small dogs).
5) People who speak English are a plus
6) Direct flights (semi direct?) from Canada or USA

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for any assistance.
rbhamilton is offline  
Old Feb 20th, 2017, 01:19 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,957
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The first thing you have to do is research the residency requirements for "non-citizens" of the island(s) that interest you. For example, in order for you to reside in the USVI's you have to comply with all US Immigration Laws. Same with the French islands and the Dutch islands.

You can purchase a residence on many of the independent Caribbean islands and if you spend a certain amount on your hose or purchase a property in an "approved" development and pay additional fees you can qualify for their "Citizenship By Investment Program".

So, to address items on your wish list:

Weather - it's going to be essentially the same throughout the Caribbean.

Beaches - Just about every island with the exception of Saba will have them. The differences are the color of the sand and the "size (i.e. Long strands, smaller cove like, tiny specks). You have to decide which type you like.

Snorkeling / Scuba - Islands noted for very good to excellent snorkeling and diving include the USVI's, the BVI's, the Caymans, Bonaire, some of the Grenadines.

Modern Internet - Internet is available on just about every island but service can be no where near as good as where you now live. Upload and download speeds will be slower than you are used to getting and outages happen often. That's a fact of life in the Caribbean although service is improving as infrastructure and systems get upgraded. Since you "work from home" MAKE SURE you research the "work laws" on the island where you think you want to live. Some islands will require that you obtain a "Work Permit" even though you "work from home" and they can be difficult and/or costly to obtain.

Pets - Most islands have specific laws governing the importation of pets. that in some instances include a period of quarantine. Google "Bringing pets to NAME OF ISLAND" for information. Also, make sure you check airline requirements and limitations when traveling with pets. Most restrict the size and number of pets in the cabin and WILL NOT let you travel with pets in the cargo hold when outside air temps exceed a set number.

English Speaking - Most islands are "English speaking". Guadalupe, Martinique, Marie Gallant and Ils des Saints are quite French so if you only speak English you'll be at a disadvantage.

Direct Flights _ I'm assuming you actually mean non-stop flights (direct flights mean one or more stop-overs on route but you stay on the same plane. FYI - A Connecting Flight means one or more intermediate stops with a plane change. So for non-stop from Canada or US airports (you don't say where) look at Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Martin, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, and Aruba.

Now, despite what you list as "important" items the actual most important aspects of Caribbean life:

1) Every island is different. You should visit as many as you can BEFORE deciding which one is best for you. During our search we visited over 20 different islands before we found "our island". Some islands we liked but couldn't find the right property, some islands we could wait to leave, still others were just OK, nothing special.

2) DO NOT purchase property on any Caribbean island without first spending an extended period of time living on one or more of the islands you are considering. The longer your visit the more you'll learn about that island. Most Ex-pats will tell you not to purchase a property until you've lived on a specific island for at least a year. Living in the Caribbean is far different then being there on vacation. It is not like living in the US or Canada but with beaches and good weather. Many couples find that one partner may enjoy island life and the other doesn't. Island life is a bit like living in a small town without the ability to easily leave that town and visit the "big city":

3) Most islands are small and you can drive around them in about an hour. After a while there's no place "new" to go. Some people get "rock fever which is a feeling of boredom and a need to "get off the island and go back to civilization.

4) Living on an island is expensive. Expect your cost of living to be 35% to 40% higher than it is where you currently live.

5) Fully investigate availability of health care and whether or not any Medical Insurance you now have will provide coverage on the island you select. If not, investigate the cost of purchasing additional coverage. Also, you'd be wise to purchase Medical Evacuation Insurance which will cover the costs to transport you to a hospital in the US or Canada in the event you have a major medical emergency. Quite frankly, medical care on most islands is no where near the standards you are use to getting "back home". most Ex-pats go "off-islands for annual physicals and other important medical care. They use "on-island" medical services for ailments like colds, flu and basic first aid. Anything more serious and you want to get "off-island' as fast as you can.

6) Be prepared for a very different lifestyle. Everything move S-L-O-O-O-O-W-L-Y in the Caribbean. You can spend an hour waiting in line at the bank just to cash a check. When your refrigerator breaks down and the repair man says "I'll be there later" he means "not now". Later can be next Tuesday. When he finally shows up he tell you he needs a part but it will take 2 weeks for it to come from the supplier in Miami unless you are willing to spend $100 for the $25 part to be sent by Fed-Ex. Expect power outages, telephone outages, water outages (if you are lucky enough to have "government water" instead of a cistern. If you have to rely on cistern water hope you get enough rain or are willing to take fewer showers. You get the idea.

Three more hints:

First: Go to www.vimovingcenter.com - it's a website dedicated to living and working in the USVI's but much of what you read there is applicable to living on any Caribbean island. Use the dropdown menus at the top of the page and read EVERYTHING (there's so much info it will take you a week or more). You'll find answer to all your questions and hundreds more you haven't even thought of yet. Then click on the "forum" link where you'll find 10,000's of threads covering every topic about island life imaginable.

Second: Purchase and read "The Settler's Handbook" (available on Amazon or on the VImovingcenter website. It's a must read for anyone contemplating moving to the Caribbean

Three: Purchase and read "Don't Stop the Carnival" by Herman Wouk. It's an old book (available on Amazon) but gives a good idea of the frustrations of island life.


Good luck following your dream.
RoamsAround is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2017, 04:39 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't know about the regulation side of this, but I was thinking about Grand Cayman, Tortola, and St. John for you.
Jimmie is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2017, 06:33 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 97,137
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Would you consider coastal Mexico?
suze is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2017, 07:35 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"suze on Feb 21, 17 at 10:33am
Would you consider coastal Mexico?"

I am a Mexico fan too, but I wouldn't throw down a couple hundred grand there until we see how things shake out with El Cheeto Americano. Could be Sweden all over again.
Jimmie is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2017, 09:18 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 97,137
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
I'm talking about for a "1 month first visit" not to purchase property immediately.
suze is offline  
Old Feb 27th, 2017, 09:29 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Bahama out islands. Not a direct flight unfortunately but you do say semi-direct in your post. I would look into Eleuthera (direct one hour flights from Fort Lauderdale), Exuma if you like boating or Abacos (both with direct fligts from FL), and Long island (direct from Nassau) but certainly more remote than the others with limited restaurants.

I agree with many of Roamsaround's points above. We have looked into this extensively. Based on our taste (which prioritizes safety, quality of white beaches, privacy, friendly people, stable govt and real estate affordability) our leaning is towards one of the Bahama out islands. Each of the above islands have their own individual personality but all are safe and meet our standards for 'quality/quantity of beaches' which after years and year of travel to the Caribbean is quite high.

Other islands we have considered in the past and excluded are Turks, Anguilla, St John and Virgin Gorda because although they all also meet the safety and beach criteria they are more expensive than what we feel we can get for our money in the Bahama out islands.

Although we enjoyed Nevis, the people, the culture we were not wowed by the quality of beaches.

Others we will not consider - Nassau, St Martin, St Thomas, Mexico, Puerto Rico. They all have direct access from the States but are either not safe enough for us, too crowded for our taste or don't meet our quality of beach standards.

We have met with realtors on most of these islands, and spoken to many individuals who own or have build properties and live there part time. It is a tough decision. You cannot expect to be able to sell your property in short order if you change your mind a year or two down the road in the out islands so you more of less are locked in for the long term.

I don't mean to offend anyone who reads my post and has a different opinion. I am simply sharing our view based on our research on the topic and travels to the various islands. Good luck in your search.
mnag is offline  
Old Feb 27th, 2017, 09:46 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
To add a couple more points. The Bahamas are higher latitude as compared to Puerto Rico for example. As such, the water temp while comfortable for some in the middle of Jan/Feb may be too cool for others. The internet connection works fine. Everyone speaks English.
mnag is offline  
Old Feb 27th, 2017, 03:43 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 97,137
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Dogs and islands are tricky because of quarantine issues many places. If you are definitely taking them along, you can narrow down your list a lot by who will allow them to enter without quarantine for a one month visit.

(another reason to consider Mexico )
suze is offline  
Old Feb 28th, 2017, 10:53 AM
  #10  
jft
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There are direct flights to San Juan from Toronto ( West Jet and Air Canada) and possibly Montreal. My parents had a time share in the Palmas del Mar complex on the Carribbean side and we went for 25 years. There are areas with excellent snorkeling on the islands of Culebra and off the coast of the mainland. Puerto Rico is large enough that food etc are affordable probably on par with Canadian cities. Many of the residents in Palmas are seasonal. Health care is decent and wasn't outrageously priced ( this was years ago though). I think Puerto Rico is a hidden gem.
jft is offline  
Old Mar 1st, 2017, 09:34 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We have friends who have a house in Tortola (BVI) where they spend about 4-5 months a year. They have a big black lab and they usually fly commercial to San Juan and then charter a small plane to Tortola because of the dog. You generally have to have meticulous health and vaccination records for your dog so be sure to research it carefully. As already mentioned, some islands require a rather substantial quarantine for pets.
sharona is offline  
Old Mar 1st, 2017, 10:43 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 97,137
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
This link is old (2006) so may be out of date, but this is the kind of information you need before making any other decision, if taking your dog is a deal-breaker for this idea:

http://www.allatsea.net/travel-with-...the-caribbean/
suze is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MelBC
Caribbean Islands
14
Sep 19th, 2017 06:58 PM
Newfie1977
Caribbean Islands
6
Dec 17th, 2015 08:40 PM
Hannahide
Caribbean Islands
18
Jun 14th, 2015 08:06 AM
wvduck
Caribbean Islands
2
Mar 19th, 2014 08:34 AM
paxi7294
Caribbean Islands
6
Jul 5th, 2010 05:00 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -