Virgin Islands Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, Christiansted, St Croix, Cruz Bay, St John, Frederiksted, St Croix, Red Hook, Saint Thomas, Smith Bay, Saint Thomas, Saint Thomas, Saint Thomas, Punnett Bay, St Croix. With our sunny climate and unique culture, the U.S. Virgin Islands are an increasingly popular destination for remote workers, retirees and second home owners looking for real estate. For Americans in particular, the beautiful U.S.
Virgin Islands are a sought-after destination for a beach house. Before buying a home, it's a good idea to check out our buyer's guide for information on the cost of living in the U.S. Virgin Islands, tips for negotiating, and local information & more. Get ready to take the leap into our tropical Caribbean waters.
Cost of living in the Virgin Islands according to Sea Glass Properties. Thomas is the busiest and most commercialized of the three islands. It also has a reputation for being more exclusive, with many tax-free shops, high-end restaurants, and golf courses. And, unlike the other islands, St.
Thomas has a lively nightlife at dusk. Do you want to take that trip for free and collect valuable miles for your next trip? Check out our best travel credit cards for the best welcome bonuses, benefits and lots of cash back. The Virgin Islands are one of the most unique groups of territories in the world today. They are located along the easternmost tip of the Greater Antilles, east of Puerto Rico.
. Some maps also list Culebra and Vieques as the “Spanish Virgin Islands”, but they are part of the territory of Puerto Rico. When European colonists came this far, the goal was to establish sugar and tobacco plantations. Many of them brought slaves from Africa to establish their agricultural economy.
The current populations are a reflection of the Caribbean and African heritage found in the region. The majority of the inhabitants of the Virgin Islands are warm and welcoming if you maintain your commitment to the community and plan to live on the islands full time. Island life isn't for everyone, so they want to make sure you're willing to stay before forming a relationship. Many of the islands are also free of light sources at night, which means you can observe the stars fantastically.
The storms that come from the ocean are also an incredible sight, and then you can enjoy some of the best sunrises and sunsets our planet has to offer. Then it's time to consider the “island”. Life is moving at a much slower pace in the Virgin Islands, for better and for worse. There's less stress here, unless you're actively looking for problem situations.
It can be exasperating at times, but living here is one of the most magical experiences you'll ever encounter. Even if the U.S. Virgin Islands can't withstand the full impact of a hurricane, it's not uncommon for power lines to fall, roads flooded, trees felled, and infrastructure damage that can limit movement for several days, if not weeks. You'll want to have a generator, additional supplies and fresh water available to manage this disadvantage.
There is also a 36-month resident distinction that is part of this process. You'll find that some companies prefer to hire only transplants, while others want to employ only natives. If you don't know anyone in the British Virgin Islands, decide to rent a house and haven't been there for at least six months, then self-employment might be your only option. There are some challenges to consider when living in the Virgin Islands, but those problems are more related to their location in the Caribbean and the logistical problems that come with that problem.
Once you establish a residence on one of the islands, you'll find that life here is quite normal if you can get used to the weather. When you move here, you may find that some communities or neighborhoods are more willing to welcome you than others. Politics can be particularly difficult at the local level. You'll also experience the support and kindness of your neighbors once you make it known that you intend to stay.
Sign in to access your subscriptions and subscriber-only content. Mention the word “Caribbean” and most people think of places like Aruba, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and other tourist-rich sand masses. The region evokes well-deserved images of crystal clear waters and white-sand beaches. Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras and Mexico offer islands off their Caribbean coast, islands that share the same turquoise blue waters and dust-white beaches you expect when you hear “Only in the Caribbean”, you won't pay a fortune to live in any of them.
You already know something about international life, because you receive our free daily postcards. But what you may not realize is that these email shipments are just the beginning. There's always much more to every story. In fact, there is a whole world of ideas and benefits that we reserve exclusively for readers of our magazine.
Discover the perfect spot abroad, English-speaking Ambergris Caye is Belize's largest island, 25 miles long and just over a mile wide, and San Pedro is its only city. About 30 years ago, Ambergris became a meeting point for divers and fishermen thanks to the Belize Barrier Reef, just half a mile from the coast. This natural paradise of living corals is home to a dizzying variety of marine life, and is the main reason why ambergris has experienced its recent (and significant) growth. Until a few years ago, San Pedro was a small fishing town that catered to adventurous tourists who came to dive and fish on the high seas.
The main motor transport on Ambergris Caye at that time were golf carts (which are still popular, although today there are many more cars on the island). San Pedro is now the second largest city in the district of Belize, with more than 15,000 inhabitants, surpassed in size only by the former capital, Belize City. Donna and her husband, Timm, run the Coconut Café restaurant in San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye. Think tropical French toast, freshly made tortillas, and mouth-watering burritos.
Back in the United States,. We should move to the tropics and have a small spot on the beach,” Donna says. Downtime in Belize offers several activities that create a sense of community for expats. Donna says: “I was part of Rotary for a while and helped with several community service projects.
They included helping the police department implement a 911 program, taking the circus to San Pedro, and implementing a summer sports program. A lot of people say that Donna and Timm had the courage to move to another country. The people of Belize are incredible and welcomed us with open arms. It's a major lifestyle change, but a good major change.
Ambergris Caye is no longer a small, quiet Caribbean island to hide in. But for expats who prefer to live in an active community that offers both the comfort and natural beauty of the surrounding Caribbean Sea, it has a lot to offer. Roatán, an emerald getaway in the western Caribbean, has quietly gone from a secret getaway for divers to a habitable island paradise. At just 50 square miles, this green, mountainous island off the northern coast of Honduras is long and thin, bordered by a reef rich in marine life and adorned with white sand beaches.
This is an island where “normal people” can buy a vacation home or permanent home for a sunny, affordable and comfortable retirement. The infrastructure is good and is getting better and better, with a new online power plant and the recent opening of a hospital with specialized care and a 24-hour emergency room. Isla Mujeres is about eight miles from Cancun, in Mexico, but this tranquil island is a world away from the hustle and bustle of its older sister, more developed by tourism. Before Cancun existed, Mexicans and some adventurous foreigners went to Isla Mujeres to enjoy some of the best beaches and water sports in the world: diving for corals, swimming with dolphins and sailing in a crystal blue sea.
At 55 years old, Rob and Julie Goff were sick of the cold, the snow and the ongoing commercial pressures. When they realized that they could have a full-time life on a Caribbean island, they quickly acted. They packed their bags, sold out their tickets and swapped the cold and stressful lives for an island life of warm, turquoise waters, tropical weather, stress free of stress and the freshest seafood imaginable. “It wasn't a difficult decision,” Rob says.
They both love the beach and Julie likes to spend time in her artist's studio. Rob can often be found in the water with his diving friends. The island enjoys a warm tropical climate (low to the mid-80°F for most of the year) and a relaxed environment; golf carts are preferred to cars as the main mode of transport. The north coast of the island has some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, the east coast is a paradise for athletes with some of the newest designer golf courses in the region.
If you're looking for a discreet getaway but with all the comforts of home, you'll find that the city of Las Terrenas offers great prices with its combination of beautiful beaches, a small town atmosphere, elegant style, and a relatively affordable property. Thirty years ago, it was a rustic fishing village. 24 years ago, the city had no electricity supply. But the influx of 6,000 French and Italians, who loved this place so much that they decided to settle here, changed the image of the city.
Nowadays, the city center is a whirlwind of motoroconchos (mototaxis), shops and cafes painted brightly like a rainbow. The original old wooden houses that were located on the beach are now trendy cafes and restaurants. They are family-run and serve wood-fired pizza and simple snacks, even gourmet Italian and French cuisine. This is not an all-inclusive resort, and thanks to strict planning laws, that should continue to be the case.
The beach hotels here are small and family-run, rather than extensive, faceless chains. When Dan Williams decided to retire there, he had been working as an environmental engineer for the Missouri state government for eight years. At the time, he was 57 years old, single and wanted to retire to the beach. After a few months in Sosua, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, Dan decided to accompany him with a friend who was taking a road trip to Las Terrenas.
Dan was delighted and decided to move there. Not many people know that Panama has its own tropical archipelagoes. Located on the Caribbean coast, near the border with Costa Rica, Bocas del Toro is a group of nine main islands and a few hundred smaller cays and islets, dotted with calm turquoise waters. The main center is the bustling town of Bocas, on the large island of Isla Colon.
It is a dilapidated coastal city with brightly painted buildings, many of them on stilts above the water. It is the base of operations for most visitors and where most expatriates live. Bocas, as it is known, has to do with water. Water sports, fishing, and whale watching are just a few of the locals' popular pastimes.
The small town is tourist-driven, but with a relaxed atmosphere. The appeal of these tropical islands is the mix of the exotic and the recognizable, an island paradise with modern comforts and a balance between Caribbean culture and American practicality. Thomas is the island where the majority of the population of the U.S. UU.
This 30-square-mile island has jungle cliffs that rise into the sky, and the turquoise sea is dotted with yachts of all shapes and sizes. Thomas, and in particular the capital of Charlotte Amalie, can be invaded by tourists. What do Nicolas Cage, Johnny Depp, Oprah Winfrey, Sean Connery, Bill Gates and Tiger Woods have in common? In addition to being celebrities, they are among the thousands of North Americans and Europeans who have second homes in the Bahamas. Like other expats who live there all or part of the year, these stars often think of the Bahamas as a paradise, an exclusive group of islands with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
The Bahamas are friendly to newcomers, there are no foreign languages to deal with, crime is relatively low, and the islands are located just off the coast of Florida. Today, Grand Bahama is the second most populated island, with more than 50,000 inhabitants. Its main city, Freeport, has a population of about 27,000, making it the second largest metropolitan area in the country, far outshining the West End, the former capital of Grand Bahama. The island of Grand Bahama has become a paradise for beach lovers, as well as for divers, fishermen, golfers and sports enthusiasts of all kinds.
It's also a prime destination for people who enjoy first-class shopping. But living here costs a lot, since it is 30 to 50% more expensive than in the US. The best places in the world to retire Subscribe to the magazine today and save 65%. You'll pay double that cost for something more like what you might be used to having where you currently live.
The USPS delivers mail to the islands and you receive military protection in the event of any kind of international confrontation. This advantage means that the inhabitants of the Virgin Islands receive protection under United States criminal laws. In addition, the official language is English, the currency is the US dollar, and American citizens don't even need a passport to enter the islands. Ambergris Caye, English speaking, is the largest island in Belize, 25 miles long and a little over a mile wide, and San Pedro is its only city.
It's vital to consider the pros and cons of living in the Virgin Islands if you ever want to call home here. Croix is home to Harvey's, which is said to be basketball star Tim Duncan's favorite restaurant when he returns to the island. If you stay outside the tourist areas of the islands, there is a good chance that you have enough space for yourself. .
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