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RELO CATION GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome to St. Croix ..........................................................

Hike .......................................................................................

About Our Team ....................................................................

Golf ........................................................................................

About St. Croix .........................................................................

Beaches, Beaches and More Beaches .....

History .................................................................................

Snorkel & Dive ...............................................................

Geographic Areas .......................................................

Zip Line ..............................................................................

Living in St. Croix ...................................................................

Sailing & Water Sports ...........................................

Cost of Living .................................................................

Sport Fishing ..................................................................

Schools ..............................................................................

Ride Horses .....................................................................

Working Here .................................................................

The Rainforest ...............................................................

Volunteering Here .....................................................

Get Married .....................................................................

Healthcare .......................................................................

Moving To St. Croix ...............................................................

Crime ...................................................................................

Bringing Pets .................................................................

How is St. Croix Different .....................................

Furnishing & Remodeling ....................................

Living Here: Pro’s .........................................................

Living Here: Con’s .......................................................

Bringing a Car to the Virgin Islands: Things to Think About ............................................

Things To Do ..............................................................................

Bring a Car or Buy One Here .............................

Dine Out ............................................................................

Importing and Registering a Vehicle .........

Restaurants & Watering Holes ..........................

Getting a Driver’s License .....................................

Art & Culture...................................................................

Retiring In St. Croix ..............................................................

Music ....................................................................................

Should You Retire In St. Croix ..........................

Shop .....................................................................................

Resources ....................................................................................

Keep Fit ..............................................................................

S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

WELCOME TO

ST CROIX Hi! Has Island Fever taken hold of you? Are you considering a move to St Croix? If so, we know you have a million questions! So, that’s why we prepared this guide - to help you learn more about the island, what it takes to move here, and what it’s like to live here. We sincerely hope this will be of help to you and invite you to email or call us with any questions you have. We consider “educating you” about the island to be one of the most important aspects of our job! So just know that we’ve all been where you are, and we are eager to help! So as of right now, YOU have new friends in St Croix! We can’t wait to show you around and help you find your new home! Kim

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ABOUT

OUR TEAM The Agents at Island Life Real Estate are a bright and fun group of folks who share a love of St. Croix and a desire

to help others achieve their real estate dreams. Led by Kim Lucas, the team embodies the spirit of helpfulness, honesty and integrity, and excels at listening, problem solving, negotiating, and helping people complete real estate transactions. You will find them to be professional, approachable and friendly. Let one of our agents introduce YOU to your next property! Here’s what you can expect when you work with our team to buy real estate. Reliability and Dependability •

You can count on us. We are trustworthy and responsible. And if you engage us as your agent – We will always be negotiating for your best interests!

Responsiveness • • • 6

We will be alert and receptive to your specialized and unique real estate, marketing and transactional needs. We will do our best to anticipate those needs, and prepare you for each step of the buying process. We will be available for consultation throughout your entire transaction. S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

Market Knowledge •

We know the St. Croix real estate market, and are experienced and proficient in real estate transactions on the island.

Communication • • •

We will do our best to explain your transaction terms in straightforward language. You will always be informed of the progress of your transaction. If and when we notice a possible problem, we will let you know immediately, and suggest solutions to resolve the issue.

An Enjoyable Sale • • •

We mix work with fun and will do our best to alleviate any stress you feel or anxieties you have. We work toward achieving a successful transaction for all involved parties. We want to finish the sale as your friend, and earn your referrals for years to come.

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ABOUT ST CROIX

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HISTORY St. Croix has a rich and interesting history. I’ve provided a much encapsulated version here - taken mostly from a wonderful resource that those of you who are considering moving here MUST have - and that’s the Settler’s Handbook for the US Virgin Islands (you can order your copy from https://www.gotostcroix.com/). This book covers many topics of interest to anyone interested in St. Croix, and is also a great resource, guide, and source of valuable information about the island. I’ve excerpted some of the key historical events from the overview of this book to give you a thumbnail sketch of our history. Evidence suggests that the lovely island of St. Croix has been inhabited since around 2500 BC. There have been three known pottery-making tribes who inhabited the island, starting with the Igneri (or Ancient Ones), the Taino or Arawak, and the Caribs, who were here until the late 16th century. Christopher Columbus and his crew were the first Europeans to visit us in 1493, and anchored near Salt River bay. They were met by some of these Indians and as a result, ‘Ol Chris produced cotton, indigo, tobacco, sugar and tropical foods. In the late 17th century, the French were forced to abandon the island, and eventually English woodcutters from Tortola moved in and engaged in lumbering. France sold St. Croix to the Danish West India and Guinea Company in 1733. Denmark took over as a Crown Colony in 1755 and began to expand the sugar plantations and control the African slave trade. The Danes established the towns of Christiansted (named for King Christian VI of Denmark) in 1735, and S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

Frederiksted (named for King Frederik V) in 1752. Friederich Moth, governor of the West India Company, designed the town layout for Christiansted and had the island surveyed into 150 acre estates, the names of which we still use today! Moth encouraged settlers by offering tax benefits and reasonable prices on the land (sound familiar? We’re still doing it!!). The tolerance of the Danes regarding ethnicity and religion made our island a cultural melting pot, which it still is. English eventually became the common language, but most people spoke a Dutch Creole, a blend of Dutch and African languages, and later a dialect of English - which I believe still influences the native language here. Our locals speak their on brand of “English,” which is charming and lovely, although a bit difficult for us “mainlanders” to understand, at least initially. “All ah we tink dis is ah good ting, to ah talk Crucian. ” The sugar-based prosperity of St. Croix reached its peak in the mid 1700’s with exports of sugar, molasses, rum, hardwoods, and cotton. At one point, our island was called the “garden of the West Indies,” which I think even captures our culture, although our new “branding” is labeling St. Croix as “the Port of Solace.” Today, you can see the ruins of over 80 sugar mills here on our beautiful island. They stand as a reminder to embrace our diversity and cherish our freedom, for it was on the backs of the African slaves that these mills were built and the sugar was produced - and our island prospered. Alexander Hamilton began his career on St. Croix in a shipping firm owned by a New Yorker. The wealth and social status achieved by the prominent families on the 12

island appealed to colonial families in Philadelphia, NY and Charleston. During the American Revolution, the products of the islands and close family connections produced natural support for St Croix, and the neutrality and free port status of the Danish Virgins were important financial assets to the colonies.

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In the early 1800’s, our economic picture began to dim, as the newly invented processing of the beet sugar crop began to cut into the market for cane sugar. In 1848, the slaves of St. Croix marched in Frederiksted and demanded emancipation. Governor General Peter von Scholten made a proclamation from the walls of fort Frederik that freed all the slaves on July 3, 1848 (way ahead of the continental US!), But his actions were considered illegal by the Danish government. In 1848 labor was regulated by a colonial labor law that was deemed oppressive; thirty years later, it culminated in a violent riot that led to the burning and destruction of homes and plantations - which we refer to as “de Fire Burn.” Emancipation did not solve the island’s underlying

economic problems, and our population fell significantly. Then, in 1871, the US attempted to buy the islands, but were not successful until 1917, when the islands were purchased for $25 million from Denmark. The free port status of our islands was retained in the sale treaty and is still in effect today. The islands were first administered by the US Navy, with the Dept. of the Interior assuming jurisdiction in 1931. The Organic Act provided local government in 1936, and a revision to that act in 1954 provided a three branch territorial government. Our first elected governor was Melvin Evans, in 1970, and our only “highway” here on the island was named in his honor. St. Croix is a fascinating and exciting place to live!

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GEOGRAPHIC AREAS

Christiansted East End “A” (EA) NorthSide “A” (NA) West End (WE) King Quarter (KI) Frederiksted East End “B” (EB) NorthSide “B” (NB) Company (CO) Queen Quarter (QU) Prince Quarter (PR) 14

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The map of St. Croix is divided into 11 areas or “Quarters”,

which indicate the general geographic regions of the island. Quarters are further divided into Estates, each once a plantation. Today there are 77 Estates on St. Croix. The East end of the island consists of two quarters, East End “A” (EA) and East End “B” (EB). This area of the island is the driest and the vegetation consists of scrubby bushes, cactus, century plants and the like. Hibiscus and Bougainvillea also abound so there is color as well. Point Udall, found at the easternmost tip - is the eastern most part of the USA! Winds tend to blow from east to west, so East-enders enjoy great breezes. There’s a reef surrounding the North shore of the East end, which helps minimize the salt blast from the ocean and keeps wave action to a minimum. There are hills and valleys and East end residents enjoy the very best views of Buck Island, which is a National Monument. Many “Mainlanders” and sailors reside on the East end of St. Croix. There are two marinas on the East end: The Yacht Club and Green Cay marina. The East end of St. Croix is the “skinniest” portion of the island, and includes both a North shore and a South shore. Some properties actually have a dual shore view! The Divi Hotel and Casino are on the South shore, and this shore gets more wave action. The communities of Cotton Valley, Solitude, Hope and Carton, and parts of North Grapetree typically boast the best views of Buck Island, and the home prices reflect that.

One of the most prestigious and expensive neighborhoods here is Shoys (Anna’s Hope, Buccaneer Bay are other names for the same area). It is a gated community right beside the Buccaneer Hotel, with superb views, a great beach, expensive homes, in a wonderful location. The South shore on the East end is gorgeous, with the most amazing turquoise water! The neighborhood of Union Mt. Washington is an up-and-coming area with reasonably priced homes and land, some with views of the water. This neighborhood does not have covenants and restrictions, which is appealing to some folks. Marienhoj is another nice neighborhood with underground utilities (very rare here). And the areas called Turner Hole, Slob (Danish word meaning “slope”), and Grapetree are all high-end areas with significant homes and outstanding views. The North shore of St. Croix consists of NorthSide “A” (NA) and NorthSide “B” (NB). NorthSide “A” is the Western most part of the North shore and includes Hamm’s Bluff, Davis Bay (where Carambola is located), and some stunning and dramatic verdant hills and valleys. Some of the properties in NorthSide “A” are reached from the West end of the island (Prosperity, Jolly Hill) and much of this quarter is inaccessible by “regular” vehicles. There are some great beaches on the West end in the NorthSide “A” quarter, including Rainbow Beach and Butler Bay. NorthSide “B” contains the very popular Cane Bay Beach area and lots of great bars and restaurants. This part of the island is very popular and has a distinct “culture” and feel.

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Many people think this part of the island looks like Hawaii. Indeed, it has a very lush and tropical feel here, much like you’d expect on a tropical island! At the end of the North shore road is the Carambola Beach Resort, which will shortly resume their branding as a Marriott Renaissance Resort. There’s a nice, gated subdivision, Prosperity Ridge, that is part of the Carambola Homeowners’ Association. If you go up “the Beast” (a very steep road that takes you from the North shore over the island), you’ll come to another gated community, Hibiscus Point, also part of the Carambola HOA. Both of these neighborhoods have significant building restrictions and architectural review requirements and breathtaking views! Carambola Golf community and Ginger Hills (a bit further up “the Beast”) offer reasonably priced and nice sized lots, although they, too, have significant building restrictions and fairly high fees. In addition to single family homes and home sites, there are three condominium complexes here – Sweet Lime I and II, and Saman. These are spacious units with nice views of the hills and golf course. The West End (WE) of the island is home to Sandy Point, perhaps one of the nicest beaches in the world! The water is typically calm and clear. This is a protected area due to turtle nesting, regulated by the Park Service. There are a few communities on the South shore of the West end, some undeveloped land as well. The cruise ships dock on the West end, in the town of Frederiksted. This part of the island is not so hilly, and consists of a number of densely populated neighborhoods.

Adjacent to the West end and along the South shore and interior is Prince Quarter (PR). Much of this quarter is lush and tropical. Our Botanical Gardens are in Prince Quarter, along with a large grocery store (Plaza Extra) and KMart. The airport is partially contained in Prince Quarter. There is some nice shoreline here (South shore) too! King Quarter (KI) is home to several densely populated neighborhoods, including Barren Spot, Mon Bijou and Glynn. The Racetrack is in King Quarter. You will not typically find “vacation homes” in King Quarter. The South shore of this quarter is predominantly industrial and is home to Diageo, where all the Captain Morgan Rum for the Mainland is made!

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Queen Quarter (QU) stretches from North to South shore and is pretty much the center of the island. The North shore offers dramatic beachfront and nice views of Buck Island. While the North shore beachfront is beautiful, there is no reef to protect it and there is a “salt blast” here that makes maintenance a bit of a headache. The South side of this quarter is our main shopping area, “Sunny Isles.” The hospital is located here as well. Judith’s Fancy is mostly in Queen Quarter and is about 10 minutes west of Christiansted. It’s a gated oceanfront community that includes a gorgeous park overlooking the Salt River (where Columbus landed). It is a nicely diverse area, older as well as newer homes, a wide price range, and a great place to walk.

Frederiksted is home to many historic buildings, a stunning waterfront, and the pier where the cruise ships dock. This town is undergoing a bit of a Renaissance, with developers buying some of the older buildings and refurbishing them. The Fred Boutique Hotel and Victoria House hotel are great examples; They are both fabulous and have stimulated the opening of some great restaurants and bars. But still, much of the area is “run down” and looks (and is) economically depressed. This may change radically in the next 10 years. There’s a saying here ‘West is best” - and those who live here love it.

Company (CO) quarter contains some nice beachfront on the South shore, including beautiful Haypenny Beach. Company Quarter runs all the way to the North shore. This part of the island used to be vast farmland and definitely has a rural feel to it, especially along the South shore. Areas closer to the North shore are fairly densely populated. The two towns on St. Croix, each are a “quarter” unto themselves and include all the real estate in the towns. Christiansted is the larger of the two towns and home to a fair amount of shopping. Much of our government is housed here, as are the attorneys and Real Estate offices. Christiansted is home to a lively waterfront boardwalk where you can dine alfresco and watch the sea planes take off and land, and the boats sail by in the harbor. S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

LIVING IN ST CROIX

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COST OF LIVING Dining Out There are some great restaurants here and the prices compare favorably with nice restaurants on the mainland in a MAJOR city. A nice meal here will cost anywhere from $20 - $40 a plate, not including drinks. Lunches are typically $8 - $15 here. A good burger will set you back $10 - $17. Many of the sandwiches here are gigantic - so while they may cost $8 - $10 be pricey, they are big enough to share. Ask!

Groceries The good news is you can find just about anything you want in our grocery stores (unlike many Caribbean islands). Prices are higher though, sometimes considerably higher. On average, prices are probably about 20% more than in the states.

Gasoline Our gas prices here are slightly higher than in the states.

Tipping the bands that play is highly

Cable, Internet, and Phone All comparable to states. About $50 a month for regular speed DSL (Closer to $100 for high speed), We do have Skylink here as well as Broadband and Viya.

Insurance Windstorm insurance is high, and likely to increase. To estimate it, figure about 2 - 3% of your purchase price - and it is required if you have a mortgage, and first year is paid up front. When it’s time to compute ACTUAL insurance costs, the hurricane Insurance will be approximately 2% of the reconstruction cost of the insurable improvements (which is a number found on your appraisal!). Most condos here include insurance in their monthly condo fees, which range from $500 - $1,500 a month and likely to increase with increasing insurance prices.

Utilities

Entertainment Lots of it and it’s very reasonable here - most times free. 22

Free parking too! recommended.

Our electricity is expensive - probably 3 - 4 times what mainlanders pay per kilowatt hour. Water is inexpensive - in

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SCHOOLS most cases collected in cisterns from your roof’s guttering system. IF you have to purchase a truckload, it’s not terribly expensive, and rarely needed. . Natural Gas is sold in canisters and is preferred here for cooking. Solar is becoming more and more popular, although permits are needed for “net metering.”

Taxes Property taxes are typically less than in states. Mil rate for houses & condos is .0037 and that is multiplied by the price you pay for your home. So about $400 in property taxes per $100,000. We don’t pay “state” income tax, and your federal tax rate will be same as in the states. There is no tax on any type of consumable or retail goods or services - although a “sin tax” is imposed on liquor, beer, wine, and soft drinks. There is a 12.5% hotel tax and a 5% gross receipts tax (for independent contractors, entrepreneurs - charged on income over $9,000 per month). That tax is paid annually (but accounted for by month) for people earning less than $225,000 per year, but paid monthly for those earning en excess of $225,000 annually.

Public vs Private The public schools have their share of problems. Mold, insufficient staff, poor maintenance, and difficulty finding and keeping good teachers. One out of every six students who attend secondary school is enrolled in a private school here. There are several private schools here: • •

Good Hope Country Day School (http://ghcds.org/) AZ Academy (http://azvi.org/about-az/)

For a full description of ALL schools, their phone numbers, number enrolled, etc, go to: https://www.gotostcroix.com/ education/

PLEASE CONTACT A ST. CROIX CPA to find out about income taxes, and anything tax related. S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

WORKING HERE Moving here or “retiring” here does not mean that you

Virgin Islands Department of Labor, Division of Job Services. Registration with the Department of Labor is recommended shortly after you arrive, especially if you plan to work full time. It must be done in person, and you must submit identification (birth certificate, driver’s license or state ID for copying) and an up-todate resume with your application. You are given a copy of most recent job listings to review while you wait to see a representative. Frederiksted: 302 King St., (340) 772-2312

can’t be productive or have a full or part time job to bring in some extra money and/or contribute in a meaningful way. There are plenty of job opportunities. Your job research should start before your arrival on the island. Checking local job websites and newspapers will give you an idea of what the job market on St. Croix has to offer. It is also a good idea to check the job opening/career pages of local and federal agency websites, especially if your experience and training are in the areas of social work, business administration or project management. It is not likely that you will secure more than the prospect of an interview before your arrival, unless your area of expertise is in a specific industry.

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Christiansted: Sunny Isle Store #7, (340) 773-1440 This is a necessary stop if you are interested in one of the fields that require passing an examination for board certification to be employed in the territory. Social worker, architect, and electrician are among the job titles for which this is a must.

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Job openings in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands http://www.career.vi

Check the links below for more information on local employment opportunities. • 24

Virgin Islands Department of Labor https://www.vidol.gov/search-for-jobs/

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Photo: Diageo’s Captain Morgan Rum

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Popular job website - enter St Croix USVI for location http://www.monster.com

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St. Croix Source, online newspaper. https://stcroixsource.com/category/jobs/

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Virgin Islands Daily News, online version. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/classifieds/ job/?l=25

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Election Systems of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Poll workers are needed for primaries and general elections. Call (340) 773-1021 for information or applications are accepted in-person, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., across from the KMart annex at the Sunny Isle Annex #4, 93A.

VOLUNTEERING HERE If you’d like interesting and worthwhile ways to spend some of the hours when you’re not on the beach, volunteering is one great way to become an active and valuable member of your new community. St. Croix has a number of nonprofit and service organizations dedicated to worthy causes, improving the lives of its citizens and helping those in crisis situations. Monitoring the turtles, saving/protecting animals. Volunteering is a great way to put your expertise to use or learn a new skill while meeting your neighbors and fellow Cruzans, born here or “born again.” Here are but a few of our many volunteer organizations: •

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VI Resource Conservation & Development Council: Dedicated to community projects in land conservation and water management, land management and community development. St. Croix Animal Welfare Center: https://www.stcroixawc.org Dedicated to promoting the humane treatment of animals in the St. Croix community! The Pet Place is located beside Foot Town on the north shore is a place where you can adopt pets or buy things for your pet.

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Women’s Coalition of St. Croix: https://www.wcstx.com Dedicated to providing services to victims and their families, education and information to the community ending domestic violence.

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Interfaith Coalition of St. Croix: Religious leaders and lay-people of diverse faith traditions dedicated to serving the needs of the community.

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Boys & Girls Club USVI: https://www.boysandgirlsclubvi.org Development programs and services for youth aged 7-17. Administrative Office: (340) 778-8990.

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Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands: https://www.drcvi.org Dedicated to the advancement of legal rights of people with disabilities in the USVI. Administrative office: (340) 772-1200.

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American Red Cross: (340) 778-5104 Call or visit the Christiansted office for

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VOLUNTEERING HERE volunteer information, 6035 Castle Coakley, Christiansted, St. Croix VI, 00820; (340) 778-5104. •

Sea Turtle Project: https://seaturtlecensus.com/ The St. Croix Sea Turtle Project studies and protects sea turtles in collaboration with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in St. Croix. They are funded by major research grants, private donors and fundraising activities.

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Ruff Start St Croix Rescue https://ruffstartstx.org/ Their mission is to proactively search out the dogs who can’t search for help themselves. In addition, they offer educational youth programs to encourage animal compassion and advocacy in their everyday lives.

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R.E.A.L. Cruzan Cats https://www.realcruzancats.org/ Their mission is to improve the lives of cats on St Croix.

Photo: R.E.A.L. Cruzan Cats

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HEALTHCARE If you’re thinking about living here, you will definitely want to know about healthcare here. We have a 250 bed hospital (http://www.jflusvi.org) and a world class state of the art cardiac center, however, since the hurricanes in 2017, services have been limited. Plessen Healthcare is taking up some of the slack https://www.plessenhealthcare.com. Fortunately, a new state-of-the-art interim facility has just opened, referred to as JFL North. FL-North is a state-of-the-art, 54-bed facility designed to replace JFL-Main. This 55,000 sq. ft. facility houses 54 inpatient beds, 14 medical/surgical beds, 13 emergency room beds, 4 fast track beds, 4 behavioral health beds, and 4 operating rooms. While the space is smaller than the current state, JFL-North is also equipped with new and improved technology to include a 128-slice CT machine. These improvements equip JFL staff with the necessary resources to deliver high quality healthcare to our St. Croix community. Phase 1 is the transition of patients from JFLH to JFL North,” Concurrently, we will commence with Phase 2, 28

the construction of the Critical Administrative Building on the southern side of JFL North, which will provide a direct connection to the VICC, thereby enabling staff and patients to move between each of the facilities. This 6,500 square feet building will serve as the main entrance to JFL North and will house non-clinical functions that directly support patient care.” Upon completion of Phase 2, demolition will begin on the current JFL structure. The timeline for the completion of the new permanent structure is 6-7 years once demolition begins. St Croix is home to plenty of good physicians and specialists. We also have a great group of holistic health practitioners - from acupuncturists to nutritionists to herbalists. As you might imagine, the island attracts health-conscious and spiritual people and practitioners. Many of us get insurance through MASA, AERO MD, or other provider to fly us off island in the event of an emergency. That insurance is affordable and gives you great peace of

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HEALTHCARE mind. If you are a Veteran, we have a VA clinic here. And of course, you can collect Social Security benefits here and use your Medicare or Medicaid insurance most places. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, there are no companies who will write health insurance for individuals. This is one of the biggest drawbacks of living here as a retiree, if you are not yet covered by Medicare. And if you are covered by a health insurance plan through your employer, even if your employer is a stateside one, most likely that insurance will be accepted here Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, there are no companies who will write health insurance for individuals. This is one of the biggest drawbacks of living here as a retiree, if you are not yet covered by Medicare. And if you are covered by a health insurance plan through your employer, even if your employer is a stateside one, most likely that insurance will be accepted here. S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

CRIME Crime is always an issue with folks who don’t know much about our island. We do have quite a bit of petty crime, and even murders and more serious crimes. Most of the crime here is gang-related or drug-related. And because of the numbers, our “statistics” sound much worse than things really are. Of course, if you live in areas that are known to be more crime-infested, you are more likely to be a victim.

produced, and the audio format, produced by the WJKC family of radio stations.

Here is a report about Crime Stoppers USVI, our all-volunteer island “Stop-Crime” organization.

Law enforcement pursues the community’s tips, which in turn keeps the community sending in follow-up information and new tips. If community members are hesitant to talk directly with police, the police will often give out Crime Stoppers cards, and will ask them to submit their information anonymously. Lt. Thomas Hannah, St. Croix Law Enforcement Police Coordinator for the program, said that when Crime Stoppers USVI launched in 2009, he had serious doubts about whether it would work in the territory. He has since been convinced that Crime Stoppers provides a valuable tool to investigators that has helped change law enforcement in the territory by getting citizens more involved with police. With citizen involvement, the Police Department’s solve rate for homicides has drastically improved.

Crime Stoppers USVI has continued to expand and provide services to the community, including an increased rate of tips, arrests and rewards, and the addition of a 2nd law enforcement coordinator within the VI Police Department (VIPD). The VI Government is now producing their weekly Wednesday release in video format for TV broadcast. This complements their existing print format, which is self-

Volunteers are very important to Crime Stoppers USVI, since they pay no salaries. They have a talented and enthusiastic group of people, representing all three islands, who run and improve the program territory-wide. They take pride in knowing that Crime Stoppers is working and that it’s helping to make the territory safer for everybody. The volunteers’ activities include regular meetings to plan

Just like in ANY city or town, there are “good parts” and “not so good parts.” Unfortunately, we can’t get “police reports” that show meaningful statistics about crime on the island. Your best bet is to ask locals about places to avoid (in terms of what neighborhoods to live in / not live in) and do some scouting to get a “feel” for areas you might be considering living in.

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Safety Tips: our progress, working with law enforcement as needed, fundraising, paying rewards, promoting the program via our weekly release, via media appearances and literature, making presentations to various groups, providing office assistance, keeping the website up to date, writing the newsletter, and more. Please contact them (see below) if you want to join their talented group. To donate, visit http:// www.crimestoppersvi.org/ .

Contacts •

•

Website: http://www.crimestoppersusvi.org for information and resources. Submit Tips: Call (800-222-8477) Email: Lduntoncsvi@gmail.com

Just use your common sense, pay attention to your surroundings and you’ll be fine. Don’t park in out-of-the-way places. Don’t leave valuables in your car. Don’t walk in dark, uninhabited areas at night. Don’t carry large sums of money or valuables (passport) with you. Don’t be afraid of the crazy locals (we have a few...they’re harmless but can be annoying.) Don’t feel you have to give them money. They do OK.

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HOW IS ST CROIX

DIFFERENT The slow pace and laid back culture in St. Croix probably will not be a surprise to you; it’s an island - you most likely expect

(and will welcome) that. The culture here may be a bit surprising, in that it’s the friendliest place ever! The people are warm and nice and helpful. Nearly everyone that visits here for any length of time will comment on that. Perhaps the biggest surprise has to do with housekeeping. We get wonderful tropical breezes here - and they carry with them a tremendous amount of DUST....from the SAHARA DESERT no less... and ash (when Montserrat erupts) and salt air, which makes everything sticky and causes everything to rust. And being in the tropics, there are, of course, critters. EVERYWHERE. And the tall ceilings, while great for keeping the house cool, are difficult to keep clean and free of spider webs. And ants will completely take over if you leave any little crumb out. My advice to people is to most definitely adjust your standards. This is NOT the place where you want to be doing housework every day! You just learn to live with it!

sand

salt

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LIVING HERE PROS Weather! Winters are Fabulous

...and summers here are very uncrowded and quiet (many places here close for a portion of the summer). The water is so wonderful in the summer; like bath water!

Fun!

There is ALWAYS something going on here, and you don’t have to drive forever to get there or pay to park! Art and music are focal points of activity here. If you like outdoor activities, art, and music, you will never be bored here.

No traffic!!

Occasionally, the traffic around Sunny Isle can be a little hairy, especially between 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. and between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m., but compared to most places in the states, it’s not even worth mentioning!

NICE PEOPLE!!!

The locals and we transplants all seem to be so happy to be here that we’re just NICER than folks on the mainland! It really is a polite and friendly place to be; nearly everyone who comes here remarks on how friendly it is.

Water everywhere!

It’s difficult to be out of sight of the ocean for more than a few hours - the island is only 8 miles wide and 27 miles long - so you see the ocean a lot here.

Great diversity!

There seems to be a much greater acceptance of diversity here than in other places. Here, there’s an “all- a-we” culture - it’s one big happy family!

Sunrises and Sunsets – and BIG SKY!!

Imagine getting to see sunrises and/or sunsets over the ocean every day! It’s fabulous! 34

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LIVING HERE CONS It’s EXPENSIVE!!

Food prices are high here (groceries, eating out). Electricity is outrageously expensive. (about 4X what it is in the states). Homes are expensive. If you want a home with a view and a pool, be prepared to pay over $600,000 for it. Insurance (if you own a home) is expensive. Figure about 2 - 3% of the purchase price per year for hurricane insurance, which is required if you get a mortgage.

Wages

Jobs here typically pay less than on the mainland.

It takes FOREVER to get things done!!

(but hey, you look around and see 1000 colors of blue in the ocean, and forget that you’re frustrated!!!)

There are housekeeping challenges.

It’s difficult to keep things clean when all your windows and doors are open all the time! Plus, it’s the tropics, so we have lots of “critters.” Termites, mosquitoes, geckos, gungalos, and centipedes are just a few of the bugs we have to learn to live with.

There’s too much crime.

This is a community of “haves” and “have nots” - and there’s just too much petty crime here. It’s aggravating and frustrating - and at times - scary.

Limited healthcare

Currently, we have limited hospital facilities (due to hurricanes). And you can’t get private, individual medical insurance here (unless you work for a company that offers it).

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THINGS TO DO

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DINE OUT On the East end, check out Duggans for great seafood. They’re famous for “whiskey lobster”.

Castaways is a fun little place with great bar food and great live music. The bar burger and Pulled Pork sandwich are both great.

bite to eat - and then you can enjoy the beach for dessert! The Deep End is also a beachfront bar/restaurant not to be missed, especially on Thursday nights for “Disco Bingo!” So popular and fun that reservations are required!

GOAT, located in Coakley Bay condos, has great food and a spectacular view - only open “in season.” Fine dining with a great atmosphere.

The town of Christiansted has a number of good restaurants, many of them new. On the Boardwalk, you have Nate’s Boathouse, RumRunners, Shupes, Brew, and Sugar Mill Pizza.

The Libation Station at Ziggy’s Market has wonderful sandwiches, and special dinners are held here several nights a week with a great brunch on Sunday.

Other great restaurants in town include Cafe Fresco, Galangal (fantastic Thai food), Savant, Too Chez, Hamiltons, Noodss, Toast, Dashi, Common Cents, and Bombay Club.

Blue Water Terrace is home to some great food, including Lori’s famous Fried Chicken. You won’t leave this place hungry, guaranteed, which is a shame because the desserts here are to die for!

There are many others in Christiansted town, including vegan restaurants, cocktail lounges, and local food - Kim’s, Singhs, Ital in Paradise, and Harveys. Treat yourself to an Island Food Tour - you won’t be disappointed or leave hungry! https://www.vifoodtours.com.

The Mermaid and Beauregards at the Buccaneer are fantastic spots to sit and watch the ocean and have a nice 38

On the North shore, there’s a great little high end restaurant

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called AMA that’s so close to the water you might just get wet! Rowdy Joes, Leaherback Landing, Saman at Night (at Carambola hotel), and Off the Wall, are not to be missed. Out west, check out the Lost Dog on King St. in Frederiksted for great pizza. It doesn’t open till around 5:00, but stays open late. Other good spots in Frederiksted include Ciboné (The chef at Ciboné is passionate about locally sourced food and it is fresh, innovative and delicious!), Pollys at the Pier, The Tap Deck Bar, Six Nine Restaurant, and The Fred are favorites, and Louie and Nacho’s Beach Bar are located right next door to the Fred Boutique hotel. Turtle’s Deli is a good spot for lunch, also located on the south end of Strand St. Further South, along the beach road, there’s a nice restaurant/bar called the Beach Side Café located at Sand Castle Hotel. It has excellent food and one of the best beaches on the island. Mid-island, you’ll find La Reine Chicken Shack. It has THE best rotisserie chicken EVER! And the mahi and other dishes are to die for, as well. Blues Barbecue is a fun spot to listen to music and get some good eats. For great Mexican food, El Leon on the boardwalk is beautiful and has tasty food and delicious drinks. No Bones Cafe, Maria’s, and The Bistro, are good spots too, all located just east of Christiansted. S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

A stunning sunset at AMA restaurant

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RESTAURANTS &

WATERING HOLES

Name

Location

Comments

Alfios

Christiansted

Great homemade Italian restaurant!

AMA

North Shore

Elegant seaside dining. Excellent food and service.

Beachside Cafe at Sandcastles Hotel

Frederiksted

Right on the beach, good Sunday brunch, great menu, nice folks, music on weekends

Beauregards

The Buccaneer

Great sushi and stir fry!

Blue Water Terrace

East End

Blues Bar-B-Que

La Grande Princess

Nice restaurant overlooking the sea. Fabulous desserts! Great burgers & bar-b-que. Live music occasionally

Bombay Club

Christiansted

Great atmosphere. Try the roasted garlic & brie appetizer! Yum!

Breaker’s Roar

Christiansted

Cocktail lounge - with “Tiki” drinks. Nice apps too!

Brew

Christiansted

Brewery and fun bar

Cafe Fresco

Christiansted

Great breakfast and lunch spot -Gallows bay area. Very fresh and healthy!

Carolines

Christiansted

Beautiful spot for breakfast or lunch! Part of King Christian hotel

Castaways

East End

Great live music. Pizza, salads, and bar food. Fun spot.

Chicken Shack

La Reine

Great rotisserie chicken & ribs. Take out!

Ciboné

Frederiksted

Innovative, fresh, locally sourced and delicious!

Common Cents Pub

Christiansted

Bar, good food

Dashi

Christiansted

Sushi, etc.

Deep End Bar

Green Cay

Fun bar and restaurant with a nice beach.

Duggans

East End

Nice! Fresh seafood & lobster. Kirby works there!

El Leon

Christiansted

Stylish and delicious Mexican food

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MORE RESTAURANTS Name

Location

Comments

Galangal

Christiansted

BEAUTIFUL restaurant – Good Thai food

Hamiltons

Christiansted

VERY good food; fine dining. Great cocktails and wine list, nice atmosphere

Harveys

Christiansted

Local food

Ital in Paradise

Christiansted

Local food

Kim’s

Christiansted

Local food

Leatherback Landing

Cane Bay

Funky and fun beach bar & restaurant

Lost Dog

Frederiksted

Funky bar – GREAT pizza

Louie and Nachos

Frederiksted

Beach bar, burgers, tacos

Maria’s Cantina

Christiansted

Mexican food

Nate’s Boathouse

Christiansted

Seafood and steaks

No Bones Cafe

Christiansted

Consistently good food, nice variety, A/C

Noods

Christiansted

Noodle restaurant - lots of tasty things!

Cane Bay

Funky and fun beach bar & restaurant

Off the Wall Polly’s at the Pier

Frederiksted

Internet café, coffee shop, homemade Armstrong’s’ ice cream

Rhythms

Frederiksted

Great beach bar – live music (THE place to be on Sunday afternoons…)

Rowdy Joes

North Shore

Excellent food, fun bar. Great ice cream!

Rum Runners

Christiansted

Good food – nice views

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& WATERING HOLES Name

Location

Comments

Savant

Christiansted

Eclectic menu – including Thai!

Shupes

Christiansted

On the Boardwalk. Burgers and beer (good).

Singhs

Christiansted

Local food

Six Nine Restaurant

Frederiksted

Great restaurant and cocktails.

Sprat Net

Cane Bay

Funky and fun beach bar & restaurant

Sugarmill Pizza

Christiansted

Great pizza

TAP Deck Bar

Frederiksted

Fun bar and billiards

The Bistro

Christiansted

Breakfast and lunch spot - coffee and smoothies

The Buccaneer

Nice formal dining

The Fred

Frederiksted

American fare, great outdoor dining, beautiful spot, breakfast, lunch and dinner

The Mermaid

The Buccaneer

Beach bar with great sandwiches and salads

The Palms

La Grande Princess

Great atmosphere, on the beach. Monday is Island night with entertainment

TOAST

Christiansted

Same owners as 40 Strand. Wonderful breakfast, lunch and dinner spot.

Too Chez

Christiansted

Excellent food, fine dining, pricey

Twin Cities Coffee

Christiansted

Coffee, breakfast and lunch

Z-Cafe

Christiansted

Classy place for Sandwiches and breakfasts - Courtyard in Pentheny Building in Christiansted

Ziggy’s

East End

Fun bar, sandwiches, local food, reasonable.

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ART & CULTURE Support for the arts and cultural history is an important

factor in every successful community. That belief is just as strong here in Paradise as anywhere else. Crucian cultural, artistic and musical expressions are diverse and innovative, and are expressions of a proud heritage. We support local artists and craftspeople by taking culture walks, showing interest in visiting “artist in residence” programs, listening to “scratch” music at authentic pig roasts in the rainforest, and attending concerts in the park at sunset. There are numerous ways to feed your passions for visual art, architecture, music or crafts on St. Croix, with something to please almost every artistic palate. Living here offers a wealth of opportunities to be an active participant in preserving the unique art, music and history of the island. Read on for more information on some activities that can help you learn about St. Croix and how it became what it is today. Check out the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts (CMCArts), http://www.cmcarts.org which supports and exhibits cultural art by Caribbean artists. An historic building on the Frederiksted waterfront houses the museum’s

exhibit space, working art and pottery studios, gift shop and administrative offices. CMCArts supports and exhibits cultural art by Caribbean artists in the community. The building is open to the public, with beautiful visual artwork on display in the galleries. A must-have from the museum is the “Art and Soul Calendar,” an annual offering since 1974. These amazing, tropically-themed collections of handpainted prints are available for purchase. The Cruzan Rum Distillery offers guided tours of the 300year old factory to see how rum is made. Complementary rum drinks are served at the end of the tour. Art Thursdays https://www.artthursdaystcroix.com/ in Christiansted (during high season) gives residents and tourists the opportunity to visit art galleries, restaurants and retail shops until 9:00 p.m. on the THIRD Thursday of the month. The season lasts from November to June, and encourages art education and continuing support of the thriving Crucian art community. Photographs, handmade jewelry, etchings, oil paintings, and sculpture are among the art forms on display and for sale.

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Fort Frederik, home to Buddhoe Park, is where island slaves were freed in 1848. Admission to the museum, which is located on the fort’s grounds and features changing exhibits, is nominal. The fort is located in Frederiksted town. The Botanical Gardens are a must see as well. To quote their website http://www.sgvbg.org for a description: “St. George offers island visitors and residents a unique blend of St. Croix’s botanical, historical and cultural heritage.” There are over 1,500 varieties and species in the botanical collection on 16 acres. Educational programs are available for children of all ages. There are self-guided tours, with discounts for groups and tour participants. Virgin Islanders even get a special reduced admission rate on Sundays. Don’t miss the Gardens by Moonlight program in October or the Christmas Gala at the Garden. The Whim Plantation Museum is an 18th-century Danish sugar estate located on the western side of the island just outside of Frederiksted. Explore the ruins of the sugar factory, take a tour of the great house or visit the museum store for a large selection of souvenirs, furniture and prints on sale. “Jump Up” is a great street festival that takes place at least four times a year in the streets of downtown Christiansted. Most of the stores stay open late and vendors line the streets with food, drinks and specialty items on sale. Social organizations are also on hand with information on their missions and on what residents and visitors can do to

help. Music, Moko Jumbies, local food and beverages, face painting for the kids and more make this a fun night for all. There are some new activities to try as well - like the “West Walk” in Frederiksted town, a monthly event held in the town of Frederiksted to benefit local businesses and support charitable causes on the island. The Lawaetz Family Museum https://www.llgfarm.com/ is an 18th century estate house with garden and farm in Frederiksted It is still owned by the family of the farmer who had it built. Family members still live on the property today, and it is an amazing and magical place! Phone: (340) 7721539. More links: • Visit St. Croix Live Entertainment: http://www.gotostcroix.com/live-entertainment/ For a “Self Guided” walking tour of historic Christiansted town - check out this link: https://virginislandsthisweek.com/stcroix/st-croix-land-activities/christiansted-walking-tour/

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Movies at the Fort: This is a fantastic family event held each month from November through July in historic Christiansted on the hill by the Fort. Let the kids run and play, bring a picnic dinner or grab something to go from one of the local restaurants. Be sure to carry in, carry out! More links: • Visit St. Croix Live Entertainment: http://www.gotostcroix.com/live-entertainment/ 48

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Art Thursdays: http://www.gotostcroix.com/artgalleries/art-thursday/

For a “Self Guided” walking tour of historic Christiansted town - check out this link: https://virginislandsthisweek.com/st-croix/st-croix-landactivities/christiansted-walking-tour/

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MUSIC

Be sure to pick up the local paper to see what’s happening on the island. It’s called the St. Croix Avis and it costs 75¢. A great investment! You can also go online: https://stxcalendar.com/ and check out https:// www.gotostcroix.com/live-entertainment/.

There’s always some live music somewhere, and St. Croix has some very talented musicians. If Kurt Schindler or the ShinDigglers are playing here, don’t miss them. Other great musicians include Steve Katz, No Problemo, the Eddie Russell Band, Brian McCullough, R&B Connection, Jahnee Red Locks and da Tree A We, Junie and the Jungle, Culture Vibe, Xpress band, Romanza, Adrian, Jazzmin, Hartatak Intl, Express Band, Venus, and Mercy Child, just to name a few. For a very special music-filled evening - do yourselves a favor and book an evening on Lyric Sails. https://lyricsails.com/ They have wonderful musicians, great tapas, free flowing rum punch, and the views are astounding! S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

SHOP

Of course you must shop here. From the Gecko, IB Designs, Sonyas, and Crucian Gold are our favorites for gorgeous Crucian jewelry (bracelets, bracelets, bracelets....). And the Chaney here is so unique - you’re buying a piece of history and art... what could be better? If you don’t know what Chaney is, here’s a link: https://www.gotostcroix.com/st-croix-blog/chaneyunique-crucian-treasure/ Most of the shopping that you’d do as a tourist will be in downtown Christiansted. There’s a myriad of shops and stores to check out. On cruise ship days, there are a lot of local vendors with booths set up along the waterfront in Frederiksted. Photo IB Designs

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KEEP FIT

Photo https://www.facebook.com/Finfolk-Caribbean

Staying active and fit is a fun activity when you live in a

warm weather environment. Walking, running, biking, golf, swimming, and tennis are activities you can do here year round. If you prefer more organized work out options - we have those too! Here are some great options for staying fit on St. Croix:

Finfolk Swim Group

What could be more fun than getting together and doing a long swim together? Finfolk is an organized swim club that meets nearly every weekend and explores a new ocean route to swim together. In addition to getting fit, they are rewarded with seeing turtles, sharks, dolphins, stingrays and other wildlife along the way.

Beeston Hill Fitness Center

This gym is a traditional gym, similar to Gold’s or 24 Hour Fitness in the states. They offer classes like spinning, yoga, Zumba, boot camp, and water aerobics in their large outdoor pool. Beeston also has a variety of cardio machines and their weight room features strength training machines. Personal training appointments are available and the center is shared with a chiropractic / rehabilitation practice.

CrossFit Gyms

St. Croix is home to 340 CrossFit located near Golden Rock (mid-island). CrossFit entails group fitness classes that are non-traditional and different each time to keep muscles challenged. The focus is on core conditioning.

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If you’re the adventurous type, you might want to go on

a hiking excursion in Annaly Bay. You can see and play in the beautiful tidal pools. Or, if you’re not into hiking, take a Tan Tan Tour. You will have a lot of fun and see some great spots inaccessible by car. You can also hike at Point Udal - the eastern most point of the US. Great hiking trail down to Jacks & Issac’s Bay. Just don’t leave any valuables in your car, and leave your car unlocked. This is a spot where there have been numerous breakins into vehicles. There’s the Hiking Club here that has monthly hikes. Website: www.stcroixhiking.org

HIKE

Or for a very educational hiking experience, CHANT offers two different hiking experiences. Maroon Ridge with Ras Lamumba explores the rainforest and Hamm’s Bluff. Lamumba, a master gardener, herbalist and environmentalist, will point out plants and wildlife encountered along the hike and lead you to Hamm’s Bluff lighthouse and an old Maroon community left from the days of slavery. Or, take a physically challenging hike along the waterways of Caledonia Valley where you will learn about three seasonal waterfalls, as well as the plants and animals you will encounter along the way. Phone: (340) 719-5455 | (340) 277-4834 Website:https://climatechangevi.org/crucian-heritageand-nature-tourism-chant/

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GOLF

The Reef

Carambola

The Buccaneer

If you just want to play a little golf, the Reef‘s 9 hole course has great rates.

The Carambola course is an 18 hole Robert Trent Jones designed course, also very lovely, on the western side of the island.

The Buccaneer also has a wonderful 18 hole course and of course you can see the beautiful sea and lovely town of Christiansted while you golf.

https://www.reefgolfstcroixusvi.com

http://www.golfcarambola.com/

http://www.thebuccaneer.com/ amenities/golf-en.html

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BEACHES, BEACHES There are so many wonderful beaches here on our island – and all are open to the public (even those at the hotels).

The East end is home to several secluded coves (Smuggler’s Cove) perfect for a picnic private day. Cramer Park offers some great beaches with picnic tables and restrooms as well. Or, go to the Divi and enjoy the beaches there in a comfortable lounge chair! Graptree hotel also has a scrollable beach, and Bungalows on the Bay is on a very calm cove, great for children. Green Cay marina has a nice beach, and the snorkeling there is good (over by the rocks). But the crown jewels on the east end are the beaches at the Buccaneer! Generally open to the public, unless the hotel is fully booked. And Shoys beach is nice too (accessed through the neighborhood to the right of the Buccaneer guard house). No amenities, but nice beach! If you’re up for a hike, you can access Jack’s and Issac’s Bay and lovely beaches close to Point Udall. Just don’t lock your car and don’t leave any valuables in it. This area is known for petty crime. In town, you can hop on the water taxi and hang out at the beach at the Hotel on the Cay. Or travel through town and go to The Palms – where the beaches are lovely and the 54 54

surf is just right for body surfing! Further along North shore road you’ll see dramatic cliffs and breathtaking views. Cane Bay is the spot to stop to snorkel, play in the water, and enjoy other water and beach activities. You can dive right off the beach here and see “the Wall” – amazing coral and hundreds of tropical fish. (This is the Puerto Rican trench – the water plunges to great depths not far off the beach). The South shore is home to two lovely beaches - Mangineal and Haypenny. Both are walkable, swimmable, and sunbathe-able! Bring in your chairs, coolers, etc., because there aren’t any restaurants or bars on these beaches!. Travel on to Davis Bay at the Carambola and enjoy the beautiful beaches and pounding surf there. Or if you prefer calmer waters, head to Frederiksted where white sand and calm waters beckon you. Dorsch Beach, beside Sandcastles is nice, and you can’t beat the beaches at Sandcastles and the Fred if you wish to have “beachside service” along with a beach chair and umbrella. These two places will charge you for these amenities. but well worth the fee! And if you get the “bug” to look for sea glass or “Chaney” – those lovely pieces of porcelain that the local artisans turn into beautiful jewelry – check out the beach in front of the Frederiksted Fort. No telling what treasures await you there!

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AND MORE BEACHES

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SNORKEL & DIVE

In addition to watching the sea life, snorkeling in the

shallows here will result in great finds of shells, sea glass and chaney (small pieces of broken Danish pottery). There are good snorkeling spots ALL OVER this lovely island.

interesting coral formations and has wonderful snorkeling. To get there, continue down North shore road and turn left at the marina. That road dead-ends at the beach - take security precautions here as well.

Just south of Sandcastles on the Beach are perfect coral formations and overhangs - great spots for fish and lobsters to hang out – right off the beach!

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On the East end of the island there’s also some great snorkeling. Tamarind Reef is really nice. Past the Buccaneer heading east, turn left into Green Cay. Follow signs for the Deep End Bar and go to the beach to the right of the bar. They have an attendant and you can rent chairs, umbrellas, the whole works. Fewer worries about thievery here, and truly world class snorkeling. It’s a bit difficult to get into the water here - but worth it.

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Out east, the water in front of Duggan’s Reef restaurant is good for snorkeling.

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On the western side of the island, along the north shore, is famous Cane bay beach, home to fabulous diving and snorkeling. “The Wall” is here, which drops to around 28,000 feet within swimming distance from shore. Great for snorkelers and divers alike!

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Jack & Issac’s Bay is a fabulous spot for snorkeling (also off of Grapetree Bay - but you have to hike to it). It requires a significant hike - but it’s well worth it.

There’s actually an underwater snorkeling trail on the West end just off of the beach just north of town. And snorkeling off the Frederiksted pier, you may get lucky and see seahorses! That’s a definite “seahorse hangout!” Going further north, other good snorkeling spots include the beach off of Butler Bay (you’ll see a sign and some old stone gates - just after that is a nice beach- park there to snorkel - but don’t leave valuables in your car!). Take along one of those waterproof containers for your keys and wallet - if you don’t have one - you can pick one up at N2 the Blue. Nothing worse than having a perfect beach and snorkeling day ruined by a few punks who get their jollies by breaking into vehicles and stealing your stuff. Along the North shore, Cane Bay is a great spot for snorkeling and diving. Salt River Park (the beach side) has some S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

Finally - there’s Buck Island! But for that - you need a boat!

All the dive shops here are great: Frederiksted

There’s an underwater snorkeling trail there – and several outfitters take folks there daily. Big Beard is the most popular with frequent trips. Or for another fun adventure, try Sea Thru Kayaks: https://seathrukayaksvi.com. Experience the amazing glowing waters of the Salt River Bay with this nighttime bioluminescence tour in the only see-through Kayaks on the island! All the dive outfitters and sailing trips to Buck Island offer Snorkeling, as well. (See Sailing and Water Sports). Diving here is wonderful! •

•

The average water temperature is around 82 F (29 C) in the summer and 80 F (26C) in the winter. Most visitors are comfortable in shorty-style wetsuits yearround. Visibility generally ranges from 60-100 feet, but it can occasionally be higher or lower depending on weather conditions. A recompression chamber is available in case of dive emergencies.

For a list of great dive spots, and a great map of them, check out this link: https://www.gotostcroix.com/ guides/dive-sites/ 58

•

N2 The Blue n2blueshop@gmail.com

•

Adventures in Diving http://www.adventuresindivingstx.com

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St. Croix Ultimate Bluewater Adventure http://www.stcroixscuba.com/

Christiansted •

St. Croix Ultimate Bluewater Adventure http://www.stcroixscuba.com/

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Caribbean Sea Adventures http://www.caribbeanseaadventures.com/

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Dive Experience http://www.divexp.com/

Cane Bay •

Cane Bay Dive Shop https://www.canebayscuba.com/

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Sweet Bottom Dive Center https://www.sweetbottomdive.com/

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ZIP LINE

Our eco-friendly canopy tour provides an immersive

interaction with nature taking you through the lush rainforest of St. Croix and across the Carambola Valley overlooking the Carambola Golf Course, a Robert Trent Jones, Sr. championship golf course. Take in the breathtaking views of St. Croix and all of the Virgin Islands as you soar through the St. Croix sky. https://www.carambolazipline.com/ Photo .carambolazipline.com/

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SAILING & WATER SPORTS For all kinds of fun watersports, check out West End Water

Sports on Rainbow Beach in Frederiksted (http://www. wewatersports.com). Flyboards, jet skis, paddle boards, kayaks, and of course chairs and umbrellas for the less adventurous! Caribbean Sea Adventures offers a variety of activities, from snorkel and dive trips, to sunset sails. They are located on the boardwalk in Christiansted. http://www. caribbeanseaadventures.com No trip to St. Croix is complete without a trip to Buck Island, one of the top 10 beaches in the world, and home to a beautiful underwater snorkel tour. Count on about $60 $80 per person for a half day trip, more for a full day (which includes a picnic on an East end beach). Several outfitters can take you there: •

Big Beard’s tours are perhaps most popular www.bigbeards.com

•

Caribbean Sea Adventures https://caribbeanseaadventures.com/

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Buck Island Charters on Teroro and Dragonfly http://buckislandcharters.com/

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Jolly Roger www.jollyrogervi.com

Kayaking at Salt River is fun too. You can just rent the kayaks and do your own thing, or go on a guided tour. The great guys at Bush Tribe https://www.bushtribe.com/ can give you a great custom tour - be sure you check them out! There’s bioluminescence in the bay and night tours are awesome! They also offer other types of tours, such as hiking to the tide pools! Sea Thru Kayaks also does nighttime bioluminescence tours using see-through kayaks. https://seathrukayaksvi.com/

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SPORT FISHING

Sport fishing in the Caribbean has been known to break some world records. St. Croix’s deep blue water is home to

migratory fish such as wahoo, mahi mahi (ono or dolphin fish), tuna (yellow and black fin), marlin and the occasional sail fish. One of the best things about sport fishing in St. Croix is you don’t have to travel far to get to fish. On most occasions, your captain will drop lines just a couple of miles outside of the Christiansted Harbor. Closer to shore- try your hand at fly fishing or bottom fishing. Chances are you will land a snapper, bone fish and maybe get to fight a tarpon! Whatever you decide, in-shore or off-shore, fishing on St. Croix really is a fun event for the entire family!

•

Hook and Sun Fishing Charters: www.HookAndSunFishingStCroix.com

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Fishing St. Croix “Forever & Always” Charters: www.fishingstcroix.com

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Fish Tales: www.fishtalesstx.com

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Irie Feelin Fishing & Private Charter: www.iriefeelin.net

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Captain Cook Charters: www.stcroixfishingadventures.com S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

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RIDE HORSES

If you love horses, you’ll love St. Croix! There are a number of great riding outfits, many of which will have you IN THE WATER with your horse! Below are some links for horseback riding: • • • •

Equus Rides: https://horsebackridingstcroix.com/ Cruzan Cowgirls: www.cruzancowgirls.com Nick’s Scenic Equine tours: 340-513-9183 Paul and Jill’s: 340-332-0417

Photo: uncommon caribbean

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THE RAINFOREST A trip here without going through the rainforest is just

not complete, and a trip through the rainforest without a stop at the Domino Club is not complete either. Have a johnnycake there, or some Roti, or a Hamburger if you’re there on the right day. Chicken and fish are nearly always on the menu and the food is wonderful. Be sure and sample a “mama wanna” - a local “shot” that is to be sipped and chased with a beer of your choosing. Careful, though! They are dangerous! And of course, be sure you feed the pigs. Don’t ask why - just do it. You won’t be sorry. It’ll cost you a buck or two - but hey - you’ll get some good photos and a lot of laughs out of it! St Croix’s newest adventure is in the air above the rainforest! Don’t miss the newly opened Carambola Zip Line which spans 2473 feet across the rainforest, and includes a 205 foot vertical drop!! https://www.carambolazipline.com The rainforest is also home to the “Ridge to Reef” sustainable farm - definitely worth exploring. S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E Photo: http://www.weddingomania.com

GET MARRIED

What could be more romantic than a wedding in paradise? There are so many beautiful venues to choose from! Not surprisingly, there are also many people here to serve you with all your wedding-related needs. First, check out the “legal” requirements: http://www.visuperiorcourt.org/clerk/popups/family/marriage_lisc.html And our friends at GoToStCroix have great info on weddings: https://www.gotostcroix.com/marriage-license/ Some of our favorite resources, if you are considering getting married in St Croix: •

https://www.gotostcroix.com/st-croix-blog/weddings-the-island-way/

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https://www.destinationweddings.com/Destinations/Caribbean/USVirginIslands/StCroix.aspx

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MOVING MOV ING TO ST CROIX

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BRINGING PETS One of the most difficult things about moving here can be getting your pets here.

If you are by chance from Southern California, you might consider taking advantage of AirHollywood’s 9 Flight school. It is a full day training at AirHollywood (the studio where every airplane scene you have ever seen in a movie was filmed). You and your pet are trained for onboard travel. It is mostly used by service dogs and takes you through airport arrival, TSA, dealing with other travelers who want to pet, airplane entry, turbulence, noises, and disembarkation. Lunch is served. You can also check out this site: https://www.ipata.org/ to find a pet shipper. This service can do pick-up at your door and deliver to your new door or any service in between. They use airlines with kennels at major hubs and give TLC the whole way. They will also chat with you and give 70

you advice whether you use their service or not. Here are some of the things to consider: •

The major air carrier to the Island is American Airlines The largest plane is a 737. According to AA, the largest crate they can accommodate is a 400. This may work for a medium sized dog, but not a large dog. They also have a limit of 100 lbs. per crate - and a crate weight of 25 lbs.

•

757’s do fly to San Juan and St Thomas. Silver Airways will accept domestic cats, dogs, and household birds for transportation, provided advance arrangements have been made and you follow their guidelines.

•

Another option is to charter a plane from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale - this can easily cost between $15,000 and $19,000. However there is a pet flight service that

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if you are flexible on dates, will advise when they have others wanting to make the flight and you all share in the cost. •

If you are a pilot, you can rent a plane from Bohlke International Airways here in St. Croix and fly to St Thomas (a 20 minute flight) and get your dog.

•

Dr. Kasey Canton (a vet on Island) is a pilot and owns a Baron. He may be willing to fly over to San Juan or St Thomas and pick up your dog for the cost of the flight (estimate $650-$1,800, depending on location).

•

There is a difference between pets traveling as baggage and pets traveling as cargo. Baggage fee is different per airlines. Check each airline’s site. Cargo goes in Cargo and must be delivered 2-4 hours early to the Cargo Hangar, Baggage goes with you to the ticket counter. Many professional pet movers say Cargo is less stressful on the dog.

•

There are dog handling services in most cities. They will pick up your dog at your hotel and deliver him/ her to Cargo or airport so that you don’t have to worry about a taxi taking a large crate. There are many services available because most people treat their dogs like their kids. Included are kennels at airports for any layovers. You can also buy the AAA, “Traveling With Your Dog” book and take a road trip to Florida. From Miami or Jacksonville, you can ship your vehicle to St. Croix via

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VI Cargo and board a shorter flight to the Islands. Here are another couple of resources to check out that are relevant to traveling to and caring for your furry friends in the UVSI: •

https://www.pettravel.com/immigration/ USVirginIslands.cfm

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https://doa.vi.gov/visit-the-usvi/

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https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/ animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-importinformation/sa_entry_requirements/sa_state_ require/ct_state_regulations_for_virgin_islands

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https://www.airanimal.com/pet-move-usvi.cfm# 71

Photo: Sweet Lime Furnishings

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FURNISHING &

REMODELING Most homes and condos here are sold FURNISHED - and we have great furniture stores and designers here who can help you furnish a new place. Most of the time, your stateside stuff is just not going to “fit” here... but if you do decide to bring a container - here are the shippers you can contact: VI Cargo: http://www.vicargo.com/

Paradise Freight: http://www.paradisefreight.com/

If you do decide to shop and buy locally, or engage a designer for assistance with either furniture or remodeling, here are some handy names and numbers: Sweet Lime Furnishings teak, mahogany indoor, outdoor furniture 6 Constitution Hill sweetlimefurnishings.com

Sampson House housewares, furniture 21AB Prince St 340-773-2526

Design on a Dime Interior designer Susan Connett 340-626-6009

Floor specialists, Inc. Noel Loftus 340-778-8131 stxnoel@earthlink.net

Armrey kitchens, cabinetry Jack Bishop 340-778-8313

Masonry Designs, Inc Carole Jackson 340-277-1128 masonrydesigns@earthlink.net

Major remodeling Steve Jarvis 340-244-2494

Gallows Bay Upholstery 340-513-1978

Cushions & More Upholstery 340-227-0799

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Island Contessa Designer Lori Hirons 212-203-8393

Lauren Joseph Mandryk Designer 978-225-3577 www.joeinteriors.com Glass 2000 Edgardo Torres 340-773-0588 glass2000inc@yahoo.com

Custom Kitchens Thomas and Thomas Bill McCormack Remodeling Services 340-773-8887 340-626-3107 73

Bringing your car to the Virgin Islands...

Things to think about 1. Is your car worth enough to spend the money to transport it to the islands? If not, sell it in the states and buy a car when you get here. 2. Ask your shipping company for full details on required documents and/or letters. If you do not have your title you may be asked for a letter from your lender indicating you have permission to transport the vehicle off the mainland U.S. 3. There are several taxes you will pay to bring a car into the territory. 4. Can you get parts for your car here? 5. The main roads are paved. However, there are residences with dirt driveways. 6. St. Croix has some steep roads and lots of potholes. 7. It is hot here; you’ll need a good cooling system and AC if you want comfort. 8. Salt air is hard on cars. 74

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Photo: cuzoom.org 75

BRINGORA CAR BUY ONE HERE

Shipping your vehicle: There will be a considerable difference in shipping a vehicle from Miami vs. New Jersey (or any other location). It has to get from there to Miami first! You can hire someone to drive it to Miami for a fee, but there are of course risks with that, and wear and tear on your vehicle. If your VIN starts with 1, 4, or 5, it means your car was manufactured in the US, and your tax rate will be much less expensive than if manufactured elsewhere. If you are shipping a container of “stuff” here, you can put your vehicle in the container, and even pack the vehicle. If you are JUST shipping a vehicle, you cannot leave things in it. (Well, you can, but don’t expect them to arrive here). 76

Contact the folks at Paradise Freight and/or VI Cargo for more information. •

VI Cargo: http:/www.vicargo.com/

•

Paradise Freight: http://www.paradisefreight.com/

Shipping barges for cargo will transport cars from ports generally on the east coast of the U.S. mainland to St. Croix. Contact one of the following for quotes: • • •

International Logistics Solutions (340) 244-0519 Blue Ocean Transport (888) 428-2735 A1 Auto Transport (800) 452-2880

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Buying Stateside Pros: • • • • • •

Pros: More vehicle selection Better prices Negotiable prices Most used cars are certified pre-owned Relatively cheap to ship More brands to choose from

Cons: • • •

• • •

Buying Local

• • • •

Vehicle is readily available to see and test drive Prices are somewhat negotiable Have the car same day Supports the local economy

Cons:

Vehicle is not local so a trip will be needed to test drive or browse a selection Getting vehicle to a shipper May have to register car in that particular state to receive incentives and deals (if buying new) that can delay shipping since paperwork is required Title/bill of sale, registration, etc., to ship It will likely cost between $1,800 - $3,900 to ship your vehicle. Depending on type of vehicle, an authorized dealership for repairs/recalls may not be available on island

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• • • • •

Higher prices Limited selection To get what you want they may have to order or ship from a neighboring island Since roads aren’t the best, buying used cars can be risky Limited brands to choose from

IMPORTING AND REGISTERING A VEHICLE Your mainland license plates will not work here. Your car must be registered in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Motorcycles go through the same registration and tax processes as cars. Step 1. Customs Clearing customs and paying duty is usually done at an office close to the shipping dock. The duty collected is based on the country of origin of the car and is calculated using the book value or Bill of Sale, whichever is greater. The VIN number is used to determine origin: if the first digit is 1, 4 or 5 it is a U.S. car and there is no duty owed. VIN’s starting with 2 or 3, there is a 6% duty. VIN’s starting with 6 or with a letter, it is 3.5% duty. The U.S. Customs Office will accept personal checks, cash, certified checks or money 78

orders. You can call the Customs Office at (340) 714-1600 for more information. Step 2. Road Tax You must get a Bill of Lading from the shipping agent when the car arrives in the USVI, take it to the Internal Revenue Office, and pay the 16 cents per pound road tax. This fee is assessed when you bring a car into the territory. Your title may have the weight on it; if it does that is what they will use. If it does not you can look up the weight on-line and print that page to show when paying the road tax. For more information call the Internal Revenue office at (340) 7149332. You can use cash, certified check or money order to pay this tax.

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Step 3. Insurance

one point to another and only between those two points.

Insurance is required in the U.S. Virgin Islands. You must get your vehicle insured before requesting a moving permit.

Step 5. Inspection

Compulsory Auto Liability Insurance is the law in the Virgin Islands; it requires that every registered vehicle have auto liability coverage. You must have auto insurance before you can request a moving permit and/or register your vehicle. When shopping around for auto insurance make sure the company is licensed to offer insurance in the U.S. Virgin Islands! The big name insurers common in the U.S. like Geico, All State and so on, do not exist in the U.S. Virgin Islands. If you are shipping your car you should check with your existing state-side insurance for information; and then contact local insurance companies in the U.S. Virgin Islands for quotes and coverage details. Once you have obtained a policy, get a certificate of insurance which provides details of your vehicle and coverage dates. A copy of your insurance card should be kept in your vehicle, a second copy is needed to register your vehicle. Failure to carry auto liability insurance may result in penalties such as fines for first offense; and fine and forfeiting the right to operate a motor vehicle for not less than 30 days or more than 2 years from date of conviction. Step 4. Moving Permit Go to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) to get a permit to move your vehicle from the dock. Moving permits are$5. The permit allows you to move a non-registered vehicle from

Take your vehicle to BMV to get your vehicle inspected. Bring with you, receipt that you paid the road tax, title or notarized letter indicating why you don’t have the title, proof of insurance and driver’s license. You do not need a Virgin Islands driver’s license; you can use your stateside driver’s license. A new resident has a 90 day grace period to get their Virgin Islands driver’s license. You may be asked to show your moving permit. There is an inspection fee. Inspection Process: The driver stays seated in the driver’s seat unless asked to get out to open the trunk and show the spare tire. They will check windshield wipers, horn, lights, spare tire, turn signals, brake lights, breaks, tires, exhaust and muffler, mirrors, general condition of the car. If you don’t pass inspection, the inspector will tell you why and give you a form showing what part you failed. You have to fix the problem and come back for inspection with the paper they gave you. If you fail inspection on a car that just entered the territory you will have to get a moving permit to get it to a garage to repair it and then another to bring it back to the BMV to complete inspection and registration. Step 6. Registration/New Plates Necessary paperwork for first time registrants is: inspection form, receipt that you paid the road tax, title or notarized letter indicating why you don’t have the title, proof of insurance and driver’s license. You may be asked to show

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your moving permit. The cost of registration is based on the weight of the car. It can vary from $34 to $91 approximately. At the end of registration you will be given VI plates, a registration sticker for your windshield and a registration form. Plates and windshield stickers must be visible at all times.

REGISTERING A VEHICLE

Note: Inspection and updating registration must be done annually. Annual inspection is required and you must present a driver’s license, proof of insurance, and registration during annual inspection.

WEBSITE: https://bmv.vi.gov/vehicles/

Note: Offices are in different areas; not all in the same building so allow several hours to a day and a LOT of patience to get it all completed. DO check their website for more complete information. An appointment may be needed.

You are required to register a vehicle if: • •

Importing a vehicle into the territory Purchasing a new vehicle from a Local Dealership

Vehicle Registration - Renewal All vehicles require annual inspection except PRIVATE vehicles six (6) years and under, eight (8) years, and ten (10) years . All private vehicles seven (7) years, nine (9) years, and above must be inspected. The owner of the vehicle must present to the BMV the previous year’s registration document and valid vehicle insurance. Vehicle Registration - 1st Time The owner of the vehicle would have to come to the BMV for a moving permit. With the moving permit the car can be presented for inspection. The owner of the vehicle must present to the BMV the original title. If the title is not in the seller’s name the new owner needs an affidavit of transfer. The owner needs valid insurance and valid identification. Vehicle Transfer The transfer of a vehicle may be handled by the seller or the

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buyer as long as the original vehicle registration is attached, the Certificate of Title is properly filled out and notarized by a valid certified notary public, and the person doing the transfer has a copy of a valid ID for the buyer. The valid ID must include a signature for verification. The registration of All vehicles being sold and transferred to another person must first be canceled before the title can be transferred. In order to cancel the registration the plates and sticker must be removed from the vehicle and they must be turned into the BMV along with the registration cancellation application signed by the owner of the vehicle. If the buyer does not have valid insurance the vehicle can be transferred, but not registered. Third party transfers and double transfers are only allowed by dealers, in that case the dealer need to have a Power of Attorney, signed by the Seller, authorizing him/her to process the documents on his/her behalf. Third party must present a picture ID. Persons registering vehicles in the name of a business will need to attach the Business License for that business If the owner of the vehicle is deceased, a letter from Probate with the Administrator’s name authorizing said person to proceed with transfer in accordance with probate conditions. In the absence of a Will, persons need to go through Probate. Based on Title 20, Section 335 of the Virgin Islands Code, the transferor of a motor vehicle shall, within twenty-four hours 82

of such transfer, notify the Bureau of Motor Vehicles of the transfer on forms provided by the BMV for such purpose. Upon receipt of notice, the BMV will note such transfer of ownership on the registration license of the transferor and shall cancel such registration license by marking the word “canceled” across the face thereof and shall void the license plates issued with such registration license subject to the provisions of section 332 of the VIC; provided, however, that such cancellation and voiding shall not be effective until forty-eight (48) hours after the Director has received such notice of transfer. The motor vehicle so transferred may be operated during such forty-eight (48) hour time period; provided, however, that such motor vehicle may not be operated after the expiration of such forty-eight (48) hour time period unless the transferee of the ownership of such motor vehicle has applied for and received a registration license and license plates for such motor vehicle pursuant to the provisions of section 332 of this section. All liens must be satisfied before vehicles can be transferred or a letter must be presented from the lending institution that vehicle is authorized by the lending institution to be transferred. Senior Citizens, defined as persons sixty years of age or older and verified by a senior citizens ID card issued by the Department of Human Services and who are domiciled in the US Virgin Islands or disabled persons shall be exempt from the payment of the Certificate of Title fee (VIC T20 S218a). However, if you do not have a senior citizens ID card you can use your passport, BMV issued ID card or Driver’s license to show proof of your age.

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Vehicle Alteration Form This form is filled out by the owner of the vehicle whom would like to alter the vehicle in some way. This form must be filled out and work must be approved prior to the alteration of the vehicle. Work once approved, must be based on the noted specifications on this form. Alterations are authorized or denied after the Bureau of Motor Vehicles collaborates with experienced mechanics in the field and/ or manufactures of the vehicle for qualified opinions based on the requested alteration on the form. Upon completion of vehicle alteration, owner must return to the BMV for inspection and approval. If the alteration is not approved, the above steps must be repeated.

institution (Banks, credit union, leasing companies etc.) a lien will be placed on the designated vehicle. For an individual to place a lien against someone else’s vehicle a court order must be presented to the BMV to do so. Car dealerships are exempt from having to provide a court order. To remove a lien from a vehicle a lien release letter from the lending institution has to be provided to the BMV.

Vehicle Clearance Form When shipping a vehicle, a vehicle clearance form from the BMV must be obtained. In order to be approved, the original vehicle registration, must be presented. When shipping to foreign countries, the license plates and registration stickers are turned in to the BMV. Vehicles must be inspected, all information must be verified, and all traffic tickets and liens must be satisfied prior to issuance. Vehicles with a lien must be accompanied by a letter from the lending institution giving permission to ship the vehicle out of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Vehicles being shipped within the U.S. Virgin Islands do not require a vehicle clearance from the BMV. Vehicle Liens Once the BMV receives lien placement letter from a lending S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

GETTING A

DRIVERS LICENSE Valid driver’s licenses from anywhere in the United States

are good for 90 days after arrival in the U.S. Virgin Islands. If your driver’s license is from elsewhere, you need to get a temporary license. Converting a US State Issued Driver’s License to a US Virgin Islands Driver’s License To obtain a Virgin Islands Driver’s License, the Driver’s License Information Application Form must be completely filled out by the applicant. • •

•

A valid unexpired driver’s license from the U.S. and/or U.S. jurisdiction must be voluntarily surrendered. For verification purposes the documents listed in the legal documents/source documents section must be provided. Valid driver’s license will be verified with the Department of Transportation from the issuing state

• •

or jurisdiction. A driving history/record is required from the issuing state or jurisdiction. The driver then has to satisfy all fees imposed by the BMV and surrender their driver’s license.

A Virgin Islands driver’s license will then be issued once all of the above are turned in and verified. FORM CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://bmv.vi.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2020/07/BMV-DriversLicenseApplicationFinal.pdf Converting a Foreign (non-US) License to a US Virgin Islands Driver’s License To obtain a Virgin Islands Driver’s License, the Driver’s License Information Application Form must be completely filled out by the applicant.

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• •

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Complete 1st Time VI Driver’s License Medical Form The Medical/Vision portion must be completed (signed and stamped) by a local licensed certified physician. Applicant must show legal residency in the U.S. Virgin Islands. All legal documents listed in the legal documents/ source documents section, must be presented. Using certified medical form, Complete written test - administered by appointment only A valid unexpired driver’s license must be presented Present completed Driver’s License Information Application Form with supporting documents The Bureau of Motor Vehicles reserves the right to verify license and to check for any infractions on license with issuing country.

If you do not have a valid license you will have to complete necessary application/medical forms and take both the written and the road test. This site will tell you exactly what to expect: https://bmv.vi.gov/drivers-license/

ONLINE SERVICES! Skip the Line, Renew or Duplicate Here! Customer Services: • •

Vehicle Services: • • • •

After all is satisfied and the applicable fees paid, a U.S. Virgin Islands Driver’s License may be issued. A valid unexpired driver’s license must be voluntarily surrendered. Foreign License holders may also opt instead for a Temporary License. See section on Temporary License. FORM CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://bmv.vi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BMVDriversLicenseApplication-Final.pdf

Renewal & Duplicate Identification Card Renewal & Duplicate Driver’s License

Duplicate Registration Only Duplicate Registration & Sticker Duplicate Title Duplicate Plates 1. Register at MyBMV.bmv.vi.gov 2. Access and Select Account to Make a Payment 3. Pay and Obtain a Receipt via Email or Print 4. Vehicle Documents will be Mailed to the Customer 5. Customer IDs/Driver’s License will be scheduled for process completion and/or pickup.

Even More Online Services Coming Soon!

Don’t Have a License or Your License Has Expired? S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

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Disability Parking Placard Special Permit 85

RETIRING RETIR ING IN ST CROIX

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SHOULD YOU RETIRE IN

ST CROIX

Making the Decision to Leave “Your Home”

Be Systematic in Weighing Your Options

So, you’re approaching that age where you can REALLY start to think about what YOU want – where you want to live – what you want to do – and how you want to live YOUR life. It’s exciting and kind of scary, too! You have many choices – and many expectations of what you should do, from friends, neighbors, and of course FAMILY. They want you to stay put, or move closer to THEM, probably! There are a lot of reasons why people, of any age, forgo their dreams in order to please those they love. But what do YOU want? What about YOUR dreams?

You might consider making a spreadsheet to use to evaluate each place you visit based on various criteria, such as:

If you’re like most, your dreams will nag you until you pay attention to them – and well you should! It is your life, after all, and when you’re on your deathbed, you will have to account to yourself for how you spent the years. So get serious about what you want, where you want to live, and how you want to spend your “golden” years. S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

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Access to and quality of medical care Access to an airport and ease of traveling Cost of living Housing costs, quality, and options Access to good restaurants and groceries (especially good produce) Entertainment options Availability of work Overall “vibe” of the place Crime rate Expatriate population Weather concerns (storms, flooding, etc.) 89

Is “Island Living” Right for You? Island living is NOT for everyone. Many people move here and end up frustrated and unhappy – and return “home” just to get away! So before you take the plunge (no pun intended), here are some questions you need to seriously ask yourself. Do You Have a Strong Objection to Alcohol? On an island, just about ANY island, there seems to be much more imbibing than on the mainland. Maybe it’s because so many people here are on vacation, or because bars are convenient places to meet and talk. All I know is that there is a LOT of alcohol consumed here. If that bothers you, or tempts you too much, then you could have a problem (or you could stay away from the bars and parties!). Does it Frustrate You to Shop & Not Find What You Want? We have plenty of stores here – even two K-marts – but – the one you go to will ALWAYS be out of what you’re looking for. A typical shopping trip may require 3 – 4 stops. Hey, at least you can FIND what you want here – you just have to work harder to get it! Remember question #1 – relax and don’t get impatient. Enjoy the pace of life and the beauty around you. Are You Frustrated by Bureaucracy & Red Tape?

problem with this kind of thing, you’ll be unhappy – or you’ll change.

The vast amount of red tape and bureaucracy here is amusing, at best, but can be maddening. If you have a

Will It Bother You to Be Far Away from Family & Friends?

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While they may move to St. Croix after they see how much you enjoy your new lifestyle, probably most of your family and friends will stay put. There’s always the phone, zoom, email, and airplanes, but you won’t be as close as if you lived in “the states.” And chances are, they won’t visit you as much as you think they will.

to shutter up and protect your home and be OK with “hunkering down” there. It can be scary, and the aftermath can be difficult to handle (There is no electricity, it’s very hot, there are long lines for fuel and food, etc.).

Do You Have Medical Issues That Need Frequent Attention?

While our towns are very charming, the pavement is very uneven, there are lots of steps, and getting around town in a wheelchair is practically impossible. Those with back issues will also be challenged with getting around. And many buildings don’t seem to be “ADA compliant.”

If so, you may find yourself making frequent trips back to the mainland for your care. Also, if you are a candidate for a heart attack or stroke, understand that if you have such an event here, you are likely to not make it. Our island currently does not have the resources that give you a high probability of survival of these kinds of major events. And if you are not eligible for Medicare and are not working, you can’t get an individual health insurance policy here. Can you accept that risk?

Do You Have Mobility Issues?

Also, if you need a CPAP machine, you’ll need to make sure you have good battery backup to handle all the power outages here. Similarly, if you are very sensitive to the heat, you’ll need to make sure you have a generator (probably an automatic one) to keep your air conditioning going when the outages occur. Can You Deal With Tropical Storms & Hurricanes? These are projected to get worse as our climate changes, and there’s no “evacuating.” So you will need to be prepared S T C R O I X I S L A N D L I F E R E A L E S TAT E : R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E

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RESOURCES

http://www.stcroixcalendar.com - What’s happening on the island - weekly updates. http://www.gotostcroix.com - Great website about the VI, updated regularly.

Settlers Handbook for the U.S. Virgin Islands (Relocation Guide) - A must have reference book. Desiring Paradise by Karin W. Schlesinger - Good story about how to and how not to move to an island. Life in the Left Lane by Emy Thomas - Good guide to local customs and perspective. Don’t Stop the Carnival: A Novel by Herman Wouk - Fictional and dated but it captures the essence of the islands very well. Fun read! Glassbottom Days by Willie Wilson - This is a memoir set in the Virgin Islands. The author moved to the Virgin Islands from New York in 1958. The Wild Life in An Island House by Gail Karlsson - Are you planning to move to the Virgin Islands? Want to learn about the critters that will be sharing the island and maybe your home with you? Get ready to learn about mosquitoes and more. Living In De V.I. - An Introduction For Newcomers (DVD)

by Alex Randall - Join Alex Randall as he introduces you to his home, the US Virgin Islands. DVD available to purchase here: http://www.vitraders.com/product/21-39.html Fantastic St. Croix: Too much to do in one vacation, January 5, 2017 by John A. Boyd - The island is rapidly being recognized as the Culinary Capital of the Virgin Islands with an internationally acclaimed Wine and Food Festival attracting famous chefs from all over the world. We are also a center for extreme sports competitions including half-marathons, marathons, ultra-marathons, 70.3 mile Ironman, one mile sea swim, five mile sea swim and the Annual Coconut Cup Stand-up Paddle-board competition. Naturally we have almost every other Caribbean activity based on Sun, Sand, Sea and Rum. There is too much to do on a single vacation and this book helps you plan your trip before you arrive. Detailed Road & Destination Atlas of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands: Frederiksted, Christiansted, and all other communities - Headed out on an adventure? Tired of squinting at a phone screen? Need a detailed, printed map while you’re on the go? This atlas shows all of the island of Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands in an easily readable format, including roads, buildings, natural features, amenities, mountain peaks, water bodies, and parks. Each 8 x 8 inch (20 cm by 20 cm ) page represents a 1-mile square, allowing for a great level of detail. The grid reference map at the beginning makes it easy to find your page quickly. The street index at the end makes it easy to find any given street.

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