We have a place on STT and love it. I really can't say if it is cheaper than St. Martin. Your best bet would be to post on the other forum on this board that is dedicated to relocating. This website has so much to offer, you should also check out the home page, they will give you a general idea of rent and the cost of living on each of the USVI's. Many people have also been generous enough to write some very informative moving stories. If you have specific questions you can also search this website or post more questions.

Last but not least, I would definately spend some time on both islands before you make any decision. The Caribbean is very unique with each island having it's own distinctive feel to it.

Best Wishes,

Molly

You would have a 140 mile (approx.) commute if you live in the VI and work on St. Martin, the island.....however, you mention St. Martin, BVI....since the BVI is only a mile from here, and I've been there a bunch, I'm not familiar with any "St. Martin" in the BVI. I believe you are speaking of St. Maarten/St. Martin, Netherlands Antilles...there is a Dutch side and a French side to the island, hence the two names. You may want to do some more research to be sure of the location of this job offer. Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

Saint Martin is a tropical island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 300 km (186 miles) east of Puerto Rico. The 87 km² island is divided roughly in half between France and the Netherlands Antilles; it is the smallest inhabited sea island divided between two nations. The southern Dutch half comprises the Eilandgebied Sint Maarten (Island area of St. Martin) and is part of the Netherlands Antilles. The northern French half comprises the Collectivité de Saint-Martin (Collectivity of St. Martin) and is an overseas collectivity of France.

Collectively, the two territories are known as "St-Martin/St. Maarten". Sometimes SXM, the IATA identifier for Princess Juliana International Airport (the island's main airport), is used to refer to the island.

Bottom line, you can't live on St. Thomas USVI and work on St. Martin.

I thought that he was making a choice between places to work and live. Not live in one and work in the other.

Molly

WOW! I really didn't think anyone would've responded,thanks!! Alright, here's my story. Through my current job I met a women who lives in St. Maarten (BVI -dutch side) and she is willing to , through her contacts , help me make a dream reality. My dream is to move to the virgin Islands , enter the boating industry as part of a crew and with enough sea time eventually make captain. I have sailed out of Tortola & all through the BVI, St. Johns as well , what a slice of heaven. Anyway, I 'm sure the first year will be a tough one with more than a handful of sacrifices . I thought , and was told , that it would be cheaper for me to stay on the U.S. side(customs,cost,ect.) . As far as my commute to "work" I might be leaving from ST. Thomas, or Tortola , or St. Maarten and be out to sea for a week or two, possibly even longer. I feel that I got the work part going , it's the where do I live part that's kicking me in the head. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, Thanks & have a great day !

captain: St Maarten is in the Dutch West Indies, NOT the British Virgins. Are you talking about being in the commercial marine world? There are some freighters that ply the waters between St Maarten and the US and BVIs, but charter pleasure yachts do not do so. Your mention of "out to sea" is what is puzzling. You might want to speak to your friend and clarify what the job entails. If you are a US citizen, it is more difficult to work out of a foreign land- you will need a work permit.

Oopsie! I meant to recommend that you try the Relocation Message Board- click above to the right.

Yeah, I do have a lot of research to do! The job offer is on the charter side ,not commercial. I would basically be freelancing from boat to boat. I might be invited to be part of a crew in Oct. bringing a boat down from Delaware. That would help to get my feet wet. I am really excited/nervous about the whole transition,to me it's the biggest decision of my life.

Captain: You seriously need to do careful research. You've been given some good advice, particularly from EE.

Hear again that the USVI is under the flag of the United States. The British Virgin Islands are not and the Netherlands Antilles are also not.

You can't just blithely hop from US port to foreign port without proper working papers. There is no real charter route between the Netherlands Antilles and the USVI/BVI that wouldn't require you to have proper documentation - which, if you have vast experience, an employer might arrange for you.

That said, you note that you hope to get a crew job on a boat traveling to the USVI from Delaware ..." to help get.. . feet wet. " In other words, you've no experience at all where real sailing is concerned. Sailing around the USVI and the BVI does not a real sailor make!

I'm not knocking it but it seems that love and lust are guiding your current path and I think you need to step back a pace and research the actualities which aren't as simple as they might have seemed since you first posted. Cheers!