STX for the summer

You did a pmv for a two month vacation? 🙂 So it now stands for pre move vacation 😉

Do's Say good morning, good day, good night when every you see someone or walk in somewhere.
Do's Be patient everywhere you go, everything is slower, and customer service be very different then what you're used to.
Do's rent/buy a car, taxi's are very expensive. Your first week drive all over the place and pay attention to landmarks (restaurants and
stores with interesting names like the Choclate Hole) these are how people give directions. Live here long enough and none of
remember any of the numbers of streets on the maps.
Do's slow down and talk to all the locals. People are friendly after you say your good day. Anyone will give you directions. We mostly love
out home and are happy to talk about it and make suggestions.
Do's keep a spotless kitchen or you will get ants and other critters quickly.

Don'ts leave ANYTHING in your car at the beach. Leave the windows down or half down. No point in them breaking the windows to get in.
Don'ts if a beach is deserted keep an eye on your family.
Don'ts forget your common sense stateside, we are friendly and warm people but we have criminals just like everywhere else.
Don'ts leave your doors open after about 4:30 or 5pm or you'll have mosquitos biting ya all night (if you have a screen door, its all good).

Thank you Betty! With all the reading in this board, I had a feeling you would reply. 😉

Yes, wife visited her friend (also a RN) in January who worked in STX for 6 months and loved it. So she checked it out and came back with this summer plan. You never know, maybe this pre move vacation will turn in a longer situation.

I would be more than happy to get out of the rat race up here in the states and relocate to the islands for a spell or longer. I can re certify to be a dive instructor or teach golf. But the kids are young and the private schools in STX is very expensive. (I have read enough and it seems that private school is the best way for the kids education). Not sure I would be able to home school. I have a hard enough time with my kids 5th and 6th grade homework.

Anyway, we will see and at least the kids will have a memorable summer.

BTW, we are looking for a 2 or 3 bedroom condo for the two months in a safe gated community. We have been in touch with a number of Realtors and have some good places. I just thought I would throw it out to yo since you seem to know a lot of people and may know of someone willing to lease out the place to a family staying for the summer. You will get extra special treatment and care by my wife if you ever need to visit the ER (God forbid) 🙂

Thank you again for the do's and dont's. Very much appreciated.

Maybe we will see yo around down there. All the best. JH

Scuba certification can be done as early as the age of 10 so both of your older children would be of age.
A suggestion that many kids love is to take a tour of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (the big dish out east). You can call and make an appointment for a tour.

Colony Cove would be ideal for your family.

I would get with N2 the Blue in Fsted for you diving. Jenny is one of their instructors and is very good and patient. The owners Derrick and Anna are very nice as well.

Thanks for the feedback. We look forward to getting there

I don't know how it is now, but when my kids were younger the SEA camp was the best thing..Age was probably 10 or 11....A week, and they got to go all over and learn and have fun...my sons were science oriented though, so that might matter. They went, as I recall, to the Little Princesse spot the first day, then Salt river, Annaly, jack's and Isaacs...the last day was a trip to Buck Island. No idea of the cost now, but then it was $25.00 for the week (showing our age, I guess). The biggest /best bargain we ever got on stx.

I have a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo available for rent. It's gated and beach front. Cable TV included. The tenant moved out at the end of March and she was also an RN on a short term contract. Please send me a PM and I can put you in touch the property manager. Thanks.

Thanks again for the feedback. we are getting a lot of good info.

Could still use a few ideas about the best places to rent a 3BR condo in a safe, gated community. Maybe you may knowo some realtors.

But much appreciated!!

Best regards, JH

3 bedrooms condos are a little tougher to find. They are definitely out there but they do tend to get snapped up quickly. For the best "deal" in a safe neighborhood I would try finding one at Questa Verde. The units are large and its safe, it is not however on the water. The complex is older and generally you can find one for $1500 to $1800.

Pelican Cove has very nice 3 bedrooms but they tend to run $2500 to $3500. They are right on the water with wonderful views. It is not a swimable beach so you have to walk about 50 yards to the next beach. They do however have the biggest pool on island and a rare hot tub.

Mill Harbor has 3 bedrooms but I don't recommend them for safety reasons. Its not a dangerous complex but its not the safest either. But the rates are lower then other 3 bedrooms usually.

Coakley Bay has some they are on the same "condo row" as Mill harbor. They usually run $2000 to $2500. The only bad thing about them is this "condo row" is very close to a large public housing as well as a depressed neighborhood. Most of the condos themselves on this row are expensive.

Sweet Lime has 3 bedrooms its over by Carambola on the northwest side. Usually you don't have a ocean view but a lush "rainforest" like valley view. It also has a golf coarse so sometimes you over look that. I would expect to pay $2500 to $3500.

And Gentlewinds is the last one I can remember that has 3 bedrooms. Gentlewinds is northwest of the island close to salt river. It is a very popular short term rental community. These are also expensive units so expect $2500 to $3500 price tags.

The rental market has been very depressed lately and you are coming in the off season. I would definitely try to bargain with any realtor or villa rental agency you choose to use. The rates have have used are more for long term rentals and would not include electric. You may get cable water gas included for those price. Let people know you're coming for a pmv, it "might" help.

Every brokerage here has a realtor that handles rentals, sometimes each realtor does his own. But Farchette and Hanley, Coldwell, Remax, etc... will all have rentals. www.viphonebook.com

Also there are two main villa rental agencies http://www.vacationstcroix.com/ and http://www.stcroixislandvillas.com/

Gates are kinda a joke here, you'll see what I mean when you move here. Anyone can get into these communities at anytime. Its much better to pick a safe community.

I thought that Coakley Bay was across from Carden Beach east of Cheeseburgers. Not on condo row. Maybe you are thinking Sugar Beach condos.

No I was thinking about colony cove....I don't know why i always switch the two. Coakley is past cheesburgers, past Chenay Bay, across the street from Carden Beach. Ok, Coakley does have 3 bedrooms in that same price range. Not on the water but across the street from it. Very safe neighborhood.

It all just depends on how much you want to pay. I live at Colony Cove with my 3 young children. You can't beat the beach and the pool right out your front door. It works for us. I know of one that is available right now for 17000 a month. All units here are 2bd/2ba

Thanks. But 3BD is key for us but we may have to squeee into a 2BR if 3 gets too expensive.

We also need to rent a car for the ten weeks. I have heard various stories about renting cars. Any helpful hints or contact you can provide regarding renting a car that will need to fit 5 to 6 people?

You guys are really great for all the info you are providing us. Thanks again! JH

I was recommended to checkout Hibiscus? Any thoughts on this place?

Thanks again for all yor feedback.

JH

Are you looking for a hotel now? Because Hibiscus is a budget type hotel on a beautiful beach. Simple hotel rooms, no suites, 1 bedrooms, etc.. Definitely no 3 bedrooms.

OK, Everyone who has responded has been real helpful and I appreciate that tremendously. We are close to choosing a place to stay.

Now, for phones for the two months. Is Verizon get clear reception down there? I don't think so. Plus the roaming alone could get costly. Any ideas on how we should handle phones? Does PC to PC calling work well? Again, we are grateful for allyour feedback.

JH

At&T works pretty good with your stateside number. No roaming on my plan.

AT&T and sprint are the major carriers. Isn't verison part of AT&T or is that cingular, can never remember as I don't have it. All you have to do is go to Verizon's website and look at where they have coverage or call your customer service. You can usually add free roaming for $5 extra a month on most plans as well. No big whoop.

We had Verizon before moving here. Since they don't have coverage on STX, we were able to get out of our contract. But, we couldn't cancel the contract until we had proof that we were living here (a signed lease was sufficient). We chose AT&T, and purchased our phones before moving down here. We wanted to make sure that what we wanted would be in stock. Once we arrived here, we went to the AT&T store, and received new phone numbers (no charge since we had just moved here), and had new phone numbers within 15 minutes. It was very hassle free and easy to do.

It also depends on what you are renting. If you are renting a short term condo place many come with a phone that will allow local calls.

The other option I can think of is one of those virgin moble pay as you go phones.

Thanks Betty.

Do they sell pay as you go phones in STX? JH

Last time I looked radio shack had them in sunny isle. I would not wait to buy them here though. You never know what will and won't be in stock at any stx store. I'm sure you could get the virgin moble phones cheaper where you are. And going to radio shack here is rarely fun and never quick.

OK. So we have a great deal for Gentle Winds. I hear that this is a very nice place and we are looking forward to getting down there. Only 4 more weeks to go! All that is left is renting a car. Does anyone know anybody who rents cars for month to month stints? Some of the other RN's were able to rent month to month. Going through a rental company is as much as renting a condo.

Thank you everyone for your feeback and assistance. Hopefully we will see some of you and have a drink.

Best regards, JH