the u.s virgin islands.. st thomas... what to expect

was thinking of heading over there to check it out... perhaps business opportunity... hows life in the virgin islands?

 

Life is slow, hope you have alot of patience, also expect prices are very high on everything, everything has to be imported.

 

Ah yes island life

 

They’re looking for an alternative energy source to run their oil fueled power plants. Sounds like a business opportunity to me even if not directly.

http://www.vienergy.org/The_Power_of_Choice.pdf

http://www.vienergy.org/

 

Without tourists .. there is nothing. One hurricane hit and it would be years of rebuilding. And little known fact, that is an active seismic zone with the potential for the "big one." In the summer the bugs eat you alive .. but it is pretty.

 

I actually have family that lives there I have been there quite a few times including spending a summer there when I was in college.
It is definitely a different experience to be a tourist than it is to be a local (I know this sounds obvious).
From the tourist point of view it is a nice island with lots of shopping. The beaches are nice, but in terms of snorkeling and diving, it is not particularly exciting.
From the point of view of living there, it seems like a pretty modest existence. You don't get the impression that there are a lot of wealthy people living there. There are some nice houses and stuff, but it is not like some of the other Caribbean islands that cater to a seemingly wealthier target audience.

Certainly it is a nice place to go, but if not for my family ties I am sure I would not have chosen to go there so many times.

 

I go the the Virgin Islands at least twice a year. I spend most of my time in the British Virgin Islands on a boat though. I have a contract on a lot on Jost van Dyke, BVI that I hope to retire on one day. There is a lot of wealth on St. Thomas, it's just not flaunted with fancy cars and big houses...more so in nice boats and airplanes. Most of the new rich folks live on St. John, USVI rather than St. Thomas though. St. Croix, USVI has a lot of old money folks in farming, ect. It would be a great place to live IMHO...St. John is expensive, but worth it. Ferry's and water taxis go back and forth between islands several times a day so a lot of people work on St. Thomas and live on St. John.

 

Several Texans have relocated to St. Thomas and opened bars there. There was a TV special on it a couple of years ago. I remember seeing the interviews with a couple of the relocatees and they agreed that during the off season life is pretty slow there. I have been there three times and enjoyed my time but I was just playing the tourist thing. I like to get away from the tourist areas and blend with the locals but it is hard to get away from the tourists on something as small as St. T.

Rent a scooter and check out the backroad areas. Nice and scenic rides. As far as potential business there I am in the dark and cannot help. I hope your search brings back the results you are looking for.