Has anyone here lived in the Caribbean?

[snoringsandra]

Due to my line of work I have the opportunity to move out to the British Virgin Islands for a few years. Understand they’re so tiny that it’s unlikely people will have lived there specifically.

Wish I could say I'd lived there but I did go there for 3 weeks for our honeymoon. I'm only commenting because whilst out there we met a lovely couple in a bar that were living there. We saw them a few times then they kindly invited us to their hiltop house with a pool. She was an accountant, he worked as an engineer on various island building projects.

We were so envious of their lives. Living the dream with amazing views and always on holiday mode..but.

They said the reality was somewhat different. Bvi is a tourist island so all shops cater for that. She told me there is no decent bookshops, clothing shops or homewhere stores. She ordered stuff from Amazon but it took weeks. They told us that basic utilities support like getting an electrician, plumber was a nightmare. They told us that socialising with like minded people was limited, hence them befriending us I guess.

We had some lovely nights with them but I'll never forget thinking 'gosh you think living in paradise will be permanently amazing but apparently it isn't'

Still a beautiful place with fabulous diving and beaches I'll never forget tho.

The countries of the Caribbean are all quite different, and the expat life is quite different from the local one, so you’re better off posting on an expat forum to get some specific advice for BVI.

Gosh yes, that does sound a tad concerning.

I lived in Barbados for 18 months but some time ago. Loved it! Went to St Lucia for a break and hated it! Each island is so different!

A family member lived in Jamaica for a number of years. In a smallish town, inland. It was very, very, very different from what the tourists arriving in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay or Negril see or experience. Then Kingston was a whole difference experience again.

There is definitely a poster on MN who lives on a Caribbean island. She's an expat (Brit, I think). I can't remember her name or which island <helpful>

I know someone who lives in the B Virgin Islands

All the blokes are off shore lawyers, quite often up to dodgy but just about legal caper hiding money for somewhat unsavoury people, all the women are SAHPs. It’s a bit like if you could only socialise with your (somewhat dull) colleagues. Races quite divided. Nothing happens.

But the weathers nice.

And for all I know the above is just his colleagues, and other people are great fun. If they are paying you loads maybe try it for a couple years.

I lived in the BVI for a couple of years. What do you want to know? I was in my 20s at the time and would say it was one of the best times of my life, would thoroughly recommend. It’s a bit of a bubble and the difficulties Cello mentioned are there (and more) but it’s such an adventure and I never shook the feeling of privilege that my weekends were other people’s luxury holidays!

I have been to BVI on holiday, awesome. Also went to school in the ME who was born and bred BVI. She went back for a bit after uni but left again. That might be TKC syndrome though.

BVI is probably the best place I've ever been to, lobster Benedict with a pot of fresh coffee on a deck over the waves followed by endless pina coladas on the beach? Yep.

I know somebody who has lived in BVI for some years. Hotel manager. She loves it.

I live in the Cayman Islands, have been here 16+ years now.

BVI is expensive, not quite as ridiculous as Cayman but definitely check salaries and contracts. You'll want to include moving/shipping costs and healthcare with your contract.

Get onto the Reddit BVI thread and ask for recommendations of local websites to review as well as rental property listings which might be cheaper than through an agency.

Not knowing what you do, or salary expectations, it's hard to advise if it would be a brilliant opportunity to save or if you'd be living off rice and beans for 2 years.

There is a Living Overseas section, I bet if you asked there you’d get some more answers

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/living_overseas

Do you have kids? Friends moved back because of schools in the end.

I remember the supermarket shopping being INSANELY expensive, and unreliable, and the milk being off when we bought it. And no local produce - all imported… even the fish…

It’s definitely a gilded cage. I was soooooo bored.

People told me before I would be but I shrugged it off and thought don’t be silly.

May I ask, were you working? If so, was it an intense job or something more relaxed?

Thank you. That’s very helpful. Are there many people in Cayman who have also lived in BVI?

I’m a corporate lawyer and dh can work remotely. So high salary but high cost of living. One reason we’d picked BVI over Cayman was that Cayman apartment costs seem even more expensive than central London!

Yes Cayman is much more expensive than most other places with exception of Monaco at a push! 😂

As a corporate lawyer you will enjoy a good standard of living, but definitely check your offer for moving costs and healthcare. Most good law firms will offer this, as well as provide accommodation and a car for the first month until you settle in and get a feel for the island.
Insofar as healthcare is concerned, your healthcare should be covered by your employer but many firms offer a family plan or additional dependent at slightly higher. Most law firms will cover the costs of each plan up to a certain amount and you pay a difference over that allowance.

Many people in Cayman have worked in BVI, typically in legal field if they second or transfer between offices. We also had a big influx of returning friends after Hurricane Irma hit.

Happy to chat offline if you have any questions I can help with!