Naomi Scott heard Kauai calling, and persuaded her husband to move to Hawaii’s Garden Isle, a lush paradise playground with endless opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, surfing and more. Sure, the price of island living is steep. But for these two outdoorsy types, the cost not to move would have been far greater. Scott answers frequently asked questions on what day-to-day life is like in Kauai.

What jobs can I find?
Scott was fortunate to have lived in Japan for a few years, helping him to become fluent in a second language. Being able to speak Japanese scored him a hotel concierge job immediately on Kauai, enabling the couple to move shortly after they’d made the decision to commit to island life.

Which is exactly what he suggests newcomers do. “Get established first, then find your niche,” says Scott.

The tourism sector is always hiring. Kauai, with its high cost of living and incommensurate wages, is typically in need of doctors and teachers. Just don’t expect to find work as a business manager or accountant.

“There is only so much opportunity in terms of corporate structure,” Scott says. That is, until you start your own business, which Scott did in 2012, turning to landscape photography. Initially, he sold prints in a flea market before being offered a corner in an art gallery. Then, in May 2013, he opened his own shop, Light Source Photography, in the town of Hanapepe on the south side of Kauai.

Where do I buy groceries?
“Our grocery run is the Saturday farmers’ market in Kilauea,” says Scott, a vegetarian of 20 years. There, the couple stocks up on cucumbers, leafy greens, green onions and other island bounty. They supplement the produce with bulk dried goods from Healthy Hut, a health foods store near the farmers’ market.

Once a month, Scott heads to Kauai’s Costco, located in Lihue on the southwest side of the island, for cat litter, toilet paper and other household supplies.

When asked if there are any foods from his mainland life that he misses, he admits he’s hard-pressed to name any.

Rather, he sees more of what he’s gained from the move. Think fresh mangos, papayas and star fruit. It’s not uncommon for him to come home to find a few avocadoes on his doorstop, gifted from his landlord.

Overall, Scott says he much prefers food shopping on Kauai. “It’s outdoors, everything is fresh — it just feels healthier,” Scott says.

How do I bring pets to the island?
Leaving behind their two cats wasn’t an option for the couple. And so they navigated the six-month quarantine process.

Hawaii’s quarantine laws require blood work, as well as two rabies tests, six months apart. But there is one upside to the whole ordeal.

“The home quarantine is a godsend,” says Scott, adding that the other option is for pets to wait it out on Oahu, which is quite insufferable both for pet and owner.

What are the health care options?
Scott considers Kauai’s healthcare facilities largely sufficient, even choosing to have a knee surgery on island, following a torn meniscus.

“I’ve been super happy with the care I received,” he says of that procedure, and his regular visits to the doctor.

He adds that ambulance service on island is reliable, but most big-ticket emergencies require airlift to Oahu. “For critical conditions, Oahu offers better care,” Scott says.

Will online retailers deliver?
Amazon will deliver to Kauai, but all purchases — Prime or otherwise — are sent standard business. However, pretty much any other online retail therapy might be nothing more than window-shopping.

“You can shop online and find the perfect sofa that you want,” says Scott, “and then in the fine print, you’ll read that the company will not ship to Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico. That is something everyone is bummed out about initially.”

How do I move my belongings?
“Matson has the monopoly on car shipments,” says Scott of the over-ocean transport company. He adds that shipping a car over is the smart move, considering that Kauai’s public transit system is lacking. Otherwise, you have to ask yourself how much it’s worth it to bring other possessions. “We looked into it, and it would have cost $8,000 to ship a container,” Scott recalls. At that price, the couple couldn’t justify it, even though they still miss their handmade furniture and Eames chairs they had from their Mississippi life.

When the couple found a longer-term rental, they borrowed a U-Haul and made a Costco run, picking out a bed, bookcase, TV and kitchen items. Their resulting interior might not be featured in a design magazine any time soon, but that’s quite all right with Scott.

Says the outdoor photographer, “The things that anyone is going to enjoy on Kauai aren’t going to be inside.”

The post Island Living: How to Move to Kauai, Hawaii appeared first on Islands.

What jobs can I find?

Unless you’re an E.U. citizen, it’s going to be difficult. Unemployment is still staggeringly high, exceeding 30 percent among young people.

“Tourism is the only sector that would likely hire Americans because they speak English, the lingua franca,” says Allen.

What’s it like to live in Greece?

“To retire, Greece is pretty cheap,” says Allen. The couple avoids income tax because they’re not working in the country. And they don’t shop a lot, which helps them elude shopping taxes.

“We came here to simplify and declutter,” says Allen. “In New York, we were paying $12,000 a year for property and school taxes. And in Greece, we’re finding that retirement on roughly $36,000 a year is more than doable. We’re not denying ourselves at all. We go out to eat two times a week or so — and the Greeks don’t know how to make a bad meal.”

Where do I buy groceries?

Groceries cost roughly 10 percent more than in the States. “As for availability, we don’t feel deprived,” says Allen. “Sure, the stores here don’t have an aisle with an infinite number of potato chip or soda varieties, but they do have that kind of stuff. The things I really savor, like cheese, Greece does really well. And the quality is actually a skosh better. The only thing I am missing is Edy’s ice cream. I would do two days’ hard labor for a bowl, but it just doesn’t exist here.”

How do I bring pets to the island?

“I wouldn’t recommend bringing pets to the Greek islands, unless they’re really domesticated,” he says. There’s a highly infectious skin disease called Kala-Azar that attacks an animal’s liver, spleen and marrow.

But if you have your heart set on bringing your pet, know that they must be micro-chipped, have a health certificate and proof of having been vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before traveling.

What are the health care options?

“Healthcare was one of the things we initially had big concerns about,” says Allen. “It’s notoriously bad here. However, there’s a way to get around that easily. You buy private insurance and bypass the government system. Then it’s fantastic.”

Allen suffered a stroke two years ago, and made finding a cardiologist in Rhodes a priority. His first visit lasted an hour, and included EKG and Echo tests, and cost roughly 50 Euro.

Shortly thereafter, his wife had to see a dermatologist, and her three visits to have a small bit removed also cost 50 Euro.

He adds, “In the States, they charge you for a biopsy — no ifs, ands or buts as they don’t want to expose themselves to negligence — but here, the doctor knew by looking that it was fine, and so we avoided that expense.”

Will online retailers deliver?

They will, but shipping can be prohibitively expensive from the States, costing up to four times as much. One way around that is that most of the bigger American companies have European distributors, which the couple found when buying seeds from Burpee.

How do I move my belongings?

“In our case, it was easy,” Allen says. They used a company based in Astoria, Queens, called Hermes International Movers, which charges $72 for a box measuring 24x18x18 and with no limit on weight.

“It was extremely convenient and not terribly expensive,” says Allen. “The downside was that we had to wait three months for our items to travel by boat.”

The post Living in Greece: 7 Things to Know appeared first on Islands.

That was back in 2009. At the time, Cabarete was still something of an outpost, largely unaided by police or other governmental systems. And not much has changed.

Although the area lacks the superstructure, such as sidewalks that some Americans may expect, it compensates in other ways. Life is simple. The sense of community is palpable. Passersby will help unasked if car suffers a flat tire. It’s this lifestyle, devoid of Saturdays spent at Target and Home Depot, which led O’Meara and Connolly to stay.

Eight years later, the biggest change for O’Meara personally is that she has become “90 percent fluent” in Spanish, enough to teach yoga classes in two languages. Looking back, she laughs at not having had a plan for that first year in the Dominican Republic. Says the Chicago native, “Luckily, we loved it.”

She answers a few frequently asked questions about what it’s like living in the Dominican Republic.

What jobs can I find?

“Job-jobs? You won’t likely find one,” says O’Meara, who created her own position teaching Ashtanga-based yoga at Casa Feliz Luxury Apartments, through her own company Molly Om Yoga.

But as for jobs — teaching, banking, managing or the like — most expats won’t be considered until they obtain legal resident status, a process that takes years.

What doesn’t take years, however, is launching your own venture.

“People do really creative things here to earn money,” says O’Meara. “Many people here are bikini manufacturers or jewelry makers.”

Another possibility is working remotely, given that Cabarete residents enjoy access to high-speed Internet.

Where do I buy groceries?

“There is always beautiful produce,” says O’Meara. “Mangoes the size of your face, and papayas as big as footballs. And everything is so good. I go home to Chicago and the bananas don’t taste like bananas.”

She gets her fill of fruits and veggies at pop-up produce stands, or the local trucks that pass by, or from the grocery store, which stocks everything an expat would hope for.

“You’ll pay a higher price for brands imported from the States, like Kraft grated Parmesan cheese, Breakstone’s cottage cheese or Classico spaghetti sauce. But it’s all available.”

The only catch — and for some, it’s more of an upside — is that you’re always eating seasonally. “Right now, it’s all about melons and tomatoes,” says O’Meara.

How do I bring pets?

Relocating with four-legged roommates to the DR is simple and straightforward. The biggest ask is that your pet be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and a year prior to arrival.

In addition, animals need a veterinary certificate for the Dominican Republic, endorsed by your state USDA office, and completed within 15 days of arrival. Pets who meet these requirements will avoid quarantine, which can last between eight and 30 days.

What are the health care options?

“I’ve never seen an ambulance here,” says O’Meara, stressing that the DR is not the place to relocate if you’re at risk for health emergencies, such as strokes or heart attacks.

Moreover, if you do choose to call this tropic outpost home, you’ll need to take a DIY-approach should any medical condition befall you. Yes, there are hospitals, but they don’t bank blood. Because of this, most expats know their blood type, and are prepared to donate when an in-need friend posts such a request on the Facebook group Everything Cabarete, which has over 2,000 members.

Given the conditions of local healthcare, O’Meara maintains an international insurance plan, allowing her treatment stateside.

But, she recommends not discounting local facilities for conditions such as parasites and dehydration. And, because the DR is a jungle-covered island, crawling with potent bugs, critters and parasites, she suggests responding quickly when bitten or stung.

“A friend had a spider bite that got really infected,” she says. “And if he hadn’t received medical care, I’m sure he would have lost his leg.”

Will online retailers deliver?

There is no home-delivery mail system in the Dominican Republic. “There’s no UPS showing up at your door or anything like that,” says O’Meara.

In fact, she and her partner gave up a mailing address entirely, as it proved too costly in terms of customs fees.

“We were getting junk mail — things like credit card applications — which were costing us as much as $10 for three pieces of useless mail,” she says.

Instead, O’Meara pays all bills online, and shops at places like Target, stocking up on sun block, hair mousse and bed sheets, when she visits family in the States twice a year.

She adds, “If you are addicted to Amazon, you could still shop there if you wanted, but you’d have to pay for a shipping address in Miami, and then pay 75 pesos (about $2 USD) per pound of delivery.”

How do I move my belongings?

O’Meara moved to the island with just two duffel bags of belongings; those relocating with more than just check-on luggage can hire companies such as Sea & Air International to send a container from anywhere in the States to the Dominican Republic.

However, you will want to have your items insured. “When the container is in customs, I have heard of items getting stolen — depending on what you have in there,” says O’Meara.

The post Island Living: How to Move to the Dominican Republic appeared first on Islands.

Most of us dream of moving to an island but the logistics and costs involved can be a deterrent. Thailand’s government is making it easier — though not necessarily affordable — with their new elite residency visa program. So whether it’s Ko Samui or Ko Pha Ngan, moving to Thailand just got a little easier.

The Thailand Elite membership program is a state-owned subsidiary of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and offers seven different relocation packages. If you’ve got money to burn, the top-of-the-line “Elite Ultimate Privilege” membership costs $60,000 (plus a membership fee of $600 per year) for a 20-year residency. One of the main benefits is the Privilege Entry Visa (PEV) which allows members an extendable one-year stay in Thailand without the usual requirement to exit and re-enter the country.

In addition to the multiple-entry tourist visa, the membership includes a 24/7 concierge service, which gives expats VIP access to those pesky government agencies (think immigration, work permits, and the department of motor vehicles). Also included: limousine airport transfers, a private lounge at the airport, annual health checkups at a state-of-the-art private hospital, special shopping and dining discounts, complimentary spa treatments and complimentary golf greens fees.

If you’re on a budget, the low-end tier is around $14,500 for the “Elite Easy Access” membership. That gets you a renewable five-year visa and similar perks to the Elite Package, minus the golf and spa treatments.

Aimed at retirees and frequent business travelers, the application-based program anticipates that more than 1,000 people will apply. Individual and family memberships are available. Visit Thailand Elite for application information.

The post How to Move to Thailand with the Elite Residency Program appeared first on Islands.

Since then, he’s come a long way. Snider now clocks in as the president and founder of travel-and-tour company Your Private Italy, specializing in custom vacations and villa rentals in the country he found on a whim 20 years ago.

What jobs can I find?

Bureaucracy will be the biggest hurdle in finding legal employment in Italy — and you need a work visa to earn a paycheck on the up-and-up. (That’s not to say new arrivals don’t work under the table serving wine and pizza.)

Companies in Italy are required to first scout new hires among Italian citizens. This means Americans stand a fighting chance finding a job in a highly specialized field, such as technology, where they can bring special training or skills than no local has.

Snider, who works regularly with five-star dining spots and hotels, says, “Restaurants may want an American chef for their knowledge of American cuisine or new trends. But overall, for Americans, Italy isn’t an easy place to find work.”

Where do I buy groceries?

“You know, we do have supermarkets in Italy,” says the Annapolis, Maryland, native, joking that a move to Italy is a far cry from moving to an island.

Granted, in his town of Salerno, stocking the fridge still borrows from Old World traditions. “It’s rare for me to go to one giant grocery store,” says Snider. “I go to the butcher, then the vegetable guy, and then the fish guy. I do as the locals do, and shop for the next meal or the next day. The term farm-to-table here has no meaning, because it’s all farm to table. They’ve never known anything else.”

How do I bring pets?

Any four-legged expats will need an ISO-compliant microchip. Plus, Fifi will also need proof of a rabies vaccination occurring after the microchipping process. Then she will need to wait 21 days before travel, so plan accordingly.

What are the health care options?

Healthcare in Italy is not up to the standards to which most Americans are accustomed. “In the South, especially, the infrastructure in the hospitals isn’t on the same level as American hospitals,” says Snider. “Plus, a lot of hospitals in the U.S. are privately financed. That’s not the case here.”

When he needed an emergency appendectomy, he elected to have the procedure in an American hospital in Rome. But, if anything such as a broken finger were to happen, Snider says he’d seek care in Salerno.

Will online retailers deliver?

Amazon has distribution centers throughout Europe, and, as of April 2017, is making a push to offer Prime in Europe by growing its collection of warehouses — meaning you could shop for that garlic press while sipping espresso at the piazza and still enjoy relatively instant gratification with your purchase.

However, not every U.S.-based retailer will deliver to the boot, but it’s easy enough to set up a mail- and package-forwarding service, such as with Reship.com.

How do I move my belongings?

Having moved right after college, Snider began his new life with just a few duffle bags and the cash from selling his Toyota 4Runner.

Seekers of la bella vita traveling with a few more possessions in tow can easily arrange a shipment. Icontainers handles the door-to-door transit of a container from anywhere in the States to Italy. From New York to Naples takes 32 days, and from Naples to any nearby city takes less than a week.

The post How to Move to Italy’s Amalfi Coast appeared first on Islands.

What jobs can I find?

All available jobs are first offered to Belizeans, advertised in the local paper for two weeks. Thus, the more specialized a position is and more likely that only you can fill it, the better the odds that you’ll be granted a work permit.

“We have thousands of waiters in Belize,” says Roberson. So don’t expect to score a job serving, despite the country’s 800 hotels and resorts. But most resorts are hiring. Americans should keep an eye toward specialized fields such as accounting, graphic design, PR, marketing, IT and Web design.

Roberson works as the head of accounting of Chaa Creek Resort in San Ignacio, a town in the country’s interior, just shy of the Guatemala border. She was asked initially to consult on a month-to-month basis for a year, at which point she qualified to apply for a Belize work permit, sponsored by Chaa Creek.

Her advice for finding work is this: “Find a solid employer and establish a relationship as a first step.”

Another option is seasonal work. Resorts commonly hire from outside the local pool of candidates to fill the need during high season, November through April.

Where do I buy groceries?

Think of grocery stores as you would friends — you’re going to have to build a network. “You learn that this store always has fresher bread than the others,” says Roberson. “And this one imports more things from Costco, and might be more likely to have a box of Cheerios.” Life in San Ignacio means you’ll never want for a supply of fruits and vegetables. Says Roberson, “You can buy everything imaginable and it’s all cheap — you get 10 bananas for $0.50.”

But if you’re an expat, you will likely be jonesing for foods common to stateside life. For Roberson, that list is long. She misses cottage cheese, Greek yogurt and Breyers ice cream. She adds, “And although we have tortilla factories on every corner, you can’t get a hard taco shell.”

What are the health care options?

Health care in Belize is like pizza in the U.S. — cheap, easy and readily available.

“I can get in to see my doctor in 10 minutes, as opposed to the three weeks it took to make an appointment back in Florida,” says Roberson.

Plus, lab results are usually provided the same day as the visit, which is possible because the hospitals aren’t bombarded by thousands of people, according to Roberson.

Similarly, prescriptions are ready almost immediately. And they’re so affordable that much of the retired American expat population forgoes health insurance.

“I pay $100 Belize dollars for my monthly meds, which is about $50 in the U.S.,” she says. “And a doctor visit costs about $17 USD.”

Because she’s been so impressed by the local healthcare system, Roberson says she’d stay in the country for treatment for anything from a broken bone to a colonoscopy. But like most expats around the globe, if anything life-threatening arose, she would fly home.

How do I move my belongings?

You may want to hold off on moving to Belize immediately with all your furniture and more. Those who acquire permanent residency are allowed one shipment, typically one container, completely free of duty tax. But of course you’ll need items in the interim. One way around this is quite a long way around.

Says Roberson, “My brother drove my Toyota pick-up — loaded with my computer, printer, clothes and some other must-haves — from Florida down through Mexico to Belize.”

How do I bring pets?

A permit from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority grants your dog or cat entry into the country. Cats and dogs will need proof of recent rabies vaccination, and dogs also need shots to prevent distemper, hepatitis, Leptospirosis and Parvovirus. Cats will also need proof of vaccinations against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis and Panlenoopaenis.

Will online retailers deliver?

Amazon, as well as many major online retailers, won’t ship directly to Belize, but that doesn’t mean you need to give up Web shopping entirely — just keep in mind the gratification won’t be instant. For a fee, many Belize residents opt to have online purchases sent to a freight forwarder, such as Cayo Cargo, which then delivers to the Central American country.

The post Island Living: How to Move to Belize appeared first on Islands.

When J.K. and Irini Shea — then residents of Southern California — honeymooned in this South Pacific paradise in 2004, they had no idea they would be moving to Fiji on the island of Taveuni permanently in 2015, purchasing 100 acres to start a farm and AirBnB venture.

J.K. first spied his future home during a scuba diving outing and recalls, “I thought it was the most beautiful island I had ever seen.”

Now, he and his wife can’t picture themselves not living in Fiji. Here’s what day-to-day life in Fiji is like and how you can move to Fiji.

What jobs can I find?

“You have to be creative and combine different opportunities,” said J.K. Shea of Taveuni, also known as the Garden Island. “We are on a remote island without a lot of industry. It would be really hard for an American to find a job here.”

What is easy, however, is agriculture.

“Almost anything grows here,” Shea said.

On the couple’s farm, that means mostly coconuts and taro, sales of which supplement the income gained from renting out Green Fiji Plantation, their three-bedroom home available through AirBnB and their own website.

On Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji, Shea sees Americans readily finding jobs in medicine and education, as well as starting businesses. For their part, Fiji provides tax breaks and other incentives to outside investors through the organization Investment Fiji.

Can I buy land?

Want to live in Fiji? You’ll need land. In Fiji, three types of land are available for purchase. The type of Fijian property that’s most like the American system is locally known as “free hold” — as in you’re purchasing full rights for land that you could pass on to your children and grandchildren.

There is also a category of real estate called “native lease,” which is tribally owned but can be owned or rented for specified amounts of time.

The third type is called “crown lease.” This type of property is owned by the government but is also available for short-term use.

How do I bring my pets to the island?

Bringing a dog or a cat to Fiji is slightly complicated but not impossible. Your pet will need a microchip as well as an import permit, plus proof of recent rabies vaccinations and a blood-titer test. Then, upon arrival, your pet will be quarantined from 30 to 120 days.

Where do I buy groceries?

Don’t expect to make one run to a grocery store and be done; rather, at the main market, you’ll pick up dry goods, such as rice, cereal and other non-perishables, and the rest, including fish and vegetables, come from roadside stands.

“There are five fish markets on our island, with a few right on the coast where you can buy straight off the boat,” Shea said. “We can buy a 40-pound tuna for $50 USD, and that will last a whole family for a week.”

Life on Taveuni is made easier in part thanks to the Cost-U-Less, a fairly typical grocery store on Viti Levu. For $5 a box, they ship groceries to most outlying islands. This keeps most expats fairly well stocked, but, for favorite brands of certain foods, they rely on visiting friends and family.

“We can’t get Cliff bars in Fiji, so we ask people visiting from the States to bring them,” Shea said.

What are the healthcare options?

“It’s a necessity here to have a medical-evacuation policy,” Shea said.

Shea seeks treatment on Taveuni only for non-life-threatening situations, such as a broken arm or an infection. For more serious conditions, Shea would travel to New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong or Singapore to find care options.

Will online retailers deliver?

“There is no online shopping in Fiji,” Shea said.

Even if a retailer will ship to the South Pacific nation, packages get caught in customs. You’ll be sent a snail-mail postcard alerting you that the package has arrived, and then you must return that card. That process takes between three and four weeks, making he gratification anything but instant.

“I really miss Amazon and eBay, so I’m looking into a service called MyUS.com, which charges a monthly fee to provide you with a Florida address. Then they palletize and ship your purchases. My friends highly recommend it.”

How do I move my belongings?

When you first move to Fiji, you’re allowed one container, be it 20- or 40-foot long, which you can fill with belongings, all of which won’t be subjected to import taxes. But after that, “The country is really strict on customs,” according to Shea.

The post How to Move to and Live in Fiji appeared first on Islands.

Ahe Atoll Motu

Location: French Polynesia

Cost: $640,000

Size: 17 acres

Move-in ready? This undeveloped island in French Polynesia’s Ahe Atoll features swaying palms, sandy shores and plenty of space to develop your dream home.

Lenur Island

Location: Vanuatu

Cost: $644,000

Size: 84 acres

Move-in ready? This 84-acre heart-shaped island, known as L’Amour Island by villagers, is located off the mainland of Malekula in Vanuatu. With three sandy beaches, roaming chickens, excellent local fishing, abundant fruit and nut trees, a caretakers cottage and two thatched-roof bungalows, Lenur island has everything you’ll need to make your escape.

Bonefish Cay

Location: Bahamas

Cost: $720,000

Size: 6 acres

Move-in ready? Located in the epicenter of Andros’ world-famous bonefishing flats, Bonefish Cay has minimal development, leaving it a blank canvas for you to create your dream home. Located just 160 miles from Miami, the island is an easily accessible escape that could also be developed as a resort.

Private Cay in the Andros Islands

Location: Bahamas

Cost: $720,000

Size: 6 acres

Move-in ready? Located in the North Bight of Andros, this Bahamian island features a concrete pad (perfect for building a cottage), three small beaches and two active wells. With just a little TLC your island dream is ready to become a reality.

Turquoise Caye

Location: Belize

Cost: $725,000

Size: 4.75 acres

Move-in ready? Aptly named for the surrounding waters, Turquoise Caye can be developed as a private home or boutique resort. Located just 5 miles from Leonardo Di Caprio’s soon-to-be opened Blackadore Caye Resort and 7 miles from Cayo Espanto, a private-island resort frequented by celebs like Harrison Ford and Tiger Woods, Turquoise Caye is sure to draw an elite crowd.

Dolphin Caye

Location: Belize

Cost: $750,000

Size: 4.1 acres

Move-in ready? With its tranquil waters and close proximity to Placencia village — just a 15 minute boat ride for groceries — the undeveloped Dolphin Caye is the ideal location for getting off the grid, but not too far off the grid.

Cayo Iguana

Location: Nicaragua

Cost: $750,000

Size: 5 acres

Move-in ready? Nicaragua’s Cayo Iguana features a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home and accommodations for island staff and management. Also known as Guano Island, this tropical paradise is dotted with plentiful coconut trees and surrounded by several reefs for snorkeling and diving.

Quiet Cove Key

Location: Florida Keys

Cost: $995,000

Size: 0.32 acres

Move-in ready? Just off the coast of Marathon island in the heart of the Florida Keys, Quiet Cove Key includes a Holiday Mansion houseboat with purchase. The island currently brings in $100,000 annually in vacation rental income, so when you’re not using it for your own personal retreat, rent it out to make your mortgage payments.

Lower Harbour Cay

Location: Bahamas

Cost: $1 million

Size: 5.12 acres

Move-in ready? Just minutes from Nassau and home to a private beach and calm waters, Lower Harbour Cay is an undeveloped piece of land waiting for you to build your dream home.

Dinisonan Island

Location: Philippines

Cost: $1 million

Size: 0.7 acres

Move-in ready? Located in the Palawan region of the Philippines, Dinisonan Island boats a four-bedroom 3,200 square-foot home and is just 15 minutes from Port Barton, making provisioning easy while allowing the ultimate in privacy.

The post 10 Islands for Sale Under $1 Million appeared first on Islands.

The sailing community of the British Virgin Islands holds big appeal for U.S. citizens hoping to expatriate — but that’s not all these Caribbean islands offer. The country is safe, welcoming and ideal for raising kids. You’ll also find a perfect balance between a sleepy-island vibe and modern conveniences, so you’ll hardly be roughing it, especially the biggest island, Tortola. Here’s the scoop on life in this overseas territory, and what to expect when you’re ready to permanently drop anchor.

What jobs can I find?

“The tricky part of landing a job in the British Virgin Islands is that you can’t just fly down and look for work — you’ll need a work permit before you come,” says Brittany Meyers, who, along with her husband and three children, lives on a sailboat off Tortola. From there, Meyers manages the marketing for the day-sailing operation Aristocat Charters.

She says that the best way to get a gig is to research jobs and companies that fit your skills, then email to apply. If it’s a match, the next step is waiting out the three-month process. “The BVI makes it very tricky to hire an outsider — they want employers to hire locals first — but of course, for certain jobs, everyone hires expats,” says Meyers.

Those jobs are most likely in the tourism sector, especially in the watersports industry, as the BVI is the bareboating capital of the world. Boat captains with a 100-ton captain’s license are easy hires. “Good captains with excellent customer service and a friendly smile get scooped up,” says Meyers.

Scuba instructors and servers in the restaurant industry are also valuable. Another less obvious, in-demand occupation is a lawyer: these islands are also home to a bustling financial market.

Where do I buy my groceries?

Sure, there are supermarkets, but a Tortola grocery store run doesn’t much resemble one in the States. For starters, if you’re making something specific, say chocolate chip cookies, don’t expect to score everything on the list at one market.

“It was just my twins’ birthday and I wanted to make them cookies, and the store was out of chocolate chips. I didn’t have time to hit up four stores, so I had to make something else,” says Meyers.

Not only will you not get everything from one market, sometimes you may get nothing at all. “There are times when the delivery boat is held up in Miami, and we have an empty grocery store for days,” says Meyers.

How do I bring my pets to the island?

Bringing pets to the BVI is not a simple affair. For starters, every dog and cat must be microchipped. And, if coming from the U.S., your pet may be subjected to another round of rabies shots, even if rabies shots have been administered to the animal previously. A health certificate, as well as a tick and tapeworm treatment, is also required.

“It’s an ordeal,” says Meyers, “so much so that a lot of folks in the sailing community avoid coming into the BVI because their animals get denied entry.” If your pets don’t meet the requirements, they can be quarantined, which doesn’t make sense for short-term stays. For those committing to the long haul, it’s simply a necessary step.

What are the health care options?

National health care exists in the British Virgin Islands, covering residents’ every ailment, from colds to cancer. Peebles Hospital on Tortola is the only such facility in the overseas territory. “I wouldn’t call it state of the art, but it’s very good,” says Meyers.

She and her family have been well taken care of; however, they tend to frequent the urgent-care clinics when in need of antibiotics or other meds to keep the kids healthy. Thankfully, no major illness has befallen anyone in her family, but should that ever happen, Meyers says they’d travel back to the States, as she did when she gave birth to her twins.

Will online retailers deliver?

“There is no instant gratification of Amazon Prime here,” says Meyers. In general, the BVI doesn’t have the same system of named streets and addresses as in the States, and Amazon won’t deliver. Ditto most other U.S.-based online retailers. That said, FedEx does deliver, albeit at somewhat exorbitant rates.

Granted, there are ways to still get your online-shopping fix. One is to set up an account with a company called Aeropost, which provides a Miami address, then ships the items to you from Florida. The cheaper option is to have visitors bring your online purchases with them when they fly down.

How do I move my belongings?

Meyers and her family simply loaded up their sailboat in Chicago and sailed south, but they don’t have any furniture. For those relocating with more than a couple duffle bags, the marine-transport company Tropical Shipping is the best option for handling boxes, furniture and everything else you need to start your new life.

The post Island Living: How to Move to the British Virgin Islands appeared first on Islands.

Exclusivity and, of course, land aren’t cheap, though, especially when it comes to private islands. Luckily, we have our list of the 10 islands you can buy for $500K or less.

Perhaps you’re looking for cheap islands for sale that are smaller and more manageable: check. Or you can buy an island cheap off the market that spans closer to 20 acres: check. Maybe you want an island free of real estate development so you can start from scratch. No matter what you’re looking for, read on for the cheapest islands for sale available.

Frigate Caye

Location: Belize
Cost: $225,000
Size: 1.41 acres
Move-in ready? This undeveloped island has no structures (that will be up to you to build) and sits on the eastern side of the Turneffe Atoll, making fishing, snorkeling, diving and kayaking easily accessible.

Motu Motu Matatahi

Location: French Polynesia
Cost: $249,000
Size: 1.8 acres
Move-in ready? One hour by boat from Rangiroa airport, this undeveloped Tahitian islet features swaying palms and a white-sand beach — the perfect spot for your new beach house.

Isla Paloma

Location: Panama
Cost: $380,000
Size: 0.75 acres
Move-in ready? Located in the Bocas del Toro region, this move-in ready island is self-powered and features a two-bedroom home, a party shack, a private beach, a boathouse and a swim dock.

Deadman Caye

Location: Belize
Cost: $249,000
Size: 0.7 acres
Move-in ready? This white-sand, fringed island in the Turneffe Atoll is currently undeveloped. Its close proximity to the reef means it’s near some of Belize’s best fishing and diving spots.

Tahifehifa Island

Location: Tonga
Cost: $317,000
Size: 1.09 acres
Move-in ready? Set in the Vava’ua island group of Tonga, the undeveloped Tahifehifa Island would make the perfect spot for your own personal overwater bungalow.

Pink Pearl Island

Location: Nicaragua
Cost: $500,000
Size: 2.5 acres
Move-in ready? Located about three miles off Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast, Pink Pearl Island features a main house, three cabanas, a fisherman’s style shack and a bar/restaurant. The island is currently being run as a turnkey tourism business but could easily be used as a personal retreat.

South Saddle Caye

Location: Belize
Cost: $300,000
Size: 2.3 acres
Move-in ready? This undeveloped island located at the southern tip of Saddle Caye features abundant coral in the surrounding waters and a stretch of sand that will be perfect for sunning and splashing once you build.

Motu Pakirikiri

Location: French Polynesia
Cost: $354,500
Size: 3.608 acres
Move-in ready? This undeveloped island in the Tuamotus, bordered by vibrant, turquoise waters, is an unspoiled tranquil spot to reconnect with nature.

Turneffe Point Caye

Location: Belize
Cost: $350,000
Size: 1 acre
Move-in ready? Located on the northern tip of the Turneffe Atoll and featuring a tiny cottage, Turneffe Point Caye is a dream location for flats fishermen.

Motu Tohepuku

Location: French Polynesia
Cost: $446,500
Size: 18.86 acres
Move-in ready? This large, undeveloped island located in the Raraka Atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago is home to a coconut grove and white-sand beaches. Build a beach bungalow, and make it your home.

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