fourspells
9/30/2014 22:02 EST
Hi. I'm booking a flight to Stl shortly. We will stay for two weeks and want to use the time to experience the island. Where would you recommend we travel to get a good feel for living on the island? I'm open to local living as well as areas concentrated with expats with shopping etc. Near the beach is ideal but a little off from it is ok, too. Does anyone have places to stay away from? Thank you so much... if anyone can help.
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bobbyveee
10/1/2014 07:09 EST
Hi. Nearly everyone lives from Castries northwards. Rodney bay being the favourite area and having the most hotels etc. Also a lot of the tours and excursions by sea start from the marina area. It reall would be worth while renting a small car if you want to really see the island. We do drive opn the left here. Locals and expats live happily together , the locals are amongst the most friendly in the Caribbean. There are hundreds of places to eat and stay, its just down to money really. Most of the nicest places are close to the sea.
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bobbyveee
10/1/2014 11:18 EST
Have you booked a hotel yet? And arranged transport from the airport ?
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fourspells
10/1/2014 11:54 EST
Hello Bobbyveee. And no, we haven't booked as yet. But just moments ago, my fingertips hovered the keyboard at the United Airlines webpage. The thought came to check if anyone responded to my inquiry first....so thank you bunches!!! We'll rent a car to get around for sure. Now that I have an idea where to roam, I'll search for available housing and then tackle my flight schedule. We visited Portugal in the spring and at the end of this trip, we'll decide where we'll retire. Interestingly enough, my daughter just told me her husband, originally from Trinidad, has maternal family roots in St. Lucia. That revelation made my heart warm for the island already! I'd like them to come with and bring my grandbabies. Praying they will eventually!
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bobbyveee
10/1/2014 14:11 EST
Hi. Sounds like St L could be your kinda place. Rent the car at the airport, it'll save you $80usd each way taxi fare. Its easy to get to the north, only one road !!!! Its about a 90 min. drive to Rodney Bay area. Loads of places to choose from, look on Trip advisor , see if there are any deals. Nov is the start of the season, so out of season deals may have finished. I love Portugal especially the SW corner. Im retired , but move between USA , St L , our beach bungalow on Ambergris Caye and our home in souther Tx. and family home in UK. If i can help in anyway , email me Robert
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fourspells
10/1/2014 18:12 EST
thanks so much. we may indeed take you up on your offer. will keep you abreast and have a wonderful day!
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Allianz CareGet QuoteAllianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.
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Olorin
10/4/2014 19:09 EST
A bit off topic but to Bobbyvee, do you ever have issues with your property in AC while you aren't there watching it? Or in Saint Lucia? Just wondering what issues you see with security fo property in either location while you aren't there since you seem to have good experience in both places.
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bobbyveee
10/5/2014 10:03 EST
Our property in AC is always let and managed and let by Bleasemanagement . We have motion sensor lights and burglar bars. Never had any problems. We rent here only, gives us more options. but our present villa has a full and well monitored alarm system. In AC we never left anything outside, an awful lot of petty pilfering there.
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Olorin
10/5/2014 17:16 EST
Did you look at the US Virgin islands? How do you think those compare to St. Lucia? Was just thinking of whether since it is in the US, things like health care, taxes and other things a US citizen might get there might be an advantage over a place like St Lucia?
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bobbyveee
10/5/2014 18:04 EST
Im a Brit and my health care is free, my wife is American, thats why we pop back to Texas every 6 months My wife was in the American VI and didnt like or feel safe alone there St L is so friendly. Not sure if you'd get US health care there either. We dont pay taxes anywhere anyway . This boat floats our boat in everyway
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bobbyveee
10/6/2014 07:33 EST
Olorin. Once your outside the states , you need med. insurance . We use our Divers Ins. for emergency . Luckily both of us are reasonably healthy. All banks around the world have to report US citizens bank transactions back to the US tax authorities, but not my British accounts, that why we bank multi currency off shore, not to avoid tax but to make life a lot easier.
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Allianz CareGet QuoteAllianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.
Allianz CareAllianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime. Get Quote
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bobbyveee
10/6/2014 07:39 EST
Olorin. One thing you may not know , but there are no direct flights from Europe to Belize a pain in the butt, means extra cost and having to go , unnecessarily thro US immigration, you cant transit thro any US airport, crazy , but to many Caribbean islands , there are direct flights from Europe, USA and Canada, so many Europeans who have long summer vacations head this way
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Olorin
10/6/2014 21:12 EST
Does St. Lucia have any taxes on income that you derive from US investments?
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bobbyveee
10/7/2014 06:33 EST
Not that i know of. They couldnt tax us as we are not citizens. We live of investments ans income from our rental on AC. My wife fills in her US tax forms i do my UK . We have under a million invested
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bobbyveee
10/7/2014 06:33 EST
Not that i know of. They couldnt tax us as we are not citizens. We live of investments ans income from our rental on AC. My wife fills in her US tax forms i do my UK . We have under a million invested
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Olorin
10/8/2014 22:21 EST
What do you do for health insurance in St. Lucia? Do you just pay for regular small stuff direct out of pocket (and then look to your divers insurance you mentioned for "catastrophic" type coverage)?
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bobbyveee
10/9/2014 06:35 EST
We havent needed to get med help. My wife had some minor surgery on her face in Houston and needed the stitches removed . This was expertly done at a local Dr.'s office in Rodney Bay for $120ec . A Dr's consultation is about $25 US, a brand new hospital is opening next yr. I bring the few meds i need from US or UK but all are availabe here cheaply. We would pay any med work here , ie a broken arm etc out of our own pocket. We might do differently if we lived here full time
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