What is the best island to live in the Caribbean?

What's the best Island in the Caribbean to live at?

• Definitely thinking about transplanting myself.

• Answer:

  That depends on what nationality you are because this will be the determining factor in your ability to work and live. If you are from the US, I suggest you start with Puerto Rico because you don't have to apply for residency and you will be able to work without a work permit just as though you had moved from one state to another because it "belongs to" the United States (residents ARE citizens of the US). It's an "unincorporated territory." No problem with passport, visa, or other paperwork you would need in a non-US country. I suggest it as a "trial run" because everyone cannot get acclimated to the high temps, humidity or hurricane season... Opinion: Most Puerto Ricans are warm and welcoming people. In the larger cities many people use English because of the tourism business. Most people between young adult and middle aged don't have a problem with using it; however, I found that older people are reluctant to speaking English unless it's necessary for their employment (neighbors may be more accommodating). Children who are studying English in school seem very eager to have discussions in English. (I'm not sure but English many not have been required in educational system prior to the 1960's. Now, I believe it's required in order to graduate from high school--but don't quote me on that. I haven't lived there in eight years and I'm not a native.) To be on the safe side (and just to be nice), brush up on your Spanish and be ready to relearn some even if you were once fluent--most Hispanic cultures have their dialects. Great food and fun with great folks. (Never could find Big Red soda when I was living there so you may need to have someone send you care packages if you love that stuff. It was a good way for me to kick the habit.) There's also the US Virgin Islands (several areas) but I've heard and can imagine that the cost of living there is extremely high. If you are European--British, Dutch or French, you might try one of the islands that is still considered a territory so that you will have an easier time with residency, language and working. Not sure about British or French territories/islands but Curaçao and Bonaire--Netherlands Antilles are still Dutch territories along with several other islands. Dutch and Papiamentu are primary languages but English is widely spoken. You can go for a visit but even Dutch born have some residency and work permit requirements to meet in the Netherlands Antilles that are not so much unlike those of the United States,i.e, marriage to a citizen or other means of immigration within their laws. Sint Marteen is the Dutch half of another island in the Caribbean. Aruba is now independent of the Netherlands; I don't know much about it. (Note: The "ABC Islands--Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are said to be less apt to get the harsh hurricanes and tropical storms because of their location.) I have no clue about Jamaica or other major islands (British, French and Venezuelan) except they are warm, and beautiful. See maps at urls below.