The Caribbean - Where to live?

I have an opportunity to open an branch office in the Caribbean, a sales office actually for central america and Caribbean. The company is saying possibly Netherlands antilles, but is open to suggestions.

I am American, wife is Dutch.

I would be concerned about 1) quality of life 2) taxes 3) Ease of travel to central america and south america.


Any suggestions?

Billman

1- quality of life.. that would be either San Juan or the ABC Islands

2- taxes... that I can't help you with, but I've heard from a good source that the Dominican Republic is good on taxes

3- Ease of travel to central/south America, IMO, that'd be either the Dominican Republic (out of PUJ, not SDQ though) or San Juan, there are two CM nonstops to PTY, and an AA nonstop to CCS, which would allow you to connect across South America, but not much else. From the ABC islands, you can get to Venezuela and Colombia fairly easily.

you can always stay on Margarita. It's a great island, safe and with decent infrastructure, and it's got loads of flights to CCS.

Though it is part of Venezuela so taxes will probably be high.

I haven't been to Dom Rep, but, from what I've heard about it, I think it may be a little unsafe for people who don't speak Spanish.

I may be wrong, but I thought Puerto Ricans did not pay federal taxes. That would clinch it for me. 99% of the urban population speaks some English. San Juan is a hub for the Caribbean. Crime would be a downside as would traffic.

Miami?

I've been trying to answer this question myself for the past two years as I have been covering the Caribbean, Bermuda and Belize (with the rare Central and South American trip thrown in for good measure). It's tough out of YOW as I often need three segments to get where I need to go.

In the English speaking Caribbean, POS has reasonable connections and a lively expat community. Road traffic to and from downtown Port of Spain to POS (Piarco) can be a real pain. I've looked at BGI, but air connections aren't as good.

From SJU you can get almost anywhere in the Caribbean, but it may be on an AA/AE ATR-72. SDQ has multiple routes into C.A.

AUA and CUR are possibilities south of the hurricane belt with CUR having better connections and seeming to be a more interesting place to live. AUA reminds me too much of a southern Florida beach town.

You haven't mentioned if schools for kids are a consideration, or if your travel patterns might be slanted towards one or more countries. The value of living where Mrs. Billman27 would be able to "Nederlands sprekt", especially when you are travelling, should not be ignored. The voice of three countries in seven years speaking here!

And what about MIA? Direct flights everywhere.
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13F

PS Send me a PM if you would like to chat, or if you need a wingman. ;)

I am on Aruba and have been for about 8 weeks. The fact that your wife is Dutch will help immeasurably in Aruba or Curacao. I bought a car and needed to get a tax ID. Everyone told me I'd have to wait weeks but I have a Dutch last name and after, of course, waiting to be called I got my ID in 5 minutes. There is a website called www.aruba.com with a community forum which discusses moving to Aruba with taxes etc. The flow of life here is a bit different - going to the grocery store this a.m. and hope that milk is left from the container that came in Friday - that kind of thing. Restaurants are wonderful and Arubans are very friendly and fun.

I thought Puerto Ricans did not pay federal taxes.

They generally do not, except on income derived from mainland US sources/federal government. However, the local taxes more than make up for the lack of federal taxes.

I know there are some benefits offered for companies investing in PR... quite generous benefits.

From SJU you can get almost anywhere in the Caribbean, but it may be on an AA/AE ATR-72.

or on Liat... ick.

We're getting nonstop flights on Inselair to Curacao soon, and there's nonstop service to SQG on B6.

As for C.A., our only option is CM to PTY, and for S.A., there's AA to CCS.

I also believe that we have service to Mexico, but I just don't know the frequency/destinations, since well... I've never needed it.

Copa now flies to Aruba, thru pty as well as several other regional airlines. I
would love the oppty to live there

Wow,

Thanks to everyone, I appreciate all the advice. The Caribbean section of flyertalk seemed a bit quiet, so glad I got such great responses.


No kids yet, but in about two years. We are newlywed.


Let's talk visas.


Puerto Rico - No visas needed, spousal visa for the wife
USVI - No visas needed, spousal visa for the wife (No one mentioned this place?)
St. Maarten French side - Part of the EU so in theory my wife could sponsor me
Curaco- Any insight here?
Miami - a good option, but want to avoid USA for tax reasons
BVI - Need a visa for both of us
Cayman - Need a visa for both of us

Am I missing anywhere?

Thanks for all the help again.

Billman

Wow,

Thanks to everyone, I appreciate all the advice. The Caribbean section of flyertalk seemed a bit quiet, so glad I got such great responses.

No kids yet, but in about two years. We are newlywed.

Let's talk visas.

Puerto Rico - No visas needed, spousal visa for the wife
USVI - No visas needed, spousal visa for the wife (No one mentioned this place?)
St. Maarten French side - Part of the EU so in theory my wife could sponsor me
Curaco- Any insight here?
Miami - a good option, but want to avoid USA for tax reasons
BVI - Need a visa for both of us
Cayman - Need a visa for both of us

Am I missing anywhere?

Thanks for all the help again.

Billman
Cayman (GCM): visas required. Very structured process. You'll need a local lawyer/consultant to assist. Flights to NAS, MIA, KIN and soon to Honduras.
BVI (EIS): visas required. Process is structured, but not well managed.
USVI (STT): not sure about visas, but check crime statistics first.

All of the above have relatively poorly served airports with EIS being the worst of the lot.

CUR: might be my choice.

I've asked my colleagues in C.A. and they all say PTY is the best location for business and quality of life.
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13F

USVI (STT): not sure about visas, but check crime statistics first.

Spousal visa needed, crime is.... there.

13f,

Thanks for your help. Panama is an option as well. I had to pull out the old airport code translator in this thread as the caribbean airports are a bit rusty. It's a shame the crime is so bad in the USVI. The BVI is really nice, but the visas again are very restrictive and it's hard to get around.

I will make a visit in the next couple of months to check things out. Thanks a lot and wherever we end up, I owe you all a nice cold beer on some white sand beach :)

I will keep this thread updated as I know more information.

Billman

You might be interested in the BES islands? (bonaire, saba, st. eustatius/statia). They will become part of the country of the netherlands sometime in the next couple years (the country "netherlands antilles" will cease to exist shortly...st. maarten and curacao will be indpendent nations in the kingdom of the netherlands, like aruba is now).

Martinique or Guadeloupe.

1. Part of France and therefore the safety of the EU.
2. Less tax than mainland France,
3. Social security, good hospitals, schools etc.
4. Loads of daily flights to Europe and the US...

Martinique or Guadeloupe.

4. Loads of daily flights to Europe and the US...but flights to the Caribbean are limited to Air Caraibes and Liat for the most part. It will depend on the OP's travel profile, but if he is travelling 50% of the time, I would look for a home base with at least a few convenient (if not direct) flights to the most common destinations.
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13F

1. Part of France and therefore the safety of the EU.

With the recent race riots, and overall dislike of wealthy 'blancs' by the overwhelming Afrocaribbean majority, I beg to differ.

I noticed the two French Islands (already EU) and some of the Dutch islands will be EU very shortly. I guess this would make our life easier for residency, but can you elaborate on the "race riots."
I thought it was mostly due to minimum wage complaints?

Also, anyone know what the personal tax rates are on these islands? Can't find much with Mr. Google.

Billman

I thought it was mostly due to minimum wage complaints?

Basically, but when the wealthy minority is predominantly 'blanc' and those who earn diddly are the afrocaribbean majority, it turns into a race issue.

I've met more than a handful of white/non-afrocaribbean French Antilleans over the past weeks here in SJ that are riding out the riots.

I noticed the two French Islands (already EU) and some of the Dutch islands will be EU very shortly. I guess this would make our life easier for residency, but can you elaborate on the "race riots."
I thought it was mostly due to minimum wage complaints?

Also, anyone know what the personal tax rates are on these islands? Can't find much with Mr. Google.

Billman

My understanding, although this is still perhaps a point of negotiation, is that when the BES islands become part of Holland, they will have similar laws, tax rates, etc. And the citizens of the islands will become Dutch citizens instead of Netherlands Antilles citizens.

My understanding, although this is still perhaps a point of negotiation, is that when the BES islands become part of Holland, they will have similar laws, tax rates, etc. And the citizens of the islands will become Dutch citizens instead of Netherlands Antilles citizens.My knowledge on the political aspects of this issue is spotty, but I do know they are already Dutch as all Netherlands Antilles and Aruba citizens are currently entitled to Dutch (Kingdom of the Netherlands) passports.
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13F

Yes, but there is a difference between having a Dutch passport and being a Dutch citizen :)