Congratulations to all of the Taste of St. Croix 2016 winners! Looks like we have a lot of eating to do…
Go To St. Croix – What are you waiting for?!
We’re so grateful for the support of the www.GoToStCroix.com team! They really are the best resource for planning a trip to St. Croix or for finding a new adventure if you already live here. Even after 25+ years, I still use their web site to plan outings and make recommendations to friends or clients!
If you haven’t yet made the move to the Caribbean (what are you waiting for?!?!), you can always daydream while watching the Christiansted Harbor Cam.
Be sure to follow them on Facebook and subscribe to the GoToStCroix.com email list for fun updates about our island happenings.
Ahhhh Spring
Sure, on St. Croix we don’t spend the first part of spring moving our sweaters to the back of the closet or putting the snowblower in storage, but we certainly welcome the change of the season. The days get a little longer, the ocean a littler warmer. The farmer’s market is bursting with colorful produce and delicious smells. The busy-ness of high season starts to wind down.
Some of my personal favorite activities of Spring are St. Croix Food and Wine Experience (April 8-12) and Taste of St. Croix (April 14). Events range from a barbecue at the Frederksted pier to the elegant Cork & Fork dinners held at spectacular private homes to a showcase of the best of St. Croix’s hospitality talent. It truly is the tastiest week in the Caribbean!
In a recent issue of The Avis, headlines boasted “Major tax benefits for businesses in Christiansted revitalization plan” and “Open for business! New storefronts spring up in C’sted”.
Tax benefits include 90% exemption on income taxes, 100% exemption on gross receipts taxes, and 100% exemption on property taxes for up to eight years for businesses that fall under specific criteria. Learn more from the United States Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority.
A walk around cozy downtown Christiansted will lead you to your long-time favorites, as well as some new favorites, like Milk & Honey, Savor St. Croix, Toast Diner and Shupe’s on the Boardwalk. The much anticipated openings of the Caravelle Hotel and Casino and balter, a fine-dining restaurant, will be two great steps toward an even more vibrant downtown.
Out West, Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge is now closed for turtle nesting season. Two miles of continuous sandy beach, deep near shore water access and lack of fringing reef provide ideal conditions and nesting habitat for leatherback sea turtles. A turtle siting is always a special moment here!
New restaurants and activities are also popping up in Frederiksted, like Paradise on the Waterfront and East End Watersports’ new fly board. We’re thrilled for our clients, Kathy and Randy, who in December celebrated one year as owners of Caribbean Breeze Apartments and Vacation Homes in downtown Frederiksted, walking distance to beaches, dining and nightlife. Thanks to Clean Sweep Frederiksted, brightly colored murals make the streets of town come alive.
No matter where you are, we hope you enjoy the new colors, sites, sounds and tastes that Spring brings.
Warm regards,
The Fedeles Team
Transfer Day
Every March, Virgin Islanders celebrate a peaceful transfer of ownership – an “independence” day unique to these islands. On March 31, 1917, an elaborate ceremony carried out simultaneously on each of the three Virgin Islands — St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John — marked a change in ownership of the Virgin Islands from Denmark to the United States.
The United States investigated the Virgin Islands as a possible fueling station or U.S. merchant and naval vessels as early as the mid-1860’s. A treaty between the two countries was first negotiated in 1867, however a complicated process of give-and-take termed “diplomatic fencing” ensued whereby Denmark signed the agreement and the U.S. waffled for several years before agreeing to sign, at which time Denmark opted to ignore the United States’ overture. By 1915, the U.S. acknowledged an urgent need to prevent another power from establishing a base in the Caribbean and agreed to pay Denmark $25 million in gold coin for the islands — up from the original asking price of $7.5 million! The transfer treaty was finalized on January 17, 1917 and the official transfer took place at 4:00 pm on March 31 of that year.
According to contemporary accounts, Virgin Islanders were pleased to become U.S. citizens and did not dispute the new ownership. In St. Thomas, the U.S. was represented at the transfer ceremony by a guard of honor from the U.S. ship Valkyrien anchored in Charlotte Amalie Harbor and a Danish guard of honor stood outside the barracks belonging to the Danish fort. In St. Croix, the transfer proclamation was read aloud by dignitaries in Christiansted and in Frederiksted. Needless to say, national anthems were played and artillery salutes were fired – 89 in total!
What an exciting yet solemn day it must have been for Virgin Islanders! Since that day, the islands have become thoroughly American, yet the islands’ rich Danish heritage is apparent everywhere — in family names, place names, street names and architecture. For fascinating photographic records of long-ago life in the Virgin Islands, go to stcroixfoodandwine.com, stcroixlandmarks.com and search “photos.”
Featured Client: Caribbean Breeze
We’re thrilled for our clients, Kathy and Randy, who in December celebrated one year as owners of Caribbean Breeze Apartments and Vacation Homes on Prince Street in Frederiksted, walking distance to beaches, dining and nightlife.
Kathy and Randy lived in Denver and had been vacationing on St. Croix for five years when they decided to “get away from the ‘rat race’ and slow down, enjoy life!” When they first contacted me, their focus was on finding a private home with a rental unit. Then they discovered the value one can get for a multi-unit property and adjusted their search. They planned a visit to the island in May 2014 to find their dream home.
It helps that Kathy and Randy have great vision for a property’s potential and a knack for renovations. Since closing in July 2014, they have completely remodeled all of the vacation units, from decorating, new tile, and new kitchens. The outside has been given a face lift and fresh coat of paint, and they have a secure gated courtyard that has been beautiful landscaped with 100+ year old trees and lots of island flowers. 
Their long-term vision is to transform the courtyard into an outdoor oasis. They are currently building a pool, and plan to add on an outdoor kitchen/BBQ/dining area and outdoor bathroom.
Kathy says, “We were not looking at starting a business, in fact, we wanted to be semi-retired! But people here say that if the island really wants you, it will give you everything you need to stay! We have been given so much more!”
Caribbean Breeze had their first guests on December 28, 2014. They have 6 vacation/short term apartments, ranging in size from studios, to one-bedrooms and a two bedroom unit. Prices range from $70- $175/night double occupancy during high season, to $60-$120/night during low season.
Check out their listings on airbnb to see how Kathy and Randy turned their dream into a reality:
Moving with Pets
If you’re planning a move to St. Croix with Fido or Fluffy, making arrangements for their travel may be challenging. Most commercial airlines will not accept pets as checked baggage if the temperature is more than 85 degrees F or below 10 degrees F at any point in your travel (origin, in transit or destination). So, even if it’s a cool 77 in Philly or St. Louis, if it’s 86 during a layover or at STX, your pets will not be allowed to fly in cargo. Some airlines may also have date restrictions.
One option you may try is United’s PetSafe program, which allows pets to fly year-round in climate-controlled cargo and plane-to-plane pick-up/delivery so your pet doesn’t sit on the hot (or cold) tarmac for too long. United does have specific kennel requirements and pet restrictions, and your pet will still require a reservation.
United can get your pets as far as Puerto Rico or St. Thomas. From there, Cape Air allows pets up to a certain size.
Small pets that fit in a carry-on bag are much easier and are not held to weather restrictions. Just be sure to make a pet reservation as you can’t just arrive at the airport and check them in.
Another option is to hire a pet relocation service, like Air Animal. They can coordinate every aspect of moving your pets and the price ranges from $800 to $2,500, depending on the services they provide.
There are also plane charters available, like AirPropel. Pets are allowed to fly in any season, any weather, and in-cabin right next to you. Typically these originate in South Florida. They allow you to book an aircraft all to yourself or share, pricing ranges from $4,000 to $15,500.
Twice voted Best Real Estate Broker on St. Croix. Coldwell Banker President's Circle three years in a row. 