Affordable long term Apt rentals in Negril

Hello Boardie Family,
I've decided to fulfill my dreams, and move to jamaica to start a new life.I fell in love with the country 12years ago, and decided to live there, and do what I love to do in a place where I love to be.
I'm not moving until next year, but am starting to plan and put things together.
I am looking for a 1bedroom unfurnished apt in the negril area that is good for a woman living solo. I'm also looking for something that is affordable that I can take a look at when I return in Oct on my first offical trip to get the ball rolling.
I want to move my own belongings that I have here so that I may have all my personal belongings with me that I'm familar with, so I may feel at home.
I'm looking for a space that I can put all of my furniture etc for a one bedroom: living room,dinning room, kitchen table, and bedroom set.
I've located a job already, and would love any suggestions, and recommendations on how to make this transition run smoothly.
I'm a little nervous on leaving all that I have built here in the states, but I think that it is time to follow my dreams and help the community there in jamaica with the skills that I have to offer.
Is there anyone here on the board that has done this already, please share with me your experience, and if there are any regrets that you may have on the transition, or maybe not. I just want some feedback.
Thanks in advance,
Copper

Wow, that is awesome that you already have a job lined up. Sounds like that is the hardest part. Finding an apt should be much easier. Best of luck to you in your move to Jamaica! I hope you will post more about your journey here, so we can all live vicariously through you!

Copper...you've found a job, so I assume that your new work place will be helping you get a work permit. You can get a lot of the paperwork done online etc before you even get here. I wouldn't rent any property for more than 6 months...if your work permit is not confirmed yet. The work permit has to be approved by the gov't and do remember that they may only allow the permit to carry on for 1-3 years and can refuse to allow longer than that at any point of your stay/renewal time.
If you're going for permanent residency...again I would still wait until confirmation before you move all of your belongings down here.
Congrats on your decision.

Thanks to both of you for the encouraging words. Thanks Bnewb,can you give me the websites to do as much as I can before arriving there in Oct to go to kingston.
I'm not planning on moving there until Dec 2013. Yes, I do want permanant residency. How do I go about that?

Peruse through the attached thread...there's some good links & info in it -
http://negril.com/forum/showthread.p...contacts/page3

Work Permit -
http://www.mlss.gov.jm/pub/index.php?artid=17

Hi Copper - how cool that you are working towards your dreams. You said you started going to Negril 12 years ago but have you done any long term stays yet. I always recommend this so you can start to experience what it is like adjusting out of vacation mode and into the culture. If you have then you have no doubt talked with those who have successfully made a move there and had a job there as that knowledge is critical also. The other advice I have heard over and over is that you should have a large emergency fund to fall back on or it could become unexpectedly difficult.

I would recommend checking with the Westender Inn. They have some awesome cabins for rent that are basic but cute and affordable (not sure but seems they were around $700 mth but you would have to ck with them to see). As a solo female please make security your prime requirement wherever you choose.

There is also a special Board on the Negril.com Board Forum page that has many threads on "Living in Jamaica".
You have started the first few steps (dream, plan, research). Bless your journey!

Check out Eddie's D bar and Judy House for what you are looking for

Hello Nick,
Thanks for the imput, but I'm not familar. Can you give a little more detail.............

Hey Copper350 - I just wanted to say Congratulatons on going after your dream! I think that's awesome and really really exciting! I'm wishing you all the best!
I have a cousin in Negril that I just emailed to see if he knows of any affordable apartments in his area. I'll let you know!

Awwwwwwwwwww, thanks Clarity.

I can try to help with Nick's suggestions.

Eddie's De Bar is a bar and jerk restaraunt (best jerk) on West End and I think they have built a couple rooms on the property. Maybe someone can provide Eddie or Trevor's contact info for you.

Judy House is a cottage up the hill gardenside on West End that is owned by Sue McKenzie a long time expat Negril business owner and resident. You can google it and get the contact information. Beautiful gardens there.

Thanks Sweetness, I need a the help I can get.

Congratulations! As Bnewb stated, you'll need a work permit in order to work your job in Jamaica - and/or apply for permanent residency. A work permit can be costly - around $600-$1000USD per year with all the stuff and traveling to Kingston you'll have to do (it takes a few trips, especially for that first one and a ton of paperwork, oy!) I hope your new employer will help you with both the process and costs to make it easier on you.

As far as apartment hunting when you go in October check out the bulletin boards at HiLo and ValueMaster - there are always places to rent on there. Prices vary - how much per month do you consider affordable?

Have you ever spent more than a month in Negril? If not, you should before making your move. It is so important to develop community when doing something like this - get to know other residents there - that's how the best and more affordable places to live are often discovered. You'll get "hipped" to everything from the different neighborhoods, JPS bills, to Cable TV, to internet access and all sorts of tips and hints about transportation etc. Coming straight at this as a tourist it can be a bit muddling! I have a friend who jumped head first into living there after 30 years of spending time only in hotels and resorts - her head was spinning...but not for long. She wasn't afraid to meet people, ask questions and most importantly LEARN and keep learning...she's about 6 months in now and cruising along just fine (she doesn't work, she's retired).

She was smart and got involved with some great volunteering opportunities in the community and met some great, great people that way.

Remember too, living in a vacation spot like Negril is very different than the average 2 week vacation but I'm sure you realize this. The day to day there is not all that easy. Hurricane season can be rough, get used to supply shortages, water shortages (like right now on the West End, sheesh!) and power outages. And remember to be realistic about living expenses - they are higher than you think. There's an "old" adage that swarms around the expat community in Negril - "figure out how much it'll take for you to live there for a year...then triple that amount"...that and "know how to make a small fortune in Jamaica? Bring a large one."

Its good that you are planning more than a year out and in the meantime I hope you'll make some extended visits during ALL of the season, meet some great folks and live happily ever after.

Bless up!

Thanks Tiger lily,
Affordable to me in housing is between $500- 750 a month with hot water ,etc. I remember reading that you should plan and live modest, because things are so expensive and you want to plan your spending until you at least get established.
I'm taking savings with me that I can have as a safty net while I work.
Yes, I have been around the comminuity, and that's why I coming because I the demand for what I do is there to help. I'm an educator, and stylist.
Yes, I am also aware of coming and going back to kingston. I wonder how often though after I apply with all papaerwrk needed is it going to take.
I know that it is going to be a culture shot, but where I grew up the livng on the island is how we lived as children.

Sweetness' suggestion of Westender is a good one but again, if you've only been to the cliffs once on vacation you might want to explore the area a little further. Also living at Westender you might need a vehicle, its pretty far south. Not sure where you will be working but you'll need to take transportation costs into consideration as well.

I don't think Sue rents long term. I'm sure there are other options on Westland Mountain Road. I just read on another board that someone rented a 1 bedroom place on that road in the price range you are looking for.

Be aware too that living in Negril "proper" will up your rent expenses. You might want to take a look around Redground or Orange Bay (if you have or plan on having a vehicle).

Another suggestion - see if your employer can't help you out in finding a place. I see that you are planning a trip in October for 2 weeks - see if you can't extend that to 4 weeks. I strongly suggest you spend extended periods of time on island, staying in and around where you think you may want to live to get a true vibe of the place, a vibe you can't always get in a two week hotel-based stay. Instead of being "around" the community, dive "into" the community! Both Jamaican and expat - you will be so rewarded!!

You can do some of this online - do a little Google research and you'll find other forums where the participants are actually living there or have lived there for more insight and community development.

As far as the work permit, oy! There's a lot of paperwork to fill out - they will want to do a background check for criminal records in the US and you will need to be fingerprinted. I'm sure they will require paperwork from your employer as well. At first you might be looking at 2 or 3 trips to Kingston - you can get fingerprinted in Sav La Mar but need to deliver them yourself to Kingston. A private charter to Kingston can cost about $100USD and its about a 4.5 hour drive (or longer, its been a while so I forget). Everything costs, everything! Like I said before, it'll run somewhere between $600-$1000USD. Hopefully your employer will either help pay or pay in full.

Sweetness' suggestion of Westender is a good one but again, if you've only been to the cliffs once on vacation you might want to explore the area a little further. Also living at Westender you might need a vehicle, its pretty far south. Not sure where you will be working but you'll need to take transportation costs into consideration as well.

I don't think Sue rents long term. I'm sure there are other options on Westland Mountain Road. I just read on another board that someone rented a 1 bedroom place on that road in the price range you are looking for.

Be aware too that living in Negril "proper" will up your rent expenses. You might want to take a look around Redground or Orange Bay (if you have or plan on having a vehicle).

Another suggestion - see if your employer can't help you out in finding a place. I see that you are planning a trip in October for 2 weeks - see if you can't extend that to 4 weeks. I strongly suggest you spend extended periods of time on island, staying in and around where you think you may want to live to get a true vibe of the place, a vibe you can't always get in a two week hotel-based stay. Instead of being "around" the community, dive "into" the community! Both Jamaican and expat - you will be so rewarded!!

You can do some of this online - do a little Google research and you'll find other forums where the participants are actually living there or have lived there for more insight and community development.

As far as the work permit, oy! There's a lot of paperwork to fill out - they will want to do a background check for criminal records in the US and you will need to be fingerprinted. I'm sure they will require paperwork from your employer as well. At first you might be looking at 2 or 3 trips to Kingston - you can get fingerprinted in Sav La Mar but need to deliver them yourself to Kingston. A private charter to Kingston can cost about $100USD and its about a 4.5 hour drive (or longer, its been a while so I forget). Everything costs, everything! Like I said before, it'll run somewhere between $600-$1000USD. Hopefully your employer will either help pay or pay in full.

Great information and advice Tiger Lily - all you said is critical to making the transition. Most important thing you reinforced is how imperative it is to have long stays before trying to make the move. Copper please try to do this and as Tiger suggested at LEAST a month at a time in different seasons. Having a job is a BIG accomplishment so you employer should be helpful to you. Let me know if I can help w/budgeting. My longest stay was only 4 mths though. When you go in Oct i highly recommend seeking out others who live there to get advice.

Tiger Lily's advice is a bit misleading...
You will not need fingerprinting in Jamaica for your work permit...you will need to provide a police record from your current home town (which may or may not require fingerprinting) but regardless you do not have to go to Sav...they do NOT do this is Sav.
If you're getting a work permit & follow everything to the letter, as I said earlier, you can do a lot of the work online...it should only take ONE trip to Kingston to get everything finalized if you've made no paperwork mistakes...you may need to stay overnight for a couple items.
Copper...I gave you the work permit links etc...follow everything to the letter. Same with permanent residency...follow DoctorO's advice on this one...she laid it out nicely.

This is sum top notch info~Bless!!!

Thanks to all that is helping me with this transition, and again Bnewb thanks I seen all info and will follow it to the T.i was told that there is a income re to ask for permanant residency. Is this true? I heard that they want to make sure you can support yourself before coming, but how much do they need to see that you have saved, if any at all?Thanks

Oh! I do apologize if my information was misleading or confusing :(

"You will not need fingerprinting in Jamaica for your work permit...you will need to provide a police record from your current home town (which may or may not require fingerprinting) but regardless you do not have to go to Sav...they do NOT do this is Sav."
In my experience fingerprinting is/was necessary. Perhaps its because of the current home town requirement? Maybe if you are from a certain country or city it is not required. Also, in my experience Sav WAS the place to go - maybe not anymore? I know some people that have a police officer come to their house to fingerprint them and they also take care of getting the prints where they need to be in Kingston. They pay a fee for that service.

Like Bnewb said, do as much as you can online - how refreshing! Back in the day there would be at least two trips to Kingston for this purpose (getting the work permit) but these days with the internet that may be a thing of the past.

Carry on!

Tiger Lilly/Rastagirl777/Nikki...I assume this is you as you've brought up the same wrong info on several occasions in the past...please stop.
"In my experience fingerprinting is/was necessary." Nikki...again...you've never had a work permit...you're only here a couple a months a year as a tourist...this isn't helping anyone.

When you first apply for a work permit in Jamaica you will need to get a police record from your home country/town...it does not make any sense to apply for a police record in a country you have yet to live! The legal requirements have NOT changed.
The only LEGAL place to get a police record after you've been living here & then have to RENEW your work permit is Montego Bay or Kingston. But, this is not something you have to worry about yet, Copper350.

I don't mean to come off too harsh...but I will be blunt when wrong information keeps getting posted. I hope this helps!!

I didn't see the post from doctoro. Is it in a different thread?

Coco..it was in a thread in a link that I posted...:)
http://www.negril.com/discus/message...tml?1298406676

WORK permit and negril...now that's an oxymoron....lol