Affordable long term Apt rentals in Negril

[Tiger Lilly]

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!