I am moving out to Cayman in August and just about to sort out shipping. So wanted to ask everyone, what are the things I should bring with me? That you regretted not bringing?

Thanks

Jo

Your shoes will fall apart so bring shoes! Flip flops, sneakers and proper shoes.

Everything is available at a price - depends if you want to pay that price!

Teabags, beach clothes and a corkscrew were what I was advised when I moved there several years ago - think the same holds true today! I was down for a visit last week - lots of building going on!

Look carefully at your shirts. If they arent 100% cotton you will know the difference when in the caribbean. Birkenstock sandals are the best, usable most places but only get the ones with real leather uppers or they wont wear in so well or look nice when weathered.

Corkscrew? The screw top was a game changer!

Orange - so it was you who flooded the Island with all the damn teabags! The supermarkets are stacked to the rafters with teabags - at least a thousand different varieties of herbal ones in every shop, besides the normal types. Jo - you really don't need to bring teabags, I assure you. Unless - I just thought of this - maybe all that building going on is to warehouse Orange's imported teabags!

Beach clothes... well, I'm not sure what beach clothes are, besides shorts and T-shirts. Oh, and a hat: yes, you will need a hat, Jo, but it doesn't need to be a special beach-y kind of hat. My son wears the same hat he used to wear in Norway - in the Norwegian summer at least. Is that any help?

Seriously - Cayman has plenty of everything. We've lived here for forty years and when we take holidays in England or Europe, we never feel the need to stock up with anything.

Love me some teabags!

When I moved to Cayman, I came from the Italian Alps so didn't have any light clothing so had to buy all sorts of summer "rags". Conversely when I had to leave Cayman after Ivan to go to Toronto, I didn't have any winter clothes, well actually I didn't have any clothes - full stop.

Yes I agree there's not a lot you cant buy there now.

Gosh, sorry to hear that you got wiped out by Ivan. That was a pretty rough experience. We survived comfortably enough; we were lucky in where we lived (South Church Street). Hope you've recouped all your losses since.

"So long, and thanks for all the teabags", eh?

Was that a caymanese eh ? They dont really translate to a screen easily and too much risk of error without intonation aye aye.

Anyway goodnight goodnight, its a bit damp here...

Aahh, sorry. It's an obscure reference to a famous "Hitchhikers Guide" quote!

Hi Jo

I was wondering how you are organising your shipping? I looked at Cayman New Resident and contacted DHL for a qoute but never heard back from them. I have since heard that shipping is expensive so people try bring what they need by way of extra luggage on their flight. That's our plan at the moment for our move in August once flights are booked.

Hi JmBC88

I have two quotes going at the moment. One with Crown relocation and one with 1st move international. Although I'm not taking very much probs about 20 medium boxes maximum. Yes it is expensive but I am lucky in the fact that my new job will reimburse some of the costs. However I am also taking an extra suitcase as it takes 5-6 weeks! Don't fancy living out one suitcase for that long.
Jo

What is the duty/tax position on your island, worth checking? It might be more expensive to import some stuff than buy locally - or you may need to only import whats really needed...

I have and it's fine for the 1st 6 months.

Thanks though.

So. You must be here by now, Jo. What did you bring, in the end?

It's arriving today so we will find out!! Really can't remember what I packed! Probable a load of rubbish!!