Living on an island in the Caribbean is far different then visiting there on vacation (this comes from someone who lived in the Caribbean for 18 years). The vast majority of Ex-pats who've done it will tell you it is wise to rent first before buying. Some people adapt easily and thrive while others quickly realize island life is not for them. This is especially true for couple - often one enjoys the lifestyle while their partner has the opposite view.

There are a number of websites that focus on relocating to the Caribbean, one in particular - VImovingCenter.com - contains information on every imaginable topic regarding island life. There's even a forum with 10,000's of post on every subject and will answer all your questions and hundreds more you haven't even thought about yet. Don't worry that it's geared to the US Virgin Islands, much of what is written there applies throughout the Caribbean. Read through some of the old posts, as the general information is still relevant - they only difference between when they were written and now is that "cost estimates" are much higher now.