While working for the USPS, I applied for a transfer to Saipan, Guam or Hawaii. I was successful in a transfer to Kona Hawaii. Got my letter of approval two years after I retired!
I know all about living on Saipan and Guam really well, I lived on both islands for over twenty years. Love the people and the islands. Here's why I left when I retired. The outrageous, ridiculous overpriced Airline ticket prices. The less expensive round-trip prices were only good if your return trip is within 30 days. I originally had planned of keeping my house there and traveling back to Oregon for the summer, but after getting the airline sticker shock I eventually sold my house there. At the time I could fly the 7000 miles from Florida to Hawaii round trip for around $500. Flying the 4000 miles from Hawaii to Guam and then on maybe to Saipan would cost you around $2000 or more. Gas and food prices are almost twice the cost on Saipan compared to Florida, where there's No state income tax.
I hate flying long distances. I go to the Philippines often and usually transit Hawaii, but sometimes South Korea and Guam. I check all the prices. I imagine the flight to Guam would be decent. Then you have many options. It is all about supply and demand. I may move to Saipan to build a boat or two. I do love the weather in Guam. I imagine it's the same in Saipan. I have traveled from Guam to South Korea for $73 and then to Hawaii for a good price.
"Gas and food prices are almost twice the cost on Saipan..." No kidding. They have to haul the stuff 1/3 of the way around the planet to get it to the Marianas Islands. That costs a lot of money.
@@vanceb1 I would expect that, especially when the island is in the middle of a vast ocean!! Maybe to go for a vacation is fine, though the offer of peace, tranquility, and freedom is extremely tempting but I wouldn't want to trade it for the amenities, up to date facilities, and advanced technology that we have in the States.🤣
Would you think it would be a good choice compared to Thailand to relocate to and how much US dollars does one need to have monthly to be able to live comfortably.
@@Drainman Umm..my best advice would be to work and at the same time run a small businesss just to make ends meet without worrying too much. $1,500 a month if you want to live comfortably.
Yes. They have an OK hospital there but for things like hip and knee replacement you have to go to Guam, Hawaii, the Philippines, etc. When I was there, they had two ophthalmologists on island and could do cataract surgery, which is nice.
@@rajasingammuthusamy959 Correct. Just like with livestock, when you clump so many humans together and have them stay inside too much, they get riddled with diseases. We are no different than animals in that regard.
I lived in the CNMI for 8 years. I loved it there and would have stayed longer except for the high cost of flying. We could not afford to visit family in the US after ticket prices rose past $2,000 each. But we still have friends there and think fondly of our time in the islands. I definitely miss island food, the warm weather and the slow pace of life.
Flip side of that is, if your family to visit are in Japan/ Korea/ Taiwan/ China/ Philippines, then yes, the flights continue to be competitive. Those countries are well connected, so flights to the rest of the world from there tend to be quite affordable… I’m thinking not much over a thousand dollars for the both together.
Cost of flying can be limiting. Why Central and South America, Caribbean and Europe attract more people. However assuming you are in the US, have a look at Scott's Cheap Flights. They do not sell tickets but tell you the cheapest deals and send you to the airline. Doesn't work for me as flight must depart or return to the US, Canada or Europe.
My buddies and I really enjoyed Saipan. We stayed there for two weeks after college. Then we went to Guam and stayed a couple of weeks.Guam had more to offer as far as amenities and diving but Saipan was way more layed back.
Excellent review. I'm an expat that lived 49 years in the Marianas 14 on Guam and 35 on Saipan. Memorable times include weekend BBQs with family and friends on shore in Chalan Kanoa nestled beneath tall ironwood trees, of the crystal clear emerald lagoon waters illuminated by the early morning sun chugging a cold brew. Ahh, such a time it was. Lee
I'm guessing this fellow never looked at the tax situation at Guam. Guam doesn't pay to the Federal IRS. Guam has a mirror system that keeps all the tax$$$ at home (Guam Dept. of Rev & Tax). I have lived at both Guam and Saipan and the only significant difference "freedom wise" is that on Guam I could own land but not on Saipan (you must be of Norther Marianas descent).
My Grandfather drove heavy equipment building airstrips in the Pacific Theater. I have a photo of him and two buddies, bare chested and smiling on a beach in Saipan.
Nicely done. I like your soft voice and understated overview of many topics... interesting without any hype. It's a good summary for someone like myself who had traveled quite a bit and is familiar with islands in other parts of the world, but hasn't been to Saipan.
I do not agree with everyone about it being more expensive. I would put it on the scale of about 3/4 of the cost of living in US. Japan is about half, Thailand around 1/4 to 1/3 the cost. It is a fantastic option with much potential.
I spent a year on Saipan in 1970 as part of a crew on a LORAN A/C station with the US Coast Guard. I had a great time! The station was closed some years ago. LORAN is not seeing much use these days for navigation.
Respect to you guys. I'm Army through and through but the idea of working at a LORAN station or somewhere similar has always appealed to me for some reason.
Thank you for this. I work with US veterans and have heard about Saipan from a few WWII veterans years ago. I also had a friend who considered going there after medical school to work off student loans but ultimately decided it’s was too remote. I’d love to visit.
My father was a Navel combat corpsman, assigned to multiple Marine combat division's, he participated in the assault on Siapan, then Leyte, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, then finally Tinian, have a great day my friend, Semper Fi
Went to check out your other videos but was disappointed this was the only one. I liked the video and it seems like a cool place to visit. Upload your next trip when you get a chance.
I get what you are trying to say here, but...the only people who can own property most likely aren't doing common core math...the native islanders. I'm too old for all that.
@Joseph Turner it's was nonsensically "aimed"...lol...it doesn't really make any sense. Reality is the opposite of what you are saying and it wasn't written as a joke...so...it doesn't really make sense.
As a resident of the United States Virgin Islands you do not pay taxes to the IRS. Your income tax are paid to the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Some of you are wondering about costs. If you want to live comfortably you'll need about $3000. a month that you'll need to have coming in every month. Can you do it cheaper? Yes. But life is going to be limited in terms of day to day expenses. Prices are similar to those in the USA. This not the Philippines or Vietnam .You'll need to have your money coming from retirement or some other income that doesn't require you working there. Because you're not going to be working there.
I have the plan to move to Saipan in November of 2027. I've been watching the apartment complexes and house rentals to catch what the trend is. Thank you for your vid on your experience there! It fits with what I was thinking about Saipan and has made me very eager for the time to pass!
@Ron-dd9dw True. Not talking Saipan down, it is beautiful. Just pointing out that unless you have $2500usd/mo or more, it's likely not the best choice.
Good video. Regarding the tinted car windows, that's something I couldn't stand in Guam. It's fine to have them at the back, but the front windows shouldn't be like that because as a pedestrian you can't see where the drivers are looking. It always felt dangerous crossing the street because as far as you know, a driver might not see you and turn right on a red light, for example. Even if cars where the windows are clear, it can be difficult to see a driver's intentions, but with a completely tinted car, you're lost and just have to hope they don't run you over.
@@williamoffshoreI hope they are. It's just scary though as a pedestrain there when you can't see the driver whatsoever, so you don't know where they're looking. I was surprised by the amount of traffic on such a small island too. It's very car-oriented with the very wide streets.
My late father was on sipan in WW2 he was a aviation sheet metal smith he later became a Navy pilot I have a nice war prize he got on the island before he left for flight school. Thanks for the video now I know what the island looks like. Don't think I would move there I'm sure the locals don't need more people on the island.
Housing is cheaper than in Hawaii. Other things like food are expensive. The grocery stores had sizeable "past best-buy dates" sections that were a steal. You could buy a case of brand name cheese for $2/lb.! I lived on the "expired" food. :) Some consumer goods are surprisingly reasonable.
I learned about Saipan from the Crypto Frontier, a group working on the adoption and implementation of crypto payments in Saipan. While I was there I was able to pay with crypto at a variety of restaurants and small businesses.
Flights to Japan/ Korea/ Taiwan are not so pricey. And from there you can change planes to the lowest cost trans-pacific carriers like Starlux, Zip, or Air Premia. Probably a cheaper combo than the tickets via HNL that the video is talking about.
I was there for a couple wks in 2007. It's about 75% the size of Guam. It's cleaner than Guam, you don't find all the garbage, dead dogs, junk cars and graffiti that's all over Guam. There used to be a thriving garment industry staffed primarily by young Chinese women, when it died there were >10k unemployed young Chinese women who didn't want to go home, most of them went to work as bar girls, in massage parlors and strip bars and of course prostitution. An American cannot walk thru the bar district without being physically dragged into a bar. The island and especially the water is some of the clearest and most beautiful in the world. You can literally see as deep as light will penetrate.
@@1MoreTurn Let the natives have their land? F off, you lefty progressive weirdo. By that definition, no one should live anywhere but Africa. So when/where do you draw the line? Also, buying Land with MONEY and taking it by force with guns are two different things. Grow a pair, you seem to be missing them.
fascinating. as someone priced out of Hawaii with a portion of family and even some friends is this "Saipan" viable? Is it possible this hidden gem mimics Hawaii my home state in some ways? is it affordable for a standard income citizen?
@@sandy_sd10 mahalo from Hawaii. then it's not viable as an option then. born and raised Hawaii so wanted something that at least visually looks mostly similar but no point if the cost of living is almost no difference.
Im so close to being priced out of Hawaii. When i get paid, my whole paycheck goes to rent and food. So tired of being a money making machine here. Where to go from Hawaii? 🤔
@@pinkoceanflower3045 Hawaii has a value added tax. It taxes everything multiple times. Plus the land taxes are exorbitant. Not so in Saipan. But Saipan is off the beaten path. Everything will cost more that is imported. One good thing is you can raise your own food which is very expensive in Hawaii. Electricity is a little more. Overall, if you grow your own food, Saipan is much cheaper.
Not allowing non-natives to buy land is keeping Saipan "free" for its native people. Do you really want them to have to deal with a situation like Lana'i where some massive billionaire comes in and buys up 90% of the land? Even the more mild proposition where the land is bought up by a bunch of different wealthy individuals, it's still going to displace the native people shifted more into a tourist centered environment. Limiting the freedom of outside Invaders in order to preserve the freedom of your own people is a position I wish more places would take up.
As an outdoor survivalist (Samoa and French Polynesia island experience) I would gladly give up living on North American soil. Plus I do better alone anyway. America is going to hell in a handbag. All I need are coconuts and fish.
Saipan’s tax structure is noting like Alaska’s. I know because I lived on Saipan for several years and I now live in Alaska. Remember “no taxation without representation”? The Mariana Islands do not have a voting representative in Congress, hence they are not taxed in the same way that states are. Alaska has a low tax burden compared to other states, but residents most certainly do pay federal taxes. Also, Alaska doesn’t pay a “stipend”. Residents are eligible for a share of the Permanent Fund Dividend which is an investment dividend derived from the invested proceeds from rental payments that oil companies pay for the North Slope oil fields.
Damn. that sounds really nice. Weird though, in my state, we had a law that one must be a U.S. Citizen to own land, but someone said it was unenforceable under the law. I'm not sure what the difference is, except one we acquired from Spain around 1897 and the other we acquired from Mexico around 1850 and it became a state.
There are federal laws and state laws. Federal supersedes state. You are allowed under FEDERAL law to own property in the US if you are not a citizen. So, even if a state made it a law, it cannot be enforced because it contradicts federal law.
@@nmjerry Because they are a territory, the laws are extremely vague and not all apply. Unfortunately, states and territories operate differently under the law. However, if you had enough time and money, you could probably take it through the court system and win.
@@vanceb1 So is Pennsylvania, technically is a common wealth. At the end of the day, you can fight anything in court if the over arching entity is the USA. That island can call themselves anything they like… but the US will assert itself in the end if push came to shove. The US LOVES law suits.
Sounds wonderful, one very important question, how would you rate the racism their (against black people) relative to an American big-city let's say fort Lauderdale/ Miami Florida?
@@williamoffshore I lived there in the late 90's. I got called racial slurs. Apparently being white is frowned upon. Not so much by the elders, but definitely by the younger crowd. They even had a "local discount" at the stores where if you were local, you paid a discounted price, but if you were foreign, you paid the full sticker price. It wasn't a terrible experience by any means, but there definitely was blatant racism. You couldn't pay me to return there. Gorgeous views though!
Interesting. Doesn't fit into my life. It's too hard to get in and out. I can't drive out. Perhaps if I set up a home base in like Malaysia or elsewhere in SE Asia this would be a viable "tunnel". A boat would be nice, but those distances are vast. However, not flying my dog in and out of there.
Really nice! I have always wanted to travel there. It's on my list to visit in the near future, Knowing that they allow guns is a good thing and that the cost of living isn't to bad. i like the minimalist thing myself. it makes life easier. Thanks for sharing.
3:00 on you had my attention they have more gun rights than I do if the "if it's legal federally it's legal there" is accurate and guns and weed don't mix in my state yet, I love consistent weather, being minimalist, nature, the only killer for me is I can not own land.
Somehow this astronomical property price trend is happening everywhere in the world and it is always the fault of the outsiders. Somehow this is not logically possible so probably everywhere it is just the local elites who love the inflated prices but want to deflect the blame for the obvious societal damage. Blame foreigners while they keep laughing all the way to the bank.
Took a WWII Veteran of mine from Charlotte, NC to Saipan and Tinian a few years back. He fought in the battle of Saipan during the war. Saipan is nice....but I've heard the Government is very corrupt.
Technically the land alienation issue is more complicated. Only Northern Marianas Descent (NMD) can own land, but this is not based on ethnicity. It is based on if you can prove you had family living here prior to 1975. So if you are full blooded Irish, but lived in Saipan prior to 1975, you and your kids would be NMD. As long as you have 1/4 NMD in your background, you can own land here. This is causing problems for some families though now as NMDs continue marrying non-NMD. Article 12 of the CNMI Constitution contains the law. Another thing about the CNMI Constitution...it outlaws abortion outright FYI.
There’s no cost to join the Dolphin Club Saipan. They’re restoring Maritime traditions in the Mariana Islands and offer orange caps like I see in Aquatic Park. Have you joined them for a swim? Prefer biking to my swimming spots in San Francisco. I am a fan of wearing sweatshirts and get sick when I travel to tropics.
How do drivers licenses work? If I have a mainland US drivers license, and move to Saipan permanently, can I just get a CNMI drivers license? Are there any motorcycles on the island?
Yes, you could switch it by forfeiting your state license and yes, you could then switch the CNMI (Saipan) license at any state you decide to move back to.
![Diggy Graves - Red Vineyard [Official Lyric Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Ro085T0mnQ/mqdefault.jpg)
While working for the USPS, I applied for a transfer to Saipan, Guam or Hawaii. I was successful in a transfer to Kona Hawaii. Got my letter of approval two years after I retired!
Congratulations! Typical efficiency of the USPS.
😳
Was the letter lost in the mail for twenty years?
How do you like living in Kona?
@@maximilian333 never made it. I'm living in Bohol in the Philippines.
I know all about living on Saipan and Guam really well, I lived on both islands for over twenty years. Love the people and the islands. Here's why I left when I retired. The outrageous, ridiculous overpriced Airline ticket prices. The less expensive round-trip prices were only good if your return trip is within 30 days. I originally had planned of keeping my house there and traveling back to Oregon for the summer, but after getting the airline sticker shock I eventually sold my house there. At the time I could fly the
7000 miles from Florida to Hawaii round trip for around $500. Flying the 4000 miles from Hawaii to Guam and then on maybe to Saipan would cost you around $2000 or more. Gas and food prices are almost twice the cost on Saipan compared to Florida, where there's No state income tax.
if you are living that close to the edge and worried about flight prices, then yes, you have major decisions to make
I hate flying long distances. I go to the Philippines often and usually transit Hawaii, but sometimes South Korea and Guam. I check all the prices. I imagine the flight to Guam would be decent. Then you have many options. It is all about supply and demand. I may move to Saipan to build a boat or two. I do love the weather in Guam. I imagine it's the same in Saipan. I have traveled from Guam to South Korea for $73 and then to Hawaii for a good price.
_"Gas and food prices are almost twice the cost on Saipan"_
So ride a bike and eat less Doritos.
"Gas and food prices are almost twice the cost on Saipan..." No kidding. They have to haul the stuff 1/3 of the way around the planet to get it to the Marianas Islands. That costs a lot of money.
@@vanceb1 I would expect that, especially when the island is in the middle of a vast ocean!! Maybe to go for a vacation is fine, though the offer of peace, tranquility, and freedom is extremely tempting but I wouldn't want to trade it for the amenities, up to date facilities, and advanced technology that we have in the States.🤣
Thanks so much for documenting my beautiful island of Saipan! We appreciate you ❤🤜🏽🤛🏽🇲🇵
Would you think it would be a good choice compared to Thailand to relocate to and how much US dollars does one need to have monthly to be able to live comfortably.
@@Drainman Umm..my best advice would be to work and at the same time run a small businesss just to make ends meet without worrying too much. $1,500 a month if you want to live comfortably.
What, you emperor of da island or something? hahahah
Any serious or urgent medical emergency can surely be a serious concern in very small and remote communities like Saipan.
yes, they all go to the Philippines or Hawaii
when working and living in such places, 99% of illness goes away.
Yes. They have an OK hospital there but for things like hip and knee replacement you have to go to Guam, Hawaii, the Philippines, etc. When I was there, they had two ophthalmologists on island and could do cataract surgery, which is nice.
@@johnfraser8116 GMH = Guam Memorial Hospital or Get Murdered Here
@@rajasingammuthusamy959 Correct.
Just like with livestock, when you clump so many humans together and have them stay inside too much, they get riddled with diseases.
We are no different than animals in that regard.
I lived in the CNMI for 8 years. I loved it there and would have stayed longer except for the high cost of flying. We could not afford to visit family in the US after ticket prices rose past $2,000 each. But we still have friends there and think fondly of our time in the islands. I definitely miss island food, the warm weather and the slow pace of life.
Flip side of that is, if your family to visit are in Japan/ Korea/ Taiwan/ China/ Philippines, then yes, the flights continue to be competitive. Those countries are well connected, so flights to the rest of the world from there tend to be quite affordable… I’m thinking not much over a thousand dollars for the both together.
Cost of flying can be limiting. Why Central and South America, Caribbean and Europe attract more people.
However assuming you are in the US, have a look at Scott's Cheap Flights. They do not sell tickets but tell you the cheapest deals and send you to the airline. Doesn't work for me as flight must depart or return to the US, Canada or Europe.
I was stationed on Guam for a year back in 1986 , absolutely beautiful almost didn't want to leave
My buddies and I really enjoyed Saipan. We stayed there for two weeks after college. Then we went to Guam and stayed a couple of weeks.Guam had more to offer as far as amenities and diving but Saipan was way more layed back.
I wonder if the Australian Brown Snake has made it to Saipan, BC the eiryest lack of noise is no birds left on Guam.
I went to Saipan about 12 years ago. It was beautiful and the people were warm and welcoming.
Excellent review. I'm an expat that lived 49 years in the Marianas 14 on Guam and 35 on Saipan. Memorable times include weekend BBQs with family and friends on shore in Chalan Kanoa nestled beneath tall ironwood trees, of the crystal clear emerald lagoon waters illuminated by the early morning sun chugging a cold brew. Ahh, such a time it was. Lee
Chalan Kanoa is amazing. I stayed there for 3 months... best sunsets in the world
I'm guessing this fellow never looked at the tax situation at Guam. Guam doesn't pay to the Federal IRS. Guam has a mirror system that keeps all the tax$$$ at home (Guam Dept. of Rev & Tax). I have lived at both Guam and Saipan and the only significant difference "freedom wise" is that on Guam I could own land but not on Saipan (you must be of Norther Marianas descent).
Puerto Rico likewise on the separate tax system. But without the high Pacific Islands cost of living.
Yea and it's a good thing that the descendents are the only ones that can buy land there
So they practice discrimination as a territory of the US by restricting owning property unless you're a native islander.
@@betornweenprotecting historical homelands is not discrimination
@@betornweenif only a,roc’s did that on the mainland.
My father was there in WW2 in 1944 and 1945 and freed that land from the Japan. He often told me that only Cuba was as beautiful of a location.
If that were the only two reference points he had, i'd agree . . .
☆
My Grandfather drove heavy equipment building airstrips in the Pacific Theater. I have a photo of him and two buddies, bare chested and smiling on a beach in Saipan.
@@insolentstickleback3266
I wonder, was he a SeaBee ?
☆
Too bad it didn't stay Japanese.
@@alukuhitowhy would it? The people there are not Japanese.
Nicely done. I like your soft voice and understated overview of many topics... interesting without any hype. It's a good summary for someone like myself who had traveled quite a bit and is familiar with islands in other parts of the world, but hasn't been to Saipan.
You had me at "exempt from the IRS"
I think no matter where you live you still pay taxes at the normal rate to the USA
no usa citizens are exempt from paying the irs. you are taxed worldwide
I do not agree with everyone about it being more expensive. I would put it on the scale of about 3/4 of the cost of living in US. Japan is about half, Thailand around 1/4 to 1/3 the cost. It is a fantastic option with much potential.
Weed, Guns and Camaros...sounds like a Guido paradise!
I spent a year on Saipan in 1970 as part of a crew on a LORAN A/C station with the US Coast Guard. I had a great time! The station was closed some years ago. LORAN is not seeing much use these days for navigation.
I was an ET in the USCG in 2002-2007. You're a Legend, bro. SEMPER PARATUS
Respect to you guys. I'm Army through and through but the idea of working at a LORAN station or somewhere similar has always appealed to me for some reason.
Thank you for this. I work with US veterans and have heard about Saipan from a few WWII veterans years ago. I also had a friend who considered going there after medical school to work off student loans but ultimately decided it’s was too remote. I’d love to visit.
How would Guam help them pay off student loans?
@@alukuhito the government would pay off the medical school loans in exchange for a few years of doctor services in the community.
@@brigittelee9730I see.
I had a boss who was one of the Marines who fought in the battle of Saipan in WW2.
My father fought in the assault on Siapan in WW2
@@wileecoyote5929 -- If your dad was in the Marine Corps, as a former Marine I salute him and his bravery. 👍🇺🇸🇺🇸👍
My father was a Navel combat corpsman, assigned to multiple Marine combat division's, he participated in the assault on Siapan, then Leyte, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, then finally Tinian, have a great day my friend, Semper Fi
As an active duty AF member, I respect it. I was born & raised on Saipan, lived there 20 years before I shipped out.
Went to check out your other videos but was disappointed this was the only one. I liked the video and it seems like a cool place to visit. Upload your next trip when you get a chance.
"Freest place in America." Also, "You can't come here and buy property." This only adds up if you use common core math...
hahahahaha!
I get what you are trying to say here, but...the only people who can own property most likely aren't doing common core math...the native islanders. I'm too old for all that.
@@mikegrindstaff The comment wasn't aimed at the islanders. It was aimed at someone calling it the "freest place in America."
You want to move to a remote area then purchase property? Lmao 😂 Yeah......THAT is the deal breaker. Lmao
@Joseph Turner it's was nonsensically "aimed"...lol...it doesn't really make any sense. Reality is the opposite of what you are saying and it wasn't written as a joke...so...it doesn't really make sense.
As a resident of the United States Virgin Islands you do not pay taxes to the IRS. Your income tax are paid to the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Mellow video for a mellow place, perfect!
This was very informative. Thank you for making this video.
I wanted to visit Saipan but now at 70 I know I’ll never be able to. My father was a B-29 pilot and flew from Saipan during WWII.
Really enjoyed this. A friend of mine, Jesse Richardson, pilot, died in Saipan. It kinda touches me to know that at least it's a wonderful place.
I was friends with the Richardson family.. do you still have contact with them? I would love to get in touch with Jade.
Some of you are wondering about costs. If you want to live comfortably you'll need about $3000. a month that you'll need to have coming in every month. Can you do it cheaper? Yes. But life is going to be limited in terms of day to day expenses. Prices are similar to those in the USA. This not the Philippines or Vietnam .You'll need to have your money coming from retirement or some other income that doesn't require you working there. Because you're not going to be working there.
Thanks for the video, very interesting. I'm intrigued. May sail there at some point.
I have the plan to move to Saipan in November of 2027. I've been watching the apartment complexes and house rentals to catch what the trend is. Thank you for your vid on your experience there! It fits with what I was thinking about Saipan and has made me very eager for the time to pass!
Beautiful country, thanks for sharing.
Wow - great to know about this place.
Life is full of trade offs. You have to be the one that is willing to make those trade offs..It's all about what you value out of life..
You have to pay to get everything shipped in. Just like living in Alaska or Hawaii no??
There are local fruits, fish, and now beef/pork. But besides that, everything is shipped in
How are prices if I buy on Amazon?
Move to Saipan! FULLY TINTED WINDOWS!!!
LMFAO😂 YEA WE ARE TRUSTED TO HAVE TINTED WINDOWS
Thank you so much William for this video great job. I'm looking at retirement soon And This beautiful island is a very interesting choice🎉
Thank you for the kind words
It sure is clean. I really liked it. I there in Dec of 2022
!! WoW !! Everything you mentioned, is perfect for me!
Rather expensive for an Expat to live there unfortumatly_ about twice what it will cost you compared to say Cebu in the Philippines.
Yes, but definitely cheap for still being in the US
@Ron-dd9dw True. Not talking Saipan down, it is beautiful. Just pointing out that unless you have $2500usd/mo or more, it's likely not the best choice.
AND PH WILL ONLY LET YOU LIVE THERE FOR A MAX OF 3 YEARS...
Thanks for sharing your experiences there.
The Grotto is a favorite place to swim in Saipan
Very interesting! Great presentation!
Good video. Regarding the tinted car windows, that's something I couldn't stand in Guam. It's fine to have them at the back, but the front windows shouldn't be like that because as a pedestrian you can't see where the drivers are looking. It always felt dangerous crossing the street because as far as you know, a driver might not see you and turn right on a red light, for example. Even if cars where the windows are clear, it can be difficult to see a driver's intentions, but with a completely tinted car, you're lost and just have to hope they don't run you over.
And that does happen !
It has its problems, though I did find the drivers always very courteous to pedestrians
@@williamoffshoreI hope they are. It's just scary though as a pedestrain there when you can't see the driver whatsoever, so you don't know where they're looking. I was surprised by the amount of traffic on such a small island too. It's very car-oriented with the very wide streets.
My late father was on sipan in WW2 he was a aviation sheet metal smith he later became a Navy pilot I have a nice war prize he got on the island before he left for flight school. Thanks for the video now I know what the island looks like. Don't think I would move there I'm sure the locals don't need more people on the island.
Gee you almost have 1000 subscribers - I subscribed
Weed and guns sounds like a really good combination cause when I get shot I won't feel it.
🤣🤣🤣
I never heard of any violent crime there
How much is housing costs?
What income do you need to live on Siapan?
Costs are not cheap_ it's going to be about twice what it is to live in the Philippines or Thailand.
Housing is cheaper than in Hawaii. Other things like food are expensive. The grocery stores had sizeable "past best-buy dates" sections that were a steal. You could buy a case of brand name cheese for $2/lb.! I lived on the "expired" food. :) Some consumer goods are surprisingly reasonable.
I paid $600 rent for a decent two-bedroom. You can rent a house with a pool for $1500.
Been here twice while i was in the Navy, small but beautiful.
Tax exempt status does not apply to US citizens living overseas who are drawing Social Security or military retirement pay.
I enjoyed the video very much.
Thank you!
The weather definitely sounds good to me. Chinese food, away from people, I would be interested to visit the island someday.
This video was amazing
Sound perfect for me except the not being able to buy land part. What would you live in then?
There's plenty of land that can be leased for up to 99 years.
YOU RENT, And the owner can change the price as they like every year~!
I would love to know how you learned about Saipan, it looks so beautiful, and the type of place I’d love to see.
I learned about Saipan from the Crypto Frontier, a group working on the adoption and implementation of crypto payments in Saipan. While I was there I was able to pay with crypto at a variety of restaurants and small businesses.
Thanks n for the insight. I uses to go to the Philippones a lot and have grown tired of some of the begatives. I may try Saipan
The freest territory of the US is American Samoa, no tax, you can buy land, you don’t need license to fish or hunt, local food is abundant
Very cool! I didn't know that
False, non-Samoans are not allowed to buy land in A. Samoa. CNMI and A. Samoa are the only two jurisdictions that have this.
As a Saipan citizen I acknowledge this guy as a true islander
Been there many times with the Navy. Good place.
You need to include the different kind of fish and fishing
Sadly I never got a chance to fish, though I hear its a great spot for that.
Enjoyed your video.
Thank you
Cool video. Flights are a bit pricey, compared to Hawaii. It would be worth it if you were going to stay a few months.
Flights to Japan/ Korea/ Taiwan are not so pricey. And from there you can change planes to the lowest cost trans-pacific carriers like Starlux, Zip, or Air Premia. Probably a cheaper combo than the tickets via HNL that the video is talking about.
Hey, good shot of me shooting my Remington 700!
For those who don't know saipan actually has a place called Tapochou which is a great place for tourist because it has a statue of the Lord.
Tourist save a hotel ran by tourist
I was there for a couple wks in 2007. It's about 75% the size of Guam. It's cleaner than Guam, you don't find all the garbage, dead dogs, junk cars and graffiti that's all over Guam. There used to be a thriving garment industry staffed primarily by young Chinese women, when it died there were >10k unemployed young Chinese women who didn't want to go home, most of them went to work as bar girls, in massage parlors and strip bars and of course prostitution. An American cannot walk thru the bar district without being physically dragged into a bar. The island and especially the water is some of the clearest and most beautiful in the world. You can literally see as deep as light will penetrate.
That scene has totally cleared out about 15yrs ago when US immigration took over.
GUAM IS A TOTAL DUMP
No federal income tax in Puerto Rico either
So if you are not a native there you cannot own property. That's the deal breaker for me.
its US territory and that's racial discrimination, just a court challenge away from being able to buy land there
@@seabournewolf2298 let the natives have their land.
@@1MoreTurn were all immigrants
@@seabournewolf2298 Thats not how that word works.
@@1MoreTurn Let the natives have their land?
F off, you lefty progressive weirdo.
By that definition, no one should live anywhere but Africa. So when/where do you draw the line?
Also, buying Land with MONEY and taking it by force with guns are two different things.
Grow a pair, you seem to be missing them.
One of my dearest childhood friend's dad got shot in the butt on the shore of Saipan. He didn't even make it out of the water.
Fascinating.
fascinating.
as someone priced out of Hawaii with a portion of family and even some friends is this "Saipan" viable?
Is it possible this hidden gem mimics Hawaii my home state in some ways?
is it affordable for a standard income citizen?
I was there about 13 years ago, and it was expensive.
@@sandy_sd10 mahalo from Hawaii.
then it's not viable as an option then. born and raised Hawaii so wanted something that at least visually looks mostly similar but no point if the cost of living is almost no difference.
Im so close to being priced out of Hawaii. When i get paid, my whole paycheck goes to rent and food. So tired of being a money making machine here. Where to go from Hawaii? 🤔
@@pinkoceanflower3045 you know if you could work remotely Yucatan, Mexico is amazing check out Merida...
@@pinkoceanflower3045 Hawaii has a value added tax. It taxes everything multiple times. Plus the land taxes are exorbitant. Not so in Saipan. But Saipan is off the beaten path. Everything will cost more that is imported. One good thing is you can raise your own food which is very expensive in Hawaii. Electricity is a little more. Overall, if you grow your own food, Saipan is much cheaper.
Not allowing non-natives to buy land is keeping Saipan "free" for its native people. Do you really want them to have to deal with a situation like Lana'i where some massive billionaire comes in and buys up 90% of the land? Even the more mild proposition where the land is bought up by a bunch of different wealthy individuals, it's still going to displace the native people shifted more into a tourist centered environment. Limiting the freedom of outside Invaders in order to preserve the freedom of your own people is a position I wish more places would take up.
Sounds like a Libertarian Nirvana.
We had quite a few libertarians there for a while
Only certain people can live in the culture of Saipan. Saipan requires certain things from people that many of us can not stomach.
like????
As an outdoor survivalist (Samoa and French Polynesia island experience) I would gladly give up living on North American soil. Plus I do better alone anyway. America is going to hell in a handbag. All I need are coconuts and fish.
Yep! A real shit show on mainland US😢
Sweet video!
If there are taxes in Saipan, it is not tax free, just a different taxing authority. Probably similar to Alaska, except Alaska pays you a stipend?
Saipan’s tax structure is noting like Alaska’s. I know because I lived on Saipan for several years and I now live in Alaska. Remember “no taxation without representation”? The Mariana Islands do not have a voting representative in Congress, hence they are not taxed in the same way that states are. Alaska has a low tax burden compared to other states, but residents most certainly do pay federal taxes. Also, Alaska doesn’t pay a “stipend”. Residents are eligible for a share of the Permanent Fund Dividend which is an investment dividend derived from the invested proceeds from rental payments that oil companies pay for the North Slope oil fields.
Not tax free at all. They have their own income tax brackets that model the IRS's but they have high rebates on those
Awesome!
Good video. Hope you are doing well William. When/if you come back give me a ring. We'll do lunch.
Damn. that sounds really nice. Weird though, in my state, we had a law that one must be a U.S. Citizen to own land, but someone said it was unenforceable under the law. I'm not sure what the difference is, except one we acquired from Spain around 1897 and the other we acquired from Mexico around 1850 and it became a state.
There are federal laws and state laws.
Federal supersedes state. You are allowed under FEDERAL law to own property in the US if you are not a citizen.
So, even if a state made it a law, it cannot be enforced because it contradicts federal law.
@@kellynantonacci7885 so how is it tU.S. citizens don't get right to buy and own in this U.S. territory?
@@nmjerry Because they are a territory, the laws are extremely vague and not all apply. Unfortunately, states and territories operate differently under the law.
However, if you had enough time and money, you could probably take it through the court system and win.
@@kellynantonacci7885 It's actually a commonwealth. That brings about a whole lot of legal issues that vary from a typical territory or state.
@@vanceb1 So is Pennsylvania, technically is a common wealth.
At the end of the day, you can fight anything in court if the over arching entity is the USA. That island can call themselves anything they like… but the US will assert itself in the end if push came to shove.
The US LOVES law suits.
Sounds wonderful, one very important question, how would you rate the racism their (against black people) relative to an American big-city let's say fort Lauderdale/ Miami Florida?
Majority of the natives are brown but all of us grew up black. Any black stereotype u can think of u can see them in us as well😂
I haven't heard of any racism there
@@williamoffshore I lived there in the late 90's. I got called racial slurs. Apparently being white is frowned upon. Not so much by the elders, but definitely by the younger crowd. They even had a "local discount" at the stores where if you were local, you paid a discounted price, but if you were foreign, you paid the full sticker price. It wasn't a terrible experience by any means, but there definitely was blatant racism. You couldn't pay me to return there. Gorgeous views though!
@@SS-es4ek YOU DO REALIZE IT IS NOW 2024?
Interesting. Doesn't fit into my life. It's too hard to get in and out. I can't drive out. Perhaps if I set up a home base in like Malaysia or elsewhere in SE Asia this would be a viable "tunnel". A boat would be nice, but those distances are vast. However, not flying my dog in and out of there.
JUST BUY A BOAT DUDE
I think my dad was in an invasion of Saipan during world war II
Really nice! I have always wanted to travel there. It's on my list to visit in the near future, Knowing that they allow guns is a good thing and that the cost of living isn't to bad. i like the minimalist thing myself. it makes life easier. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks kid!
I want to go!
3:00 on you had my attention they have more gun rights than I do if the "if it's legal federally it's legal there" is accurate and guns and weed don't mix in my state yet, I love consistent weather, being minimalist, nature, the only killer for me is I can not own land.
Not allowing foreigners to own land is the best policy to have. Hawaiians are now homeless because they have been priced out of owning a home.
Somehow this astronomical property price trend is happening everywhere in the world and it is always the fault of the outsiders. Somehow this is not logically possible so probably everywhere it is just the local elites who love the inflated prices but want to deflect the blame for the obvious societal damage. Blame foreigners while they keep laughing all the way to the bank.
I'm headed to saipan after Rota, where is the best place to rent a car? Can you share your connection?
great video
Suicide cliff on the north side? How/what do you propose to eat?
I love saipan!
It was used as an anti-labor toilet for years. Did we forget Jack Abermoff already??
Was is the keyword and yes, he's forgotten.
Took a WWII Veteran of mine from Charlotte, NC to Saipan and Tinian a few years back. He fought in the battle of Saipan during the war. Saipan is nice....but I've heard the Government is very corrupt.
An interesting little fantasy.
Lovely place. I knew the name but never knew it was USA territory.
No place is free in America anymore.
I was gonna ask about the gun laws. Not quite as lax as some states but better than others. Thank you
Not ideal but much better than the other territories
Spent a few summer vacations there in the late 60s. Great fun. But now ? Not sure I would enjoy it as much.
What , 60s , so how old are you now, 189😂😂😂😂
@@dennynisevic7848 shouldnt let your brain fluid leak out so much.
Nice video
I appreciate it!
Technically the land alienation issue is more complicated. Only Northern Marianas Descent (NMD) can own land, but this is not based on ethnicity. It is based on if you can prove you had family living here prior to 1975. So if you are full blooded Irish, but lived in Saipan prior to 1975, you and your kids would be NMD. As long as you have 1/4 NMD in your background, you can own land here. This is causing problems for some families though now as NMDs continue marrying non-NMD. Article 12 of the CNMI Constitution contains the law. Another thing about the CNMI Constitution...it outlaws abortion outright FYI.
There’s no cost to join the Dolphin Club Saipan. They’re restoring Maritime traditions in the Mariana Islands and offer orange caps like I see in Aquatic Park. Have you joined them for a swim? Prefer biking to my swimming spots in San Francisco. I am a fan of wearing sweatshirts and get sick when I travel to tropics.
How do drivers licenses work? If I have a mainland US drivers license, and move to Saipan permanently, can I just get a CNMI drivers license? Are there any motorcycles on the island?
Yes, you could switch it by forfeiting your state license and yes, you could then switch the CNMI (Saipan) license at any state you decide to move back to.
@@Ron-dd9dw Thank you.
If Washingron would allow me to CUBA EEEEEEAHHHHHHHH