Looking for an apartment is a lot easier now that there is an online listing. Still, it is important that students take the job of looking for a place to live, seriously. Here are a few tips to help you find the right place for you.

Make a list of the basic necessities you want in an apartment. (I would normally say, make a list of your ideal apartment, but you'll never find anything here at that rate.) First of all, apartments in Grenada are not like apartments in the U.S. You will see how after a few months here, your standards will lower and you will drool all over your neighbor's American bed. Make a list of things that are really important to you, and things you cannot live without, and be prepared to make sacrifices based on the prices you find. Here are a few questions to ask:

• How far is the apartment from campus? Make sure they specify walking distance or driving distance.
• Is it on the bus route? If so, which bus route? (The main bus comes about every 20 minutes, but the other busses come less often).
• Is there a washer and dryer on the property? If there is no dryer, is there a sunny place to hang clothes? (f there is neither washer nor dryer, make sure you either have a car or you are on the bus route and don't mind hauling laundry to the campus laundromat).
• What utilities are included in the price of the rent? Most properties include some kind of utilities, but not all. Make sure the landlord tells you specifically which utilities are included- and make SURE this information makes it to the lease. The more utilities inlcuded in the rent, the better it is for you. Deposits for utilities are extrememly expensive, something most students aren't prepared for.
• Is there Air Conditioning? Hard to believe in this climate, but there are just as many apartments without air conditioning as there are with it. You need to decide if this is a necessity. Some apartments have a great breeze, which can be helpful when there is no A/C, but not always easy to fall asleep in. If ther is no A/C, make sure there are screens. This is a tropical island. There are lots of bugs.
• What kind of bed(s) are furnished? (Most Grenadian apartments have flat, hard, foam beds with boards underneath. If you know you won't be able to sleep on these kinds of beds, look for "American beds", and be prepared to pay extra for them).
• If you have children or pets, make sure to tell the landlord. Some landlords are sticklers about this, though they are the minority. It is also rare that they will ask for an extra deposit, so just be up front about it, they will find out sooner or later.
• What kitchen appliances are provided? Most utensils and basic cookware come with the majority of student housing, but look at what they offer. Can you live without a microwave? Microwaves are rare and oftentimes lure students to places they would not normally consider, so decide if you really can't live without one. Make sure the apartment includes a refrigerator and stove/oven, and has sufficient food storage space. Most apartments on the island do not provide dishwashers or garbage disposals, and the size of refrigerators are small. Stoves and ovens are almost always gas- which is actually great for cooking and saves on the electric bill.
• Is a TV inlcuded? If so, do you want cable? Who will pay for the cable? Most people find it almost insane not to have a television on the island. Local TV consists of only a few stations, so cable can be important. Some landlords provide both TV and cable, and some provide neither.
• Does the apartment provide both 220 and 110 outlets, or a transformer? There are some apartments out there that have both 110 and 220 outlets- a wondeful bonus to have. Buying a transformer is expensive and depending on the type you buy and where you buy it, may not always be reliable for your precious electronics, (that you paid a fortune for in duty).
• Does the apartment have a dead-bolt lock, bars on the windows, a gated entrance, or a security guard? Is the area it is located in a safe area? See the neighborhoods section if you're not sure). If you don't have a car, will you be able to safely walk alone in the neighborhood?
• Does the landlord live on the premises? If the landlord lives upstairs or next door, it is a little more likely that your apartment and the surroundings will be well cared for and secure. It is also more likely that they will fix anything broken, faster. However, if you are the noisy or messy type, try to stay away from living next to your landlord.