Sensational Shopping on St. Thomas

Duty-free goods beckon from boutique shelves in several island neighborhoods.

Zach Stovall

St. Thomas draws images of crystalline beaches and splendid resorts, surely, but those luscious lures are secondary for visitors with a mania for buying, buying and more buying. This U.S. Virgin Island has the best duty-free shopping in the Caribbean, defined by hundreds of each-nicer-than-the-next stores offering glittering gold, sparkling gems and quartz watches designed by the biggest names in the business. What's more, these coveted indulgences are sold at prices that simply can't be had stateside.

Most retailers are found in Charlotte Amalie, a historical Danish town with winding alleys. Three-hundred-year-old red-roofed warehouses that once stored molasses, rum and spices have been turned into chic boutiques selling luxury items like watches, jewelry, perfume, electronics, leather goods, liquor, linen and crystal.

When you open up your treasure map, you'll see that many other areas afford value- and cost-conscious shoppers terrific finds, too. Havensight, a 74-store retail hub located steps away from the cruise-ship dock, is a retail emporium. Red Hook, on the eastern end of the island, has a collection of stores selling merchandise like resortwear and home furnishings. And a few of St. Thomas' expansive tourist stops house their own sets of shops, featuring unusual collectibles, often themed, unavailable elsewhere on St. Thomas.

Downtown Charlotte Amalie
The charming capital of Charlotte Amalie can get quite busy, especially when the cruise ships are in port; 11 at one time is not unheard of. Serious bargain hunters approach shopping in Charlotte Amalie as a contact sport, knowing they can get incredible deals on top-tier items ranging from Swiss watches to French perfume to Japanese cameras. Prices tend to be 20 percent to 40 percent lower - up to 60 percent for liquor and cigarettes - than they'd be at home for the same products.

Most of Charlotte Amalie's boutiques are clustered around Waterfront Highway and Main Street (Dronningens Gade), which are connected by intriguing store-lined alleyways such as Drake's Passage. Palm Passage hosts designer boutiques around a European-style courtyard, where you can sit and sip cocktails or people-watch in the midst of your buying frenzy. Generally, the shops are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with some keeping hours on Sunday. Double-check store hours before leaving your hotel.

With all the newlyweds and lovebirds visiting the USVI, jewelry is a perennial best-seller. Upscale boutiques lining Main Street and the Waterfront Highway serve up Fifth Avenue labels. Their display cases are lined with wide selections of rings, including engagement rings and wedding bands, as well as necklaces, earrings, and tennis and charm bracelets in yellow gold, white gold, platinum and sterling silver. Black velvet cases also entice with diamond, sapphire, emerald and ruby pieces, as well as with semi-precious gems such as topaz and an increasingly popular African-mined purple stone called tanzanite. Freshwater pearls from the South Pacific appeal, too.

Zach Stovall

Name-brand watches are especially popular in St. Thomas. If you have a favorite manufacturer's products in mind, chances are you will find them here. Have you always secretly yearned for a diamond-encrusted watch? Maybe now is the time to treat yourself. Are you in the market for something sleek and modern? Check out the selections. Perhaps you prefer a more classic look, or handsome yet affordable selections. Most jewelry/watch shops provide certified appraisals; 90-day insurance against damage, loss or theft; access to a toll-free U.S. service center; and same-day sizing.

Browse among DVD players, CD players, camcorders and radios. If you'd like a new camera for taking vacation photos of the stunning vistas around Magens Bay, look for all the big names here. Keep in mind that all electronics come with the same warranties you would receive in the States.

Seeking that perfect gift for an upcoming bridal shower? Select from among the exquisitely cut crystal bowls and candlesticks, decanters and vases, champagne flutes and wine goblets from top names. For the dining room, you'll find a fine selection of china for the refined holiday table you've always dreamed of. Don't worry about carrying those fragile items home; stores will ship.

Table coverings and bedding in various thread counts with intricate workmanship in lace, cutwork and appliqué come in linen, cotton and jacquard, a soft material that looks and feels like linen but never needs ironing. Buy tablecloths, napkins and place mats for the dining room, and sheets, pillowcases, duvets and shams for the bedroom.

Liquor is another must-buy duty-free item, particularly since the savings can be substantial - often as much as 50 percent off stateside prices. Visitors over the age of 21 are allowed to bring back five bottles of alcohol plus an additional bottle if it is produced in the USVI (such as Cruzan or Paradise rum).

Havensight
The modern and spacious dockside open-air shopping center has 74 shops catering to both visitors and locals. The stores are laid out in seven attractive strips, including the Port of Sale building to the north and another cluster across Long Bay Road. Havensight lures shoppers in part with its amenities: ample parking, handicap access, restroom facilities and tree-lined promenades dotted with benches.