Shopping

St. Thomas' reputation as the shopping mecca of the Caribbean draws visitors from all over the region and around the world. The one million cruise ship passengers and overnight guests who visit St. Thomas each year can attest to the island's prominence as the best shopping spot in the Caribbean. Charlotte Amalie boasts much of the finest duty-free shopping, especially on Waterfront and Main Streets. Restored seventeenth-century and eighteenth-century warehouses along the waterfront, which once held molasses, rum, spices, and other trade goods, now house a variety of unique shops containing modern-day treasures.

Shops in the downtown areas are usually closed on Sundays, unless a cruise ship is in port. Shops at the larger hotels are usually open on Sundays. Look for bargains on perfume, liquor, cameras, china, porcelain, crystal, imported clothing, leather goods, watches, jewelry, and gold, as well as crafts made by local artisans. Many of these items can be bought for 40 percent less than in the United States; liquor and cigarettes are often 60 percent less.

Quota: U.S. citizens are allowed a duty-free shopping quota of $1,200 - twice that of any other island in the Caribbean and three times that of European countries. A flat rate of five percent duty is charged on purchases over your $1,200 allowance, up to a maximum of $1,000 more. Besides your personal exemption, you can mail friends and relatives at home an unlimited number of gifts (other than perfume, liquor, or tobacco) worth $100 or less each.