Shopping

Shopping in the Cayman Islands has drastically improved recently because of all the new business generated by cruise-ship arrivals. Although the Cayman Islands are definitely not a shopping destination in the league of St. Thomas and St. Maarten, the Caymans do now offer a vast array of merchandise, most of it imported. Because there's no sales tax, you'll find duty-free shopping galore, ranging from jewelry to toys, from coral to rum cakes.

The Shopping Scene

You can get good deals here on island-made art, crafts, and other products. Many local souvenirs tend to be a bit cheesy, but some handicrafts -- such as those made of various types of coral -- are artistic statements in their own right and have more lasting value. Jewelry fashioned from caymanite, a hard, marble-like stone harvested in the cliffs of Cayman Brac, is especially popular. In recent years local art has made greater and greater strides, finding a ready market among the constantly arriving cruise-ship passengers and expat villa owners who want to brighten up their surroundings.

Many products, including jewelry, are fashioned from black coral. Eco-sensitive visitors urge other travelers not to purchase these products. Much of the black coral comes from Central American countries such as Honduras and Belize. The Cayman Islands themselves have strong marine laws to protect their reefs, but countries to the south often do not, and the coral reefs can be seriously harmed or damaged when harvested. Since black coral is known to grow at a rate of 7.6cm (3 in.) every decade, it qualifies as an endangered species.

Because the Cayman Islands are under the rule of Great Britain, you can sometimes get good deals on British imports. You'll find an array of top-quality jewelry, some of it equal to jewelry in the stores of London, Paris, and New York.

Grand Cayman, especially around George Town, abounds with imported luxury items. For example, you might find French and American perfumes; Spanish, French, and Swedish crystal; Swiss watches; premium liquor; Japanese cameras; and English china. However, the prices for some of these items are often on par with what you might find in your hometown. Know the average cost of a desired item before you head to the Caymans so you'll easily tell whether or not you're getting a bargain. Some of the best deals we've discovered have been on native crafts, watches, jewelry, rum, designer sunglasses and clothing, art, cameras, crystal, and cosmetics. Cuban products such as cigars are sold, but you can't bring them back into the United States. The carefully packaged Cayman rum cake is the most popular purchase.

Each U.S. citizen (including children) can return with up to CI$800 (US$1,000/£480) worth of goods duty-free. Since the amounts are collective, a family of three has a duty-free allowance of CI$2,400 (US$3,000/£1,440). No duty is imposed on handicrafts, art, food (including those famous Cayman rum cakes), and books.

Make sure you know which dollar a merchant is quoting in before you step up to the cashier. The U.S. dollar is valued approximately 20% less than the Caymanian dollar.

There is no local sales tax in the Cayman Islands.

Most stores keep regular business hours of Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5 or 6pm.

Art Galleries -- Art is very important on the Cayman Islands and local talent is abundant. As you visit the island's galleries, you might want to remember the names of painters described below who define the Cayman Islands as their home and, often, as the source of their inspiration.

Canadian-born, silver-haired, and elegant, Joanne Sibley lived for 25 years in Jamaica, and has lived an equivalent amount of time on Grand Cayman. She's noted for her luminous portrayals of light on West Indian landscapes, creating canvases that seem to glow. Although her works are for sale at some galleries, she welcomes interested visitors into her studio for private showings if they phone in advance. Contact her at tel. 345/947-7273 before heading out to see her at 1342 Bodden Town Rd., 3.2km (2 miles) east of Bodden Town, 21km (13 miles) east of George Town.

Charles Long is another well-known Caymanian painter, celebrated for his use of solid, bright colors in paintings that often depict Cayman flora and fauna. He is happy to give tours of his studio to art lovers who call in advance. Contact him at tel. 345/917-5741. His home is located at 114 West Lane, off Pedro Castle Road, in the hamlet of Savannah, about a 15-minute drive southeast of George Town.

The Diamonds of the Sea -- It is said that even the simplest meal tastes better with just a pinch of Cayman Sea Salt. With this in mind, mother-and-daughter team Monique and Vanessa Polack came up with an idea for a cottage industry. They started harvesting sea salt and using it as a cooking spice. Eventually they began to use these chunky crystals, which they call "diamonds of the sea," to make skin-softening, scented bath salts. Prices range from US$5 to US$30 (£2.50-£16). For information, call tel. 345/943-7258. These salt products are available at the Cayman Sea Salt Booth at the Craft Market on the waterfront in George Town, at the Ritz-Carlton and Westin Hotels, and at various other outlets around the island.

Shopping Malls -- Many visitors, especially cruise-ship passengers, don't go to the independent stores but do one-stop shopping at Grand Cayman's heavily patronized malls. Lying south of the cruise-ship docks on Harbour Drive, Harbour Place is the newest of them. Stores here range from the chic, such as Natalie Bishop Designer Clothes, to the sophisticated, including the Winery.

In George Town, at Carnival Avenue, stands the long-enduring Kirk Freeport Plaza, which carries all types of luxury items ranging from Gucci leather to duty-free china. Lots of designer labels are found here, including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, TAG Heuer, Omega, Roberto Coin, and Mikimoto. Near the Hyatt Hotel on West Bay Road is Galleria Plaza, opening onto Seven Mile Beach. Outlets here sell books, liquor, mobile phones, lingerie, sports equipment, and even cosmetics. Also opening onto Seven Mile Beach, West Shore Shopping Centre is known for its artwork and casual sports clothing. The Centre also has a pharmacy, candle shop, and diving equipment and supply store. Finally, consider Queen's Court Shopping Centre, another mall opening onto Seven Mile Beach. It boasts an eclectic collection of shops that sell everything from T-shirts with your favorite dogs printed on them to beauty products. Handicrafts and gifts are also hawked at outlets here.

Stamps -- For the philatelist in the family, Grand Cayman's main post office in George Town, at Edward Street and Cardinal Avenue (tel. 345/949-2474), sells the Cayman Island's beautiful stamps at the on-site philatelic bureau, open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday 8:30am to 1pm.