The Best Buys

The U.S. Virgin Islands are the shopping mecca of the Caribbean, mostly because there's no sales tax and because shoppers can take advantage of the $1,600 duty-free allowance. St. Thomas's capital, Charlotte Amalie, is the nerve center of the shopping activity here. Look for two local publications, This Week in St. Thomas and Best Buys -- either will steer you toward the goods you want.

Before you leave home, try to check out the price of comparable items you hope to buy; that way, you'll know if you are really getting a bargain. With that said, your best deals will most likely be found in the following categories:

• Arts and Crafts: Though arts and crafts are not the high-priority items that they are on such islands as Haiti and Jamaica, you can certainly find them in the Virgin Islands. The Tillett Gardens Center for the Arts in St. Thomas is the premier art gallery and craft studio in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In St. John, Mongoose Junction, in a woodsy roadside area right at Cruz Bay, offers the best assortment of locally produced arts and crafts (all tax-free for U.S. citizens). Handmade pottery, sculpture, and glass are sold here, along with locally made clothing. If you're looking for handicrafts exclusive to the U.S. Virgin Islands, head for Many Hands, also in Christiansted.

• Fine China & Crystal: Sometimes (not always) you can find great deals on these wares -- many shoppers report savings of 30% to 50%. We noted that Baccarat goblets sold on St. Thomas went for about a third of the price quoted in the U.S. catalog. Again, know your prices before you land on St. Thomas. The best outlet for fine china and crystal is in St. Thomas at the Crystal Shoppe.

• Jewelry: Watches and gold jewelry are often heavily discounted in St. Thomas and St. Croix, especially during the off season (mid-Apr to mid-Oct), when there isn't a traffic jam of cruise ships in the harbors. The sheer volume of jewelry offered in St. Thomas is stunning -- diamonds, emeralds, rubies, opals, gold, and platinum. Options include works by world-famous designers as well as one-of-a-kind pieces created by local artists. The best outlet for jewelry is in St. Thomas at Cardow Jewelers.

• Liquor: A recent spot survey showed that prices for liquor in St. Thomas and St. Croix were 50% to 60% less than in New York City. You're allowed to bring 5 liters of liquor back to the United States, or 6 liters if the sixth is locally produced. Local liquor nearly always means rum in the Virgin Islands, but it could also include Southern Comfort, which is bottled on the island (check the label). Because of the generous U.S. Customs allowances in the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas or St. Croix might be the best places to purchase expensive French brandy, champagne, or liqueurs. The widest selection of discount liquor for sale is found on the island of St. Thomas, at Al Cohen's Discount Liquors and A. H. Riise Gift & Liquor Stores. You can also buy Cruzan Rum straight from the source, at the Cruzan Rum Factory on St. Croix.

• Perfumes and Cosmetics: Be on the lookout for bargains on imported perfumes and beauty products such as bath gels and makeup. How much you save depends on the product. Tropicana Perfume Shoppe, in St. Thomas, has the largest selection of fragrances (for both women and men) in the U.S. Virgin Islands.