Tips on Shopping

The U.S. Virgin Islands are duty-free ports, which means many goods imported to the islands are not subject to import taxes and therefore can be sold at a discount. Shoppers can take advantage of the duty-free bargains, but only up to a limit prescribed by their government. St. Thomas and St. Croix, with their fabled duty-free deals, are the top shopping destinations in the entire Caribbean.

On leaving the U.S.V.I., everyone (including Americans) must clear Customs. In the British Virgin Islands (which aren't duty-free ports), there is a Customs review upon entry; there is no review upon exit, unless officials have reason to believe there should be one.

If you're in the market for a particular item, it's wise to check the price at home before you go. Sometimes even the duty-free items on the islands can be bought just as cheaply at home.

Theoretically, bargaining is not the rule on the islands, but over the years we have found merchant after merchant willing to do so, particularly on expensive items, such as jewelry and perfume. The slow summer, late spring, and fall seasons are the best times to try to make deals with local vendors.

In general, the shopping scene in the B.V.I. pales in comparison to that of St. Croix and St. Thomas. The smart shopper will still, however, find some good buys in Road Town, Tortola, usually on British fabrics, china, and other goods.

Best Buys in the U.S. Virgin Islands

The best buys are liquor (because of the generous U.S. allowance), jewelry, and china. You may find bargains on crystal, certain clothing, beauty items, porcelain, leather goods, watches, and even furs. Cigarettes are also cheaper.

In clothing, the best buys are woolen items, such as sweaters. Cashmere sweaters are also sometimes good values. Also look for fashions from China and Europe along with U.S. designer labels. But remember, you may find the same (or better) discounts back on the mainland.

Jewelry is the most common item for sale in St. Thomas. Look carefully over the selections of gold and gemstones (emeralds are traditionally considered the finest savings). Gold that is marked 24K in the United States and Canada is marked 999 (or 99.9% pure gold) on European items. Gold marked 18-karat in the United States and Canada has a European marking of 750 (or 75% pure), and 14-karat gold is marked 585 (or 58.5% pure). You can also often get deals on name-brand watches, which are sold throughout Charlotte Amalie and, to a lesser degree, on St. Croix.

When shopping for porcelain and crystal, the best European brands are usually priced lower than in the States; it pays to know what the going rate is at home before you leave. Most stores will arrange for items to be shipped.

The most popular island-made items include leather sandals, paintings, island dolls, locally made clothing, pottery, boutique canvas bags, locally recorded music, straw products, batiks, and unusual, handmade jewelry.