When it comes to the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas shopping takes the cake. The duty-free items coupled with no sales tax bring many luxury goods well within any St. Thomas shopping list. Many guests find that they have devoted multiple days to St. Thomas shopping sprees by the end of their vacation. Fine china and high-end liquor are just two of the great products that are accessible while shopping on St. Thomas, though local fleas also feature many local artists’ crafts as well.

Much of what is to be found of St. Thomas shopping is in and around Charlotte Amalie. A series of small back roads comprise the ‘shopping district’ that displays everything one would like to find from jewelry to fine linens. Main Street is the center of jewelry for St. Thomas shopping, though stores like Royal Dane Malls offer a wide selection of items to woo guests as well. Tillett Gardens, east of Charlotte Amalie, has a more local St. Thomas shopping feel; offering silks and artisan paintings. For great food while St. Thomas shopping, try the Gourmet Gallery for an amazing selection of exotic and staple cuisines.

ATMS on St. Thomas:
The island offers around 50 ATMs at bank branches, transportation centers, shopping centers and other convenient spots throughout the island.

Baby-Equipment Rentals:
Car seats, cribs, high chairs, playpens, strollers, cots and bed rails are all available for rental for additional fees such as:
Portable Baby Crib with Mattress: $24/wk. (Be sure to bring your own mattress pad & linens)
Collapsible Vinyl Playpen: $20/wk. or $4.00 per day
High Chair: $20/wk. or $4.00 per day
Air bed (twin): $35/wk. or $5.00 per day

Please note that all of the above equipment is subject to a flat delivery/assembly and pick-up /return charge of $35.00.

Banks in St. Thomas:
Banks on St. Thomas are open from 9 AM –3 PM Mon.-Thursday and from 9 AM-5 PM on Fridays. A handful of banks have Saturday hours (9 AM-12:00 noon). First Bank & Chase Manhattan Banks have ATM machines.

Budgeting/Costs to Rent a Villa on St. Thomas:
In addition to the weekly rental rate for a villa on St. Thomas, the additional costs involved include but are not limited to the following:

Air Transportation
Car Rentals
Groceries & beverages
Tip for the maid (if included in the villa rental)-hotel type tipping is recommended.

St. Thomas Currency:
The U.S. Dollar is used throughout the territory as well as the neighboring British Virgin Islands. Major credit cards and traveler’s checks are widely accepted as well.

St. Thomas Customs & Duty-Free Allowances:

U.S. Citizens duty-free allowances:
Departing citizens whose stay is in excess of 48 hours may on their return take back, free of duty, articles totaling up to US $1,200 (based on the retail value of the items in the country of purchase). A family of four, then, would be able to bring home $4,800 in duty-free items. Additionally, you may bring home up to 4 liters of liquor per adult or 5 liters if the 5th bottle is either Cruzan Rum, Chococo or Southern Comfort, all of which are made in the U.S.V.I. and are duty-free.

Loose precious gems (diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires) are completely duty-free no matter what the cost (as long as the stone is loose and not in a setting). Additionally, there is a duty-free allowance of 5 cartons of cigarettes and 100 cigars.

Grocery Shopping:
Visitors will find the supermarkets in St. Thomas are well stocked and very similar to what they experience at home.

St. Thomas Villa-Pre-stocking:
While the villas on St. Thomas generally do not include staffs (cooks), for visitors that will be arriving late in the day or evening, we recommend that they have the villa pre-stocked with some arrival beverages and snacks. Pre-stocking service alone (without cooking) costs $25/per hour with a two-hour minimum. Additionally, special “Welcome to Paradise” arrival baskets are available that include cool drinks, munchies and more.