Adventure Travel Blog

Sailing Vacations. Want to get away from it all? Escape all but the welcome distractions, sailing into a small cove dropping anchor, taking off in the dingy to find a new reef to snorkel on, later taking a walk on a snow white beach, and that evening you take the dingy ashore to a small charming beach bar/grill, you have dinner while watching a sunset and listening to island music. 

The trouble is you don’t know much about sailing and don’t know how to handle a sailboat. Her you have a terrific opportunity to experience the tranquility and beauty of sailing in the Caribbean, on your own personalised Caribbean Sailing Vacation, with your choice of sailing vessel, your own captain, your own agenda and for a price less than hotel room?

Caribbean Sailing Vacation

Depending on where you take your Caribbean sailing vacation, shopping will probably be an extremely popular activity during your Caribbean charter. Many of the Caribbean islands are known for their duty free and even tax free shopping. Duty free shopping allows you to save money on luxury goods such as jewelry, designer clothing, watches, perfumes, and of course, rum and liquor. You will also find souvenir shops selling t-shirts and all kinds of other rather cheap items featuring the name of the island you are visiting. Aside from shopping for discounted duty free items that you can just as

easily find back home, it is much more fun to think outside the box when it comes to souvenirs from your  Caribbean sailing vacation. The Caribbean offers locally made crafts, jewelry and artwork that make perfect reminders of your time spent on a Caribbean charter. Caribbean craftspeople bring a rich and colorful blend of African, Native American, and European influences to their handiwork- a combination that reflects the intriguing makeup of their culture. Throughout the Caribbean, shopping locales range from ultra-modern, air- conditioned malls to independent vendors who set up stands randomly along the roadways.

Three tips will make your souvenir shopping easier. First, regardless of where you shop, most vendors will accept dollars or euros, even if their island may have their own currency. To be on the safe side, however, you may want to exchange some money into East Caribbean dollars- the official currency of Anguilla, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia. Second, in most of the established shops of the Caribbean, bargaining is not welcome and may even

be considered insulting, although some vendors may offer a discount for cash rather than credit card payments. You might cautiously give it a shot at open-air markets or with street vendors. Remember, however, that profits from selling homegrown or handmade items are likely to be the craftsperson’s only income, so prices are not usually set artificially high. Finally, not all island sales clerks will know all the rules about duty limits and taxes. Find out before leaving home what you will be allowed to bring back and at  
what cost. By doing your research before shopping, youwill avoid the risk of losing your purchase at customs, incurring a fine or being detained. Whatever you buy, a shopping trip to the Caribbean can be a wonderful chance to discover the striking uniqueness of this region. Below are some of the items you might want to look for and purchase during your Caribbean sailing charter.

The British Virgin Islands

You will find bargains on British goods like woolens, china, crystal and porcelain as well as on locally made straw goods. From the colorful pottery at Bamboushay Studio on Tortola or the roadside shop of Pat’s Pottery on Anegada, to the fabulous metal sculptures of Beef Island’s Aragon Studio, to the indigenous shells and driftwood at the North Shore Shell Museum, the BVI has quite a collection of art for you to discover. If you are into clothing, do not miss the HIHO brand. Year-round sales of the annual HIHO regatta event’s unique sun logo t-shirt led to beach bags then board shorts. Inspired by life in the Caribbean and their water sport roots, the HIHO brand launched a surf shop in Road Town in 1998. Today, HIHO boasts a line of clothing for men, women and kids. Finally, a particularly interesting souvenir is the BVI stamp. It is the only BritishCommonwealth stamp sold in a denomination of US currency.
 
Anguilla

Despite being such a small island, many local artists, including the potter and sculptor, Courtney Devonish, sell their art in local shops. Crafts to look for include tablecloths and linens, hand-crafted mats, pottery and painted woodcarvings. The best thing to bring back as a souvenir, however, is the Anguilla stamps, especially if you are a stamp collector. Each stamp is truly a magnificent piece of art. 

St. Martin

The island of St. Martin is well known for its shopping. The duty free shops are the biggest draw for visitors. With luxury items costing up to 50% less than other countries, it is no wonder that shoppers head here to buy European fashions, jewelry, perfume, electronics, china/porcelain, watches, Italian leather, crystal, liquor and other expensive goods. Jewelry is definitely one of the staples of St. Martin shopping. The duty free shops offer something for both the wealthy and bargain hunters. The Front Street jewelers offer everything from diamonds and emeralds to original creations of gold and silver, while many boutiques on the island offer jewelry handcrafted from natural amber, shells and bits of broken sea glass. With duty free prices, it is hard to resist buying liquor. If you are looking for something unique to St. Martin, however, consider buying Guavaberry liqueur or Ma Doudou rum.

Guavaberry is the legendary folk liqueur that has been made in private homes for 100’s of years. It is an integral part of St. Martin’s cosmopolitan culture. There are folk songs and stories about it. Guavaberry is made from rums and the wild local berries from which it gets its name. The fruit is found high in the warm hills in the center of the island. Guavaberries are not like guavas. The liqueur has a woody, fruity, spicy, bittersweet flavor all of its own. If you are looking for the warm, velvety taste of the Caribbean, Ma Doudou creates some of the best “arranged” rums. Along with her family, Ma Doudou makes this oh so smooth tasting rum from her cabin. Each bottle is treated individually, with regard to its components, orange, coconut, passion fruit, cinnamon, ginger-as well as the hand-painted labels which define it to the madras bow capping the bottles. Macerating the fruit, preparing the syrups, bottling, painting the decorations-all of it is done in Ma Doudou’s home. If you cannot find her cabin, do not worry. Her colorful, good-natured flasks are displayed all over the island. St. Martin also has some wonderful native arts and crafts. Popular offerings include cane furniture, embroidered linens, straw goods and colorful pareus.

St. Barth

Sophisticated St. Barth is more like the south of France than the Caribbean. Shopping is centered mainly in Gustavia and in St. Jean where visitors will find exquisite French fashions and other luxury goods, including cosmetics, perfumes, jewelry, watches, wines, liquors, Cuban cigars, crystal and porcelain. Locally produced items include delicate handcrafted straw mats, natural skin and hair products, mahogany reproductionsof colonial furniture, and original gold jewelry. The skincare products of Ligne St. Barth® are exclusively manufactured on the island and contain all the active ingredients of the Caribbean plants, fruits and flowers from which they are extracted. Perfumes Ana Tiana, is also an artisan creation of St. Barth.  The perfumes are created from the flowers and spices of the Caribbean, while the sun oils are made from native cocoa, roucou, avocado and aloe.  If you are interested in handmade jewelry created just for you, do not miss Deanna or Fabienne Miot. Deanna’s jewelry collection is born from the sights and sounds of St. Barth. She has channeled the French culture, the brilliance of the island’s colors and the hip-ness of the international jetsetters into her jewelry designs. The result is beautiful luxury gemstone jewelry that is understated yet chic. Fabienne creates exclusive and unique 24K gold, pearls, and precious stones into incomparable creations. A warning to shoppers in St. Barth: although items are duty free, the prices will no doubt astonish you! Whatever you purchase in St. Barth, do not expect to bargain-it is simply not done!

Saba

The Dutch island of Saba provides a unique shopping experience. Enter into any of the shops within the villages, and you will be invited into conversation. Artists find Saba a perfect inspiration for their work. Many watercolors, photographs and jewelry are displayed in 2 art galleries. Barbara Joyce is known for her decorative frames on her paintings, while Saban born Patricia Johnson’s oils and watercolors reflect the dramatic shorelines, landscapes, flora and fauna of Saba. Jobean’s Hot Glass Studio is the only flame-working studio in the Caribbean. You can see rods of brilliantly colored glass transformed into dancing fish, sea creatures,fanciful frogs and elegant jewelry. Her creations make a memorable present for yourself or a gift for someone else. Delicious homemade Saba Spice is a sweet rum-based liquor available only on the island. It is made from the local spices in the kitchens of many Saban ladies and is especially delicious poured over ice cream. Saba is also known for its beautiful, delicate linen items with hand-drawn threadwork designs. Saba lace is a unique needlecraft painstakingly created by the industrious women of Saba. Blouses, dresses, tablecloths and napkins are only a few of the pieces Saban women create in a variety of colors. Finally, a visit to El Momo Folk Art is where you will find a multitude of Molas for the perfect gift or souvenir. A Mola is a multicolored, multilayered hand-stitched panel of cotton cloth worn by Kuna Indian women in the San Blas Islands. Each one takes 40-70 hours to sew. Molas are considered one of the most highly developed contemporary folk art forms and are sought after by collectors around the world. Choose your Mola and within an hour, El Momo’s will make you a bag, a pot holder, a t-shirt or simply frame your favorite Mola.

Antigua

The main shopping district is in St. John’s. Visitors will find duty-free British woolens, linens, an assortment of luxury goods, as well as locally made rum, pottery, straw work, shell crafts and curios, and hand-made dolls. If you are into buying fruits, vegetables and spices to enjoy while in the islands, the farmer’s market is one you will not want to miss. 

St. Kitts and Nevis

Basseterre, the capital of St. Kitts, is riddled with small shops and malls carrying a wide assortment of Kittstian merchandise. Duty free shops line the Circus offering crystal, china, porcelain, gold and silver jewelry, tobacco, liquor, watches, leather goods and many more items. You can buy rich art work from art galleries, as well as locally designed

clothing, including the popular and well sought-after Caribelle batik. Colorful pareus used as beach wraps are also a very popular souvenir item. Local crafts created by talented sculptors and craftsmen are made from a variety of materials and objects including dried coconut shells, seashells, wood, metal, stones and fabric. There is plenty to buy on Nevis, as well, as much of it is handmade. Fiery Nevis hot sauce, fragrant honey and handcrafted red clay pottery items are among the most popular souvenirs to take home. Many local crafts are made by members of local cooperative groups of craftsmen that work together to continue local traditions. One of these is Nevis Pottery, where potters create red-clay pots and other artifacts. Another is the Nevis Craft Cooperative, where craftspeople weave rugs, make whimsical wooden mobiles and other wood and ceramic pieces.

Montserrat

For craft lovers, there is a variety of attractive, locally made handicrafts, volcano soaps, gifts and local products to be found on Montserrat. Crafts on sale include handcrafted leather goods, hand-woven items from locally grown sea island

cotton, t-shirts, volcanic souvenirs made of ash and volcanic rocks, handmade dolls, local preserves such as guava jelly and hot pepper sauce. The national dress features green and yellow madras plaid cotton fabric, which is incorporated into many craft items. Montserrat’s Emerald Spa recently launched the production of exquisite natural volcano soaps capturing the therapeutic cleansing qualities of the active Soufriere Hills volcano. These hand made soaps embody a unique fusion of natural volcanic ash, clay and fine sand, fresh local aloe, rosemary, honey, coconut and other natural oil and mineral blends. Bay leaf and lemon grass essential oils and mango fragrance delicately scent the soaps. 

Guadeloupe and Les Saintes

Guadeloupe is quickly becoming more shopper-friendly. You will find wonderful products from France in Pointe-a-Pitre’s trendy boutiques. Expect to save about 20% on luxury items such as perfume, crystal and designer clothes. Most tourists take home a bottle of Guadeloupean rum. Domaine de Severin, Montebello, Longueteau and Damoiseau are some of the most popular, but visit the many island distilleries for a taste and decide for yourself. Other items to look for include jewelry made by local artisans from island coral, dolls dressed in madras costumes, hand-woven baskets, folk

art, African-style wood carvings, and pottery. Cooks will want to take home exotic spices as well as island grown coffee beans. Madras fabrics are very popular, and are found in shawls, skirts, and headdresses. Prices in Les Saintes are high, but you might discover a few unique items that are worth the cost. Two places to shop are Kax a Nou-Pascal Foy’s workshop where he creates miniature facades of traditional Creole houses that make unusual souvenirs, and Yves Cohen’s Moagany boutique which offers gorgeous painted and silk-screened clothes in nautical themes.

Dominica

Shoppers may be disappointed in the stores and products on Dominica, but there are some wonderful locally made items that make good souvenirs. Baskets and wooden goods made by the Caribs are uniquely Dominican. Driving through Carib territory, stop at the shops and roadside stalls selling unique handicrafts made by the indigenous people using methods handed down over many generations. Baskets made from the outer skin of the larouma reed are strikingly different from those made of grass or palm leaves on other islands. Carib baskets have a tighter texture and a distinct black/brown pattern. Dominican mats made of vertiver grass are considered the best in the Caribbean. Art lovers will find outstanding pieces at competitive prices from several galleries. You can purchase works by Dominica’s leadings artists, including

Darius David (known for paintings based on historical and biblical events), Earl Etienne (known for his trademark technique called bouzaille or flambeau in which he applies forms to canvas using a carbon flame), Kelo Royer (who creates popular pieces using colors from nature in abstract designs), and Arnold Toulon (whose passion is realism and surrealism with a heavy emphasis on Caribbean style). You can also find island clothing, hand-painted t-shirts, crafts, musical CDs by local musicians, coconut-based soaps, rum and native spices. 

Martinique

Martinique is a showcase of French merchandise like chic fashions, perfumes and fine crystal, but the real bargains are on local crafts, rum and Caribbean art. Most tourists take home a bottle of Martinican rum, which is made from sugarcane

rather than molasses. The dark aged rum, called Vieux Rhum, is the best and most expensive. Other items to look for include jewelry made by local artisans, bamboo items, baskets and wicker works, wooden sculptures, pottery, and Creole dolls dressed in madras costumes. The most popular jewelry items include the collier choux (a traditional style necklace), the chaine forcat bracelet, and coral broaches and earrings. Madras is still used to make clothes (dresses, skirts, wraparounds) and is a wonderful ready to wear souvenir. In the outdoor markets, pick up coconut fudge, crystallized fruit, jams made from exotic fruit and fresh spices.

St. Lucia

St. Lucia has a variety of shopping experiences for all tastes and preferences. In and around the
capital of Castries, duty free shopping includes designer perfumes, crystal, china, jewelry, cigars and clothing as well as wood carvings and other local arts and crafts. St. Lucia is very proud of its art heritage. Eudovic Studios in Goodlands offers beautiful works of art sculpted from wood. Choiseul Arts and Crafts is a wonderful source of hand-woven baskets, unique placements, cane chairs and wood carvings. Tourists will also want to look for straw work, unglazed clay pottery, shell art, coffee, cocoa, spices and bottled hot sauces. 

Barbados

Barbados offers the discerning shopper everything from beautiful and unusual handicrafts to luxury goods- all at fantastic duty free prices. Barbados has wonderful bargains on British goods like crystal and bone china from England and Ireland, as well as luxury items such as watches, jewelry and perfume. The island is also known for its outstanding selection of British antiques. Barbados rum has a distinctive flavor. Mount Gay Rum is the most well known name, and is a favorite souvenir of visitors. The island is also known for its local art, including pottery, shell art, hand-painted fabrics, handmade dolls, and glass art.

St. Vincent and The Grenadines

St. Vincent is not necessarily a top tourist destination; therefore it remains an unspoiled landscape of brilliant flora and beautiful clear waters. Therefore, some of the best souvenirs from this island are the photos you take. Nevertheless, there are some mementos available for purchase. For those that are into it, St. Vincent is known worldwide for producing some of the finest marijuana available. If you are looking for souvenirs that are actually legal, check out the New Market

in Kingstown, with four floors of stalls and small shops. The ground floor is an explosion of color with almost every type of Caribbean fruit and vegetable offered; while clothing and handicrafts are available upstairs. Look for woven bowls and baskets, and hand-painted calabash ornaments. Two artists that are particularly well known are the painter,Lennox “Dinks” Johnson and Carol Nicklaus, whose unique photographs capture both the intimate charm and the vibrant images of St. Vincent. The arts and crafts of Bequia are as eclectic as their creators. You will find a variety of work in Port Elizabeth’s shops and boutiques where locally made work is highlighted, including model boats and crochet, stained glass and scrimshaw, coconut craft, pottery, hats and handbags, batik, and paintings on canvas, silk and wood. Better still, take the time to travel the island and meet the artists to enjoy not only their work but also the stories that paint pictures of Bequia’s history and lives. If you stop on the island of Mustique, check out Basil’s shops for local West Indian hot sauce and preserves. Palm Island is home to Patrick Chevailler- an artist known for his fine ceramic, glass or porcelain art tiles featuring underwater images. Based on his own experiences as a diver and underwater photographer, the scope of his work varies from dramatic close-ups of individual fish to sweeping panoramic views of reefs teaming with fish. Union Island has a wide variety of souvenirs including hand-painted t-shirts featuring classical nautical designs to Rasta prints, beautiful hand-carved wooden articles from mahogany dolphins and sailboats to very modern abstract pieces, original batik prints and wall hangings, to beach wraps. All are fabulous options to take home memories of a wonderful time spent on a Caribbean sailing charter. 

Grenada

Grenada offers something of interest for everyone. Like many of the islands, Grenada has fine duty free bargains including perfumes, cosmetics, jewelry, crystal and Colombian Emeralds. Bustling with activity and offering a wide assortment of fresh produce, spices and handicrafts, St. George’s market is the center of island life. The best buys in Grenada are batik and screen printed textiles, locally made handicraft, leather craft and wood carvings. One of the most popular souvenirs that visitors bring home from “Spice Island” is a woven basket filled with the spices that earned the island its nickname: cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, cloves and nutmeg. Visitors can also select spice necklaces. Other popular local products include straw baskets and hats, sisal items, wood carvings, handmade fabric dolls and coral jewelry.
Wandering through the streets and waterfront markets for an authentic taste of the Caribbean’s many unique local cultures- their arts and crafts, locally made embroidery and lace work, straw baskets, local jams and jellies, distinctive island liqueurs and hot sauces, as well as the spices- is a wonderful way to bring back home reminders of your Caribbean sailing charter vacation. Now that you have an overview of what the various islands in the Caribbean have to offer in terms of memorable souvenirs, it is time to book your charter. VISailing.com will help plan your Caribbean charter. Whether you are a serious shopper or casual browser, you will find something spectacular to remind you of your sailing charter vacation. If you are looking for something a little different when it comes to shopping, the Caribbean awaits!

Caribbean Sailing at it’s best through Virgin Island Sailing Ltd. which offers bareboat, yachts with crew and mega yacht charters, throughout the Caribbean and world wide.

Written By Donna Wolfson
Photographs By Donna Wolfson
www.visailing.com