In Philipsburg, shops line Front Street, the narrow boulevard nearest the waterfront. In these duty-free stores, electronic goods, leather, jewelry, and liquor (especially guavaberry liqueur) are especially good buys. (For the best prices, shop on days when the cruise ships are not in port.)

No duties are charged in or out of port, so savings run about 25-50% on consumer goods at this popular duty-free stop. Shop carefully, though, and know prices on specific goods before you leave home. Some items are not such bargains.

On the French side, the best shopping is in the capital city of Marigot. A crafts market near the cruise terminal offers jewelry, T-shirt, souvenir items, carvings, and paintings (we were especially taken with the Haitian artwork available here.) Marigot also is home to boutique shops open 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. which offer liqueurs, cognacs, cigars, crystal, china, jewelry, and perfumes, many from France.