Aruba

[cruiserkar]

What are the "must" have's for shopping in Aruba? Items, stores to shop, etc.

[johnthed0g]

I suppose it depends on what you want, good shopping in Aruba, Curacao too.

[Trip]

All the usual Caribbean stores have branches here,and having been there a few times, nothing stands out in my mind as a must have to buy.

[Donna]

I think this port is more a beach day or an excursion, save the shopping for another shop, no good deals here really..

Will you have a stop in St. Thomas or St. Maarten? Those will be the better shopping ports.

[Kuki]

I believe the jewelers in Aruba, off of the main drag, are much more willing to bargain on price than those in St. Thomas and St. Maarten anymore.

Aruba sees alot less ships than those in the Eastern Caribb.

They used to be shopping meccas, but that's long gone.

[pen]

i've been to Aruba for a holiday and thought the shops were pretty boring. I do remember seeing something and decided to leave it until the last day but, when I went back to buy it the price had doubled. I asked the owner why and was told it was due to the cruise ships docking.She told me every shop doubles the price when the cruise ships were in, however she gave me it for the first priced advertised so be careful.

I wonder if this happends in every port?

[Trip]

I am sure it happens in all the ports, Pen. I know someone who has stayed in St Maarten, at a relatives villa. She used to go downtown, to buy jewlery, because once the ships left,the locals came to buy at lowered prices. Beer used to godown to $1.00 a bottle at the bars too.