but especially ginger, vanilla and cloves. You'll fi nd these in the Craft and Spice market on Grand Anse Beach or in Market Square on St George's. St Croix There are plenty of places to fi nd Caribbean art, jewellery, fashions, furniture, and rum in the towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted, the main shopping centres of St Croix. St Kitts For fans of batik, head for the renowned Caribelle Batik, where there is a great selection to choose from. Dominican Republic There is plenty to shop for in the DR - especially any jewellery made from amber and larimar, a pale- blue, semi- precious gemstone, both are mined here. You'll also fi nd great embroidered items, mahogany and cedarwood carvings, as well as locally made rocking chairs, which come conveniently boxed and ready for you to assemble when you get home. And of course this is the place to come if you're looking for designer fashions by locally- born Oscar de La Renta. Puerto Rico The best shopping district in Puerto Rico is in Old San Juan. Look out for the ' santos', carved and painted wooden fi gurines of the patron saints. Other local handmade specialties include ' cuatros', ten- string guitars, and carnival masks made from papier- mâché. This area is also known for handwoven mundillo lace. St Thomas, US Virgin Islands In downtown Charlotte Amalie, the capital city, warehouses built in the 1700s have been converted into a shopping complex that includes more than 400 boutiques. Local specialties sold here include calabash bowls, straw brooms, and shell jewellery. ? 70 ZiNG October - December 2009 Antigua There is a great farmers' market in Antigua . The main shopping district is in St John's, where you'll fi nd British woollens and linens, an assortment of luxury goods, and locally- made rum, dolls, pottery and shell crafts. Anguilla Crafts are the thing to shop for in Anguilla. Look out for local artists, such as the potter and sculptor Courtney Devonish, who sell their art in local shops. Other Anguillan specialities include handcrafted mats, painted woodcarvings, tablecloths and linens. You'll also fi nd several boutiques selling European fashions. St Lucia You'll fi nd plenty of locally- made items such as shell art, batik, cane furniture, cocoa, coffee and spices on St Lucia, but if you need to pamper yourself, Body, Mind & Soul ( JQ's Shopping, Mall Gros Islet) provides body products, scented candles and other goodies to make you feel great. Barbados The primary shopping area in Barbados is on Broad Street in Bridgetown. If you're looking for great swimwear, head to Zonna Beachwear at the Hopewell Complex ( Hopewell, St Thomas), whose swimsuits are designed and manufactured in Barbados. However, if you're looking for furnishings for your home, this island has also become renowned for its great selection of antiques. Grenada While you can fi nd plenty of wonderful food markets when shopping in the Caribbean, it is in Grenada, the ' Spice Island', that you will fi nd high quality spice- related goods, primarily nutmeg and cinnamon, Island shopping stop- offs Whether you're travelling around the Caribbean for business or to meet up with family and friends, ensure you allow enough time to check out the following retail hot spots... SHOPPING Barbados shopping Amber St Johns, Antigua Bottled Rum COAST CARIBBEAN IMAGES