St. Barts is a shoppers paradise with everything from high end stores from Paris to local shops selling island crafted merchandise. The two main shopping hubs are Gustavia and St. Jean. Gustavia is known for its luxury boutiques and exclusive jewelry stores. St. Jean is considered slightly less touristy with more intimate shops. There are also wonderful boutiques at some of the island's hotels and restaurants.

French law dictates when shops can hold sales, and, normally, there are two periods during the year that are so designated. The first period will be around May 2 - June 5; the second period generally will take place from October 10 - November 13. These are excellent times to find real bargains on quality items. So, if you're headed to St Barth during one of these times, be sure to leave plenty of space in your suitcase.