Most of Antigua's shops are clustered on St. Mary's Street or High Street in St. John's. Some stores are open Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to noon and 1 to 4pm, but this varies greatly from place to place -- Antiguan shopkeepers are an independent lot. Many of them close at noon on Thursday.Duty-free items include English woolens and linens. You can also purchase Antiguan goods: local pottery, straw work, rum, floppy foldable hats, shell curios, and hand-printed fabrics.

Shopping in Antigua includes a little bit of everything. Although it is not a mecca of boutiques like some other Caribbean islands, travelers staying at Antigua villas will find enough quirky shops to occupy a day off the beach. The main shopping thoroughfares on Antigua are St. Mary's and High Street in St. John's. Here, guests of Antigua villas can stock up on just about anything, including duty free goods, fresh produce, and souvenirs. In this area you'll find Sunseekers, the Caribbean's biggest duty-free swimwear shop (great for styling next to your Anguilla villa's pool), and Colombian Emeralds, the world's largest retailer of the sparkling green gemstones. Spruce up your Antigua villa's closet with colorful batik wraps, scarves, and other casual duds at Caribelle Batik.

The best place for a one-stop shop in Antigua is the farmer's market, open Friday and Saturday mornings on the south side of the city. Many visitors see this lively bazaar as reason enough to journey into St. John's from the peace of their Antigua villas. Guests can fill the fridges at their Antigua villas with tropical fruits and vegetables and buy handicrafts made by local artisans. Heritage Quay in St. John's, a complex of duty-free boutiques, artist's market, and small restaurants, is another favorite amongst vacationers to Antigua villas.