Luxurious Indulgences Aruba Shopping 2015

Shopping

Luxurious Indulgences

by Susan Campbell

The finer things in life abound on Aruba, so why not spoil yourself silly while on holiday here?

Great deals are to be had on high-end luxuries, so you’ll be able to adorn yourself like royalty without paying a king’s ransom. And the best place to begin your treasure hunt? Downtown Oranjestad!

Oranjestad shopping spree

Though there are plenty of upscale shops and modern malls all around Aruba, you can have a stellar shopping day simply by sticking to downtown if you please.

Take a trip on the free eco-trolley to get the lay of the land and discover where you want to backtrack for further explorations. Note the fabulous choices of stopand-refresh terraces or lunching spots throughout the Oranjestad area along the harbor, at Renaissance Marketplace, on Mainstreet, and in the Royal Plaza Mall.

Maybe plan a pit stop at Okeanos Spa in the Renaissance Aruba Resort for a mid­ day mani-pedi, facial, or massage to help you refuel mind, body, and spirit for more retail therapy. And don’t forget the airconditioned casinos close by for seducing Lady Luck into contributing more funds to your shopping budget. Hundreds of shops and all kinds of pleasant diversions await in the newly renovated urban downtown area, and there are also many new green spaces and resting nooks. But we guar­antee, once you begin exploring downtown, you’ll see why Oranjestad is perfect for an entire day of shopping. Or maybe even two!

The luxury brands in demand

We don’t mean to name-drop, well actually we do because when it comes to top quality you can’t beat names like Cartier, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Carolina Herrera, Chopard, Dolce & Gabbana, Bulgari, Piaget, and so many more. The luxury brands most in demand 18 Nights

can all be found in well-established, highend shops that have been in business for decades downtown and often family-run for generations. And all the upscale boutiques throughout the Oranjestad shopping grid are staffed with multilingual and well-informed professionals. Fashion and fragrances, jewelry, electronics... they are all within easy walking distance of each other. Renaissance Mall alone has 60-some exclusive stores! But chart out a plan beforehand so as not to run out of energy or funds before you get to all the best spots! The downtown landscape is awash with fabulous finds, so take your time to sleuth out the kind of treasures that will make you the envy of your friends back home, especially when they find out about Aruba’s low-duty and tax-free benefits on many luxury goods.

Baubles, trinkets, and high-end bling

Fashionable lines of finely-crafted and timeless body adornments abound downtown, but all that glitters is not gold, it can also be shining silver, dazzling dia­ monds, and precious and semi-precious gemstones as well. The high-end jewelry

selection here is eclectic and exciting, and if you need help discerning the differences in quality, there are local experts in every store who are delighted to enlighten you. Chains, earrings, brooches, bracelets, pendants, even toe rings and ankle bling come in an eye-catching array of styles that will seduce you at every turn. Diamonds of every color and cut including loose stones can give glitter and glamour to countless settings and turn trinkets into wearable objects of art.

Swarovski crystal collectibles, and tanzanite treasures are also on offer, and made to order custom work can be had, but plan ahead to ensure your piece will be ready be­ fore you return home. Fine jewelry might be the ultimate indulgence, but it’s also a great investment. And there are few better places on the planet than Aruba to invest in romance-themed purchases – wedding and engagement rings, anniversary gifts, or simply something special to show your object of affection just how much you care... jewelry always speaks the language of love. (And maybe a roman­ tic shopping spree will incite a desire for a future tropical wedding here!) E

Shopping High styling fashion finds

ROYAL PLAZA MALL

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ORIGINAL

Of course, you’ll find all kinds of chic and cosmopolitan resort and beach outfits on Aruba. But there’s also plenty of designer fashions for after-dark clubbing and dress-up occasions to be found downtown, and wedding and formal wear, too. You’ll find all the prerequisite classy designer accessories: handbags, belts, leather shoes, sunglasses, wraps... whatever you need to put the finishing touches to make your new outfit a postcard perfect ensemble. For the active fashionista, there are also chic sportswear outlets. In fact, you might want to purchase a top quality pair of running shoes before you begin your shopping marathon as there are so many stores to explore. Margarita Plaza at the beginning of Mainstreet would be a good place to go for that. There are also plenty of stylish and top quality clothes for children and toddlers there as well.

Cool curios and unique gifts

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The outdoor markets and stalls are full of typical island souvenirs, but if you’re seeking something really special for yourself or for the folks back home, you’ll have to head to the indoor/outdoor arcades and malls to find a higher qual-

ity of keepsakes. Blue delftware, Dutch cheeses, handmade crafts, Belgian chocolate, wooden carvings, and paintings by local artists can be found in little specialty shops secreted throughout downtown landmarks like the cotton-candy colored Royal Plaza Mall. And don’t for­ get to seek out Aruba Aloe products; this island exports some of the best quality aloe in the world. Unique island spirits like Palmera rums are also a great souvenir, or look for bottles of locally made liqueurs like poncha crema – a rich, liquorladen eggnog that is the island’s most po­p­ ular Christmas drink.

How about some man candy?

Ladies, even if your significant other doesn’t get as excited about spending time shopping as you do, that doesn’t mean you can’t tempt him to join you with cool toys and treasures of his own.

There’s plenty of gentlemanly wares to be found downtown. How about luring him out with the promise of hand-rolled cigars, state-of-the-art name brand electronics, or top quality cameras – all at low-duty and often tax-free prices? Or offer to dress him up in some cool resortwear, sporting gear, or classy duds. Ralph Lauren, Ermenegildo Zegna, Hugo Boss... all the stylin’ guys have their brands in the downtown shops. Once there, you can show him that the jewelry stores have stunning yet masculine offerings in gold, silver, and all manner of precious metals as well. And what man wouldn’t like to boast that he’s wearing the same kind of quality Swiss watch found on the wrist of Leonardo DiCaprio or Pierce Brosnan?

Tag Heuer, Hublot, Jaeger-LeCoultre, E Bottom photo courtesy of Renaissance Mall

Shopping Chopard... Aruba’s downtown shops have all the big names and the world’s best quality timepieces for both sexes. In fact, this island makes it easy to indulge in eve­ ry retail whim. But if you need any more enticement to get your man to join you on a spree, then sweeten the pot by book­ ing a pampering couple’s massage on private Renaissance Island (just minutes by boat from Oranjestad) as a reward for his willing participation. It’s yet another luxurious indulgence well worth experiencing on this island.

Last chance to indulge…

No worries if you’ve run out of time before you’ve run out of desires, there’s still great shopping to be found at Queen Beatrix International Airport. Go for a treasure hunt in the air-conditioned airport arcades for gold, silver, and emeralds, fine spirits, designer fashions and eyewear, top name perfumes and cosmetics, quality chocolate and cheeses, Aruba aloe, avant-garde souvenirs, and so much more. And lots of it’s duty-free too! The great shopping doesn’t end until you’re boarding the plane. Happy travels! K

Shops along Mainstreet open at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m., some also close for lunch between noon and 2 p.m. Shops in the malls are generally open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. And don’t worry if you arrive on a Sunday or holiday – there will be some stores open for you!

DUTY-FREE INFO UNITED STATES US citizens, regardless of age, who have been out of the country for a minimum of 48 hours and who have not used their respective duty-free allowance within 30 days are entitled to an $800 duty-free tax exemption.

Family members who live in the same home and return together can pool their exemptions, meaning a couple with two children can bring home $3,200 worth of articles, duty-free.

Alcohol: The duty-free allowance for US citizens age 21 and over is two liters (67.6 US fl oz) as long as one of the liters was produced in a Caribbean Basin Initiative country, and the value of which is included within the $800 exemption. For more information on other possible exemptions visit www.cbp.gov.

CANADA Canadian citizens who have been outside Canada for seven days or more are permitted a duty-free exemption of $800. With the exception of tobacco and alcohol products, the goods purchased can follow at a later date. Citizens are permitted the same duty-free exemption of $800 if they are out of the country for 48 hours or more, provided they have all the goods with them when they arrive in Canada. Citizens are permitted a duty-free exemption of $200 for an absence of 24 hours or more; all goods must accompany them and the exemption does not apply to tobacco or alcohol products. Personal exemptions cannot be pooled with your spouse and/or children, nor can the 48-hour exemption be combined with the seven-day exemption.

Alcohol: The duty-free allowance for Canadian citizens (who meet the legal age of the province they re-enter) is 1.5 liters of wine or 1.14 liters of alcohol or 8.5 liters of beer or ale.

For more information on other possible exemptions visit www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

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Right photo courtesy of Queen Beatrix International Airport