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Shopping

Most of Aruba's shopping is found in Oranjestad,where boutiques sell the usual array of imported fashions, perfume, liquor, crystal, and china. Duty-free stores abound, and deals can be had on jewelry, watches, local handicrafts, and embroidered clothing; head to Caya G.F. Betico Croes for the greatest concentration of shops. Outside the capital, majorshopping centers also do brisk business; we particularly recommend Renaissance Marketplace (www.shoparubarenaissance.com), home to big-names like Lacoste, Polo Ralph Lauren, Furla, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton.

For fine accessories, visit two boutiques in Oranjestad: Tous Jewelry (Havenstraat 4; 297/588-7258; www.tous.es) offers an impressive collection of Spanish-designed jewelry, from chunky and trendy bracelets to elegant and sophisticated necklaces. If you're in the market for a Rolex, Gandelman Jewelers (LG Smith Blvd. 82; 297/529-9900) is the best place to go, with an array of luxury timepieces and jewelry.

Aruba is also a good spot to find European fashions that are hard to come by back home. Mango (Caya G. F. Betico Croes 9; 297/582-9700; www.mango.com), the Spanish clothing chain, maintains a store here that offers hip, high-end duds and some small collections by guest designers. Another good bet is Gimmick NV (Seaport Village Mall; 297/583-9244), which keeps European lines in stock.

Still, the best souvenirs are local: Aruba's own aloe vera products and Dutch treats like chocolate, cheese, and delftware (Dutch ceramics). Aloe, once Aruba's main export, is found at various shops and cosmetic stores around the island, though we especially recommend visiting the Aruba Aloe Museum (Pitastraat 115; Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-2pm; 297/588-3222; www.aruba.aloe.com) where you can take an educational tour before choosing from dozens of aloe creams, gels, shampoos, and other products at the museum's well-stocked gift shop. For most other local products, head to either Vibes (Royal Plaza Mall; 297/583-7949) for local art, Cuban cigars, handcrafted jewelry, Dutch Delft ceramics, and hand-carved trinkets, or to Oranjestad's Weitnauer (Caya G.F. Betico Croes 29; 297/582-2790) for Dutch goodies like cheese and chocolate, and choice brands of scotch and vodka.

See Aruba Travel Guide