Offering savings of 30-50 percent below international retail prices, duty-free shopping is a popular way to find bargains for jewellery, perfume, watches, china, crystal and liquor, with the tourist zones of Nassau and Freeport providing particularly good buying opportunities. Nassau's Bay Street is famous for its Straw Market , offering a wide array of mats, baskets, hats, dresses, T-shirts and hand-crafted items at bargain prices. While many items at the market are cheap imports, others may be genuine, so a close inspection of the merchandise is usually worthwhile. As one of the better shops, Nassau's Plait Lady (tel 242/356-5584) guarantees its items are 100 percent Bahamian-made. While Straw Market purchases are subject to negotiation, bargaining is not a typical Bahamian custom.

The Bahamas are also known for their Androsian batik fabrics made by a small operation in Andros Town on a remote Out Island. Although the factory is fascinating to visit, batik items are available at many outlets in Nassau, Freeport and major Out Islands like Abaco and Eleuthera.

Cigars and local art are often worthwhile purchases as well, with Bahamian painters, water-colourists, woodcarvers and jewellers creating original works for sale in galleries throughout Nassau and Freeport.