The winter season is fast approaching, and as the cold weather begins to creep in, many travelers are looking to the Caribbean for their salvation. While there are a number of fantastic ways to enjoy the tropical region during the chillier seasons, those who are hoping to wait out the weather in the lap of luxury may want to book villa vacation rentals on the Caribbean island of St. Martin.

Most travelers already know of the glorious beaches that await in this tropical paradise, which is also known as St. Maarten, but many may not realize that the island has much to offer in the way of shopping. From high-end boutiques to duty-free tchotchke shops, travelers on both sides of the island should have no trouble finding a memento of their time on the island.

If travelers have something that sparkles on their mind, then a trip to Philipsburg on the Dutch half of the island may be in order. High-end dealers like Ama Bella, Gems International, Radiant Gems and Royal Caribbean Jewelry offer stunning watches, earrings, necklaces and more, each outfitted with exquisite stones from around the world.

On the French half, vacationers can satisfy their desire for local goods, with several Parisian-style clothing boutiques and cafes making a stroll down the rues de la Liberte and de la Republique a must for avid shoppers.