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Best Shopping Destinations
I'm trying to plan a graduation trip for my teen-aged daughter, and very high on her list of "critical success factors" is great shopping. She's not into the typical mall store stuff, but loved the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.
I've been to, and would consider again for this trip: Istanbul, Bangkok I haven't been to, but am currently considering: Fez/Casablanca, India, Bali, Hong Kong Where else should I consider? Is there any place in Central or South America I should look at? I'll be using United Miles, so Star Alliance destinations are strongly preferred... TIA! |
far away:
Shanghai - Bund 66 and the fake market closer to home: Freeport, Maine - Huge outlet Las Vegas - Anything and Everything money can buy |
Hong Kong, no doubt. You get the expensive stuff along with the really cheap ones. And the food is great too.
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Oaxaca, Mexico - the big one in Oaxaca Saturday morning, of course - but there are several in the vicinity, highlighting different crafts and items. Also Mixtec and Zapotec archaeological sites, villages with different crafts specialties (Teotitlán del Valle, wonderfu woolen weavings and clothes; Tlacolula and San Bartolo Coyotepéc, potterty, etc. etc.) From planeta.com
MARKET DAYS Domingo/Sunday: Tlacolula (perhaps the oldest in the Americas) Nochixtlan Lunes/Monday: Ixtlán Miahuatlan Villa Alta Martes/Tuesday: Atzompa or Santa Maria de Atzompa (nearby, famous green pottery) Ayaquezco de Aldama Miercoles/Wednesday: Zimatlán San Pablo Etla Jueves/Thursday: Zaachila Ejutla Viernes/Friday: Ocotlán (ceramics) Sabado/Saturday: Tlaxiaco Mercados de Oaxaca |
Ooh, my favourite topic! Shopping! Let's See...
- Shanghai: Xiangyang Street Market is a shopping heaven! I just came back from there, and managed to bargain some items to 25% of the asking price!!! The variety is huge!!! Do note, though that most of the goods are imitations, ie. fake, though the imitations are very real! Other shopping areas include Huaihai Road and Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall. - London: There's something for everyone!! Camden Market, Portabello Market, Covent Garden Market, Borough Market etc etc etc!! - Hong Kong, Taiwan: Street Markets Galore too!! All these are Star Alliance destinations! So no worries for you. Good Luck, and hope your kid doesn't go crazy with shopping! |
Why is everyone saying Hong Kong. I live here and I still like to pop down to Bangkok to get the real good stuff. Go back!!!
Lots of culture, friendly people, cheap as chips and they have: http://bangkok.sawadee.com/chatuchak.htm This is the mother of all markets. Best time to go is our winter as it is not as hot and less rainy. But I'm sure you know this. Hong Kong is okay and Bangkok rocks. I only wish we had an office there but my choice is Singapore or Hong Kong if I want to be in Asia. No space in Jakarta and our China JV partner went bust on us :( I also like Bali but the shopping isn't as good or as organised although you can get great batik art at reasonable prices. Not as easy to get around as Bangkok or Hong Kong though. |
No votes for SIN? I must be a novice. :confused:
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OP says her daughter doesn't like malls. Singapore has rather a lot of them...
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What type of goods does she plan to buy? Do you have a general idea? If she's in the market for clothing, then I'm probably thinking about one of the big Euro fashion meccas. Milan perhaps? If she's into jewelry, then I don't know...is it still Rotterdam for jewelry?
If she has a variety of items on her list, then I don't see how you can go wrong with London (for the more alternative stuff, outdoor markets, etc.) or Paris (more fashion, etc.). That said, I've never personally planned a trip around shopping. These days, you can pretty much acquire everything you want online anyway. So I'm pick a cool city and mix in an excursion to the best local markets in the area. But my wife keeps reminding me that I'm a guy and can't possibly understand women's fashion (let alone teen fashion!), so don't listen to me. :o |
pinniped, your wife is probably right. :P If you are going to go all the way to Italy, your shopping desires would be better satisfied by going to Florence and even Rome is a better destination than Milan. It's more of a business/financial destination than anything else.
Originally Posted by pinniped
If she's in the market for clothing, then I'm probably thinking about one of the big Euro fashion meccas. Milan perhaps?
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Originally Posted by adamak
Hong Kong, no doubt. You get the expensive stuff along with the really cheap ones. And the food is great too.
but for shopping, forget it. if you've been to mainland china, you'll see all of the same items sold in hong kong, and usually for 2 to 3 times more than can be negotiated in beijing. |
Originally Posted by travelnutz
pinniped, your wife is probably right. :P If you are going to go all the way to Italy, your shopping desires would be better satisfied by going to Florence and even Rome is a better destination than Milan. It's more of a business/financial destination than anything else.
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Bali? :confused:
The only thing I bought there was wooden figurines for one dollar :p I think Vegas is Great, but might be a little to mall-like NY city is a good choice Mexico city, but I would go during Easter, as everybody leaves the city ;) Hong Kong, great place, I still have a bag from there that I bought for $3 :o |
1) Hong Kong - but beware of fake goods sold at street markets (i.e. Ladies Market, Temple St.)
2) Singapore 3) Taipei |
Singapore, absolutely. Even the stuff that I found in the malls was just off the charts! Prices are excellent, too.
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