Some people are inspired to visit Vietnam for its World Heritage-listed sites, intriguing local culture or even its delicious cuisine, but it was the promise of some serious retail therapy that tempted Intrepid’s Lisa Rollinson…
“Vietnam has such an amazing variety of things to do and see but what convinced me to visit was the shopping. I was told it was great…but ‘great’ is a huge under statement. From ceramics near Halong Bay, to tailored clothes in Hoi An and incredible lacquer work throughout the north, I was in my element.
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Sometimes souvenir shopping is a dilemma: is the money that you’re spending on a handmade gift actually going to the person who made it? Intrepid’s Laura Carroll shares her local Mongolia know-how so you can be assured that your purchase is ethically sound…
“Tsaagan Alt, a fixture in the shopping street just south of the State Department Store, is a wool cooperative set up by a Norwegian-Mongolian partnership. High-quality wool and felt goods are produced in the countryside according to traditional techniques, then brought to Ulaanbaatar to be sold at the shop. Felt slippers, coats and hats abound for every taste, and the quality of all the products is exceptional. To learn more about them, visit www.mongolianwoolcraft.com.
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In ancient times all roads led to Damascus and even though camel caravans no longer take this route, if you are in the market for an amazing bazaar experience, follow Intrepid’s Jessica Lee into the winding alleyways of Syria’s capital city…
“They say that as the Prophet Mohammed stood on the mountainside looking down on the city of Damascus he decided not to enter, because he only wanted to visit paradise once and that was when he died. Even today it remains a remarkable city that mesmerises our group as we weave our way through the crowded entrance of Souq al-Hamidiyya and enter the milieu.
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Where better to treat yourself to great travel experiences at bargain prices than in Thailand? Express reader Cathy Ellis has a special Bangkok shopping spot where you’re sure to find the perfect souvenir…
“My favorite place to get lost in the moment is Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok. It is a monstrously huge collection of stalls filled with everything you can possibly want to buy, plus a few things you didn’t know that you needed.
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For many people, Russia is synonymous with Russian dolls (matryoshki), fur hats (shuba), samovars and Soviet memorabilia. So it’s not surprising that these are the most sought after souvenirs on visits to Mother Russia. And luckily Intrepid’s Tania George knows just the place to shop in Moscow…
“Located close to metro stop Partizanskaya and the Izmailovo Hotel complex, the Izmailovo markets seem to go on forever. Open daily from 10am till 6pm, you can buy literally everything here. Locals shop for clothes, shoes, household utensils, tools, fabric, illegally copied CD’s and DVD’s, etc. If you get hungry, you can enjoy cheap local snacks and drinks at one of the many food stalls.
All this is great, but for the souvenir shoppers among us, there is an even more interesting part… Vernisazh.
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A word of warning to the savvy shopper, if you are coming to Spain after visiting other counties in Europe, make sure you leave room in your backpack! Though the outstanding handcrafted wooden furniture of Valencia is not so easy to transport home, fortunately that’s not such a problem for the divine leather goods of Andalucia, the clever toys made in Alicante, the internationally-famous textiles of Catalonia and the delicious sherries, wines and spirits found throughout Spain! High quality items at fair prices are always appealing, so Intrepid’s Monica Alvarez gives us some tips on shopping in Spain…
“For many shoppers, Spain is paradise. Prices are generally much lower than in the rest of Europe and fashion is one of the main exports of the country, from cheap and chic Zara and Mango to trendy designers such as Loewe, Custo, Camper or Manolo Blahnik, plus you can shop under the sun year round. Actually during the warm months of summer, particularly in hot cities such as Seville, the shopping areas are sheltered to allow customers to wander around in the comfort of the shade.
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Europe has so many stand-out destinations when it comes to buying a traditional gift: Germany for cuckoo clocks and beer steins, Italy for leather, Belgium for chocolates and Switzerland for army knives (and chocolate!). But here’s a tip from Intrepid’s resident Europe expert, Cassandra Wallace, about where else to buy that special something…
“My favourite place to go souvenir shopping and to stock up on gifts for Mum and Dad is Venice. Venetian masks are everywhere. Shops are filled with exquisitely decorated masks with feathers, fine paintings or glitter and there is bound to be one that suits you. (more…)
Is there somewhere you’ve travelled that, given the chance, you would go back to again and again? Intrepid’s Rachel Wasser can normally be found leading Intrepid travellers through China and Russia and loving every minute of her Trans-Siberian adventures, but she admits to having a weakness when it comes to La Dolce Vita, splurging on the good life in Italy…
“For me, Italy will always be my guilty pleasure destination. Roundtrip airfare from the US in high season is almost enough to put me off my visit but, in the end, it is totally worth the splurge!
There are countless ways to spend your time (and money!) wandering the cobblestoned streets of this enchanting country. If shopping is your travel treat then you can’t go past the gold stores on the Ponte Vecchio or the leather markets of Florence, in Venice the allure is unique blown Murano glass and in Rome street after street is lined with boutiques of big name designers.
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