A Comprehensive Guide to Shopping: What Should I Buy and Where?
Unravelling shopping treasures kindles the same spark of joy whether you shop in your own city or in a foreign country’s markets. This intimates that the thrill of scavenger hunting in terms of shopping extends beyond borders. Shopping is not limited to only buying vivid souvenirs, it’s about the essence of distinct cultures around the world and scouring for amazing finds that are exclusive to that vicinity. Every country possesses a shopper’s paradisical haven brimming with their special handcrafted goods that are unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Moreover, the different experiences that you encounter while shopping abroad equip you with extensive knowledge on how deeply embedded the concept of consumerism is in the world and how to sustainably manoeuvre it to your advantage. In Woking Travel’s ultimate guide to shopping, we will assist you with helming the vessel brimming with the world’s best shopping experiences, from regional markets to opulent boutiques, making sure that you bring home meaningful souvenirs, shop for the right item, and advocate for sustainable and ethical practices throughout your shopping journey.
Section 1: Prepare for Your Shopping Spree
To commence your shopping journey and smoothly navigate through it, you need to prepare well for it. The most important part of this section is to research your destination’s shopping options. If you skip this step and wander aimlessly around the destination’s attractions, you are bound to fail at your shopping mission.
- Research: Every destination possesses its own specialty, gems that you need to intensively search and dig deep in the nooks and crannies of the place to discover. Moreover, if you follow the herd and only visit and shop at popular mass-markets, the inflated price tags would only lead to trampled wallets. Researching prior can assist you with finding authentic markets that offer value for your money. You would also have a rough idea of what cost the items that you are interested in are priced at.
- Budgeting Basics: Once you have carried out thorough research, the next step on your to-do list would be to craft a budget and plan every purchase effectively. This would ensure that your money does not go down the drain on unnecessary purchases. Some budgeting basics would include tracking your income and expenditure, knowing your net income, and setting specific goals associated with spending. You could incorporate budgeting apps, spreadsheets or even a simple notebook to keep track of your money flow.
- Setting Up: If you struggle with handling your money when travelling, it may be because you lack in the budgeting sector of your monetary management. Once you have your spending goals jotted down, you could move onto categorising your expenses. The expenditure could be divided into fixed costs like hotel bills or rent charges and variable costs such as food costs, activities, and entertainment. Depending on your requirements, the next step could look different for everyone since there is no one-size-fits-all solution for this. Divide your budget into percentages and allocate each sector towards an aspect of your trip such as shopping costs (needs and wants), hotel bills, restaurant bills, and more. Don’t forget to factor in variable expenses when calculating percentages.
- Planning and Commitment: Before embarking on your shopping spree, make sure you plan your purchases. Make a list of things you wish to buy and what purpose would the purchase fulfil. Prioritise the items in the list to avoid impulse buying. Look out for cheaper alternatives if possible and scour for sales, discount coupons, and loyalty rewards to save money and bag the best holiday deals.
Section 2: Sort Your Shopping into Categories
Now that you have everything you need to prepare for your shopping, the next stage of shopping when travelling is to sort your shopping into specific categories, each serving different purposes. Each category offers a unique opportunity to explore different specialties from various countries, learning about their cultural and artistic heritage. Whether you’re looking for souvenirs to bring home, clothing indigenous to your destination, good-quality electronics, or beautiful home decor items, these categories will help make your decisions quicker and easier. Let’s dive and look into different categories and shine spotlight on what you should look out for in various parts of the world:
1. Souvenirs and Local Handicrafts
- A souvenir is a great way to bring a part of the destination home with you to always look back to. Reminiscent of the good times spent at that location, a souvenir is a keepsake that you will always cherish. It is important to buy these souvenirs from authentic local shops only to support local craftsmen. Authentic souvenirs reflect the destination’s cultural heritage and purchasing them could significantly support the local community.
- It is recommended that you look out for certain types of souvenirs such as handmade souvenirs. These could range from textile material such as handwoven cloth and scarves and unique ornamental trinkets made of silver, beads, and gemstones to ceramic bowls, vases, and other crockery. Moreover, local delicacies are also a great souvenir to assimilate the true essence of that location. These could include authentic spices and herbs, local snacks, and beverages. You could also consider taking cultural souvenirs and relics such as the location’s paintings, sculptures, traditional clothing like kimonos and sarongs, or even historical miniatures.
- Woking Travel’s assortment of marketplaces and shops for souvenirs has got your back. When visiting Morocco, Jemaa el-Fnaa and Souk Semmarine are where you would find the best variety of authentic souvenirs. Chatuchak Weekend Market and Asiatique The Riverfront in Bangkok, Thailand, San Lorenzo Market and Mercato Centrale in Florence, Italy, Nakamise Shopping Street and Shibuya and Shinjuku Districts in Tokyo, Japan, Mercado Benito Juárez in Mexico, and the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar in Turkey are some of the best places to go to for souvenir shopping.
2. Clothing and Accessories
- You could find amazing fashion staples abroad that portray a blend of chic and indigenous traditions. Every nook and corner, from vibrant marketplaces to fancy stores, puts forth a chance to discover something new for your wardrobe. No matter where you gaze, from cultural Southeast Asian textiles to contemporary and stylish European designs, fashion brings together the world’s creativity. You could also find exclusive pieces that you like at a much cheaper price than in your country or elsewhere.
- When you shop for clothes, look for versatile pieces that are also travel-friendly. Search for wrinkle-resistant materials, lightweight layers, and items that can be mixed and matched to create multiple looks. This would help you optimise your wardrobe, make things convenient for you when you travel, and occupy less space in your luggage, as well.
- Some iconic marketplaces in famous destinations where you could find fashion staples and cultural attire are boutiques of Rue Saint-Honoré and the Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Harajuku for street fashion and Ginza for luxury clothing in Tokyo, Dubai Mall and the mall of the Emirates for a variety of styles in Dubai, Via Montenapoleone for designer labels and Brera District for eclectic pieces, SoHo for trendy shops and Fifth Avenue in New York City, and Oxford Street, Covent Garden, and Carnaby Street for everything from designer wear to affordable finds in London. For accessories and perfumes, Chanel, Dior, and Guerlain in Paris and Grasse are quite popular.
3. Electronics and Gadgets
- This category of goods requires you to be very careful while shopping. There are several key considerations to pay heed to for a hassle-free purchasing experience with electronics. Firstly, you need to certify that the product comes with an international warranty, or a warranty that includes your country. Also, examine the product and check if it is compatible with the plug types and voltage rating in your home country. Moreover, check if the gadget supports your preferred language and locational settings. If these key considerations are met, you could advance and purchase the product after testing out the features.
- Before finalising your purchase, skim through the web online. Search for prices online for your desired device and compare them using websites like Amazon, Newegg, and PriceGrabber. These websites also have reviews from other buyers which you can benefit from. The reviews give you an idea of the product’s reliability and overall performance. You could find the best prices online by comparing multiple sellers and make sure that you are not being scammed by the seller in store.
- Some popular and reliable marketplaces and shops where you can purchase high-quality devices are Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera in Japan, Best Buy and Apple Stores in the USA, and MediaMarkt and Saturn in Germany. You could also purchase gadgets from duty-free stores at airports. Some airports that offer competitive prices for hi-tech goods are Singapore Changi Airport, Dubai International Airport, and Hong Kong International Airport.
4. Household Goods and Decorative Items
- Shopping internationally for home goods and ornaments for your living space is a great way to bring a unique and creative touch to it. Each decorative item that you purchase for your home tells a beautiful story of its origin and your adventures associated with it. It not only enhances your place aesthetically but also keeps the flame of wanderlust in your soul kindled. These special pieces carry a history and essence of the locations you have been to, infusing a sensation of cultural enrichment and adding a personal touch to your home.
- Different regions around the world are renowned for different goods. For the world-famous Moroccan rugs, from Beni Ourain to vibrant kilims, you could visit the souks of Marrakech. Italy specialises in ceramics and pottery, beautiful murano glasses, and leather goods. Mercado de Artesanías de Oaxaca in Mexico offers beautifully hand-woven Mexican tapestries. For decorative wood carvings, Bali has an extensive network of markets and galleries. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey has vendors who sell the famous mosaic Turkish lamps. Moreover, if you are looking for high quality porcelain, head to Arita, Japan to get your hands on beautiful Japanese porcelain.
- Once you have purchased your desired item, you need to ensure it reaches your home safely. In order to do that, you need to pack every item securely. Use bubble wrap, packing paper, and hard and firm boxes, and pack each item individually. When boarding your flight, make sure you keep the fragile pieces in your hand luggage to avoid rough handling. Furthermore, mark the containers and boxes with labels like “Handle with care” and “Fragile”.
Section 3: Shopping Destinations
1. Major Cities
When we talk about the diversity of shopping destinations and their charm, major cities such as Paris and New York City cross our mind, each offering their own amalgam of big brands and local boutiques.
- Paris, the fashion capital of the world, possesses chic couture houses on Avenue Montaigne to the elegant stores of Le Marais. For a balance between street fashion and luxury attire, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps offer a diverse range of clothing to choose from.
- The city that never sleeps, New York City, has multiple shopping areas such as Fifth Avenue, SoHo, and Madison Avenue. Luxury, trendy, vintage, modern, you name it, New York has it all!
- Moreover, Tokyo falls in between the spectrum of traditional to modern. It has all the hi-tech gadgets you would need to revolutionise your life along with fashion stores. Tourists can tour Ginza for opulent shopping, Harajuku for trendy street attire, and Akihabara for high quality electronics and the infamous anime merchandise.
If you don’t steer through these large shopping malls and neighbourhoods strategically, you might lose direction because of the allure of these big cities. To pilot through the maze, search for stores and labels priorly to plan a course of action. Reach the shopping stores or malls early in the day and during the working days of the week to escape the usual rush. Put on a comfortable pair of shoes or sandals and wear comfortable clothes so you don’t exhaust yourself.
2. Regional Markets and Bazaars
- Immersing in the local markets and bazaars gives you the true experience of unravelling the city. The explosion of different sounds, smells and spectacles allows you to indulge in the experience like a local resident. Meandering across the vivid stalls and kiosks dotting the alleyways, each selling something unique, tasting local delicacies as you go, and getting your hands on handcrafted souvenirs to take back home gives you the thrilling sensation of an adventure. This way, you get to peek into the daily lives of locals, strike a fun conversation, and learn about the different cultures in that region. Shopping from the local markets is how you truly embrace the soul of the city.
- To get the most value out of your money when shopping in bazaars, you need to be acquainted with the local pricing around the region, so you don’t fall for any scams. Haggle with the vendor by starting low initially and then negotiate to reach a deal you are happy with. Remember to stay respectful when negotiating for a bargain with the locals.
- Some of the oldest and most famous local markets around the world include the Marrakech Souks, Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market, and the Istanbul Grand Bazaar.
Section 4: Ethical and Sustainable Shopping
- In the era of consumerism, it is important to mitigate the influence of materialism and be aware of the effect our choices have on the environment. To thrive as a global community, we need to incorporate ethical and sustainable practices when we shop.
- By purchasing ethical and sustainable goods, we can help reduce all kinds of pollution, preserve the natural resources of earth, and diminish our carbon footprint. Moreover, purchasing these goods from small businesses and local craftsmen and vendors assists economic growth and stability of the community. When you buy handmade goods, it contributes towards the preservation of the region’s cultural heritage and fosters artisanal talent in the society.
- To correctly identify genuinely ethical items, there are a few factors you need to look out for. Search for certifications like Fair Trade, Organic, and B Corp which specify that all ethical standards are met. Moreover, only opt for products which incorporate organic, natural, or recycled materials in their composition. Do a background check on brands you shop from, to better understand their values and ensure that they are environment friendly. Brands that are transparent about their manufacturing and retailing practices are usually ethically safe to use.
Shop with Purpose and Passion
Bringing a piece of another country home with you is a great way to cherish the memories you made while travelling. It is important to be mindful of your choices and of the impact they could have on the environment and local communities. Preparing for your shopping spree by making a budget and listing down things you need to buy can substantially save you from making unnecessary purchases along the way. Moreover, researching about the famous shopping spots beforehand can streamline the entire process, saving you time, efforts, and money. With our guide, finding the right place to shop for the right thing at the right price rate has never been more convenient. Furthermore, by sustainable shopping, you could contribute towards the conservation of the environment and support local artisans, labour, and the community as a whole. Embrace the opportunity to shop with purpose and passion, making your travel journey even more meaningful and memorable.
Table of Contents
Share This!
Stay up-to-date on the latest real estate trends and insights by sharing our blog posts on social media
One Response