Some of the Best Places in the World for Shopping Abroad

Shopping has become big business. What once upon a time was a simple act of heading to a local department store to purchase a new dress or that pair of pumps you’ve had your eyes on for some time, has now become a global phenomenon exacerbated by online buying opportunities.

So much so, that you can now hire a personal shopper service for a nominal fee that will shop on your behalf at any online store, in any country, using any fiat currency and/or credit. They can even bid on your behalf at eBay auctions while you’re busy at work or flying a long-haul flight to Hong Kong (where you’ll do more shopping).

Speaking of travel, one question looms large in the minds of persons who not only love to shop, but who also love to travel to far away, glamorous destinations. According to a new report, it doesn’t make sense to purchase everything you want for yourself and your loved ones when you can purchase far better stuff in another city in Europe or Asia.

In order to decide on which cities around the world are the best for shopping, the writers of the report established some guidelines to go by, such as getting around using public transportation, bargain opportunities, quantity of available high-end brands and upscale stores, the relative beauty of the city, its fine dining opportunities, and more.

Here’s what they came up with.

Seoul

South Korea is said to be addicted to shopping. In fact, they recently recorded more credit card transactions per individual shopper than any other country. Seoul is filled with all varieties of stores, from massive department stores covered in LED lighting to open-24-hours skyrise shopping malls, to street carts that feature on one single trending item.

Foreign luxury goods are said to be marked up quite a bit in Seoul, but the chic local boutiques can be shopped on the cheap. There is also a nice mix of the old and traditional to compliment the new, such as the old Seoul Folk Flea Market and the equally old Gyeongdong Market.

Milan

Milan, Italy is synonymous with fashion. After all, it’s home to some of the biggest brand names in the business, including Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, plus the famous Versace. It’s also a gorgeous old city full of glamor and wonderful places to eat and drink.

Some of the best shopping can be found at what some fashionistas consider the holy grail of fashion districts, the Quadrilatero della Moda or Quadrilatero d’Oro (‘rectangle of gold’). A section of Milan that’s accessed by interwoven pedestrian streets that contain lifestyle showrooms, jewelers, and boutiques, the area is known “to cater to the alligator-bag-and-black-card-toting crowd.”

But tremendous bargains are also to be had.

Paris

Home to the annual Fashion Week which packs the famous old city with designers and professional shoppers, Paris is said not to sell clothes, but instead, lifestyles. A shop called Merci, for instance, features lines of designer wears that are pretty much “useless” but that are very much sought after among shoppers, such as Bakelite art deco switches.

The store itself is housed on a wide open space that also includes a café, a florist, and a secondhand bookshop (Paris is also famous for its rare books).

The famous Colette offers designer goods for discounted prices. But then, whatever you might save on a Fendi skirt you might spend on a super expensive bottle of Bling H20. The water comes in a glass bottle that’s decorated with Swarovski crystals and cost around $50.00US.

Paris houses the “holy trinity” of old Parisian department stores. Le Bon Marche which dates back to the mid-1800s, features designer clothing and gourmet food.

Printemps is said to contain world’s largest beauty department and has recently partnered with the famous line, Christian Dior.

The Galeries Lafaeyette is a seven-story art nouveau building that contains a single floor dedicated to high-end lingerie. Fittings are provided by appointment only.

London

London also has the vibe of blending the traditional old with the mod new. It also boasts some of the most costly, “sticker shock” shopping in the world. But the Globe Shopping Index ranks the city as one of the top European shopping cities. It is also said to beat all other European cities in both quality and quantity of shops that feature domestic and international high-end brands.

The shopping experience in London is eclectic and bold. One of the most popular department stores, Liberty, sells Tudor-style fireplaces alongside designer stationary alongside clothing from famous international designers.

The World is Your Oyster

New York, Tokyo, Florence, Rome, Moscow, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, and so many more cities offer both extraordinary and glamorous shopping opportunities. They will also provide you with memorable experiences. Or, if you’re simply too busy to do all that traveling, think about hiring a personal shopping service to do the heavy lifting for you.