subject: Top 3 Value-For-Money Places to Shop in The World by:Amelia Stenson [print this page] We all love to travel and tell yarns of our adventurous escapades in exciting destinations but one of the best ways to hold onto those memories is to shop. Decorate your home with tales of antiquity picked up for a song at the Roman market or simply exhibit the foreign treasures collected in Bangkok or the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town and the chronicles of your journey will remain foremost in your mind for many years to come.
There are a host of sublime shopping destinations world-wide for the intrepid traveller. Some are rather more expensive than others but we have earmarked a handful that are really worth the effort.
Viale Trastevere in Rome
The Eternal City of Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is literally jam-packed with ancient yet wondrous architecture, statues, cobbled streets and vigorous plazas. Once you tire of the magnificence of St Peter's Basilica, the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain, make for the Viale Trastevere on the West bank of the Tiber. Each Sunday a flea market is held in this cultural and artistic centre and anything from antiques to leather goods to clothing can be found at a relative steal.
Chatuchak Market in Bangkok
Bangkok has long been the astute shopper's paradise and it is not unusual for travellers to head to Thailand with empty baggage. Traditional Thai clothing, funky silver jewellery, local crafts and finely hewn furniture are but a sample of the treasures up for grabs. Affordable markets stand cheek to jowl with trendy boutiques, but for the real winners check out the rambling Chatuchak Market held every week-end and you will be able to pick up all sorts of booty from vintage Thai apparel to hand-made jewellery and even spices.
The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town
For affordable clothing, accessories and crafts for Africa, head for Cape Town in South Africa. There is literally everything available under the sun and with the local currency under the proverbial dollar cosh, prices are really competitive. The V&A Waterfront abutting the CBD is the complete shopping experience, offering chic boutiques, in-door craft markets and a wide range of curio stores. The winning produce of the Cape, however, is its fabulous wines and visitors are encouraged to pop in at nearby wine estates for classic Cape fare. Our advice to you is forget about excess baggage constraints and fill up with some of the best sauvignon blancs, merlots and cabernets the world has to offer.
The good news for the consumer on the move is that excess luggage worries no longer have to be factored into your international shopping spree. There are fortunately dedicated companies that will arrange for your entire treasure trove to be safely transferred to your home and it doesn't have to break the bank. The simple rule of thumb is you pay according to weight, so go mad and fill up those bags.
About the author
Excess Luggage saves you money & time by collecting your extra baggage from any address in Cape Town or Johannesburg, South Africa, and shipping it to your airport of arrival or taking care of customs, clearance and delivering it to your home.
