by Is shopping on your mind while you travel, but don’t want to blow your budget? You have hit the jackpot. Read about the biggest and best 5 shopping festivals in the world.
Perfect travelling is a good hotel, plenty of sightseeing, dozens of adventure, tempting food and cuisine, and loads of shopping. We fly abroad and all we want to do is carry back the memories- the times we have spent in the city. The great way for that is to buy souvenirs from the local shops, airports or hawkers. Is that it?
Well, shopping could be addicting and when you know the prices are slashed to more than half, the offers are huge and the varieties are from casual flip flops to the latest cars, the craving shoots up. Either you want to take a pencil skirt for your friend, a mobile phone for your brother, or decor for your home, these festivals cover everything.
It’s not your usual malls or Chinatown, but we are talking about the magnificent, star-studded and wide-ranging shopping festivals. There are many countries hosting these events and we have brought the top 5 with details you would want to know about each.
1.Dubai Shopping Festival
Months: January – February (Annually)
Editions: 24
What to buy: Luxury items, perfumes, apparels, spices, Handicrafts, Carpets, Gold, Jewellery, leather goods and Cars.
Attractions: Jaw-dropping discounts, freebies- up to a whopping 75% on 700 brands across 3200 outlets.
Upcoming Date: January 2021.
Large it up at New Year with the incredible shopping gala at Dubai, the city that is a synonym to the world-class, luxury and opulence. The emirate has astounding architecture, malls and amusement parks which itself is enough to keep you glued, and over the top, in this festivity the stores are transformed to palaces. Known as the Mecca of shopping festivals, Dubai Shopping Festival is a paradise for shoppers, which is celebrated city-wide. In this 32-day shopping extravaganza, you will be spoilt for choices from fashion and lifestyle to electronics and automobiles. There are competitions that help you earn free gifts, musical concerts and live performances of jugglers, street artists, films, international fashion shows, cultural displays and magicians to hold you to the vibe, and theme lights and fireworks that spruce up the complete mood. Even the traditional souks are given a touch-up.
2.The Great Singapore Sale
Months: June-July (Annually)
Editions: 25
What to buy: Jewellery, handbags, clothes, shoes, watches, electronics.
Attractions: Branded clothes and apparels come at a really cheap rate.
Upcoming Date: 21 June- 28 July 2019.
Immerse in the authentic Singapore fun with the Great Singapore Sale that is equally loved by locals and tourists. It is not just the sale that draws millions of visitors, but it is the ultimate retail therapy, which is organised by the Singapore Retailers Association in interaction with the local malls and stores. You can shop around some really cool handbags, chic fashion-wear, designer jewellery and luxurious items at unbelievable bargaining prices and if you have luck on the cards you can win instant reward games. Do not leave without getting a bowl or a plate of your favourite Singaporean dish- the cuisine is a delight.
3.USA Outlet Shopping Festival
Months: October
What to buy: Clothes, footwear, accessories, luxury items, and sportswear
Attractions: Offers/ deals in 21 states on Bloomingdale’s, Calvin Klein, Nike, Nine West and Tommy Hilfiger outlet store.
Upcoming Date: Columbus Day long weekend, 2019
Not a 1-day tight packed sales or two months long festival, but this is the 4-day short and sweet outlet shopping taking you across major outlet stores in the United States. We know how a trip to the States can cost you an arm and a leg, but being here during this event will cut down major expenses. It is a one-stop shop for everything- the hot deals are on, the discounts are amazing, the collection is awesome and the savings will better the trip overseas. It is not centralised in an area, but the beauty is it spans over cities in the country. So, you can avail the mind-blowing discounts in hundreds of brands in different retails. Simons, The Outlets at Orange, Sawgrass Mills are few examples of malls that will keep you tucked in for the entire day with suitcase-filled shopping and adventure too. This is coupled with entertainment options, restaurants and day spas.
4.Hong Kong Shopping Festival
Months: July-August
What to buy: Chinese spices, Chinese handicrafts, apparel, artificial flowers, home décor items, jewellery, and footwear
Attractions: Fashion labels launch their autumn & winter looks.
Upcoming Date: 1 June- 31 August 2019
Another name in the list of binge shopping and pacifying your wanderlust is the Hong Kong Shopping Festival. Around 87% of tourists travel to Hong Kong when it comes to splurging and shopping and is thus, the best shopping region in Asia-Pacific Region by the Global Shopper Index. To bag the highest bargain than anywhere else in the continent, join the fest. The niche is the fashion and luxury which has grown over the years, making it a hub for the top labels. Along with unlimited buying, you can relish at gourmet corners, enjoy at concerts and spend family time with a range of entertainment. Do not worry about the summer, as the malls are well-maintained and air-conditioned to let you focus on your itinerary goals.
5.Cannes Shopping Festival
Months: May
Editions: 16
What to buy: Designer and branded dresses, handbags and shoes
Attractions: Celebrities reach from all over the world, world-famous designers showcase the upcoming designs in high street fashion and the latest trends are up on the hanger.
Upcoming Date: 14 May- 25 May 2019
It is an art of shopping at the Cannes Film festival. Here, fashion is celebrated with great pomp and show. You will be gobsmacked by the immense presence of people from the elite world. There are top celebrities from the film fraternity gracing the ambience with their charming presence. Haute couture shops, fashion boutiques, interior design shops, deluxe clothing materials line up the streets. Rue, Meynadier, Shopping la Croisette, Shopping Rue Hoche are few destinations to visit. The 3-4 days festival revolves around shopping and lifestyle, blended with food junctions, endless catwalks, fashion parades, and exhibits.
That means no more staring in awe at your dream dress just because you can’t afford it. Book your tickets and fly at the right time to the city. Use the money saved to make your trip grand.
